Methods and apparatus for light-field imaging

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical system comprising:
• a single lens, wherein the single lens is configured to refract light from a scene located in front of the single lens;
• an optical array, wherein the optical array comprises a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element in the optical array is configured to refract light from the single lens;
• and
• an objective lens positioned proximate to an image plane of the optical array, wherein the objective lens is configured to refract light from the optical array;
• wherein the optical array is positioned between the single lens and the objective lens and proximate to the single lens so that distance between the single lens and the optical array is small relative to distance from the optical array to the image plane of the optical array such that the single lens and the optical array are located at substantially a same optical plane to form the image plane as an optical unit;
• a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto the photosensor from the optical system;
• wherein the optical system is configured to project a plurality of separate images of the scene onto the photosensor, wherein each of the plurality of separate images is projected onto a separate location on the photosensor;
• wherein the plurality of separate images of the scene projected onto the photosensor by the optical system form an array of the separate images that includes radiance information, wherein the radiance information indicates distribution of intensity of the light in multiple directions at multiple points.

A method for capturing light-field images, comprising:

• receiving light from a scene at an objective lens of a camera;
• receiving light from the objective lens at a multidimensional optical array located between the objective lens and a photosensor of the camera, wherein the optical array comprises a plurality of optical elements, and wherein the optical array is proximate to the objective lens so that distance between the objective lens and the optical array is small relative to distance from the optical array to an image plane of the optical array such that the objective lens and the optical array are located at substantially a same optical plane to form the image plane as an optical unit;
• receiving light from the optical array at the photosensor, wherein the photosensor is positioned proximate to the image plane, and wherein the photosensor receives a different image of the scene from each optical element in the array at a separate location on the photosensor;
• and
• capturing the different images of the scene at the photosensor as a light-field image;
• wherein the different images of the scene projected onto the photosensor by the optical array form a multidimensional array of the different images that includes radiance information, wherein the radiance information indicates distribution of intensity of the light in multiple directions at multiple points.

A method for capturing light-field images, comprising:

• receiving light from a scene at a single lens;
• receiving light from the single lens at an optical array located between the single lens and an objective lens of a camera, wherein the optical array comprises a plurality of optical elements, and wherein the optical array is proximate to the single lens so that distance between the single lens and the optical array is small relative to distance from the optical array to an image plane of the optical array such that the single lens and the optical array are located at substantially a same optical plane to form the image plane as an optical unit;
• receiving light from the optical array at the objective lens of the camera, wherein the objective lens is positioned proximate to the image plane of the optical array;
• receiving light from the objective lens at a photosensor of the camera, wherein the photosensor receives a different image of the scene from each optical element in the array;
• and
• capturing the different images of the scene at the photosensor as a light-field image;
• wherein the different images of the scene projected onto the photosensor by the optical array form an array of the different images that includes radiance information, wherein the radiance information indicates distribution of intensity of the light in multiple directions at multiple points.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a lens, wherein the lens is configured to refract light from a scene located in front of the lens;
• and
• a multidimensional optical array, wherein the optical array comprises a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element in the optical array is configured to refract light from the lens;
• wherein the optical array is positioned with respect to the lens to produce via light received through the lens a plurality of separate images of the scene at an image plane, and wherein distance between the lens and the optical array is small relative to distance from the optical array to the image plane such that the lens and the optical array are located at substantially a same optical plane to form the image plane as an optical unit;
• wherein the separate images of the scene produced at the image plane form a multidimensional array of the separate images that includes radiance information, wherein the radiance information indicates distribution of intensity of the light in multiple directions at multiple points.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a multidimensional objective lens array comprising a plurality of discrete objective lenses, wherein each lens in the objective lens array is configured to refract light received directly from a scene located in front of the camera;
• and
• a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto the photosensor from the objective lens array, wherein the lenses in the objective lens array are positioned such that the optical axes of the lenses are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a light-capturing surface of the photosensor;
• wherein each lens of the objective lens array receives light from the scene from a different angle than the other lenses in the objective lens array and consequently projects a view of the scene onto the photosensor, whereby the photosensor receives a different view of the scene from each lens in the objective lens array, wherein each different view of the scene is received at a separate location on the photosensor to produce an array of different views of the scene at the photosensor;
• wherein the array of different views of the scene includes radiance information, wherein the radiance information indicates distribution of intensity of the light in multiple directions at multiple points;
• and
• wherein the objective lens array and the photosensor are arranged within a single camera;
• and
• a processing module operable to render multiple different output images of the scene from the array of different views of the scene received at the photosensor, each different output image focused at a different depth in the scene or with a different depth of field.