Method and image processing apparatus for generating a depth map
AssigneesNational Taiwan University, Lite-On Technology Corporation
InventorsJiun-Huei Proty Wu, Ching-Feng Cheng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method for generating a depth map for an image, an image processing apparatus is configured to: determine a depth level for each of at least two objects in the image according to an angle of incidence in which light incident upon the object is projected onto an image sensor of a light-field camera; calculate a depth value of the depth level associated with one of the objects; estimate a depth value for the depth level associated with another one of the objects; and generate a depth map according to the depth values. The depth value is estimated based on a distance between first and second locations on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the reference and relative objects are projected.
Claims12
A method for generating a depth map for an image captured by a light-field camera, the image including at least two objects, the light-field camera including a main lens, an image sensor, and a microlens array that includes a plurality of microlenses, the method being implemented by an image processing apparatus and comprising the steps of:
- a) for each of the objects in the image, determining a depth level according to an angle of incidence in which light incident upon the object is projected onto the image sensor through the microlens array;
- b) calculating a depth value of the depth level associated with one of the objects that serves as a reference object, the depth value indicating the distance between the reference object and the main lens;
- c) estimating a depth value for the depth level associated with another one of the objects that serves as a relative object;
- and
- d) generating a depth map according to the depth values;
- wherein, in step c), the depth value is estimated based on a distance between a first location on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the reference object is projected, and a second location on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the relative object is projected.
An image processing apparatus for generating a depth map for an image captured by a light-field camera, the image including at least two objects, the light-field camera including a main lens, an image sensor, and a microlens array that includes a plurality of microlenses, said image processing apparatus comprising:
- an object determining module configured to determine a depth level for each of the objects in the image according to an angle of incidence in which light incident upon the object is projected onto the image sensor through the microlens array;
- a depth value calculating module configured to calculate a depth value of the depth level associated with one of the objects that serves as a reference object, the depth value indicating the distance between the reference object and the main lens;
- and
- a depth value estimating module configured to estimate a depth value for the depth level associated with another one of the objects that serve as a relative object, and to generate a depth map according to the depth values;
- wherein said depth value estimating module estimates the depth value based on a distance between a first location on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the reference object is projected, and a second location on the image sensor, on which light incident upon the relative object is projected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.