US 9,497,429 B2Granted

Extended color processing on pelican array cameras

AssigneePelican Imaging Corporation

InventorsRobert Mullis, Dan Lelescu, Kartik Venkataraman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Systems and methods for extended color processing on Pelican array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of generating a high resolution image includes obtaining input images, where a first set of images includes information in a first band of visible wavelengths and a second set of images includes information in a second band of visible wavelengths and non-visible wavelengths, determining an initial estimate by combining the first set of images into a first fused image, combining the second set of images into a second fused image, spatially registering the fused images, denoising the fused images using bilateral filters, normalizing the second fused image in the photometric reference space of the first fused image, combining the fused images, determining a high resolution image that when mapped through a forward imaging transformation matches the input images within at least one predetermined criterion.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method of generating a high resolution image of a scene using an imager array including a plurality of imagers that each capture an image of the scene, and a forward imaging transformation for each imager, the method comprising:

obtaining input images captured by a plurality of imagers, where a first set of input images includes image information captured in a first band of visible wavelengths and a second set of input images includes image information captured in a second band of visible wavelengths and non-visible wavelengths;
determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a processor configured by software to:
combine image information from the first set of input images into a first fused image;
combine image information from the second set of input images into a second fused image, wherein the first fused image and the second fused image have the same resolution and the resolution is higher than the resolution of any of the input images;
spatially register the first fused image and the second fused image;
denoise the first fused image using a first bilateral filter;
denoise the second fused image using a second bilateral filter;
normalize the second fused image in the photometric reference space of the first fused image;
and
combine the first fused image and the second fused image into an initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image;
and
determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image using the processor configured by software;
wherein each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager in the imaging array generated the input images;
and
wherein the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images.

12 more elements

An array camera configured to generate a high resolution image of a scene using an imager array including a plurality of imagers that each capture an image of the scene, and a forward imaging transformation for each imager, the array camera comprising:

an imager array including a plurality of imagers;
and
a processor configured by software to:
obtain input images captured by the plurality of imagers, where a first set of input images includes image information captured in a first band of visible wavelengths and a second set of input images includes image information captured in a second band of visible wavelengths and non-visible wavelengths;
determine an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image by:
combining image information from the first set of input images into a first fused image;
combining image information from the second set of input images into a second fused image, wherein the first fused image and the second fused image have the same resolution and the resolution is higher than the resolution of any of the input images;
spatially registering the first fused image and the second fused image;
denoising the first fused image using a first bilateral filter;
denoising the second fused image using a second bilateral filter;
normalizing the second fused image in the photometric reference space of the first fused image;
combining the first fused image and the second fused image into an initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image;
and
determine a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image using the processor configured by software;
wherein each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager in the imaging array generated the input images;
and
wherein the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/145,734Filed 31 Dec 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0267762 A118 Sep 2014
Granted: 15 Nov 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04N 23/15
With multiple sensors: image signal generation with circuitry for avoiding or correcting image misregistration
H04N 5/265
Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the…: mixing
H04N 23/11
For generating image signals from different wavelengths: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
H04N 23/13
For generating image signals from different wavelengths: with multiple sensors