Automatic adjustment of light field imaging systems for resolution enhancement
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsVipin Namboodiri, Krishna Prasad Agara Venkatesha Rao, Go Maruyama
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Abstract
A light field imaging system captures different images provide views that are shifted by sub-pixel amounts relative to one another. These views can be combined to produce a higher resolution digital image of the object.
Claims19
A light field imaging system for producing an image of an object, the light field imaging system comprising:
- a primary optical subsystem that forms an optical image of an object, the optical image located at an image plane of the primary optical subsystem;
- a light field sensor module comprising a secondary imaging array and a sensor array, the secondary imaging array imaging a pupil of the primary optical subsystem onto the sensor array, the secondary imaging array displaced from the image plane so that the sensor array is configured to capture an array of multiplexed views of the object;
- a processing module configured to determine one or more optical parameters to achieve a desired resolution enhancement value, wherein the primary optical subsystem and/or light field sensor module are adjustable according to the one or more optical parameters;
- and
- an auto defocus module to automatically adjust the primary optical subsystem and/or light field sensor module according to the one or more optical parameters determined by the processing module;
- and
- wherein the processing module is further configured to combine the captured array of multiplexed views into a digital image of the object having a resolution higher than a resolution of any of the multiplexed views, and wherein the array of multiplexed views were captured after automatic adjustment by the auto defocus module.
A method for producing an image of an object using a light field imaging system, the light field imaging system comprising a primary optical subsystem and a light field sensor module having a secondary imaging array and a sensor array, the method comprising:
- receiving a desired resolution enhancement value;
- determining one or more optical parameters to achieve the desired resolution enhancement value, wherein the primary optical subsystem and/or light field sensor module are adjustable according to the one or more optical parameters;
- automatically adjusting the light field imaging system according to the one or more determined optical parameters;
- capturing an array of multiplexed views of the object after automatic adjustment of the light field imaging system according to the one or more determined optical parameters;
- wherein the primary optical subsystem forms an optical image of the object, the optical image located at an image plane of the primary optical subsystem;
- and the secondary imaging array images a pupil of the primary optical subsystem onto the sensor array, the secondary imaging array displaced from the image plane so that the sensor array is configured to capture the array of multiplexed views of the object;
- and
- combining the captured array of multiplexed views into a digital image of the object having a resolution higher than a resolution of any of the multiplexed views.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for producing an image of an object using a light field imaging system, the light field imaging system comprising a primary optical subsystem and a light field sensor module having a secondary imaging array and a sensor array, the instructions executable by a processor and causing the light field imaging system to perform a method comprising:
- receiving a desired resolution enhancement value;
- determining one or more optical parameters to achieve the desired resolution enhancement value, wherein the primary optical subsystem and/or light field sensor module are adjustable according to the one or more optical parameters;
- automatically adjusting the light field imaging system according to the one or more determined optical parameters;
- capturing an array of multiplexed views of the object after automatic adjustment of the light field imaging system according to the one or more determined optical parameters;
- wherein the primary optical subsystem forms an optical image of the object, the optical image located at an image plane of the primary optical subsystem;
- and the secondary imaging array images a pupil of the primary optical subsystem onto the sensor array, the secondary imaging array displaced from the image plane so that the sensor array is configured to capture the array of multiplexed views of the object;
- and
- combining the captured array of multiplexed views into a digital image of the object having a resolution higher than a resolution of any of the multiplexed views.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.