# US 9,883,151 B2 · Apparatus and method for capturing lightfield image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,151 B2 - Document ID: US9883151B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/952,992 - Filed: 2015-11-26 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-28 - Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute - Applicants: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute - Inventors: Do-Hyung Kim; Seong-Jin Park; Il-Kyu Park; Chang-Joon Park; Jin-Sung Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883151B2 ## CPC - G03B 35/10: having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system - H04N 23/80: Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof - H04N 23/951: by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio - H04N 23/957: Light-field or plenoptic cameras or camera modules - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An apparatus and method for capturing a light field image. The light field image capture apparatus includes a mirror array or a micro-lens array. An activated mirror selected from among the multiple mirrors of the mirror array provides light to the multiple elements of an image sensor. An activated lens, selected from among the multiple lenses of the micro-lens array, provides light to the multiple elements of the image sensor. Based on timesharing, the mirror, selected as the activated mirror from among the multiple mirrors, is changed, and the lens, selected as the activated lens from among the multiple lenses, is changed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for capturing a light field image, the apparatus comprising: a mirror array; and an image sensor, wherein a certain number of mirrors of multiple mirrors of the mirror array provide light to multiple elements of the image sensor, wherein each of the multiple mirrors is selected as one of the certain number of the mirrors in at least one of multiple time slots based on timesharing, and wherein the apparatus generates image data having a size that is larger than a resolution of the image sensor, by selecting a part of the multiple mirrors as the certain number of the mirrors based on timesharing and by enabling the selected mirrors to provide light to the multiple elements of the image sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein remaining mirrors, determined by excluding the certain number of the mirrors from the multiple mirrors, do not provide light to the image sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, for two adjacent mirrors among the multiple mirrors, if one of the two mirrors provides light to the multiple elements of the image sensor as one of the certain number of the mirrors, a remaining one of the two mirrors does not provide light to the image sensor as one of the remaining mirrors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: a rotation angle of each of the multiple mirrors changes; and each of the multiple mirrors operates as one of the certain number of the mirrors or as one of the remaining mirrors, according to the rotation angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controller for controlling the rotation angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the apparatus generates the image data through n time slots obtained from timesharing; and each of the multiple mirrors provides light to the multiple elements of the image sensor in at least one of the n time slots, where n is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a main lens, wherein the certain number of the mirrors provide light to the multiple elements of the image sensor by reflecting light that has passed through the main lens. ### Claim 8 A method for capturing a light field image, the method comprising: providing, by a certain number of mirrors of multiple mirrors of a mirror array, light to multiple elements of an image sensor; and generating, by the image sensor, image data, according to the light provided to the multiple element, wherein each of the multiple mirrors is selected as one of the certain number of the mirrors in at least one of multiple time slots based on timesharing, and wherein the apparatus generates image data having a size that is larger than a resolution of the image sensor, by selecting a part of the multiple mirrors as the certain number of the mirrors based on timesharing and by enabling the selected mirrors to provide light to the multiple elements of the image sensor. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for capturing a light field image, the apparatus comprising: a micro-lens array; and an image sensor, wherein a certain number of lenses of multiple lenses of the micro-Lens array provide light to multiple elements of the image sensor, wherein each of the multiple lenses is selected as one of the certain number of the lenses in at least one of multiple time slots based on timesharing, and wherein the apparatus generates image data having a size that is larger than a resolution of the image sensor, by selecting a part of the multiple lenses as the certain number of the lenses and by enabling the selected lenses to provide light to the multiple elements of the image sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein remaining lenses, determined by excluding the certain number of the lenses from the multiple lenses, do not provide light to the image sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The, apparatus of claim 10, wherein, for two adjacent lenses among the multiple lenses, if one of the two lenses provides light to the multiple elements of the image sensor as one of the certain number of the lenses, a remaining one of the two lenses does not provide light to the image sensor, as one of the remaining lenses. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a mask that includes multiple areas and controls whether each of the multiple areas passes light, wherein each of the multiple lenses operates as one of the certain number of the lenses or as one of the remaining lenses due to the mask. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, for the multiple lenses, a lens adjacent to an area that passes light among the multiple areas operates as one of the certain number of the lenses, and a lens adjacent to an area that does not pass light among the multiple areas operates as one of the remaining lenses. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a controller for electronically controlling the mask. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the apparatus generates the image data through n time slots obtained from timesharing; and each of the multiple lenses provides light to the multiple elements of the image sensor in at least one of n time slots, where n is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a main lens, wherein the certain number of the lenses provide light to the multiple elements of the image sensor by focusing light that has passed through the main lens on each of the multiple elements.