Light-Field Camera Microlens Array Focused on Image Plane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cameras fail to capture the directional information of light, resulting in low-resolution images when attempting to render four-dimensional light-field data onto a two-dimensional sensor, leading to wasted optical information and unsatisfactory image quality for modern photography standards.
Innovation Solution
A full-resolution light-field camera and rendering method where microlenses are focused on the image plane created by the main lens instead of the main lens itself, allowing for sharper, higher spatial resolution images and enabling the capture of positional information, which is then used to produce high-resolution images through a process involving microimage inversion and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microlenses are focused on the main lens itself (conventional plenoptic camera), then the light-field can be captured, but the spatial resolution is low and image quality is unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the main lens image at the image plane, which the microlenses then focus on. This allows the microlenses to capture directional information while maintaining high spatial resolution, as they are effectively copying the already-focused image rather than trying to focus directly on the distant main lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary image plane between the main lens and the microlenses. This intermediate plane serves as a virtual object for the microlenses, allowing them to capture light-field information with high spatial resolution without being constrained by the distance to the main lens.
2Measurement precision
If four-dimensional light-field data is rendered onto a two-dimensional sensor, then light-field information can be captured, but the resolution is reduced and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light-field capture into two distinct stages: first the main lens captures the full-resolution image, then the microlenses capture directional information for each segment of the image. This segmentation allows high-resolution capture while organizing the complex four-dimensional data into manageable two-dimensional sensor regions.
3Loss of information
If conventional camera methods are used, then the device is simple and easy to operate, but directional light information is lost and image quality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where microlenses are positioned in front of the image plane, creating a nested arrangement of optical elements. The microlenses are effectively nested within the optical path of the main lens, allowing directional information capture without requiring a completely separate camera system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the resolution of rendered images, achieving spatial resolutions of 10 megapixels and beyond, making light-field photography more practical and comparable to conventional high-resolution camera standards.
Implementation Method 1
an array of microlenses, the microlenses of which are focused on the image plane, refract light from the image plane onto a photosensor
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to flats captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.