Light Field Camera Optical System Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light field capture devices face challenges in balancing image quality and processing efficiency due to the high computational resources and memory bandwidth required for processing highly modulated 4D light field data, often resulting in trade-offs between flexibility and image quality.
Innovation Solution
Optimizing optical systems of light field capture devices through modifications such as tailored sensor read-out modes, varying pixel properties, and modifying the microlens and main lens designs to reduce data size and processing costs while maintaining image quality, including techniques like binning, skipping pixels, and adjusting exposure durations based on light field coordinates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light field capture devices capture highly modulated 4D light field data, then light field flexibility and capabilities are improved, but computational resources, memory bandwidth, and processing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical processing in advance through specially designed microlens arrays and sensor configurations. The microlens array pre-processes the light field data during capture, encoding depth and angular information directly into the captured image data. This preliminary optical processing reduces the computational burden on subsequent digital processing stages, as the heavy lifting of organizing and structuring light field information is done optically before the data even reaches the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/computational processing with optical processing. Instead of using complex computational algorithms to organize and process light field data after capture, the system uses optical elements (microlens arrays, specialized sensor configurations) to perform the organization and processing during the capture phase. This substitution of optical mechanisms for computational methods directly reduces the computational resources and energy required for subsequent processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light field capture devices capture highly modulated 4D light field data, then light field flexibility and capabilities are improved, but image quality and resolution deteriorate due to processing compromises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical processing in advance through specially designed microlens arrays and sensor configurations. The microlens array pre-processes the light field data during capture, encoding depth and angular information directly into the captured image data. This preliminary optical processing reduces the computational burden on subsequent digital processing stages, as the heavy lifting of organizing and structuring light field information is done optically before the data even reaches the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key optical parameters including microlens focal length, microlens pitch, sensor pixel pitch, and optical distances to optimize the light field capture geometry. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves integer relationships between optical elements that simplify the modulation patterns in captured data, making it easier to maintain high image quality while preserving light field flexibility. The parameter changes transform the optical system to work more efficiently with the desired trade-offs.
3Productivity
If optical systems are optimized to reduce data size and processing costs, then processing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the microlens array to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it focuses light onto sensor pixels, encodes angular information through its periodic structure, and creates the modulation pattern that enables light field reconstruction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate optical components, as the microlens array handles what would otherwise require multiple discrete elements. The specialized sensor also serves multiple purposes by capturing both spatial and angular information in a single capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key optical parameters including microlens focal length, microlens pitch, sensor pixel pitch, and optical distances to optimize the light field capture geometry. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves integer relationships between optical elements that simplify the modulation patterns in captured data, making it easier to maintain high image quality while preserving light field flexibility. The parameter changes transform the optical system to work more efficiently with the desired trade-offs.
4Use of energy by moving object
If conventional processing methods are used for light field data, then processing costs are high, but simpler processing approaches result in degraded light field image data quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical processing in advance through specially designed microlens arrays and sensor configurations. The microlens array pre-processes the light field data during capture, encoding depth and angular information directly into the captured image data. This preliminary optical processing reduces the computational burden on subsequent digital processing stages, as the heavy lifting of organizing and structuring light field information is done optically before the data even reaches the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key optical parameters including microlens focal length, microlens pitch, sensor pixel pitch, and optical distances to optimize the light field capture geometry. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves integer relationships between optical elements that simplify the modulation patterns in captured data, making it easier to maintain high image quality while preserving light field flexibility. The parameter changes transform the optical system to work more efficiently with the desired trade-offs.
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
The optimized optical systems enable cheaper and more efficient processing of light field image data, improving image quality and resolution while reducing processing costs, particularly beneficial in resource-constrained devices like smartphones.
Implementation Method 1
using a microlens array on top of an image sensor (e.g., a CCD or CMOS sensor)
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
According to various embodiments of the present invention, the optical systems of light field capture devices are optimized so as to improve captured light field image data. Optimizing optical systems of light field capture devices can result in captured light field image data (both still and video) that is cheaper and/or easier to process. Optical systems can be optimized to yield improved quality or resolution when using cheaper processing approaches whose computational costs fit within various processing and/or resource constraints. As such, the optical systems of light field cameras can be optimized to reduce size and/or cost and/or increase the quality of such optical systems.