Relay Lens Light Field Adapter for Conventional Camera Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light field gathering systems are constrained by a limited lens clearance, making them incompatible with conventional cameras and requiring costly adaptations, and they struggle to efficiently process light field data for 2D and 3D image rendering and depth of field adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A light field imaging system comprising a field lens, a lenslet array positioned proximal to the focal plane, and relay optical elements that collimate and focus light onto an image plane, allowing for interchangeable components and software-driven calibration and processing to produce 2D and 3D images, and adjust depth of field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lenslet array is positioned close to the focal plane of the prime lens to gather light field, then light field data collection is enabled, but the lens clearance becomes too small (3-4 mm) to be compatible with conventional cameras requiring minimum 30-40 mm clearance
Solution Approach 1:
A relay lens is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the lenslet array and the sensor. The relay lens receives light from the lenslet array and redirects it to the sensor plane, enabling the sensor to be positioned at a convenient distance from the lenslet array while maintaining proper light field data collection. This mediator resolves the clearance conflict by decoupling the sensor position from the lenslet array position.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical path is extended into a third dimension by introducing the relay lens, which allows the sensor to be positioned in a different spatial location than the lenslet array. This dimensional extension enables the system to achieve both compact light field gathering (lenslet array close to prime lens focal plane) and adequate clearance for camera integration (sensor positioned 30-40 mm from lenslet array).
2Volume of moving object
If the lenslet array is positioned close to the focal plane to minimize clearance, then the optical system becomes more compact, but adapting cameras to work with such a system becomes costly and onerous
Solution Approach 1:
The relay lens is designed to work with standard camera sensors and mounting interfaces, creating a universal adapter that enables conventional cameras to function with light field imaging systems. This universal interface reduces adaptation costs and complexity by allowing existing camera infrastructure to be used without specialized modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay lens serves as a bridge between the compact optical system and conventional camera requirements. It translates the light field data from the lenslet array into a format compatible with standard camera sensors, eliminating the need for expensive custom camera adaptations while maintaining system compactness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If relay optical elements are added to collimate and focus light onto the image plane, then the system can be integrated with conventional cameras, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay lens is a single optical element that performs multiple functions: collimating light from the lenslet array, focusing it onto the sensor plane, and enabling integration with conventional camera mounts. By using one well-designed intermediary element rather than a complex multi-element system, the patent achieves camera integration with minimal added complexity.
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
Enables the creation of adaptable light field imaging systems that can be integrated with various cameras, facilitating the capture and manipulation of light field data for 2D and 3D image rendering and depth of field adjustments, enhancing image processing capabilities and reducing adaptation costs.
Implementation Method 1
a lenslet array positioned proximal the focal plane of the field lens
Implementation Method 2
relay optical elements configured to gather the light field refracted by the lenslet array, to collimate the light field
Implementation Method 3
relay optical elements configured to gather the light field refracted by the lenslet array, to collimate the light field and to focus the light field onto an image plane
Data Source
AI summary
Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.