Waveguide-Based Plenoptic Camera for Compact Light Field Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional light field cameras are bulky, making them challenging to integrate into systems with strict weight and spatial constraints, and they lack cost-effective and scalable manufacturing options.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide-based plenoptic camera with an array of diffractive regions is developed, featuring a reduced size and weight, an expanded entrance aperture, and independently controlled, non-uniformly spaced angular field distributions, allowing for cost-effective and scalable fabrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional light field cameras use a microlens array placed near the sensor, then light field sensing capability is achieved, but the device size and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the microlens array from the sensor plane to a remote position in front of the sensor, utilizing the waveguide structure to transport light fields across a distance. This dimensional repositioning allows the sensing functionality to be maintained while significantly reducing the overall camera form factor and weight, as the bulkier components can be more efficiently arranged in three-dimensional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a waveguide structure as an intermediary component between the remote microlens array and the sensor. This waveguide mediates the light field transmission, enabling the separation of the microlens array from the sensor plane while maintaining optical functionality. The waveguide acts as a light-guiding medium that bridges the spatial gap, allowing compact integration without sacrificing light field sensing capability.
2Measurement precision
If traditional light field cameras use a microlens array placed near the sensor, then light field sensing capability is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the waveguide structure with the microlens array by integrating the array directly onto or into the waveguide substrate. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps, simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process while maintaining the remote positioning benefit. The merged structure eliminates the need for separate mounting mechanisms and alignment fixtures.
3Measurement precision
If traditional light field cameras use continuously varying lens surfaces, then angular field distribution is achieved, but manufacturing flexibility and scalability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous lens surface into a discrete array of individual microlenses with uniform spacing. Each microlens in the array independently samples a specific angular direction of the light field. This segmentation approach maintains the angular field distribution capability while enabling standardized, scalable manufacturing using conventional microlens array fabrication techniques, which are more flexible and cost-effective than producing custom continuously varying surfaces.
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 waveguide-based plenoptic camera achieves a significant reduction in size and weight while maintaining effective light field sensing capabilities, making it suitable for integration into consumer products and sensors with strict size and weight constraints.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide structure guides light propagation through total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
a waveguiding structure containing an array of diffractive regions
Data Source
AI summary
A plenoptic camera is described that is based on a waveguiding structure containing an array of diffractive regions. The waveguide-based plenoptic camera has reduced size and weight as compared to traditional camera approaches, as well as an expanded entrance aperture. Compared to traditional plenoptic cameras, which have microlens arrays placed in proximity to the sensor to serve as sub-apertures for the fractional fields, the waveguide-based plenoptic camera has its sub-apertures placed remote from the sensor area, within the in-coupling region of the waveguide.