Light-field camera

US10511787B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Frederik Zilly · Berlin, DE
• Joachim Keinert · Altdorf, DE
• Matthias Ziegler · Oakton, US
• Michael Schoeberl · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 11, 2016
• Grant date: Dec 17, 2019
• Expiry date: May 3, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/10052
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a light-field camera for capturing multiple views of a scene, representing samples of a light-field, having: a primary camera configured for capturing a primary digital two-dimensional image of the scene; a two-dimensional camera array having a plurality of secondary cameras, each of the secondary cameras being configured for capturing a secondary digital two-dimensional image of the scene to produce at least one set of secondary digital two-dimensional images of the scene; a semitransparent mirror arranged such that an incident light beam originating from the scene is split up in a first partial light beam, directed to the primary camera, and a second partial light beam, directed to the camera array; and a processing unit configured for receiving the primary digital two-dimensional image and the at least one set of secondary digital two-dimensional images and configured for computing depth information for the primary digital two-dimensional image or a digital two-dimensional image corresponding to the primary digital two-dimensional image based on the set of secondary digital two-dimensional images.