Depth layer extraction and image synthesis from focus varied multiple images

US7720371B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NIKON CORPORATION · JP

Inventors

• Li Hong · San Diego, US
• Mark Takita · Menlo Park, US
• W. Thomas Novak · Hillsborough, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 18, 2007
• Grant date: May 18, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 1, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03B13/18
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A camera (210) for providing an adjusted image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (224), an optical assembly (222), a capturing system (226), and a control system (232). The optical assembly (222) is adjustable to alternatively be focused on a first focal area (356A) and a second focal area (356B) that is different than the first focal area (356A). The capturing system (226) captures a first captured image (360A) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the first focal area (356A) and captures a second captured image (360B) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the second focal area (356B). The control system (232) provides the adjusted image (214) of the scene (12) based upon the first captured image (360A) and the second captured image (360B). Additionally, the control system (232) can perform object depth extraction of one or more objects (16) (18) (20) in the scene (12). Alternatively, the multiple captured images (360A) (360B) can be adjusted by a separate adjustment system (680).