Patent · US Active

3D light field cameras, images and files, and methods of using, operating, processing and viewing same

US8749620B1 · kind B1 · utility

99Cited by
31References
35Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 2011
Grant dateJun 10, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 14, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N2201/02493
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A 3D stereo image of a scene is generated by generating first image data of the scene using light field data representing light rays from a first direction, and second image data of the scene using light field data representing light rays from a second direction. The 3D stereo image of the scene is then generated using the first image data and the second image data. A microlens array may be used to direct light rays onto a photosensor array, wherein each microlens of the microlens array includes a physical aperture which correlates to a plurality of associated photosensors, a first virtual aperture which correlates to a first subset of the associated photosensors, and a second virtual aperture which correlates to a second subset of the associated photosensors. Each virtual aperture thus provides light rays from a different direction for use in generating the 3D stereo image.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.