Thin form factor computational array cameras and modular array cameras

US9253380B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pelican Imaging Corporation · US

Inventors

• Kartik Venkataraman · San Jose, US
• Paul Gallagher · New York, US
• Dan Lelescu · معلمی نژاد, US
• Andrew Kenneth John McMahon · San Carlos, US
• Jacques Duparre · Jena, DE
• Bedabrata Pain · Los Angeles, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 24, 2014
• Grant date: Feb 2, 2016
• Expiry date: Feb 24, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N25/701
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, an X×Y sub-array module includes: an X×Y arrangement of focal planes, where X and Y are each greater than or equal to 1; and an X×Y arrangement of lens stacks, the X×Y arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the X×Y arrangement of focal planes so as to form an X×Y arrangement of cameras, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to the field-of-views of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene; and image data output circuitry that is configured to output image data from the X×Y sub-array module that can be aggregated with image data from other sub-array modules so that an image of the scene can be constructed.