Plenoptic imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936188-B2
Application number	US-201414765572-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2014
Priority date	Feb 13, 2013
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A plenoptic imaging device according to the invention comprises an image multiplier ( 130 ) for obtaining a multitude of optical images of an object or scene and a pick-up system ( 140 ) for imaging at least some of the multitude of images to a common image sensor ( 170 ) during the same exposure of the sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging device, insertable between a lens and a body of a camera, the camera comprising an image sensor, the imaging device comprising:
an image multiplier using reflection for obtaining a multitude of optical images of an object or scene;
a pick-up system for imaging at least some of the multitude of optical images to the image sensor during the same exposure of the image sensor, wherein the pickup system has a stoppable aperture,
characterized in that
when the imaging device is inserted, the pick-up system is arranged between the image multiplier and the image sensor of the camera; and
said stoppable aperture of said pickup system regulates a depth of field of individual optical images of said multitude of optical images.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an array of optical filters for filtering the multitude of optical images imaged by the pick-up system.

3. The imaging device of claim 2 , further comprising
an imaging system for imaging the filtered images onto the imaging sensor.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a pupil-matching lens to adjust for external optical device properties.

5. The imaging device of claim 2 , wherein the filters comprise neutral density, multispectral, polarization or temporal filters.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser screen.

7. A photo and/or video camera, comprising an imaging device according to claim 1 .

8. A camera add-on, comprising an imaging device according to claim 1 .

9. A system, comprising an imaging device according to claim 1 and an objective lens.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising the steps of:
receiving at least some images or image sequences acquired using an imaging device according to claim 1 ;
reconstructing a digital image or video, based on the at least some images or image sequences; and
outputting the digital image or video.

11. An imaging device, insertable between a lens and a body of a camera, the camera comprising an image sensor, the imaging device comprising:
a prism coated with a reflective material for obtaining a multitude of optical images of an object or scene;
a pick-up system for imaging at least some of the multitude of optical images to the image sensor during the same exposure of the image sensor, wherein the pickup system has a stoppable aperture,
characterized in that
when the imaging device is inserted, the pick-up system is arranged between the image multiplier and the image sensor of the camera; and characterized in that
said stoppable aperture of said pickup system regulates a depth of field of individual optical images of said multitude of optical images.

12. The imaging device of claim 11 , further comprising:
an array of optical filters for filtering the multitude of optical images imaged by the pick-up system.

13. The imaging device of claim 12 , further comprising an imaging system for imaging the filtered images onto the image sensor.

14. The imaging device of claim 12 , wherein the filters comprise neutral density, multispectral, polarization or temporal filters.

15. The imaging device of claim 11 , further comprising a pupil-matching system to adjust for external optical device properties.

16. The imaging device of claim 11 , further comprising a diffuser screen.

17. A photo and/or video camera, comprising an imaging device according to claim 11 .

18. A camera add-on, comprising an imaging device according to claim 11 .

19. A system, comprising an imaging device according to claim 11 and an objective lens.

Assignees

• Univ Saarland
• Max Planck Gesellschaft

Inventors

• Klehm Oliver
• Ihrke Ivo
• Restrepo John
• Manakov Alkhazur
• Hegedüs Ramon

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B5/0273

  characterized by the use · CPC title

• H04N13/0257 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N13/0217

  Electricity · mapped topic