Capturing and Processing of Images Captured by Camera Arrays Including Heterogeneous Optics

摘要

A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.

主权项

1. A camera array, comprising:
a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of a scene, where each camera comprises:
optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture; anda sensor comprising a two dimensional array of pixels and control circuitry for controlling imaging parameters; andat least one spectral filter located within the camera, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; wherein the plurality of cameras comprises a plurality of different types of camera, where cameras of a given type share the same imaging characteristics and different types of cameras have different characteristics including using different types of filters; wherein a camera that uses a first type of filter configured to pass a first spectral band includes a lens element having a first configuration for focusing light in the first spectral band and a camera that uses a second type of filter configured to pass a second spectral band includes a lens element having a second configuration for focusing light in the second spectral band; wherein the plurality of cameras includes a central camera and the plurality of cameras forms:
at least one row of cameras above the central camera;at least one row of cameras below the central camera;at least one column of cameras to the left of the central camera; andat least one column of cameras to the right of the central camera; wherein cameras having the same type are located in locations selected from the group consisting of:
locations including at least one row in the camera array above the central camera and at least one row in the camera array below the central camera; andlocations including at least one column in the camera array to the left of the central camera and at least one column in the camera array to the right of the central camera.