Single-lens aperture-coded camera for three dimensional imaging in small volumes

1. A method, comprising:

imaging a scene using a plurality of the apertures arranged in a pattern of a specified shape by allowing light from the scene to pass only through the plurality of apertures onto an imager;

associating each of the apertures with a different and separate portion of the imager, so that light which passes through each aperture is imaged on a different portion of the imager;

capturing light reflected from or emitted by a large plurality of isolated distinguishable points of the scene that pass through each of the plurality of apertures and that is received at the imager as a plurality of isolated distinguishable point images, the isolated distinguishable point images each including a number of image points that is equal to a number of the plurality of apertures; and

analyzing each image point in each isolated distinguishable point image from the imager to determine relative positions of each isolated distinguishable point in the scene relative to each other isolated distinguishable point in the scene to map a complete three dimensional image of the scene.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged into an equilateral triangular arrangement.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged into a square arrangement.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged linearly along a line.

5. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising providing a lens system between at least a plurality of said apertures and said imager.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said lensing system is a lens system intended for close-up imaging.

7. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising watertight encasing the imager prior to imaging, and also forming an illumination system which is also watertight.

8. A method of as in claim 7 , further comprising calibrating an underwater operation of the system, by imaging grid patterns at multiple depths.

9. A method of as in claim 1 , further comprising calibrating an operation of said system, by imaging grid patterns at multiple depths.

10. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising repeating the method as recited in claim 1 to map multiple three dimensional images of the scene and viewing the multiple three dimensional images sequentially as a dynamic three dimensional representation of the scene.

11. The three dimensional camera device as in claim 1 , wherein the processor further comprises programming to map multiple three dimensional images of the scene and to present the multiple three dimensional images sequentially as a dynamic three dimensional representation of the scene.

12. A three-dimensional camera device, comprising:

an imaging device;

an array of apertures, arranged in a pattern having a specified shape, arranged between said imaging device and a scene;

a lens part, the lens part, the imaging device and the apertures being arranged to capture light reflected from or emitted by a large plurality of isolated distinguishable points of the scene that pass through each of the plurality of apertures and that is received at the imager as a plurality of isolated distinguishable point images, the isolated distinguishable point images each including a number of image points that is equal to a number of the plurality of apertures; and

a processor to analyze each image point in each isolated distinguishable point image from the imager to determine relative positions of each isolated distinguishable point in the scene relative to each other isolated distinguishable point in the scene to map a complete three dimensional image of the scene.

13. A device as in claim 12 , further comprising a computer controlled part, which analyzes information from the different parts, and produces three-dimensional object information therefrom.

14. A device as in claim 12 , wherein said apertures are arranged in an equilateral arrangement.

15. A device as in claim 12 , wherein said apertures are arranged linearly along a line.

16. A device as in claim 12 , wherein said lensing part is a close-up imaging lens.

17. A device as in claim 12 , further comprising a waterproofing part, associated with waterproofing said imaging device and said illumination part.

18. A device as in claim 12 , wherein said lens part includes two groups of lenses and a relay lens between said two groups of lenses, said lens part optimized for close up imaging.

19. A three-dimensional camera device, comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

an array of apertures, arranged in a specified shape relative to one another, and arranged between at least said first imaging device and a scene; and

a lens part, passing light which has passed through said apertures to at least one of said imaging devices so that said at least one imaging device obtains multiple images of the scene;

wherein at least the second imaging device is a color imaging device and the second imaging device acquires a color pictorial image of the scene, and

a processing part, which processes information from at least said first imaging device to obtain three dimensional information from said multiple images of the scene, and processes the three dimensional information and the color image of the scene acquired from the second imaging device to overlay the color image from said second imaging device with said three dimensional information, to form a composite image.

20. A device as in claim 19 , wherein said lens part operates in a way such that light from each of said apertures is received on a different part of said imaging device and such that there is no overlap on said imaging device between areas which receive light from the different apertures.

21. A device as in claim 19 , further comprising at least one additional imaging device, each imaging device associated with one of said apertures.

22. A device as in claim 19 , wherein said at least one imaging device obtains images from different apertures at different separated times via a shutter that opens the different apertures at the different separate times.