Light field data acquisition
A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a light field sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the light field sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics. In response to user input, the light field acquires the light field image data of the scene, and a storage device stores the acquired data. Such acquired data can subsequently be used to generate a plurality of images of the scene using different virtual focus depths.
1. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprising:
optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point, wherein the focal point is associated with a focal length of the optics and wherein the optics comprises a zoom lens system having a plurality of zoom positions;
a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined distance is substantially independent of the scene, and wherein an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity; and
a user interface configured to receive a user input, wherein, in response to the user input, the light field sensor acquires the light field image data of the scene;
a storage device, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to store the acquired light field image data of the scene; and
a mechanical system, coupled to at least one of the light field sensor and the optics, configured to maintain the light field sensor unit at the predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics for the plurality of the zoom positions of the zoom lens system.
2. The light field imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the optics is configurable to include a plurality of different focal lengths having associated focal points.
3. The light field imaging device of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance of the light field sensor, relative to the focal point of the optics, changes in accordance with the focal length of the optics.
4. The light field imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical system is coupled to the light field sensor.
5. The light field imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the zoom lens system comprises a continuous zoom providing the plurality of zoom positions.
6. The light field imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical system comprises:
a spatial adjustment unit, coupled to at least one of the light field sensor and the optics, configured to move the light field sensor unit; and
control circuitry, coupled to the spatial adjustment unit, configured to control the spatial adjustment unit to maintain the light field sensor unit at the predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics.
7. The light field imaging device of claim 6 , further comprising memory, coupled to the control circuitry, configured to store data representative of a plurality of locations of the light field sensor corresponding to a plurality of associated zoom positions.
8. The light field imaging device of claim 6 , further comprising memory, coupled to the control circuitry, wherein the memory comprises at least one of a database and a lookup table correlating a plurality of locations of the light field sensor according to a plurality of associated zoom positions.
9. The light field imaging device of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to access the at least one of a database and a lookup table having data representative of the location based on the zoom position of the zoom lens system, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate at least one control signal applied to the spatial adjustment unit to move the light field sensor unit.