Systems and methods for estimating depth from projected texture using camera arrays

1. A camera array, comprising:

a conventional camera;

at least one two-dimensional array of cameras comprising a plurality of cameras, wherein the conventional camera has a higher resolution than the plurality of cameras in the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras, wherein a horizontal baseline between the conventional camera and the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras is larger than a vertical baseline between cameras within the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras;

an illumination system configured to illuminate a scene with a projected texture;

a processor; and

memory containing an image processing pipeline application and an illumination system controller application;

wherein the illumination system controller application directs the processor to control the illumination system to illuminate a scene with a projected texture;

wherein the image processing pipeline application directs the processor to:

utilize the illumination system controller application to control the illumination system to illuminate the scene with the projected texture;

capture using the conventional camera and the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras, a set of images of the scene illuminated with the projected texture;

determine depth estimates for pixel locations in an image from a reference viewpoint using at least a subset of the set of images, wherein generating a depth estimate for a given pixel location in the image from the reference viewpoint comprises:

identifying pixels in the at least a subset of the set of images that correspond to the given pixel location in the image from the reference viewpoint based upon expected disparity at a plurality of depths along a plurality of epipolar lines aligned at different angles;

comparing the similarity of the corresponding pixels identified at each of the plurality of depths; and

selecting the depth from the plurality of depths at which the identified corresponding pixels have the highest degree of similarity as a depth estimate for the given pixel location in the image from the reference viewpoint;

process the set of images using the depth estimates to produce a synthesized higher resolution image.

2. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras comprises at least two two-dimensional arrays of cameras located in complementary occlusion zones surrounding the illumination system.

3. The camera array of claim 2 , wherein a portion of a scene that is occluded in the field of view of at least one camera in a first of the two-dimensional arrays of cameras is visible in a plurality of cameras in a second of the arrays of cameras, where the first and second arrays of cameras are located in complementary occlusion zones on opposite sides of the illumination system.

4. The camera array of claim 3 , wherein the at least two two-dimensional arrays of cameras comprises a pair of two-dimensional arrays of cameras located in complementary occlusion zones on either side of the illumination system.

5. The camera array of claim 4 , wherein each array of cameras is a 2×2 array of monochrome cameras.

6. The camera array of claim 4 , wherein the projected texture includes a first spatial pattern period in a first direction and a second larger spatial pattern period in a second direction.

7. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the at least one two-dimensional array of cameras comprises one two-dimensional array of cameras including a plurality of lower resolution cameras and at least one higher resolution camera.

8. The camera array of claim 7 , wherein the two-dimensional array of cameras comprises at least one lower resolution camera located above, below, to the left, and to the right of the higher resolution camera.

9. The camera array of claim 8 , wherein the higher resolution camera includes a Bayer filter pattern and the lower resolution cameras are monochrome cameras.

10. The camera array of claim 9 , wherein the image processing pipeline application configures the higher resolution camera to capture texture information when the illumination system is not illuminating the scene using the projected pattern.

11. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the projected texture includes a first spatial pattern period in a first direction and a second larger spatial pattern period in a second direction.

12. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the illumination system is a static illumination system configured to project a fixed pattern.

13. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein:

the illumination system is a dynamic illumination system configured to project a controllable pattern; and

the illumination system controller application directs the processor to control the pattern projected by the illumination system.

14. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the illumination system includes a spatial light modulator selected from the group consisting of a reflective liquid crystal on silicon microdisplay and a translucent liquid crystal microdisplay.

15. The camera array of claim 14 , wherein the image processing pipeline application directs the processor to:

utilize the illumination system controller application to control the illumination system to illuminate a scene with a first projected texture;

capture a first set of images of the scene illuminated with the first projected texture;

determine initial depth estimates for pixel locations in an image from a reference viewpoint using at least a subset of the first set of images;

utilize the illumination system controller application to control the illumination system to illuminate a scene with a second projected texture selected based upon at least one initial depth estimate for a pixel location in an image from a reference viewpoint;

capture a second set of images of the scene illuminated with the second projected texture; and

determine updated depth estimates for pixel locations in an image from a reference viewpoint using at least a subset of the first set of images.

16. The camera array of claim 15 , wherein the spatial pattern period of the second projected texture at the at least one initial depth estimate for a pixel location in an image from a reference viewpoint is higher than the spatial resolution of the plurality of cameras at the at least one initial depth estimate for a pixel location in an image from the reference viewpoint.

17. The camera array of claim 1 , wherein the illumination system comprises an array of projectors.

18. The camera array of claim 17 , wherein the array of projectors comprises projectors configured to project different patterns.

19. The camera array of claim 18 , wherein the different patterns comprise patterns having different spatial pattern periods.

20. The camera array of claim 18 , wherein:

the projectors are configured to project controllable patterns; and

the illumination system controller application directs the processor to control the patterns projected by the illumination system.