Capturing light-field images with uneven and/or incomplete angular sampling
A light-field camera may generate four-dimensional light-field data indicative of incoming light. The light-field camera may have an aperture configured to receive the incoming light, an image sensor, and a microlens array configured to redirect the incoming light at the image sensor. The image sensor may receive the incoming light and, based on the incoming light, generate the four-dimensional light-field data, which may have first and second spatial dimensions and first and second angular dimensions. The first angular dimension may have a first resolution higher than a second resolution of the second angular dimension.
1. A light-field camera comprising:
an aperture configured to receive incoming light and having a rectangular exit pupil;
an image sensor;
a microlens array disposed between the aperture and the image sensor, wherein the microlens array comprises a plurality of microlenses arranged in a plurality of rows, each row arranged at a non-zero acute angle relative to the rectangular exit pupil; and
wherein the image sensor is configured to generate light-field data based on the incoming light received through the microlens array.
2. The light-field camera of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microlenses comprises a plurality of rectangular microlenses.
3. The light-field camera of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microlenses comprises a plurality of circular microlenses.
4. The light-field camera of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microlenses comprises a plurality of hexagonal microlenses.
5. The light-field camera of claim 1 , wherein a width of the rectangular exit pupil is greater than a length of the rectangular exit pupil.
6. The light-field camera of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular exit pupil is shared and oriented, relative to the microlens array, such that the incoming light received through the microlens array forms a tessellated pattern at the image sensor.
7. The light-field camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a main lens through which the incoming light is to pass through prior to redirection by the microlens array.
8. The light-field camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a masking system configured to position at least one of a plurality of masks proximate the aperture, wherein the masks define a plurality of exit pupils having a plurality of different shapes, each of which defines an exit pupil for the aperture, the plurality of exit pupils including the rectangular exit pupil.
9. A light-field camera comprising:
an aperture configured to receive incoming light and having a rectangular exit pupil;
an image sensor;
a microlens array disposed between the aperture and the image sensor, wherein the microlens array is rotated by a non-zero acute angle relative to the rectangular exit pupil; and
wherein the image sensor is configured to generate light-field data based on the incoming light received through the microlens array.
10. The light-field camera of claim 9 , wherein the microlens array comprises one of: a plurality of rectangular microlenses; a plurality of circular microlenses; and a plurality of hexagonal microlenses.
11. The light-field camera of claim 9 , wherein a width of the rectangular exit pupil is greater than a length of the rectangular exit pupil.
12. The light-field camera of claim 9 , wherein the rectangular exit pupil is shared and oriented, relative to the microlens array, such that the incoming light received through the microlens array forms a tessellated pattern at the image sensor.
13. The light-field camera of claim 9 , further comprising:
a main lens through which the incoming light is to pass through prior to redirection by the microlens array.
14. The light-field camera of claim 9 , further comprising:
a masking system configured to position at least one of a plurality of masks proximate the aperture, wherein the masks define a plurality of exit pupils having a plurality of different shapes, each of which defines an exit pupil for the aperture, the plurality of exit pupils including the rectangular exit pupil.