Patent: Multi-Lens, Multi-View Camera

[Canon Rumors]

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<p><span style="color: #444444;">Below is a patent for a multi-lens, multi-view camera. I’m not sure what the application would be for such a camera, but I felt the same way about the PowerShot N and it continues to get made. :)</span></p>
<p>The patents below are translated via Google Translator.</p>
<p><strong>Patent Publication No. 2014-110442</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Publication date 2014.6.12</li>
<li>Filing date 2012.11.30</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Canon patents</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Multi-lens camera concentrically arranged an imaging device and a plurality of lenses</li>
<li>I do light field, angle of view changes, perspective changes, noise reduction, resolution conversion, HDR, distance estimation, the disparity estimation</li>
</ul>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p><strong>Patent Publication No. 2014-110443</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Publication date 2014.6.12</li>
<li>Filing date 2012.11.30</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Canon patents</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>I provided a handle to the multi-lens camera</li>
<li>Parameter change in the rotation of the handle</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Patent Publication No. 2014-110444</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Publication date 2014.6.12</li>
<li>Filing date 2012.11.30</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Canon patents</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>I reduce the number of the imaging lens element than the number of multi-lens camera</li>
<li>By the rotation of the optical unit, to select a specific lens</li>
</ul>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-06-17" target="_blank">EG</a>]</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

A Turret mounted lens, just like the old movie cameras. It made a lot of sense when it was not possible to build high quality zooms.
I'll go read the patent and see what they claim.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

OK, its a light field camera, but uses lenses arranged concentrically, each lens has its own sensor.

The purpose is a method of producing a light-field camera, that can move focus like the Lytro, but operating differently.


Detailed Description:

The present invention relates to an imaging device. It is related with the imaging device which images the image data of a multiaspect in details more.
[Background of the Invention]
[0002]
Focus adjustment needed to be redone and re-imaged when the focus adjustment of a camera was imaged accidentally until now. Imaging which doubled the focus for every object needed to be performed two or more times to acquire the image focused on each to several objects in which depth differs.
[0003]
In recent years, the image from a plural view is acquired by adding a new optical element to an optical system, and the technology of the light field photography which can adjust a focus position by an image processing later (refocusing) is developed.
[0004]
Since focus adjustment can be performed after imaging if this technology is used, there is an advantage that failure in the focus adjustment at the time of imaging is suppliable with an image processing. Two or more images which doubled the focus with any object in an image can be acquired from the captured image of one sheet by changing an image processing method, and there is also an advantage that the number of times of imaging can be reduced.
[0005]
In light field photography, the direction and strength (the light field and henceforth [ "LF" ]) of a beam of light which pass each position are calculated about two or more positions in space from the image data of a plural view. And the image at the time of passing the optical system of imagination and imaging in the sensor of imagination using the information on obtained LF, is calculated. By setting up the optical system and sensor of such imagination suitably, refocusing also becomes possible. R.NG argues about a mathematical property, a mathematical basis, etc. about LF (nonpatent literature 1).
[0006]
The camera array which put the small camera (ommatidium camera) in order as imaging technique for acquiring LF is known. In a camera array, from acquired LF, after imaging the image data on a virtual sensor, it can synthesize.
[0007]
The method of carrying out projective transformation of the image data of two or more sheets acquired from LF as a method of synthesizing the image on a virtual sensor on a virtual sensor, adding it, and equalizing it is known (Patent document 1).
[Citation list]
[Patent literature]
[0008]
[Patent document 1] WO2008/050904,A
[Nonpatent literature]
[0009]
[Nonpatent literature 1] R. NG, M.Levoy, and M.Bredif, G. Duval and M. Horowitz, P.Hanrahan,"Light Field Photography with a Hand-held Plenoptic Camera"(Stanford Tech ReportCTSR2005-02, 2005)
[Summary of Invention]
[Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0010]
In a camera array, the ommatidium camera with which the optical system and image sensor of a lens etc. became 1 set of sets is used. However, it is assumed also when not using the image data imaged using all the ommatidium cameras depending on the use mode in the compositing process after imaging. That is, since the ommatidium camera which will be used as a result will be mounted, cost excessive as a result will have occurred.
[Means for solving problem]
[0011]
The optical part by which two or more optical systems which have a focal distance from which the imaging device concerning the present invention differs are arranged at concentric circle shape, The light which enters via the optical system of the focal distance which changes with at least one aforementioned image sensors is imaged by imaging the light which enters via the aforementioned optical part, having a number smaller than the number of two or more aforementioned optical systems of image sensors, and rotating the aforementioned optical part.
[Effect of the Invention]
[0012]
According to the present invention, cost is reducible by reducing the number of the image sensors in a camera array.

 

[hhelmbold]

I have often thought about a camera that can capture HDR in one shot. This is close to the idea, except that it has way too many lenses ;D

If you could split the light that comes through the lens with a prism or mirrors without a loss in quality and capture that image on 3 or more different sensors, where each sensor is calibrated to a different exposure, those image could be layered for a HDR image. There will be no ghosting because the images were captured at the same time.

The sensors could also be split that one captures highlights, the other shadows and a third colour... The possibilities would be endless