Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal, plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: Light-field image data is processed in a manner that reduces projection artifacts in the presence of variation in microlens position by calibrating microlens positions. Approximate centers of disks in a light-field image are identified, and gridded calibration is performed, by fitting lines to disk centers along orthogonal directions, and then fitting a rigid grid to the light-field image. For each grid region, a corresponding disk center is computed, and a displacement vector is generated. For each grid region, the final disk center is computed as the vector sum of the grid region's geometric center and displacement vector. Calibration data, including displacement vectors, is then used in calibrating disk centers for more accurate projection of light-field images. In at least one embodiment, the imaging geometry is arranged so that disks are separated by a gap, so as to limit or eliminate ghosting.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, multiple frames, each having image data and metadata, can be aggregated into pictures. The frames may come from different image capture devices, enabling aggregation of image data from multiple sources. Aggregation can be automatic, or it can be performed in response to user input specifying particular combinations of frames to be aggregated. In various embodiments, pictures are mutable, whereas immutability of the constituent frames is enforced. In various embodiments, certain metadata elements that are not essential to rendering can be selectively removed from frames, so as to address privacy concerns. In various embodiments, frames can be authenticated by the use of digests generated by a hash function.

Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a dolly zoom effect is generated using light field image data. The dolly zoom effect simulates an in-camera technique wherein a camera moves toward or away from the subject in such a way that the subject is kept at the same size throughout the effect. The effect causes the relative size of foreground background elements to change while foreground elements such as the subject remain the same size. By varying a parameter while projecting the light field image, the size of each object in the projection image scales depending on its relative depth as compared with the depth of the target subject, thus simulating the dolly zoom effect without any need to physically move the camera.

Abstract: Light-field image data is processed in a manner that reduces projection artifacts in the presence of variation in microlens position by calibrating microlens positions. Initially, approximate centers of disks in a light-field image are identified. Gridded calibration is then performed, by fitting lines to disk centers along orthogonal directions, and then fitting a rigid grid to the light-field image. For each grid region, a corresponding disk center is computed by passing values for pixels within that grid region into weighted-center equations. A displacement vector is then generated, based on the distance from the geometric center of the grid region to the computed disk center. For each grid region, the final disk center is computed as the vector sum of the grid region's geometric center and displacement vector. Calibration data, including displacement vectors, is then used in calibrating disk centers for more accurate projection of light-field images.

Abstract: A video refocusing system operates in connection with refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames, which may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or refocused after acquisition or recording. A video acquisition device acquires first refocusable light field video data of a scene, stores first refocusable video data representative of the first refocusable light field video data, acquires second refocusable light field video data of the scene after acquiring the first refocusable light field video data, determines a first virtual focus parameter (such as a virtual focus depth) using the second refocusable light field video data, generates first video data using the stored first refocusable video data and the first virtual focus parameter, wherein the first video data includes a focus depth that is different from an optical focus depth of the first refocusable light field video data, and outputs the first video data.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, the system and method of the present invention process light-field image data in a manner that reduces artifacts and that yields 2-D images with extended depth of field, and with variable placement of the center of perspective. Center of perspective can be varied based on user input or on pre-specified parameters. Various techniques for improving the presentation of light-field images with variable center of perspective are described, and for performing other effects in connection with projection of light-field images.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length).

Abstract: According to various embodiments of the invention, improved downsampling techniques are employed, which can be applied to light field images and which preserve the ability to refocus (and otherwise manipulate) such images. Groups of pixels, rather than individual pixels, are downsampled; such groups of pixels can be defined, for example, as disks of pixels. Such downsampling is accomplished, for example, by aggregating values for pixels having similar relative positions within adjacent disks (or other defined regions or pixel groups) of the image. When applied to light field images, the downsampling techniques of the present invention reduce spatial resolution without sacrificing angular resolution. This ensures that the refocusing capability of the resulting light field image is not reduced and/or adversely impacted.

Abstract: The present invention operates in connection with refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames, which may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or refocused after acquisition or recording. A video acquisition device acquires first refocusable light field video data of a scene, stores first refocusable video data representative of the first refocusable light field video data, acquires second refocusable light field video data of the scene after acquiring the first refocusable light field video data, determines a first virtual focus parameter (such as a virtual focus depth) using the second refocusable light field video data, generates first video data using the stored first refocusable video data and the first virtual focus parameter, wherein the first video data includes a focus depth that is different from an optical focus depth of the first refocusable light field video data, and outputs the first video data.

Abstract: A 3D stereo image of a scene is generated by generating first image data of the scene using light field data representing light rays from a first direction, and second image data of the scene using light field data representing light rays from a second direction. The 3D stereo image of the scene is then generated using the first image data and the second image data. A microlens array may be used to direct light rays onto a photosensor array, wherein each microlens of the microlens array includes a physical aperture which correlates to a plurality of associated photosensors, a first virtual aperture which correlates to a first subset of the associated photosensors, and a second virtual aperture which correlates to a second subset of the associated photosensors. Each virtual aperture thus provides light rays from a different direction for use in generating the 3D stereo image.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: According to various embodiments of the invention, parallax and/or three-dimensional effects are added to thumbnail image displays. In at least one embodiment, such effects are applied in a manner that causes the thumbnail images to appear to respond to their display environment. For example, a parallax effect can be applied that responds to current cursor position, scroll position, scroll velocity, orientation of the display device (detected, for example, by position- and/or motion-sensing mechanisms), and/or any other environmental conditions. As another example, thumbnail images can be refocused, and/or a viewpoint for an image can be adjusted, in response to a user clicking on or tapping on particular elements within such images.

Abstract: Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length).

Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length).

Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: The present invention operates in connection with refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames, which may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or refocused after acquisition or recording. A video acquisition device acquires first refocusable light field video data of a scene, stores first refocusable video data representative of the first refocusable light field video data, acquires second refocusable light field video data of the scene after acquiring the first refocusable light field video data, determines a first virtual focus parameter (such as a virtual focus depth) using the second refocusable light field video data, generates first video data using the stored first refocusable video data and the first virtual focus parameter, wherein the first video data includes a focus depth that is different from an optical focus depth of the first refocusable light field video data, and outputs the first video data.