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: Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel.

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: 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, 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: Certain devices and methods are directed to acquiring, generating and/or outputting image data corresponding to a scene. In one aspect, the method comprises (i) acquiring light field data which is representative of a light field from the scene, (ii) acquiring configuration data which is representative of how light rays optically propagate through the data acquisition device (used to acquire the light field data), (iii) generating first image data using the light field data and the configuration data, wherein the first image data includes a focus or focus depth that is different from a focus or focus depth of the light field data, (iv) generating a first electronic data file including (a) the first image data, (b) the light field data, and (c) the configuration data, and (v) outputting the first electronic data file.

Abstract: Certain light field data acquisition devices and methods of using and manufacturing such devices. In one aspect, a light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprises 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. A light field sensor to acquire light field image data in response to a first user input and located at a substantially fixed, predetermined location relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined location is substantially independent of the scene. The optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity.

Abstract: Certain systems and methods are directed to acquiring, generating, manipulating and/or editing (for example, focusing or refocusing) refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames. The refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or re-focused after acquisition or recording of such video data, information, images and/or frames.

Abstract: Certain systems and methods are directed to acquiring, generating, manipulating and/or editing (for example, focusing or refocusing) refocusable video data/frames. The refocusable video frames may be light field video frames that may be focused and/or refocused after acquisition or recording of such video frames.

Abstract: Light-field microscopy is facilitated using an approach to image computation. In connection with an example embodiment, a subject (e.g., 105) is imaged by passing light from the subject through a microlens array (e.g., 120) to a photosensor array (e.g., 130) to simultaneously detect light from the subject that is passed through different directions to different locations. In certain embodiments, information from the detected light is used to compute refocused images, perspective images and/or volumetric datasets, from a single-shot photograph.

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: Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel.

Abstract: Light-field microscopy is facilitated using an approach to image computation. In connection with an example embodiment, a subject (e.g., 105) is imaged by passing light from the subject through a microlens array (e.g., 120) to a photosensor array (e.g., 130) to simultaneously detect light from the subject that is passed through different directions to different locations. In certain embodiments, information from the detected light is used to compute refocused images, perspective images and/or volumetric datasets, from a single-shot photograph.

Abstract: A method is performed to refocus a digital photographic image comprising a plurality of pixels. In the method, a set of images is computed corresponding to the digital photographic image and focused at different depths. Refocus depths for at least a subset of the pixels are identified and stored in a look-up table. At least a portion of the digital photographic image is refocused at a desired refocus depth determined from the look-up table.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a enhanced Precomputed Radiance Transfer (PRT) system employing an algorithm to compute a PRT signal over a surface mesh and subdividing facets of the mesh to increase the number of surface vertices such that the spatial variation of the transfer signal is resolved sufficiently everywhere on the surface. The method of this system ensures that radiance transfer shading produces colors of sufficient accuracy all over the surface. In certain embodiments, transfer is computed only at surface vertices, although this does result in a certain amount of acceptable aliasing and blurring of surface lighting detail in regions where the tessellation is too coarse. Furthermore, the method comprises a spatial and density sampling techniques that measures the transfer signal to a desirable appropriate resolution while minimizing aliasing. Once computed, the signal is represented as compactly as possible to minimize storage and runtime computation requirements.

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: Computer graphics systems and methods for all-frequency relighting are described. In one described embodiment, all-frequency relighting is achieved by representing low frequencies of lighting with spherical harmonics and approximating the residual high-frequency energy with point lights. In another embodiment low-frequencies are rendered with precomputed radiance transfer (PRT) techniques while the higher-frequencies are rendered with on-the-fly techniques.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for all-frequency relighting by representing low frequencies of lighting with spherical harmonics and approximate the residual high-frequency energy with point lights. One such embodiment renders low-frequencies with a precomputed radiance transfer (PRT) technique (which requires only a moderate amount of precomputation and storage), while the higher-frequencies are rendered with on-the-fly techniques such as shadow maps and shadow volumes. In addition, various embodiments are directed to a systems and methods for decomposing the lighting into harmonics and sets of point lights. Various alternative embodiments are directed to systems and methods for characterizing the types of environments for which the described decomposition is a viable technique in terms of speed (efficiency) versus quality (realism).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a enhanced Precomputed Radiance Transfer (PRT) system employing an algorithm to compute a PRT signal over a surface mesh and subdividing facets of the mesh to increase the number of surface vertices such that the spatial variation of the transfer signal is resolved sufficiently everywhere on the surface. The method of this system ensures that radiance transfer shading produces colors of sufficient accuracy all over the surface. In certain embodiments, transfer is computed only at surface vertices, although this does result in a certain amount of acceptable aliasing and blurring of surface lighting detail in regions where the tessellation is too coarse. Furthermore, the method comprises a spatial and density sampling techniques that measures the transfer signal to a desirable appropriate resolution while minimizing aliasing. Once computed, the signal is represented as compactly as possible to minimize storage and runtime computation requirements.