Abstract: An apparatus for viewing of a three dimensional image of a scene, including a monocular device worn by a viewer for displaying a first two-dimensional image to one eye of the viewer, The monocular device being arranged so it can be worn on either eye of the viewer. A second display for displaying a second two-dimensional image of the scene in a stereo image pair which is viewed by the other eye of the viewer. A way of selecting the first two-dimensional image with either a left or right perspective relative to the second two-dimensional image dependent upon which eye the viewer uses with the monocular device.

Abstract: A method for viewing of a three dimensional image of a scene with a monocular device on one eye for viewing a first two-dimensional image of the scene and providing a second display for viewing a second two-dimensional image of the scene in a stereo image pair with the other eye. Using a camera to provide an image of the second display to determine the position of the second display relative to the first display. Adjusting the alignment of the first two-dimensional image in correspondence to the determined position of the second display relative to the first display, whereby the viewer perceives a three dimensional image of the scene and one or more other viewers that are not wearing monocular devices can view the second display with both eyes so that they can perceive a two-dimensional image of the scene.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for viewing of an image of a scene, including a monocular device worn by a viewer which includes a first display for displaying a first two-dimensional image of the scene with a first perspective to one eye of the viewer. a second display for displaying a second two-dimensional image of the scene with a second perspective to the other eye of the viewer, wherein the first perspective of the scene is different from the second perspective of the scene so that the viewer perceives a three dimensional image of the scene, while another viewer of the second display, that is not wearing a monocular device, views the two-dimensional image of the scene.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; a set of optical beam deflectors, each optical beam deflector being individually switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a corresponding section of the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the individual optical beam deflectors between their first non-deflecting state and their second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having a transparent viewing mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a transparent plate having a front surface, wherein a scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in the transparent viewing mode; an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate, wherein the optical beam deflector is switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the transparent plate; and a controller which synchronously switches the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from a scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A digital camera system configurable to operate in a low-resolution refocusable mode and a high-resolution non-refocusable mode comprising: a camera body; an image sensor mounted in the camera body having a plurality of sensor pixels for capturing a digital image; an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane, the imaging lens having an aperture; and an adaptor that can be inserted between the imaging lens and the image sensor to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode and can be removed to provide the high-resolution non-refocusable mode, the adaptor including a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses; wherein when the adaptor is inserted to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode, the microlens array is positioned between the imaging lens and the image sensor.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen.

Abstract: A digital imaging system switchable between a low-resolution refocusable imaging mode and a high-resolution non-refocusable imaging mode comprising: an image sensor having a plurality of sensor pixels for capturing a digital image; an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane; and a switchable optical module including a microlens array module having a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses, and a glass plate module; wherein when the digital imaging system is switched to be in the low-resolution refocusable mode the switchable optical module positions the microlens array module between the imaging lens and the image sensor, and when the digital imaging system is switched to be in the high-resolution non-refocusable mode the switchable optical module positions the glass plate module between the imaging lens and the image sensor.

Abstract: A digital camera system configurable to operate in a low-resolution refocusable mode and a high-resolution non-refocusable mode comprising: a camera body; an image sensor mounted in the camera body having a plurality of sensor pixels for capturing a digital image; an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane, the imaging lens having an aperture; and an adaptor that can be inserted between the imaging lens and the image sensor to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode and can be removed to provide the high-resolution non-refocusable mode, the adaptor including a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses; wherein when the adaptor is inserted to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode, the microlens array is positioned between the imaging lens and the image sensor.

Abstract: A plenoptic lens unit for use with a digital camera system including a camera body having an image sensor in order to provide a low-resolution refocusable imaging mode. The plenoptic lens unit includes a lens housing having a lens mounting interface for mounting the plenoptic lens unit to the camera body, a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses mounted in the lens housing, and an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto the microlens array. The plenoptic lens unit is adapted to be mounted on the camera body such that the microlens array is positioned between the imaging lens and the image sensor to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode.

Abstract: A camera system having an electronic flash with a variable illumination angle, comprising: an image forming system having a user-selectable field-of-view for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane; an electronic flash system including a plurality of fixed focal length illumination lenses having two or more different focal lengths and one or more light emitters positioned behind each of the illumination lenses, the light emitters being positioned relative to their respective illumination lenses to provide two or more different illumination angles onto the scene; and a flash controller that selectively fires different subsets of the light emitters responsive to the selected field-of-view of the image forming system.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from a scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen providing a first display state and a second transparent state; a first optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a first scene on a first side of display screen is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; a second optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a second scene on a second side of display screen is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller for controlling the state of the display screen and the first and second optical beam deflectors, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; a set of optical beam deflectors, each optical beam deflector being individually switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a corresponding section of the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the individual optical beam deflectors between their first non-deflecting state and their second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen.

Abstract: A switchable imaging apparatus having a transparent viewing mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a transparent plate having a front surface, wherein a scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in the transparent viewing mode; an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate, wherein the optical beam deflector is switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the transparent plate; and a controller which synchronously switches the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode.

Abstract: A method for capturing an improved archival image using an electronic image capture device having a flash, comprising: capturing at least two preview images of a scene at different capture times using the image capture device; determining a scene brightness; using a processor to analyze the captured preview images to determine a motion velocity for the scene; determining a flash exposure setting and an ambient exposure setting responsive to a ratio between the determined scene brightness and the determined motion velocity; and capturing an archival image using the determined flash exposure setting and the determined ambient exposure setting.