Abstract: An array-camera imaging system and method for producing a rendered image are presented, wherein the system includes a plurality of imagers, a plurality of image processors, and a plurality of memory modules that are networked with the image processors via a communications bus. Each image processor provides processed and processed image data from at least one imager to the memory modules. Preferably, the processed image data is distributed among the memory modules at multiple resolution scales. In response to a request from an image rendering system, image data is read out from the memory modules at the resolution scale of the request.

Abstract: An imaging system and method for enabling the capture and rendering of an image without the latency and bandwidth requirements of the prior art is presented. Embodiments of the present invention employ a plurality of imagers that provide image data to a plurality of capture and hosting servers to which they are connected via a first communications bus. One or more rendering systems are interconnected to the plurality of servers via a second communications bus. The servers perform parallel processing of only raw image data necessary to satisfy individual rendering requests from the rendering systems. Since image processing is performed only on the image data required to render the particular view of interest, an entire high-resolution image is not formed to satisfy the rendering request and the desired image can be rendered with less latency and requires less bandwidth for transmission to the rendering system.

Abstract: An array-camera imaging system and method for producing a rendered image are presented, wherein the system includes a plurality of imagers, a plurality of image processors, and a plurality of memory modules that are networked with the image processors via a communications bus. Each image processor provides processed and processed image data from at least one imager to the memory modules. Preferably, the processed image data is distributed among the memory modules at multiple resolution scales. In response to a request from an image rendering system, image data is read out from the memory modules at the resolution scale of the request.

Abstract: An imaging system and method for enabling the capture and rendering of an image without the latency and bandwidth requirements of the prior art is presented. Embodiments of the present invention employ a plurality of imagers that provide image data to a plurality of capture and hosting servers to which they are connected via a first communications bus. One or more rendering systems are interconnected to the plurality of servers via a second communications bus. The servers perform parallel processing of only raw image data necessary to satisfy individual rendering requests from the rendering systems. Since image processing is performed only on the image data required to render the particular view of interest, an entire high-resolution image is not formed to satisfy the rendering request and the desired image can be rendered with less latency and requires less bandwidth for transmission to the rendering system.

Abstract: A panoramic imager comprising a mirror and a multi-scale imaging system is presented. The multi-scale imaging system comprises an objective lens and a plurality of cameras that is arranged in a non-planar arrangement at the image field of the objective lens. The objective lens reduces a first aberration introduced by the mirror, and each camera further reduces any residual first aberration. As a result, panoramic imagers of the present invention can provide improved image quality and higher resolution than panoramic imagers of the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention enables snap-shot spectral imaging of a scene at high image generation rates. Light from the scene is processed through an optical system that comprises a coded-aperture. The optical system projects a plurality of images, each characterized by only one of a plurality of spectral components, onto a photodetector array. The plurality of images is interspersed on the photodetector array, but no photodetector receives light characterized by more than one of the plurality of spectral components. As a result, computation of the spatio-spectral datacube that describes the scene is simplified. The present invention, therefore, enables rapid spectral imaging of the scene.

Abstract: A means of enabling an imaging lens system that overcomes some of the costs and disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. A lens system in accordance with the present invention reduces or eliminates one or more aberrations of an optical input by separating image collection functionality from image processing functionality. As a result, each function can be performed without compromising the other function. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a collection optic that provides a first optical field, based on light from a scene, to a processing optic that comprises a plurality of lenslets. The processing optic tiles the first optical field into a plurality of second optical fields.

Abstract: The present invention enables snap-shot spectral imaging of a scene at high image generation rates. Light from the scene is processed through an optical system that comprises a coded-aperture. The optical system projects a plurality of images, each characterized by only one of a plurality of spectral components, onto a photodetector array. The plurality of images is interspersed on the photodetector array, but no photodetector receives light characterized by more than one of the plurality of spectral components. As a result, computation of the spatio-spectral datacube that describes the scene is simplified. The present invention, therefore, enables rapid spectral imaging of the scene.

Abstract: The present invention enables snap-shot spectral imaging of a scene at high image generation rates. Light from the scene is processed through an optical system that comprises a coded-aperture. The optical system projects a plurality of images, each characterized by only one of a plurality of spectral components, onto a photodetector array. The plurality of images is interspersed on the photodetector array, but no photodetector receives light characterized by more than one of the plurality of spectral components. As a result, computation of the spatio-spectral datacube that describes the scene is simplified. The present invention, therefore, enables rapid spectral imaging of the scene.

Abstract: The present invention enables snap-shot spectral imaging of a scene at high image generation rates. Light from the scene is processed through an optical system that comprises a coded-aperture. The optical system projects a plurality of images, each characterized by only one of a plurality of spectral components, onto a photodetector array. The plurality of images is interspersed on the photodetector array, but no photodetector receives light characterized by more than one of the plurality of spectral components. As a result, computation of the spatio-spectral datacube that describes the scene is simplified. The present invention, therefore, enables rapid spectral imaging of the scene.

Abstract: A means of enabling an imaging lens system that overcomes some of the costs and disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. A lens system in accordance with the present invention reduces or eliminates one or more aberrations of an optical input by separating image collection functionality from image processing functionality. As a result, each function can be performed without compromising the other function. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a collection optic that provides a first optical field, based on light from a scene, to a processing optic that comprises a plurality of lenslets. The processing optic tiles the first optical field into a plurality of second optical fields.