Abstract: A system for wide-scale light field imaging comprising: a network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned at multiple known locations, where each of the cameras comprises a wide-angle lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky, and a processor configured to operate a wired and/or wireless communications infrastructure for transmitting the captured images; and a server configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted images and jointly process the received images, thereby producing a wide-scale light field image of the sky.

Abstract: A system for wide-scale light field imaging comprising: a network of multiple terrestrial cameras positioned (at multiple known locations, where each of the cameras comprises a wide-angle lens directed towards the sky and configured to capture one or more images of the sky, and a processor configured to operate a wired and/or wireless communications infrastructure for transmitting the captured images; and a server configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted images and jointly process the received images, thereby producing a wide-scale light field image of the sky.

Abstract: The distance of objects to an optical system is estimated. An optical mask such as a diffractive optical element, continuous phase mask, hologram, amplitude mask, or combination thereof is placed within the optics in front of a sensor array such as a CCD, CID or COMAS device. The optical mask encodes the three-dimensional response of the system. The mask is designed to optimize depth estimation, for example, by maximizing Fisher information. A particular implementation creates a point spread function (“PSF”) that rotates as a function of the object position. The image or images obtained with different PSFs may be digitally processed to recover both a depth map of the scene and other parameters such as image brightness. The digital processing used to recover the depth map of the object may include deconvolution of a PSF from detected images.

Abstract: An imager (200) including a spatially varying optical element (204) which moves while the imager records a sequence of images. The optical element (204) can be an intensity reduction filter, a spectral or polarization filter, or a refractive or reflective element. Because the optical element (204) moves between frames, each scene portion is captured under a range of imaging conditions. A spatially varying intensity reduction filter enables imaging of each scene portion using multiple, different exposure to generate a high dynamic range image. A spatially varying spectral or polarization filter enables measurement of the spectral or polarization characteristics of radiation from each scene portion. A refractive or reflective element enables imaging of scene portions under various focal characteristics, thereby providing depth information and producing an image which is focused everywhere.

Abstract: An imager (200) including a spatially varying optical element (204) which moves while the imager records a sequence of images. The optical element (204) can be an intensity reduction filter, a spectral or polarization filter, or a refractive or reflective element. Because the optical element (204) moves between frames, each scene portion is captured under a range of imaging conditions. A spatially varying intensity reduction filter enables imaging of each scene portion using multiple, different exposure to generate a high dynamic range image. A spatially varying spectral or polarization filter enables measurement of the spectral or polarization characteristics of radiation from each scene portion. A refractive or reflective element enables imaging of scene portions under various focal characteristics, thereby providing depth information and producing an image which is focused everywhere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for capturing images using a camera or other imager having imaging sensitivity characteristics which vary across the imager's viewing angle. The imager's characteristics can be non-uniform with respect to exposure, color sensitivity, polarization sensitivity, focal distance, and/or any other aspect of image detection. The imager is rotated or translated in order to capture different portions of the scene being imaged. Because the imager is in multiple positions when the respective scene portions are captured, each scene portion is imaged by multiple portions of the imager's sensitivity profile.

Abstract: The distance of objects to an optical system is estimated. An optical mask such as a diffractive optical element, continuous phase mask, hologram, amplitude mask, or combination thereof is placed within the optics in front of a sensor array such as a CCD, CID or CMOS device. The optical mask encodes the three-dimensional response of the system. The mask is designed to optimize depth estimation, for example, by maximizing Fisher information. A particular implementation creates a point spread function (“PSF”) that rotates as a function of the object position. The image or images obtained with different PSFs may be digitally processed to recover both a depth map of the scene and other parameters such as image brightness. The digital processing used to recover the depth map of the object may include deconvolution of a PSF from detected images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for capturing images using a camera or other imager having imaging sensitivity characteristics which vary across the imager's viewing angle. The imager's characteristics can be non-uniform with respect to exposure, color sensitivity, polarization sensitivity, focal distance, and/or any other aspect of image detection. The imager is rotated or translated in order to capture different portions of the scene being imaged. Because the imager is in multiple positions when the respective scene portions are captured, each scene portion is imaged by multiple portions of the imager's sensitivity profile.