Method and Apparatus for Generating Three-Dimensional Image Information

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens. The apparatus also includes a polarizer located proximate the aperture plane, the polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens. The apparatus further includes a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, the modulator being operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects. The apparatus may have an image sensor having color filter elements configured for enhanced performance in the red and near-infrared range.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information, the apparatus comprising:
 a stereoscopic optical system operative to produce a first image from a first viewpoint and a second image from a second viewpoint, wherein the first and second viewpoints are different,   an imaging sensor responsive to the stereoscopic optical system and operably configured to generate signals representing each of said first and second images, and   wherein said imaging sensor is configured for receiving said first and second images through a color filter array comprising a unit cell tessellated across a surface of said imaging sensor and wherein said unit cell comprises a plurality of filter elements having differing transmission spectra in a range of wavelengths including red and longer wavelengths.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said unit cell comprises a plurality of red filter elements having differing transmission spectra. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one red filter element in each said unit cell has a transmission spectrum that falls outside the sRGB color space. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said unit cell comprises a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, wherein said second red filter element is configured to transmit red light of a range of wavelengths, the range of wavelengths being substantially different from a range of wavelengths of the first red filter and including a wavelength of about 660 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said unit cell comprises a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, wherein said second red filter element is configured for transmitting wavelengths of light that are transmitted to a measurably different extent by oxygenated hemoglobin as compared with unoxygenated hemoglobin. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an image display system operably configured to receive said signals and to cause portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of said plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said image display system is operably configured to cause said portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of said plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color in response to receiving a user selection. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein at least a first of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range within the range of about 700 nm to about 1000 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said at least said first of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range that extends within one of:
 a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm; and   a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein another of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible range that extends within the other of:
 a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm; and   a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.   
     
     
         25 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for generating three-dimensional image information, comprising:
 forming on an image sensor a first image, said first image representing objects from a first perspective viewpoint,   forming on said image sensor a second image, said second image representing said objects from a second perspective viewpoint, said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of said objects, and   receiving said first and second images through a plurality of filter elements having differing transmission spectra in a range of wavelengths including red and longer wavelengths.   
     
     
         40 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein receiving said first and second images comprises receiving said first and second images through a color filter array, said color filter array comprising a unit cell tessellated across a surface of said image sensor and wherein said unit cell comprises a plurality of red filter elements having differing transmission spectra. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein at least one red filter element in each unit cell has a transmission spectrum that falls outside the sRGB color space. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said unit cell comprises a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, wherein said second red filter element is configured to transmit light of a range of wavelengths, the range of wavelengths being substantially different from a range of wavelengths of the first red filter and including a wavelength of about 660 nm. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said unit cell comprises a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, wherein said second red filter element is configured for transmitting wavelengths of light that are transmitted to a measurably different extent by oxygenated hemoglobin as compared with unoxygenated hemoglobin. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising receiving said first and second images at an image display system and causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of said plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color by said image display system. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of said plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color comprises causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of said plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color in response to a user selection. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein receiving said first and second images comprises receiving said first and second images through a color filter array comprising a unit cell tessellated across a surface of said imaging sensor and wherein said unit cell comprises a plurality color filter elements having differing transmission spectra, wherein at least a first of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range within the range of about 700 nm to about 1000 nm. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said at least said first of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range that extends within one of:
 a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm; and   a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein another of said plurality of filter elements has an invisible range that extends within the other of:
 a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm; and   a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.   
     
     
         77 . An apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information using a lens having a single imaging path and an associated field of view, the apparatus comprising:
 means for forming a first image through a first portion of said single imaging path and forming a second image through a second portion of said single imaging path, said first image representing objects within the field of view from said first perspective viewpoint and said second image representing said objects from said second perspective viewpoint, said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of said objects,   image sensing means for generating digital representations of said first and second images, and   filtering means for selective transmission to the image sensing means of a first wavelength in a range of wavelengths including red and longer wavelengths, and   filtering means for selective transmission to the image sensing means of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength in the range of wavelengths including red and longer wavelengths.   
     
     
         78 - 79 . (canceled)