Multiscopic image capture system

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein may generate captured views and a plurality of intermediate views within a pixel disparity range, T d the plurality of intermediate views being extrapolated from the captured views.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A capture system operable to generate captured views of a scene, the captured views comprising information for generating at least one intermediate view within a disparity range define by the captured views, T D  the system comprising;
 at least S number of optical modules, each of the optical module comprising:
 at least one imaging sensor; 
 at least one lens configured to direct image light to the at least one imaging sensor to generate one of the captured views, thereby defining an effective focal length, F L ; 
   wherein the S number of optical modules comprise at least S number of respective imaging sensors, S being an integer, and at least two of the at least S number of imaging sensors being defined on different substrates;   wherein each of the at least S number of imaging sensors pairs with an adjacent imaging sensor to define a maximum effective disparity M D ;   wherein S is greater than or equal to (T D /M D )+1, the ratio T D /M D  being greater than 1;   wherein M D  is less than or equal to (D IA *P X *F L )/(S W *D MAX ), in which
 S W  is an effective sensor width of the at least S number of image sensors, the S W  being defined along a first direction; 
 P X  is an effective pixel resolution of the at least S number of image sensors along the first direction; 
 D IA  is an interaxial distance between optical centers of adjacent optical modules; and 
 D MAX  is a distance between a closest object in the scene and an optical center of an optical module closest to the closest object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the M D  is less than 25% of a pixel resolution of a first intermediate view of the at least one intermediate view. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the M D  is less than 10% of the pixel resolution of the first intermediate view. 
     
     
         4 . The system or  claim 3 , wherein the M D  is less than 1% the pixel resolution of the first intermediate view. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are arranged in a horizontal array. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are arranged in a vertical array. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are arranged in a two dimensional array. 
     
     
         8 . A capture system operable to generate captured views of a scene, the captured views comprising information for generating at least one intermediate view within a pixel disparity range defined by the captured views, T D , the system comprising:
 at least S number of optical modules comprising at least S number of respective imaging sensors, S being an integer;   wherein each of the at least S number of imaging sensors pairs with an adjacent imaging sensor to define a maximum effective disparity M D ;   wherein S is greater than or equal to (T D /M D )+1, the ratio T D /M D  being greater than 1;   wherein the at least S number of image sensors define substantially parallel imaging planes, and the at least S number of image sensors are configured to translate along a first direction in the parallel planes.   
     
     
         9 . The capture system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least S lumber of image sensors are configured to translate along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the parallel planes. 
     
     
         10 . The capture system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least S number of image sensors are configured to translate along a direction perpendicular to the parallel planes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the M D  is less than 25% of a pixel resolution of a first intermediate view of the at least one intermediate view. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the M D  is less than 10% of the pixel resolution of the first intermediate view. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the M D  is less than 1% of the pixel resolution of the first intermediate view. 
     
     
         14 . A capture system comprising:
 a first cluster of sensors operable to generate first captured views, the first cluster comprising S 1  number of sensors, S 1  being an integer greater than one, wherein a first plurality of intermediate views within a first pixel disparity range, T d1 , are operable to be extrapolated from the first captured views;   a second cluster of sensors operable to generate the second captured views, the second cluster comprising S 2  number of sensors, S 2  being an integer greater than one, wherein a second plurality of intermediate views within a second pixel disparity range, T d2 , are operable to be extrapolated front the second captured views;   wherein each sensor of the first cluster pairs with at least one other sensor to define a maximum effective disparity, M d1 , of the first cluster;   wherein each sensor of the second cluster pair with at least one other sensor to define a maximum effective disparity, M d2 , of the second cluster;   wherein S 1 ≥(T d1 /M d1 )−1;   wherein S 2 ≥(T d2 /M d2 )+1;   wherein the ratios T d1 /M d1  and T d2 /M d2  both greater than 1; and   wherein at least one of the first cluster of sensors and at least one of the second cluster of sensors are defined on different substrates.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first cluster of sensors comprise at least two sensors defined on a same substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two sensors on the same substrate are operable to capture different views. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first cluster of sensors comprise at least two sensors defined on different substrates. 
     
     
         18 . A capture system comprising
 a first cluster of sensors operable to generate first captured views, the first cluster comprising S 1  number of sensors, S 1  being an integer greater than one, wherein a first plurality of intermediate views within a first pixel disparity range, T d1 , are operable to be extrapolated from the first captured views;   a second cluster of sensors operable to generate the second captured views, the second cluster comprising S 2  number of sensors, S 2  being an integer greater than one, wherein a second plurality of intermediate views within a second pixel disparity range, T d2 , are operable to be extrapolated from the second captured views;   wherein each sensor of the first cluster pairs with at least one other sensor to define a maximum effective disparity, M d1 , of the first cluster;   wherein each sensor of the second cluster pair with at least one other sensor to define a maximum effective disparity, M d2 , of the second cluster;   wherein S 1 ≥(T d1 /M d1 )+1;   wherein S 2 ≥(T d2 /M d2 )+1;   wherein the ratios T d1 /M d1 and T d2 /M d2  are both greater than 1; and   wherein at least one of the first or the second duster of sensors comprise at least two sensors having substantially the same pixel pitch.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sensors are arranged in a one-dimensional array. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sensors are arranged in a two dimensional array.