Ricoh Patents Dynamically Adjustable Multimode Lightfield Imaging System

Ricoh researchers Sapna A. Shroff and Kathrin Berkner have lodged a patent application that describes a new way to dynamically adjust the recording parameters of a light field camera. The US Patent and Trademark Office has recently published patent application US20140192255, entitled “Dynamic Adjustment of Multimode Lightfield Imaging System Using Exposure Condition and Filter Position”, in which the authors use a non-homogeneous filter module at the pupil plane of a multimode imaging system, which can be moved and thus used to modify the imaging system’s exposure conditions.

Shroff & Berkner name different versions of applicable filter modules, including one that adjusts the incoming light intensity (e.g. for microscopy), one that dynamically reduces of light throughput using internal ND filters, and other filter-controller-combinations based on image quality metrics like signal to noise ratio, contrast, brightness, or exposure values.

In case you’re wondering: In the application, “multimode” refers to imaging systems that record more information than conventional 2D spatial information.

A multimode imaging system is an imaging system that can capture information beyond the usual spatial information acquired by conventional imaging systems (e.g., those based on RGB Bayer patterns). For example, a multimode imaging system might acquire additional spectral information (multispectral and hyperspectral systems) to be used for spectral analysis or identification of substances. Multimode imaging systems might also capture information about the polarization of a scene, or even provide a higher dynamic range than that provided by the inherent capability of the detector array.

More information: Dynamic Adjustment of Multimode Lightfield Imaging System Using Exposure Condition and Filter Position – Google Patents