High-resolution digital integral photography by use of a scanning microlens array

Abstract

We suggest what we believe is a new three-dimensional (3-D) camera system for integral photography. Our method enables high-resolution 3-D imaging. In contrast to conventional integral photography, a moving microlens array (MLA) and a low-resolution camera are used. The intensity distribution in the MLA image plane is sampled sequentially by use of a pinhole array. The inversion problem from pseudoscopic to orthoscopic images is dealt with by electronic means. The new method is suitable for real-time 3-D imaging. We verified the new method experimentally. Integral photographs with a resolution of 3760 pixels x 2560 pixels (188 x 128 element images) are presented.