Depth control method for integral imaging using elemental image data processing

Abstract

We propose a method for controlling the depth of three-dimensional (3-D) images by processing the captured elemental image data based on an integral imaging system. Incoherent light is reflected from 3-D objects, propagates through a lens array, and is captured as a first elemental image by a capturing device. Firstly, the electric-field distribution in an arbitrary field is generated by use of the first elemental image data and the second lens array. A computer generated electric-field distribution is referred to as the "intermediate image." Next, the third lens array is assumed, and elemental images of the intermediate image formed by the third lens array are calculated. Finally, to reconstruct the 3-D images, we use a conventional display system of integral imaging. The depth of reconstructed images can be controlled according to the distance from the second lens array to the third lens array. Experimental results showed that the depth of the 3-D image was arbitrarily controlled by the proposed method.