Depth map extraction from light field microscopes

Abstract

The CAFADIS plenoptic camera was mounted onto a Leica M205A stereomicroscope and used as a prototype light field microscope. The ability to generate image stacks focused at different focal planes from a single plenoptic image was demonstrated. The focal stacks were used to create a composite extended focus image and depth map. The positions of the focal planes of the stack were measured experimentally and the data used to calibrate a computational model of the plane distribution. The resulting microscope images have an extended depth of field and a corresponding depth map with real distance estimates.