Light Field Camera with MEMS Scanners

Abstract

A light field camera device comprising an array of light field camera elements, each camera element comprising a scanner for scanning an input beam across a two-dimensional angular field; an input focus modulator for modulating the focus of the input beam over time; a radiance sensor for sensing the radiance of the input beam over time; and a radiance sampler for sampling the radiance of the input beam at discrete times; the scanner comprising a biaxial electromechanical scanning mirror comprising: a mirror, a platform, an inner frame, and an outer frame; the mirror attached to the platform via a post, the platform attached to the inner frame via a first pair of hinges, and the inner frame attached to the outer frame via a second pair of hinges; the first pair of hinges arranged substantially orthogonally to the second pair of hinges, thereby to allow biaxial movement of the mirror; the extent of the mirror larger than the extent of the inner frame.

1 . A light field camera device comprising an array of light field camera elements, each camera element comprising:
 (a) a scanner for scanning an input beam across a two-dimensional angular field;   (b) an input focus modulator for modulating the focus of the input beam over time;   (c) a radiance sensor for sensing the radiance of the input beam over time; and   (d) a radiance sampler for sampling the radiance of the input beam at discrete times;   the scanner comprising a biaxial electromechanical scanning mirror comprising: a mirror, a platform, an inner frame, and an outer frame; the mirror attached to the platform via a post, the platform attached to the inner frame via a first pair of hinges, and the inner frame attached to the outer frame via a second pair of hinges; the first pair of hinges arranged substantially orthogonally to the second pair of hinges, thereby to allow biaxial movement of the mirror; the extent of the mirror larger than the extent of the inner frame.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the focus modulator is selected from the group comprising: a liquid crystal lens; a liquid lens; a deformable membrane mirror; a deformable-membrane liquid-filled lens; an addressable lens stack; and an electro-optic lens. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the scanner comprises at least one drive mechanism selected from the group comprising: an electrostatic drive mechanism; a magnetic drive mechanism; and a capacitive drive mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform of the scanner comprises a coil for conducting an alternating current and the scanner further comprises a magnet, such that the time-varying magnetic field of the coil interacts with the field of the magnet to produce a time-varying torque on the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame of the scanner comprises a coil for conducting an alternating current and the scanner further comprises a magnet, such that the time-varying magnetic field of the coil interacts with the field of the magnet to produce a time-varying torque on the inner frame. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator for oscillating the camera elements between at least two positions. 
     
     
         7 . The device of claim  10 , wherein the oscillation is resonant.