Single lens 3-d camera

Abstract

A camera includes a lens configured to receive an optical image from two viewing angles. A filter converts the optical image into two orthogonally polarized images, each orthogonally polarized image corresponding to a different one of the viewing angles. An image detector distinguishably detects the two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame. An image processor decodes the two orthogonally polarized images in the single frame into two video signals corresponding to the two viewing angles. A method of imaging includes receiving an optical image from two viewing angles through a single lens, converting the optical image into two orthogonally polarized images, each of the orthogonally polarized images corresponding to a different one of the viewing angles, distinguishably detecting in an image detector the two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame, and decoding in an image processor the two orthogonally polarized images in the single frame into two video signals corresponding to the two viewing angles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera comprising:
 an image detector;   an image processor configured to generate a data stream signal for a single frame of image data based on an image detected at a plurality of pixel sensor elements of the image detector; and   a three dimensional image processor configured to:
 receive the single frame of image data as a data stream from the image processor; and 
 decode the single frame of image data to provide two data outputs, one data output corresponding to each of two orthogonal polarization states, wherein decoding the single frame of image data comprises determining which of the two orthogonal states of polarization apply for each pixel sensor element of the image detector, wherein the two data outputs comprise three dimensional properties. 
   
     
     
         2 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the image detector comprises two orthogonally polarized sub-arrays of pixel sensor elements, and wherein the three dimensional processor decodes the single frame using a knowledge of a relationship between the two orthogonally polarized sub-arrays of pixel sensor elements to decode two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame. 
     
     
         3 . The camera of  claim 2 , wherein the relationship comprises a known number of segments and a known location of alternating types of polarizers spanning each of the number of segments. 
     
     
         4 . The camera of  claim 2 , wherein the three dimensional processor decodes two interleaved images from the single image data to generate two frames of a scene viewed simultaneously from two viewing angles. 
     
     
         5 . The camera of  claim 2 , wherein decoding comprises using a look up table to identify the corresponding polarization of each of the plurality of pixel elements. 
     
     
         6 . The camera of  claim 2 , wherein the three dimensional image processor is configured to spread an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting at least one of the two orthogonally polarized images relative to a center. 
     
     
         7 . The camera of  claim 6 , wherein the three dimensional image processor is configured to spread an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting each of the two orthogonally polarized images in opposite directions relative to a center. 
     
     
         8 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional processor is further configured to output a single data stream comprising two alternating interleaved frames of images from the two data outputs. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising code for:
 receiving a single frame of image data from a plurality of pixel sensor elements of an image detector as a data stream from an image processor; and   decode the single frame of image data to provide two data outputs, one data output corresponding to each of two orthogonal polarization states, wherein decoding the single frame of image data comprises determining which of the two orthogonal states of polarization apply for each pixel sensor element of the image detector, wherein the two data outputs comprise three dimensional properties.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein decoding the single frame of image data comprises using a knowledge of a relationship between two orthogonally polarized sub-arrays of pixel sensor elements to decode two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the relationship comprises a known number of segments and a known location of alternating types of polarizers spanning each of the number of segments. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising code for decoding two interleaved images from the single image data to generate two frames of a scene viewed simultaneously from two viewing angles. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein decoding comprises using a look up table to identify the corresponding polarization of each of the plurality of pixel elements. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising code for spreading an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting at least one of the two orthogonally polarized images relative to a center. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , further comprising code for spreading an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting each of the two orthogonally polarized images in opposite directions relative to a center. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , further comprising code for outputting a single steam comprising two alternating interleaved frames of images from the two data outputs. 
     
     
         17 . A method of imaging comprising:
 receiving a single frame of image data from a plurality of pixel sensor elements of an image detector as a data stream from an image processor; and   decode the single frame of image data to provide two data outputs, one data output corresponding to each of two orthogonal polarization states, wherein decoding the single frame of image data comprises determining which of the two orthogonal states of polarization apply for each pixel sensor element of the image detector, wherein the two data outputs comprise three dimensional properties.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein decoding the single frame of image data comprises using a knowledge of a relationship between two orthogonally polarized sub-arrays of pixel sensor elements to decode two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 spreading an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting at least one of the two orthogonally polarized images relative to a center.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 spreading an effective separation of the two orthogonally polarized images by shifting each of the two orthogonally polarized images in opposite directions relative to a center.