Camera array for a mediated-reality system

Abstract

Camera arrays for mediated-reality systems and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a camera array includes a plurality of hexagonal cells arranged in a honeycomb pattern, and a plurality of cameras mounted within each of the plurality of hexagonal cells. The plurality of cameras can include at least one camera of a first type and at least one camera of a second type. The camera of the first type may have a longer focal length than the camera of the second type.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A camera array, comprising:
 a support structure having a perimeter; and   a plurality of cameras mounted to the support structure in an array,
 wherein the plurality of cameras includes (a) a plurality of first cameras of a first type and (b) a plurality of second cameras of a second type, 
 wherein the first type is different than the second type, and 
 wherein, in the array, individual ones of the second cameras are arranged closer to or equidistant to the perimeter of the support structure relative to individual ones of the first cameras. 
   
     
     
         2 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein individual ones of the cameras are approximately equidistantly spaced from neighboring one of the cameras in the array. 
     
     
         3 . The camera array of  claim 2  wherein the array is a triangular grid. 
     
     
         4 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein each of the cameras is oriented to focus on the same point. 
     
     
         5 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein the cameras are light-field cameras. 
     
     
         6 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein the support structure includes a plurality of cells, and wherein at least two of the first cameras and at least one of the second cameras are mounted within each of the cells. 
     
     
         7 . The camera array of  claim 6  wherein the cells are hexagonally shaped and arranged in a honeycomb pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein the first cameras have a narrower field of view than second cameras. 
     
     
         9 . The camera array of  claim 8  wherein first cameras have  50  mm lenses and wherein the second cameras have 35 mm lenses. 
     
     
         10 . The camera array of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a projector mounted to the support structure and configured to project structured light onto a scene within a field of view of the cameras; and   a depth sensor configured to sense a depth of a surface within the scene.   
     
     
         11 . The camera array of  claim 1 , further comprising a swing arm coupled to the support structure and configured to position the plurality of cameras in a desired position and orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein the support structure is generally planar, and wherein the cameras are mounted to the support structure such that a focal axis of each of the cameras is angled relative to the support structure so that each of the cameras is oriented to focus on the same point. 
     
     
         13 . The camera array of  claim 1  wherein the support structure is non-planar, and wherein the cameras are mounted to the support structure such that a focal axis of each of the cameras is perpendicular to the support structure so that each of the cameras is oriented to focus on the same point. 
     
     
         14 . A mediated-reality system, comprising:
 a camera array including—
 a support structure; and 
 a plurality of light-field cameras mounted to the support structure and configured to capture light-field images of a scene, wherein the plurality of cameras includes (a) a plurality of first cameras of a first type and (b) a plurality of second cameras of a second type, and wherein the first type is different than the second type; 
   an input controller configured to control a position and orientation of a virtual perspective of the scene;   an image processing device configured to synthesize a virtual image corresponding to the virtual perspective based on at least two of the plurality of images of the scene; and   a display device configured to display the virtual image.   
     
     
         15 . The mediated-reality system of  claim 14  wherein individual ones of the second cameras are arranged closer to or equidistant to a perimeter of the support structure relative to individual ones of the first cameras. 
     
     
         16 . The mediated-reality system of  claim 14  wherein the cameras are arrayed in a triangular grid across the support structure such that individual ones of the cameras are approximately equidistantly spaced from adjacent ones of the cameras. 
     
     
         17 . The mediated-reality system of  claim 14  wherein the display device is configured to be mounted on the head of a user. 
     
     
         18 . The mediated-reality system of  claim 14  wherein the image processing device is configured to synthesize the virtual image based on fewer than all of the plurality of images of the scene. 
     
     
         19 . The mediated-reality system of  claim 14  wherein the image processing device is configured to synthesize the virtual image based on a stereoscopic pair of the plurality of images. 
     
     
         20 . An imaging device, comprising:
 a support structure having a perimeter and including a pair of hexagonal inner cells and a pair of hexagonal outer cells; and   cameras mounted within corresponding ones of the inner and outer cells,
 wherein each of the inner and outer cells includes a camera of a first type and a camera of a second type different than the first type, 
 wherein the camera of the first type is positioned closer to or equidistant to the perimeter of the support structure relative to the camera of the second type in each of the inner and outer cells, 
 wherein each of the cameras neighbors at least two other cameras and is approximately equidistantly spaced apart from the at least two other cameras, and 
 wherein each of the cameras is oriented to focus on the same point.