The miniature light-field camera with high spatial resolution

A light-field camera is an optical system that provides multi-field-angle information in one shot. The microlens array (MLA) in a light-field camera system is the key to provide multi-field-angle information. However, its numerical aperture limits the microlens' spatial resolution and the image's quality. We proposed a new microlens array for the light-field camera in this work. This MLA consists of one larger primary microlens and 72 satellite microlenses, simultaneously providing high-resolution image information from different angles. Moreover, this MLA can be easily fabricated by nanoimprint at a low cost. The measured spatial resolution of the primary microlens is 53.74 lp/mm higher than satellite microlens when MTF = 0.3. Finally, a one-shot photograph of a light-field camera shows one high-resolution and other views from different angles of the bear doll. The high-resolution light-field camera has great potential to apply in object ranging and face recognition in the future.

Automated summary

A light-field camera is an optical system that captures multi-field-angle information in a single shot. The microlens array in the camera is crucial for providing this information but its numerical aperture affects the spatial resolution and image quality. In this study, a new microlens array consisting of a larger primary microlens and 72 satellite microlenses is proposed. This array allows for high-resolution image information from different angles and can be easily fabricated at a low cost. The measured spatial resolution of the primary microlens is 53.74 lp/mm higher than that of the satellite microlens when the modulation transfer function is 0.3. The demonstration photograph of the light-field camera shows a high-resolution view along with different views from various angles. This high-resolution light-field camera holds promising potential for applications in object ranging and face recognition in the future.