Plenoptikk

Plenoptikk, also known as plenoptic imaging or light field imaging, is a technology that captures not only the intensity of light rays but also their direction. Unlike traditional cameras that record a 2D projection of a scene, a plenoptic camera captures a 4D light field. This extra information about the direction of light allows for a variety of post-capture manipulations that are impossible with conventional photography.

The core concept of plenoptikk relies on a microlens array placed in front of the image sensor. Each microlens focuses a portion of the light rays onto a specific area of the main sensor. By analyzing the patterns of how these focused spots appear across different microlenses, the directional information of the light can be reconstructed.

The primary advantage of plenoptic imaging is its ability to refocus an image after it has been captured. This is achieved by computationally shifting the perspective of the light rays. Additionally, plenoptic cameras can be used to determine depth information of a scene, essentially creating a depth map. This depth sensing capability can be valuable for applications in 3D reconstruction, augmented reality, and robotics.

While plenoptic technology offers intriguing possibilities, it currently faces challenges such as lower spatial resolution compared to traditional cameras and complex computational requirements for processing the captured data. Despite these hurdles, research and development continue to advance the field, promising future innovations in imaging and computer vision.