Open AccessDepth estimation method using depth-of-field imaging with a retroreflector
Author(s) -
Sungwon Choi,
Sung−Wook Min
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.005655
Subject(s) - retroreflector , optics , depth of field , lidar , beam splitter , cube (algebra) , position (finance) , measured depth , depth map , corner reflector , light field , laser , computer science , computer vision , physics , image (mathematics) , mathematics , finance , combinatorics , geophysics , economics
We propose a method for depth estimation using a tilted retroreflective structure, which consists of a beam splitter and a micro-corner cube array. Existing depth estimation methods commonly use an active light source to detect the depth of an object. However, sunlight interferes with their depth measurements and decreases their accuracy outdoors. The proposed method does not need any active light source because depth information is obtained in the image domain, not in the object domain. The depth of field imaging by a retroreflector indicates the depth position of the object image, immediately. We believe that the proposed method can be applied to depth measurement systems such as LIDAR and time of flight cameras. An experiment is performed, whose results are compared with theoretical calculations, which confirms the feasibility of the proposed method.