Open AccessDepth plane adaptive integral imaging system using a vari-focal liquid lens array for realizing augmented reality
Author(s) -
Dooseub Shin,
Cheoljoong Kim,
Gyohyun Koo,
Yong Hyub Won
Publication year - 2020
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.384697
Subject(s) - integral imaging , focal length , lens (geology) , optics , cardinal point , parallax , computer science , focus (optics) , augmented reality , depth of field , computer vision , optical axis , depth of focus (tectonics) , artificial intelligence , physics , image (mathematics) , geology , paleontology , subduction , tectonics
Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information. Despite its attractive features, AR has not become popular because of the visual fatigue that many people face when they experience it. Many methods have been introduced to solve this visual fatigue problem and one of these methods is an integral imaging system that provides images almost continuous viewpoints and full parallax. However, the integral imaging system, which uses a lens array with a fixed focal length, has limited depth of focus (DOF) range. As a result, images that are outside of the DOF range become distorted. In this paper, a vari-focal liquid lens array was fabricated and the optical characteristics of the lens array were evaluated. Using the vari-focal liquid lens array, the DOF range was extended and high-resolution images are realized without restriction of depth range in an AR system.