Camera array and methods of using captured images from a camera array for depth determination purposes

Abstract

Camera arrays including multiple cameras which are spaced at various distances from one another are implemented and used. Multiple camera pairs with very different camera baselines between the cameras allows for reliable depth determinations to be made. Disparity information obtained by comparing images of a closely spaced camera pair are used to limit the search for matching image portions of images of a more distantly spaced camera pair. This allows searching for matching image portions to be constrained in a way that the complexity of searching for matching image portions can scale at a lower rate than the rate at which the baselines between cameras increases. This allows depth determinations to benefit from the accuracy obtained from using large camera baselines in a manner that is efficient from a processor utilization perspective since comparing image portions can be processor intensive if implemented without the benefit of constraints.