Distance estimation using a single computational camera with dual off-axis color filtered apertures

In this paper, we present a novel computational imaging system using a dual off-axis color filtered aperture (DCA) for distance estimation in a single-camera framework. The DCA consists of two off-axis apertures that are covered by red and cyan color filters. The two apertures generate misaligned color channels in which the amount of misalignment of points in the image plane are a function of the distance from the camera of the corresponding points in the object plane. The primary contribution of this paper is the derivation of a mathematical model of the relationship between the color shifting values and distance of an object from the camera when the camera parameters and the baseline distance between the two apertures in the DCA are given. The proposed computational imaging system can be implemented simply by inserting an appropriately sized DCA into any general optical system. Experimental results show that the DCA camera is able to estimate the distances of objects within a single-camera framework.