Real-Time Depth Estimation with Wide Detectable Range Using Variance of Depth of Field by Horizontal Planes of Sharp Focus

Abstract

We have been investigating real-time depth estimation techniques of a wide detectable range. These techniques involve the use of tilted optics imaging to use variance of depth of field on the horizontal planes of sharp focus. They need far fewer multiple focus images than the conventional passive methods do, e.g., the Depthfrom-Focus and the Depth-from-Defocus. Hence, our method gets rid of the bottleneck of conventional methods; the motion speed of optical mechanics is significantly slower than that of image processing parts. Therefore, it is suitable for applications that involve estimation of depth and that need a wide detectable range and real-time processing such as automation tasks.