High-spatial-resolution light field 3D perception based on unidirectional object motion.

Light field cameras can capture comprehensive light information within a scene. Their core architecture incorporates a micro-lens array (MLA) positioned in front of the imaging sensor, mimicking the compound eye structure of insects. By processing the acquired data, these cameras enable the reconstruction of 3D spatial information. Despite their numerous advantages, light field cameras suffer from a critical drawback: low spatial resolution. To address this limitation, this study proposes a high-spatial-resolution light field imaging approach based on unidirectional object motion (UOMLF). A non-focused light field camera equipped with a hexagonally arranged MLA was developed as the foundation for a unidirectional object motion platform. Additionally, a 3D reconstruction algorithm tailored to high-resolution light field imaging was designed to complement this system. Experimental evaluations were conducted using the USAF resolution test chart and detector chip leads. Results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly enhances xy-plane resolution (approximately four times improvement) while maintaining z-axis resolution. This high-spatial-resolution light field technique based on unidirectional object motion offers broad potential for applications in both industrial and scientific fields.