Camera chip can take 3D pictures, figure out distances

Researchers at Stanford University have invented a chip which can take pictures in 3D. Besides being able to reassemble the 3D image into a normal 2D photograph that we all know and love, the researchers can also figure out distances of objects in the photo.

The chip works by overlapping small 16×16-pixel patches, called subarrays, each hiding under its own lens. After a photo is taken, special software then analyzes it looking for small location differences for the same element in different patches. Based on this information the software is able to extrapolate the distance from one object to another at the time the photo was taken.

The result is a regular photo accompanied by a “depth map” which records how far away each pixel is. Right now there is no specific file format for such an image, but the researchers said that the information can be embedded into a regular JPEG as metadata.

The researchers claim that the technology can also be used to reduce noise in digital photos. Since the same views are captured on different subarrays, they can all be compared to eliminate any unnatural color.

However, the new technology does not come without a price. Because the subarrays overlap, the final resolution of the image is smaller than the number of pixels on the sensor. Also, processing such an image takes 10 times the processing power of today’s cameras, which would significantly affect battery life.

We this this would make a welcome addition to the cameras of the future. As battery capacities expand and processors become more powerful, cameras will be able to sport these chips with ease. Although the price would probably be higher than a traditional sensor, being able to take 3D photos would certainly be worth it, at least for some.