20130038690 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE INFORMATION - A method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information is disclosed. The method involves directing light captured within the field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens, receiving the captured light at a spatial discriminator located proximate the aperture plane, the discriminator including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first optical state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second optical state through a second portion of the single imaging path. The first and second portions of the single imaging path provide respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens for forming respective first and second images at an image sensor disposed at an image plane of the lens. The first image represents objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image represents the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects. The method also involves receiving the first image at a first plurality of sensor elements on the image sensor, the first plurality of elements being responsive to light having the first optical state, and receiving the second image at a second plurality of sensor elements on the image sensor, the second plurality of elements being responsive to light having the second optical state. | 02-14-2013 |