Lens array camera and method of driving lens array camera

A method of driving a lens array camera may include simultaneously driving a first group of sensing elements from among a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element from among the first group of sensing elements corresponding to a same original signal viewpoint, wherein the plurality of sensing elements is included in a sensor corresponding to the lens array camera including N rows of N lenses, N being a natural number.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0159958, filed on Dec. 12, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Methods and apparatuses consistent with example embodiments relate to a lens array camera and a method of driving the lens array camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

Due to development of optical technologies and image processing technologies, image capturing apparatuses are being utilized in a wide range of fields, for example, multimedia content, security and recognition. A size of an image capturing apparatus may be determined based on, for example, a size of a lens, a focal length of a lens or a size of a sensor. For example, the size of the image capturing apparatus may be adjusted based on a size of a lens or a size of a sensor. As the size of the sensor decreases, an amount of light incident on the sensor may decrease. Accordingly, a resolution of an image may decrease, or it may be difficult to perform capturing in a low illuminance environment. To reduce the size of the capturing apparatus, a multi-lens including small lenses may be used.

The capturing apparatus using the multi-lens may be mounted on a mobile device, a camera, a vehicle, and a computer due to its small volume and may be used for acquiring an image, recognizing an object, or controlling a device.

SUMMARY

One or more example embodiments may address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the example embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an example embodiment may not overcome any of the problems described above.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a method of driving a lens array camera, the method includes simultaneously driving a first group of sensing elements from among a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element from among the first group of sensing elements corresponding to a same original signal viewpoint, wherein the plurality of sensing elements is included in a sensor corresponding to the lens array camera including N rows of N lenses, N being a natural number.

A number of the plurality of sensing elements and a number of the lenses may be relatively prime.

The number of the plurality of sensing elements may be one more than a predetermined natural multiple of N, N being the number of rows of lenses.

The plurality of sensing elements may be arranged in (N*M+1) rows, M being a predetermined natural number, wherein each row of the plurality of sensing elements includes (N*M+1) sensing elements, wherein when p is equal to N/2 rounded up to the nearest natural number, the first group of sensing elements includes a plurality of rows of sensing elements given by

wherein r is a natural number corresponding to the first group of sensing elements.

The first group of sensing elements may be one from among a plurality of groups of sensing elements, and the natural number r may be incremented by 1 for each group of sensing elements from among the plurality of groups of sensing elements to be simultaneously driven.

Each lens from among the N rows of N lenses may cover a fraction of at least one sensing element from among the plurality of sensing elements that is less than an entirety of the at least one sensing element.

The fraction of the at least one covered sensing element may be an integer multiple of 1/N.

The method may further include outputting an image corresponding to original signal information received by the plurality of sensing elements by restoring sensing information obtained using the simultaneously driven first group of sensing elements.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method in accordance with the above-noted aspect of the disclosure.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a lens array camera includes a processor; and a memory including instructions to be read by a computer, wherein when the instructions are executed in the processor, the processor is configured to simultaneously drive a first group of sensing elements from among a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element from among the first group of sensing elements being positioned at a same position relative to a respective lens, the plurality of sensing elements corresponding to the lens array camera including N rows of N lenses, N being a natural number.

A number of the plurality of sensing elements and a number of the lenses may be relatively prime.

The number of the plurality of sensing elements may be one more than a predetermined natural multiple of N, N being the number of rows of lenses.

The plurality of sensing elements may be arranged in (N*M+1) rows, M being a predetermined natural number, wherein each row of the plurality of sensing elements includes (N*M+1) sensing elements, wherein when p is equal to N/2 rounded up to the nearest natural number, the first group of sensing elements comprises a plurality of rows of sensing elements given by

wherein r is a natural number corresponding to the first group of sensing elements.

The first group of sensing elements may be one from among a plurality of groups of sensing elements, and the natural number r may be incremented by 1 for each group of sensing elements from among the plurality of groups of sensing elements to be simultaneously driven.

Each lens from among the N rows of N lenses may cover a fraction of at least one sensing element from among the plurality of sensing elements that is less than an entirety of the at least one sensing element.

The fraction of the at least one covered sensing element may be an integer multiple of 1/N.

The processor may be further configured to output an image corresponding to original signal information received by the plurality of sensing elements by restoring sensing information obtained using the simultaneously driven first group of sensing elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Example embodiments are described below in order to explain the present disclosure by referring to the figures.

The following structural or functional descriptions merely describe the example embodiments, and the scope of the example embodiments is not limited to the descriptions provided in the present specification. Various changes and modifications can be made thereto by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Although terms of “first” or “second” are used to explain various components, the components are not limited by the terms. These terms should be used only to distinguish one component from another component. For example, a “first” component may be referred to as a “second” component, or similarly, and the “second” component may be referred to as the “first” component.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected to” another component, the component can be directly connected or coupled to the other component or intervening components may be present.

Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as those generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms defined in general dictionaries should be construed to have meanings matching contextual meanings in the related art and are not to be construed as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless otherwise defined herein.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a lens array camera according to an example embodiment.

A quality of an image acquired and processed by a lens array camera100may be determined based on a number of sensing elements included in a sensor120and an amount of light incident on a sensing element. For example, a resolution of the image may be determined based on the number of sensing elements included in the sensor120and a sensitivity of the image may be determined based on the amount of light incident on the sensing element. The amount of light incident on the sensing element may be determined based on a size of the sensing element. As the size of the sensing element increases, the amount of light incident on the sensing element may increase, and a dynamic range of the sensor120may increase. Thus, as the number of sensing elements included in the sensor120increases, the sensor120may acquire a higher resolution image. Also, as the size of the sensing element increases, the sensor120may improve the quality of high sensitivity imaging in a low light condition.

A size of the lens array camera100may be determined based on a focal length f of a lens110. For example, the size of the lens array camera100may be determined based on a gap between the lens110and the sensor120. To collect light refracted by the lens110, the sensor120may be located within the focal length f of the lens110. Thus, the lens110and the sensor120included in the lens array camera100may be spaced apart by a distance within the focal length f of the lens110. The focal length f of the lens110may be determined based on a viewing angle of the lens array camera100and a size of the lens110, for example, a radius of an aperture of the lens110. When the viewing angle is fixed, the focal length f may increase proportionally to the size of the lens110. Also, the size of the lens110may be determined based on a size of the sensor120. For example, to acquire an image in a predetermined viewing angle range, the size of the lens110may increase as the size of the sensor120increases.

As described above, the size of the lens array camera100may be increased to increase the sensitivity of the image while the viewing angle and the resolution of the image are maintained. For example, to increase the sensitivity of the image while maintaining the viewing angle and the resolution of the image, the number of sensing elements included in the sensor120may be maintained and the size of each of the sensing elements may be increased, which may increase the size of the sensor120. In this example, in order to maintain the viewing angle, the size of the lens110may be increased according to an increase of the size of the sensor120and the focal length f of the lens110may be increased, which may increase the size of the lens array camera100.

To reduce the size of the lens array camera100, a method of reducing the size of the sensing element and maintaining the resolution of the sensor120or a method of reducing the resolution of the sensor120and maintaining the size of the sensing element may be used. When reducing the size of the sensing element and maintaining the resolution of the sensor120, the size of the sensor120and the focal length f of the lens110may be reduced. In this case, the size of the lens array camera100may be reduced but the sensitivity of the image may also be reduced. Thus, a low-illuminance image quality may be degraded. When the resolution of the sensor120is reduced and the size of the sensing element is maintained, the size of the sensor120and the focal length f of the lens110may be reduced. In this case, the size of the lens array camera100may be reduced but the resolution of the image may also be reduced.

The following example embodiments may provide technology related to a lens array camera and a method of driving the lens array camera to accurately restore a color image while satisfying a desired viewing angle, resolution, sensitivity, and size of the lens array camera100. For example, by designing the lens110in a small size and maintaining the size of the sensor120the focal length f of the lens110may be reduced and a thickness of the lens array camera100may also be reduced. Referring toFIG. 1, the lens array camera100may include the lens110and the sensor120. The lens110and the sensor120included in the lens array camera100ofFIG. 1will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3. A method of driving a sensing element included in the sensor120will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 4.

The lens110may cover a predetermined area of the sensor120corresponding to the size of the lens110. In other words, light passing through each individual lens110may be incident on sensing elements of the sensor120included in the predetermined area. The light may include a plurality of light rays. Each of the sensing elements of the sensor120may generate sensing information based on incident light rays passing through the lens110. For example, the sensing element may generate sensing information based on a light ray incident through the lens110. The lens array camera100may acquire an image corresponding to viewpoints included in a field of view of the lens array camera100based on the sensing information output by the sensor120, restore the acquired image, and output a high-resolution image.

In this example, the number of the lenses110and the number of sensing elements included in the sensor120may be relatively prime. Thus, the lens110and the sensing element may be arranged in a fraction structure having a disparity by 1/N, N being the number of lenses. This feature will be described in detail later.

A processor130may simultaneously drive sensing elements corresponding to similar original signal information among a plurality of sensing elements arranged in the fraction structure together with the lens110. The sensing elements corresponding to the similar original signal information will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 4.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a number of sensing elements and a number of lenses according to an example embodiment.

A sensor230may receive light rays X1through X7corresponding to viewpoints240. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, multiple light rays X1may correspond to a single viewpoint. The light rays X1through X7may be detected by a sensor after passing through lenses210and220. The sensor230may include sensing elements S1through S7corresponding to a first row among a plurality of rows. The following description will be made based on the sensing elements S1through S7.

The sensing elements S1through S7may sense the light rays X1through X7having passed through a plurality of lenses and overlapping one another. For example, the sensing element S1may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X1and X2passing through a lens210. In this example, the generated sensing information may be used for outputting a high-resolution image through an application of an image restoration algorithm.

The sensing information generated by the sensing elements S1through S7may correspond to original signal information (i.e., incident light ray information from each of the viewpoints240) as shown in Equation 1 below.
S=T·X[Equation 1]

In Equation 1, S denotes a matrix representing sensing information sensed by each of the sensing elements. X denotes a matrix indicating the original signal information. T denotes a transformation matrix that represents a relationship between sensing information detected by the sensing elements S1through S7and original signal information corresponding to incident light. The light rays X1through X7, the lenses, and the sensing elements S1through S7ofFIG. 2may be modeled as shown in Equation 2 below.

For example, as set forth in Equation 2, the sensing element S1may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X1and X2passing through the lens210. Likewise, the sensing element S2may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X3and X4passing through the lens210and the sensing element S3may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X5and X6passing through the lens210. The sensing element S4may generate sensing information by sensing the light ray X7passing through the lens210and the light ray X1passing through the lens220. The sensing element S5may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X2and X3passing through the lens220, the sensing element S6may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X4and X5passing through the lens220, and the sensing element S7may generate sensing information by sensing the light rays X6and X7passing through the lens220.

In this example, the light ray X1may be sensed by both the sensing element S4and the sensing element S1, the light ray X3may be sensed by both the sensing element S5and the sensing element S2, the light ray X5may be sensed by both the sensing element S6and the sensing element S3, and the light ray X7may be sensed by both the sensing element S7and the sensing element S4.

As such, to restore an original image corresponding to the viewpoint of light rays X1, sensing information obtained by each of the sensing element S1and the sensing element S4may be used. Likewise, sensing information obtained by each of the sensing element S2and the sensing element S5may be used to restore an original image corresponding to the viewpoint of light rays X3, sensing information obtained by each of the sensing element S3and the sensing element S6may be used to restore an original image corresponding to the viewpoint of light rays X5, and sensing information obtained by each of the sensing element S4and the sensing element S7may be used to restore an original image corresponding to the viewpoint of light rays X7.

The transformation matrix T between the sensing information generated by the sensing elements S1through S7included in the sensor230and original signal information corresponding to the light rays X1through X7incident from each of the viewpoints240may be determined based on the number of lenses and the number of sensing elements.

The fraction structure of the lens110and the sensing element will be described. The number of lenses and the number of sensing elements may be relatively prime. For example, the lens array camera may include N*N lenses. Also, the lens array camera may include (N*M+1)(N*M+1) sensing elements. Thus, each lens may cover (M+1/N)(M+1/N) sensing elements. In other words, each lens may further cover M sensing elements in their entirety and a portion of one or more other sensing elements corresponding to a disparity by 1/N. In other words, if the sensing elements are arranged in a grid shape, each lens may cover a fraction of each of the sensing elements positioned along one edge of the lens, and each lens may cover the same fraction of each of the sensing elements positioned along another edge of the lens perpendicular to the first edge. The fraction covered by the lens may be an integer multiple of 1/N.

For example, when a lens array camera includes 5*5 lenses and 26*26 sensing elements, one lens may cover (5+⅕)(5+⅕) sensing elements. That is, the one lens may further cover sensing elements corresponding to a disparity by ⅕.

When the number of lenses and the number of sensing elements are relatively prime, an inverse matrix of the transformation matrix T of Equation 1 may exist. Since the inverse matrix of the transformation matrix T exists, a matrix X indicating original signal information may be calculated by multiplying the inverse matrix of the transformation matrix T by a matrix S indicating sensing information detected by a sensing element as shown in Equation 3 below.
X=T−1·S[Equation 3]

Using the matrix X obtained from Equation 3, a high-resolution image corresponding to an original image may be output.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a number of sensing elements and a number of lenses according to an example embodiment.

A number of lenses and a number of sensing elements which are relatively prime may satisfy Equation 4 below.
Number of sensing elements=Number of lenses(N)*natural number(M)+1  [Equation 4]

As described with reference toFIG. 3, since a number of lenses N shown in the figure is 6 and a number of sensing elements in one row is 37, a relative prime relationship may be satisfied. In this example, 37/6 sensing elements may be covered per lens.

For example, a first lens may cover the entireties of sensing elements1through6, and may additionally cover ⅙ of sensing element7. A second lens may cover the remaining ⅚ of sensing element7, the entireties of sensing elements8through12, and 2/6 of sensing element13. Likewise, a last lens may cover ⅙ of sensing element31and the entireties of sensing elements32through37. As such, each lens may further cover sensing elements corresponding to a disparity by ⅙ (the number of lenses).

When Equation 4 is extended to two dimensions, the number of sensing elements in the entire grid may satisfy Equation 5 below.
Total number of sensing elements=(N*M+1)(N*M+1)  [Equation 5]

When the number of sensing elements in one row is 37, a number of sensing elements in a second row may be 37 and, likewise, a number of sensing elements in a 37th row may also be 37. Thus, each lens may cover (6+⅙)*(6+⅙) sensing elements and all lenses, for example, 6*6 lenses may cover 37*37 sensing elements.

According to an example embodiment, it is possible to output a high-resolution image close to an original image by restoring an image acquired by a lens array camera including a lens and a sensing element satisfying Equation 5.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of a lens and a sensing element according to an example embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 4, a lens array camera includes 5*5 lenses and 26*26 sensing elements. In this example, a number of sensing elements in each row may be (5*5+1) and satisfy Equation 3, and a total number of sensing elements in the grid may be (5*5+1)(5*5+1) and satisfy Equation 4. Thus, one lens may cover (5+⅕)(5+⅕) sensing elements.

A first row through a 26throw may be arranged in a row direction. 26 sensing elements may be arranged in each of the first row through the 26throw. For example, 26 sensing elements may be arranged in the first row, 26 sensing elements may be arranged in a second row, and 26 sensing elements may be arranged in the 26throw.

Sensing elements corresponding to similar original signal information may be simultaneously driven. Here, the sensing elements corresponding to similar original signal information may be sensing elements sensing a light ray corresponding to the similar original signal information. In the example ofFIG. 2, the sensing element S1and the sensing element S4correspond to the same original light information because they both sense the light rays X1. Also, in the example ofFIG. 2, the sensing element S2and the sensing element S5correspond to the same original signal information because they both sense the light rays X3.

As an example, inFIG. 4, (the 1strow, a 6throw, an 11throw) may include sensing elements sensing light rays from the same viewpoint and may thus correspond to similar original signal information. The sensing elements of the 1strow may sense a light ray passing through a first lens. The sensing elements of the 6throw may overlap the first lens by ⅕ and overlap a second lens by ⅘. In other words, ⅕ of each sensing element in the 6throw is covered by the first lens and ⅘ of each sensing element in the 6throw is covered by the second lens. Thus, the sensing elements of the 6throw may sense light rays passing through both the first lens and the second lens. Likewise, the sensing elements of the 11throw may overlap the second lens by ⅖ and overlap a third lens by ⅗. In other words, ⅖ of each sensing element in the 11throw is covered by the second lens and ⅗ of each sensing element in the 11throw is covered by the third lens. Thus, the sensing elements of the 11throw may sense light rays passing through both the second lens and the third lens. Although the sensing elements of (the 6throw, the 11throw) overlap other lenses, the sensing elements may sense light rays corresponding to lowermost portions of the second lens and the third lens. Thus, the sensing elements of (the 6throw, the 11throw) may sense light rays from the same viewpoint and may thus correspond to similar original signal information to that of the first row.

In this example, an overlap may occur when the number of lenses and the number of sensing elements satisfy Equation 4 and Equation 5. For example, the lens array camera may include 5*5 lenses and (5*5+1)(5*5+1) sensing elements. In this example, one lens may cover (5+⅕)(5+⅕) sensing elements. Through this, the overlap may occur due to a disparity by ⅕.

The sensing elements of a 16throw may overlap the third lens by ⅗ and overlap a fourth lens by ⅖. Thus, the sensing elements of the 16throw may sense light rays passing through both the third lens and the fourth lens. Likewise, the sensing elements of a 21strow may overlap the fourth lens by ⅘ and overlap a fifth lens by ⅕. Thus, the sensing elements of the 21strow may sense light rays passing through both the fourth lens and the fifth lens. However, instead of corresponding to lowermost portions of the fourth and fifth lenses, the sensing elements of (the 16throw, the 21strow) may sense light rays corresponding to uppermost portions of the third lens and the fourth lens. Thus, the sensing elements of (the 16throw, the 21strow) may not sense light rays from the same viewpoint and thus may not correspond to the original signal information similar to that of (the 1strow, the 6throw, the 11throw). Therefore, the sensing elements of (a 17throw, a 22ndrow) subsequent to the sensing elements of (the 16throw, the 21strow) may sense light rays from the same viewpoint and may thus correspond to the original signal information similar to that of (the 1strow, the 6throw, the 11throw).

The lens array camera may drive the sensing elements included in (the 1strow, the 6throw, the 11throw, the 17throw, the 22ndrow) instead of (the 1strow, the 6throw, the 11throw, the 16throw, the 21strow) to sense light rays corresponding to a lowermost portion of a lens.

As another example, inFIG. 4, (a 2ndrow, a 7throw, a 12throw) may include sensing elements sensing light rays from the same viewpoint and may thus correspond to similar signal original information. Similarly, rather than (the 17throw, the 22ndrow), (a 18throw, a 23rdrow) may include sensing elements sensing light rays from the same viewpoint and may thus correspond to original signal information similar to that of (the 2ndrow, the 7th row, the 12throw).

Generalizing the description above, when a lens array camera includes N*N lenses and (N*M+1)(N*M+1) sensing elements, one lens may cover (M+1/N)(M+1/N) sensing elements. In this example, when p is equal to N/2 rounded up to the nearest natural number, rows corresponding to r, M+r, 2*M+r, (p−1)*M+r, p*M+r+1, . . . , (N−1)*M+r+1 may be simultaneously driven. In other words, the rows of sensing elements that may be simultaneously driven are given by:

The natural number r is incremented by 1 for each set of rows to be simultaneously driven. For example, r=1 for the first set of rows to be simultaneously driven.

The lens array camera may simultaneously drive the sensing elements included in (the 1strow, the 6throw, the 11throw, the 17throw, the 22ndrow), and then simultaneously drive the sensing elements included in (the 2ndrow, the 7throw, the 12throw, the 18throw, the 23rdrow). The lens array camera may simultaneously drive the sensing elements corresponding to similar original signal information for each row instead of sensing on a row-by-row basis.

According to an example embodiment, a lens array camera including a lens and a sensing element satisfying Equation 5 may acquire an image as described above. The image may be restored, so that a high-resolution image close to an original image is output.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a lens array camera driving method performed by a lens array camera according to an example embodiment.

In operation510, a lens array camera including N*N lenses and a plurality of sensing elements simultaneously drives sensing elements corresponding to similar original signal information among a plurality of sensing elements.

A number of the plurality of sensing elements and a number of the lenses may be relatively prime. For example, the number of the plurality of sensing elements may be a predetermined natural multiple of N+1, N being the number of lenses. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the number of lenses is N*N and p is equal to N/2 rounded up to the nearest natural number.

Here, the sensing elements corresponding to the similar original signal information may include sensing elements at a same position relative to the lens covering the sensing elements among a plurality of sensing elements in a case of a first lens through a pthlens and sensing elements at the same position+1 in a row direction instead of the sensing elements at the same position in a case of a lens after and including a (p+1)thlens.

In other words, the sensing elements may be divided into groups of sensing elements. For each lens, every group may include one sensing element that is covered by the lens. The sensing elements in a given group are each positioned at a same position or at a same position+1 relative to the corresponding lens as set forth above to correspond to a same original signal viewpoint.

When p is equal to N/2 rounded up to the nearest natural number, each group of sensing elements includes a plurality of sensing elements given by Equation 6.

Also, after the sensing elements corresponding to the similar original signal information (i.e., all of the sensing elements in a given group) are simultaneously driven, the sensing elements located at the position+1 in the row direction (i.e., all of the sensing elements in the next group) may be repetitively and simultaneously driven.

For example, the number of sensing elements is 26*26, the number of lenses is 5*5, and a natural number rounded by 5/2, p is 3, sensing elements at a same position among a plurality of sensing elements corresponding to each lens in a case of a first lens through a third lens and sensing elements at the same position+1 in a case of a fourth lens and a fifth lens may be simultaneously driven. Related description is made with reference toFIG. 4.

As such, among the sensing elements corresponding to the first lens through the fifth lens, the sensing elements at the same position may not be simultaneously driven and thus, a difference occurs therebetween. This is because the lens more covers the sensing elements by M+1/N due to a disparity by 1/N occurring when the sensing element and the lens are arranged in a fraction structure described above and as shown, e.g., inFIG. 4.

According to an example embodiment, an image acquired using a lens array camera including a lens and a sensing element satisfying the fraction structure may be restored so as to be output as a high-resolution image with a high degree of similarity to an original image.

FIGS. 6 and 7are diagrams illustrating a device in which a lens array camera is implemented according to an example embodiment.

An image acquired using a lens array camera may be applied to various fields of outputting a high-resolution image. The lens array camera may include a plurality of sensing elements spaced apart in a relatively small focal length through a plurality of lenses. The lens array camera may have a small thickness.

Due to a use of the plurality of lenses, a size of the lens array camera may be reduced. Thus, the lens array camera may be applied not only to a user terminal but also to a wearable device, such as a smart watch, a smart band, smart glasses, and the like, of which a size is relatively important.

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 6, a lens array camera610may be implemented in a user terminal600as a front or rear camera. A sensor of the lens array camera610may be implemented as a full-frame sensor. A lens of the lens array camera610may be implemented as a micro lens.

Referring toFIG. 7, a vehicle700may include lens array cameras at points, for example, points720and730. A lens array camera may be adjustable in size and thus, may be installed in the vehicle without hindering a design or stability.

For example, a lens array camera may be implemented as a front camera or a rear camera of the vehicle700. In this example, the lens array camera may use a curved lens array710. That is, the curved lens array in which a connecting portion between lenses is designed to be bent may be used in the lens array camera.

However, the present examples are not to be taken as being limited thereto. The lens array camera may be applicable to, for example, a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, a drone, a closed-circuit television (CCTV), a webcam camera, a panoramic camera, a movie or broadcast video camera, and a virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) camera. Furthermore, the lens array camera may be applicable to various fields, for example, a flexible/stretchable camera, a compound-eye camera, and a contact lens type camera.