Patent ID: 8144190

Claim:
An apparatus for three-dimensional image acquisition, the apparatus comprising: first and second lenses configured to receive light from a scene, wherein the first and second lenses are in alignment with each other along diameters thereof; first, second, third, and fourth sensors, each sensor being configured to acquire only a predetermined single color from the received light, wherein the first sensor is in alignment with an axis of the first lens and the first sensor is parallel to a diameter of the first lens, wherein the fourth sensor is in alignment with an axis of the second lens and the fourth sensor is parallel to a diameter of the second lens, wherein the first and fourth sensors are in alignment with each other, and wherein the second and third sensors are in alignment with each other and perpendicular to the first and fourth sensors; a first beam splitter arranged proximate to the first lens and in alignment with the axis of the first lens, wherein the first beam splitter is configured to receive light directly from the first lens, and to provide therefrom, a first split beam to the first sensor, and a second split beam to the second sensor without using a separate minor, the first and second split beams traveling on independent perpendicular paths; and a second beam splitter arranged proximate to the second lens and in alignment with the axis of the second lens, wherein the second beam splitter is configured to receive light directly from the second lens, and to provide therefrom, a third split beam to the third sensor without using a separate minor, and a fourth split beam to the fourth sensor, the third and fourth split beams traveling on independent perpendicular paths.