Patent ID: 7657122

Claim:
An image configuring apparatus comprising: an object image configuring means, which reads image data of a plurality of reduced object images from a reduced image recording means for recording image data of a plurality of reduced object images obtained by photographing an object as using a compound-eye camera that focuses a plurality of reduced object images on a photo detector through micro lens array having a plurality of micro lenses arrayed therein, and configures a single object image based on said image data and then outputs its image data, wherein said object image configuring apparatus is also configured that said micro lens and said light receiving elements are set without alignment error, and preset in the conditions including the distance between object and micro lens array, using the aligning distance of each micro lens of lens array and the focal length of micro lens array, and based on such presetting condition, the magnification ratio of reducing optical system is calculated with the known distance to the object, and by obtaining the relation among one pixel of the reduced image element and its corresponding area of the object, and previously obtain the geometric transfer function T k describing optical projection from the said real object to create said reduced image element and inverse transfer function T k −1 ; wherein said object image configuring means comprises: a generating means of initial object image for generating an initial image data of a single object image based on an image data of a plurality of said reduced object images captured by said micro lens array under said known condition using said inverse transfer function T k −1 ; a reduced image estimating means for estimating an estimated image of each of said reduced object images from an image data of a provided single object image which comes from said generating means of initial object image, based on a geometric projection process where said transfer function T k is used; an object image updating means for updating an image data of said single object image provided in said reduced image estimating means by projecting a difference between said estimated image of each reduced object images which comes from said reduced image estimating means and each of said reduced object images which is captured under said known condition of micro lens array, using said inverse process T k −1 of said geometric projection process; and an iterative control means for firstly giving said initial image data to said reduced image estimating means as an initial value of an image data of said single object image, and then repetitively conducting an estimating processing of said reduced image estimating means as well as an updating processing of said object image updating means until said difference satisfying a predetermined condition, then outputting an image data of said single object image at the time of said difference satisfying said predetermined condition as a final image data of an object image.