Analytical model of a three-dimensional integral image recording system that uses circular-and hexagonal-based spherical surface microlenses

A mathematical model for a three-dimensional omnidirectional integral recor ding camera system that uses either circular- or hexagonal-based spherical surface microlens arrays is derived. The geometry of the image formation an d recording process is fully described. Matlab is then used to establish th e number of recorded micro-intensity distributions representing a single ob ject point and their dependence on spatial position. The point-spread funct ion for the entire optical process for both close and remote imaging is obt ained, and the influence of depth on the point-spread dimensions for each t ype of microlens and imaging condition is discussed. Comparisons of the two arrangements are made, based on the illustrative numerical results present ed. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.