Coded-Aperture Light Field Imaging Using Spatial Light Modulators

Light field imaging can capture four-dimensional information about the scenes. It has been widely applied to diverse applications, ranging from machine vision to biomedicine. Coded-aperture light field imaging (CALF), as one of the light field acquisition paradigms, has emerged as a promising technique for simultaneously obtaining high resolution in both space and angle at video rate. In this chapter, we survey state-of-the-art CALF imaging techniques based on the employed spatial light modulators (SLMs). According to the type of SLMs used for encoding the light field, we categorize the field into three groups – liquid crystal display-based CALF imaging, liquid crystal on silicon-based CALF imaging, and digital micromirror device-based CALF imaging. For each group, we present representative techniques from the aspects of operating principles, technical specifications, and applications, as well as their advantages and limitations. Finally, we give a summary and outlook for SLM-based CALF imaging.