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 recording camera system that uses either circular- or hexagonal-based spherical surface microlens arrays is derived. The geometry of the image formation and recording process is fully described. Matlab is then used to establish the number of recorded micro-intensity distributions representing a single object point and their dependence on spatial position. The point-spread function for the entire optical process for both close and remote imaging is obtained, and the influence of depth on the point-spread dimensions for each type of microlens and imaging condition is discussed. Comparisons of the two arrangements are made, based on the illustrative numerical results presented.