US 11,856,175 B2
Welding mask with light field image capture and display
Collin Stoner, San Leandro, CA (US)
Filed by Selene Photonics, Inc., San Leandro, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/230,969.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/009,953, filed on Apr. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0321074 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. H04N 13/144 (2018.01); H04N 13/239 (2018.01); H04N 13/344 (2018.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); H04N 13/111 (2018.01); H04N 23/68 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 13/144 (2018.05) [H04N 13/111 (2018.05); H04N 13/239 (2018.05); H04N 13/344 (2018.05); H04N 23/687 (2023.01); H04N 23/957 (2023.01); H04N 2213/002 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welding mask, comprising:
a protective shell to provide physical protection to an operator of a welder;
a first light field camera subsystem comprising a first plurality of discrete cameras that are spatially separated from one another and configured to capture video images of a welding process with at least two different exposure levels, wherein each discrete camera in the first plurality of discrete cameras comprises a distinct imaging sensor and lens element to capture video images of the welding process from a distinct perspective;
a second light field camera subsystem comprising a second plurality of discrete cameras that are spatially separated from one another and configured to capture video images of the welding process with at least two different exposure levels, wherein each discrete camera in the second plurality of discrete cameras comprises a distinct imaging sensor and lens element to capture video images of the welding process from a distinct perspective; and
a processing subsystem configured to:
process the video images captured by each of the first plurality of discrete cameras to virtually render a first composite light field video imaging of the welding process from a first virtual perspective that includes computed light ray direction and intensity information and high-dynamic range based on the at least two different exposure levels used by the first plurality of discrete cameras, and
process the video images captured by each of the second plurality of discrete cameras to virtually render a second composite light field video imaging of the welding process from a second virtual perspective that includes computed light ray direction and intensity information and high-dynamic range based on the at least two different exposure levels used by the second plurality of discrete cameras; and
a display subsystem to:
display the video-imaged welding process from the first virtual perspective to a first eye of the operator, and
display the video-imaged welding process from the second virtual perspective to a second eye of the operator.