Optical design for transfer of camera viewpoint using retrotransmissive optical system

We propose a virtual camera that can pass through a small hole in an obstruction to capture an image on the other side. Recently, free-viewpoint television technology has enabled the generation of video in which viewpoint images are captured from locations where cameras are not actually placed. However, capturing the images of objects concealed behind obstructions or beyond a camera’s field of view is a challenge. We designed an optical transformation system that utilizes a conventional camera, concave lens, and transmissive mirror device (TMD); this system enables the capture of images through small holes in walls or other obstructions. Our experimental prototype demonstrated that it is possible to capture images of the area on the other side of a wall through a 5 mm hole. In this paper, modulation transfer function (MTF) comparison is used to show that a combination of a concave lens and TMD is an effective optical design for a midair camera.