Three-dimensional integral imaging with large depth of focus by use of real and virtual image fields

We present an integral imaging method to enhance the depth of a three-dimensional image by displaying it throughout real and virtual image fields. When the product of depth and resolution square of the displayed three-dimensional image is used as a figure of merit in integral imaging systems, our method can maximize this merit especially when three-dimensional images with large depth of focus are displayed. The feasibility of our method is experimentally demonstrated by generation of elemental images by a computer. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.