The simplicity, complexity, and benefits of multi-aperture imaging in the thermal infrared

We describe how the use of multiple-camera imaging systems provides an interesting alternative imaging modality to conventional single-aperture imaging, but with a different challenge: to computationally integrate diverse images while demonstrating an overall system benefit. We report the use of super-resolution with arrays of nominally identical longwave infrared cameras to yield high-resolution imaging with reduced track length, while various architectures enable foveal imaging, 4π and 3D imaging through the exploitation of integral imaging techniques. Strikingly, multi-camera spectral imaging using a camera array can uniquely demonstrate video-rate imaging, high performance and low cost.