Vision through semireflecting media: polarization analysis.

We present an approach to recovering scenes deteriorated by reflections off a semi-reflecting medium. The approach is based on imaging through a polarizer at two different orientations. We analyze the image-formation process, taking into account changes in reflection and polarization properties owing to internal reflections within the medium. Reconstruction by inverting this process requires estimation of the incidence angle (the inclination of the transparent medium). We estimate this angle by seeking the value that leads to decorrelation of the estimated scenes that are automatically and uniquely labeled reflected-transmitted.