EP1334622A2 - Systeme et procede permettant de capturer et de visualiser des images stereoscopiques panoramiques - Google Patents

Systeme et procede permettant de capturer et de visualiser des images stereoscopiques panoramiques

Info

Publication number
EP1334622A2
EP1334622A2 EP01925815A EP01925815A EP1334622A2 EP 1334622 A2 EP1334622 A2 EP 1334622A2 EP 01925815 A EP01925815 A EP 01925815A EP 01925815 A EP01925815 A EP 01925815A EP 1334622 A2 EP1334622 A2 EP 1334622A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stereoscopic
image
images
handling arrangement
image set
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01925815A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1334622A4 (fr
Inventor
Shmuel Peleg
Moshe Ben-Ezra
Yael Pritch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yissum Research Development Co of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Original Assignee
Yissum Research Development Co of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yissum Research Development Co of Hebrew University of Jerusalem filed Critical Yissum Research Development Co of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Publication of EP1334622A2 publication Critical patent/EP1334622A2/fr
Publication of EP1334622A4 publication Critical patent/EP1334622A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
    • H04N13/204—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras
    • H04N13/207—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor
    • H04N13/211—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor using temporal multiplexing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
    • G02B30/20—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes
    • G02B30/26—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the autostereoscopic type
    • G02B30/27—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the autostereoscopic type involving lenticular arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/10—Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
    • H04N13/189—Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/10—Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
    • H04N13/194—Transmission of image signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
    • H04N13/204—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras
    • H04N13/243—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using three or more 2D image sensors

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to the field of recording and generating images, and more particularly to the generation, displaying and printing of panoramic images stereoscopically.
  • the invention specifically provides a system and method for generating and displaying a stereoscopic panoramic image set, comprising respective at least two panoramic images of a scene, each having a different viewing direction, for contemporaneous viewing by respective left and right eyes of a viewer to provide an apparent stereoscopic image of the scene to the viewer.
  • Panoramic images are images of a scene having a wide field of view, up to a full 360°.
  • Panoramic images may be recorded using a wide angled lens, a mirror, or the like, providing a wide field of view.
  • Panoramic images having a wider field of view can be generated by, for example, recording a plurality of images around a particular point and, using conventional mosaicing techniques, generating a single mosaic image.
  • Panoramic images may also be generated of simulated scenes using conventional computer graphics techniques. Stereoscopic panoramic images can also be generated from images using various techniques known to those skilled in the art.
  • two omnidirectional cameras vertically displaced along a common axis, record panoramic images of the surrounding scene. Since the cameras are displaced, the pair of images recorded by the cameras, when considered in combination, will provide depth information for objects in the scene surrounding the cameras. However, since the displacement is vertical, the recorded images are inappropriate for human stereo panoramic perception.
  • the invention provides anew and improved system andmethod for generating and displaying a stereoscopic panoramic image set, comprising respective at least two panoramic images of a scene, each having a different viewing direction, for contemporaneous viewing by respective left and right eyes of a viewer to provide an apparent stereoscopic image of the scene to the viewer.
  • the invention provides an arrangement for recording images for use in generating and utilizing images comprising a stereoscopic image set.
  • the arrangement includes at least one stereoscopic data source, at least one utilization device and a distribution channel.
  • the at least one stereoscopic data source records images from which a stereoscopic image set can be generated.
  • the utilization device is provided to facilitate viewing, printing, or otherwise utilizing the stereoscopic image set.
  • the distribution channel facilitates transferring information between the stereoscopic data source and the utilization device, the information including the images as recorded by the stereoscopic data source or the stereoscopic image set itself. If a stereoscopic image set is to comprise a plurality of mosaic images, the mosaic images may be generated by the stereoscopic data source, the image utilization device and/or the distribution channel.
  • a number of stereoscopic data sources of diverse configurations are disclosed, including fixed and moving mirrors, prisms, and lenses, which may be used in the stereoscopic data source in the stereoscopic image arrangement.
  • FIG. 1 schematically depicts a stereoscopic panoramic image arrangement for recording, generating and displaying stereoscopic panoramic images, constructed in accordance with the invention
  • FIG.2 schematically depicts an exterior plan view of an illustrative stereoscopic data source for use in connection with the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 depicts a functional block diagram of the stereoscopic data source depicted in FIG. 2;
  • FIG.4 depicts a functional block diagram of an illustrative viewing device depicted in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is useful in understanding the operations performed by the stereoscopic panoramic image arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 in connection with generating a stereoscopic panoramic set;
  • FIG. 6 is useful in understanding the arrangement for generating and displaying lenticular prints.
  • FIGS. 7 through 14 depict illustrative image recording arrangements that may be used in connection with the stereoscopic data source described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • FIG. 1 schematically depicts a stereoscopic panoramic image arrangement 10 for recording, generating and displaying stereoscopic panoramic images, constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • the stereoscopic panoramic image arrangement 10 includes one or more stereoscopic data sources 11 A through 1 IN (generally identified by reference numeral 1 In) and one or more viewing devices 12 A through 12M (generally identified by reference numeral 12m) .
  • each stereoscopic data source 1 In records images and generates therefrom at least one stereoscopic panoramic image set comprising a set of panoramic images.
  • Each stereoscopic data source 1 In can also transmit respective stereoscopic panoramic image sets that it generates through a distribution channel 13 to one or more of the viewing devices 12m for viewing, generation of lenticular prints, or other disposition as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • the stereoscopic data source 1 In will include an image recording arrangement, an image processing arrangement and a communication arrangement.
  • the image recording arrangement records one or more images from which a stereoscopic panoramic image set is generated.
  • the image recording arrangement may be similar to those described in the Peleg I or Peleg II patent applications.
  • the image recording arrangement is similar to that described in the Peleg I patent application, or to those described in the Peleg II patent application for which the arrangement is rotated and/or translated to facilitate recording of images from which a panoramic image is generated, at least the image recording arrangement records a series of images as it is rotated around an axis comprising a center of rotation, translated along a path, or any combination of rotation and translation.
  • the image recording arrangement As the image recording arrangement is rotated and/or translated, it records a series of images from which the image processing arrangement generates at least one set of panoramic images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set as described in the Peleg I patent application, or as described below in connection with FIG. 5.
  • the image recording arrangement will record a series of images.
  • the image processing arrangement will generate the panoramic image by mosaicing together strips from successive ones of the images.
  • the strips obtained from the respective images may all have the same displacement from the center of the respective images, as described in the Peleg I patent applications, or they may have different displacements, as described in the Peleg III patent application.
  • the panoramic images may be generated as described below in connection with FIG. 5.
  • the image recording arrangement may be similar to those described in the Peleg II patent application.
  • the respective arrangements may also be rotated and/or translated to facilitate recording of a series of images from which strips may be mosaiced together to generate a set of panoramic images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set.
  • the respective arrangements may be those including omni-cameras, which arrangements can directly record panoramic images for a stereoscopic panoramic image set without requiring mosaicing.
  • the communication arrangement facilitates transmission of the stereoscopic panoramic image set to the distribution channel 13 for distribution to one or more of the viewing devices 12m.
  • information defining the stereoscopic panoramic image set transferred by the communication arrangement will be in digital form, and the communication arrangement may include any arrangement that facilitates transfer of digital data between two devices, which may be at the same location or at different locations.
  • Illustrative communication arrangements include, for example, a direct connection, such as a wire, cable or optical fiber connection, a wireless connection, any other arrangement for facilitating the transfer of information in digital form, or any combination thereof.
  • a direct connection may include, for example, a direct network connection, an indirect connection to a network through, for example, a computer, a connection through the public switched telephony network, and the like.
  • a wireless connection may include, for example, a radio connection, a cellular telephone connection, an infrared connection, and the like
  • the viewing device will include an a communication arrangement, an image storage arrangement and a display, printer or other device for generating images for viewing by a viewer.
  • the viewing devices' communication arrangement facilitates reception of the stereoscopic panoramic image set from the distribution channel 13.
  • information defining the stereoscopic panoramic image set received by the communication arrangement will be in digital form, and the communication arrangement may include a direct connection, such as a wire, cable or optical fiber connection, a wireless connection, such as a cellular telephone connection, or any other arrangement for facilitating the transfer of information in digital form.
  • the image storage arrangement stores the digital information comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set as received by the viewing device's communication arrangement from the distribution channel 13 for later display.
  • the image storage arrangement may have the capacity to store information comprising only one stereoscopic panoramic image set, or it may have the capacity to store information comprising a plurality of stereoscopic panoramic image sets.
  • the display if provided, will display at least a portion of one or more of the images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set. It will be appreciated that, if the display displays at least a portion of one of the images, the image, when viewed, will not be stereoscopic. On the other hand, if the display displays at least a portion of both images using, for example, a lenticular lens, as will be described below in connection with FIG. 6, the images, when viewed, will be stereoscopic. If a printer is provided, the printer can generate hardcopy prints of one or more of the images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set, and may generate, for example, lenticular prints, as will be described below in connection with FIG. 6, which can be viewed by a viewer using a lenticular lens to provide a stereoscopic image of the scene represented by the stereoscopic panoramic image set.
  • each stereoscopic data source 1 In and viewing device 12m may also include control arrangements for facilitating control thereof by a respective operator.
  • the stereoscopic data source 1 In includes an image recording arrangement that is to be rotated and/or translated, it can include a control to enable the image recording arrangement to rotate and/or translate.
  • the stereoscopic data source 1 In can include controls to allow an operator to actuate the image recording arrangement to facilitate recording of images of a scene, to enable generation by the image processing arrangement of a stereoscopic panoramic image set for the scene, and to enable the communication arrangement to transmit an stereoscopic panoramic image set to the distribution channel 13 for transfer to one or more of the viewing devices.
  • the respective viewing device 12m can include a control to facilitate receiving of stereoscopic panoramic image sets from the distribution channel 13 and storage by the image storage arrangement.
  • the respective viewing device 12m can include a control to facilitate selection of a stereoscopic panoramic image set for display, selection of display mode, and selection of a portion of the stereoscopic panoramic image set to be displayed.
  • the viewing device 12m may be able to selectively display, as well as at least portions of a stereoscopic panoramic image set, at least portions of individual panoramic images of the stereoscopic panoramic image set as respective display modes, and the selection of the display mode can facilitate display of one or more of the panoramic images of the selected stereoscopic panoramic image set.
  • the viewing device 12m can include a control to facilitate selection of a respective portion of an stereoscopic panoramic image set that is to be displayed, or the portion of an individual image from the stereoscopic panoramic image set that is to be displayed of the viewing device 12m provides such display modes.
  • a viewing device 12m can, instead of or in addition to providing a display for displaying an stereoscopic panoramic image set with a lenticular lens to provide for stereoscopic viewing, provide a printer or similar device for generating a hardcopy print of at least a portion of one or both of the images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set, or a hardcopy print of at least a portion of the stereoscopic panoramic image set that, when viewed through a lenticular lens, would provide a stereoscopic panorama.
  • a viewing device 12m that provides a printer or similar device can include controls for enabling it to generate such hardcopy prints.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an exterior plan view of the illustrative stereoscopic data source 1 In
  • FIG. 3 depicts a functional block diagram of the illustrative stereoscopic data source.
  • the illustrative stereoscopic data source 1 In is a portable device that can be, for example, hand-held by an operator, mounted on a vehicle, or the like, and rotated and/or translated to facilitate recording of the series of images from which the stereoscopic panoramic image set is generated.
  • the illustrative stereoscopic data source 1 In includes a housing 20 that houses and supports a video camera 21, an operator control panel 22, a display 23 and an antenna 24.
  • the video camera 21 provides the image recording arrangement described above
  • the operator control panel 22 comprises a plurality of controls that may be actuated to enable the video camera 21 to perform predetermined operations.
  • the controls can be implemented in a number of ways, including, for example, pushbuttons that may be depressed by the operator to actuate the respective control.
  • the operator After the operator energizes the stereoscopic data source 1 In by actuating a respective control on the operator control panel 22, he or she can directs the video camera 21 in a particular direction.
  • the display 23 can display an image indicating what the video camera 21 can record.
  • the operator can enable the video camera by actuating a control on the operator control panel 22.
  • As the operator actuates the image recording control, and rotates and/or translates the stereoscopic data source 1 In he or she can enable the video camera 21 to record a series of images from which a stereoscopic panoramic image set can be generated.
  • the operator After the stereoscopic data source 1 In has recorded a series of images, the operator can release the image recording control, at which point the video camera 21 can stop recording of images.
  • the operator can actuate another control on the operator control panel to enable the stereoscopic data source 1 In to generate the panoramic images comprising the stereoscopic panoramic image set.
  • the operator can actuate another control on the operator control panel 22 to enable the stereoscopic data source 1 In to display at least a portion the generated panoramic image in the display 23, with the portion being selectable by use of the same or another control on the operator control panel 22.
  • the operator can actuate a control on the operator control panel 22 to enable the stereoscopic data source 1 In to display them in a manner so that they can be viewed stereoscopically.
  • the stereoscopic data source l ln may display the stereoscopic panoramic image set in a manner such that any a number of kinds of appliances may be required to facilitate stereoscopic viewing, including, for example, a lenticular lens, glasses with polarized lenses or lenses of different color, or other appliances as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, with the stereoscopic data source l ln displaying the stereoscopic panoramic image set in a corresponding manner.
  • the stereoscopic data source 1 In can transmit them to the distribution channel for distribution to respective ones of the viewing devices 12m.
  • the illustrative stereoscopic data source lln makes use of a cellular telephone connection to transfer information to the distribution channel 13. Accordingly, the operator can actuate one or more other controls on the operator control panel 22 to enable the stereoscopic data source lln to establish a cellular telephone call to the distribution channel 13 through a cellular provider (not shown). In that case, the stereoscopic data source 1 In can establish a cellular link through the antenna 24.
  • FIG. 3 depicts a functional block diagram of the stereoscopic data source 1 In described above in connection with FIG.2.
  • the stereoscopic data source l ln includes an image capture unit 30, a local memory unit 31, a processing unit 32, one or more local displays 33A, 33B,..., and a communication unit 34, as well as the operator control panel 22.
  • the image capture unit 30, local memory unit 31 and processing unit 32 together form the video camera 21 described above in connection with FIG. 2, and the local displays 33A, 33B,... form the display 23 described above in connection with FIG. 2.
  • the capture unit 30 will include, for example, an image sensor, aperture, lenses, and/or the like to facilitate capturing or acquiring of the respective images.
  • the image sensor may be any of a number of conventional image sensors, including, for example, CCD (charge coupled devices), film, and the like.
  • the processing unit can control the capture unit 30, in particular the image sensor, to begin receiving images, and send them to a local display, for example, local display 33 A, for display to the operator.
  • a local display for example, local display 33 A
  • the processing unit 32 in addition to sending images from the image sensor to the local display 33A for display to the operator, will send the images to the local memory unit 31 for storage.
  • the processing unit 32 will generate the panoramic images comprising the stereoscopic panoramic image set and can display them in the local displays 33A, 33B,....
  • the processing unit 32 when the operator actuates the stereoscopic panoramic image set transmission control on the operator control panel 22, the processing unit 32 enables the panoramic images comprising the stereoscopic panoramic image set to be transmitted through the communication unit 34 to the distribution channel 13.
  • the processing unit 32 can initiate a cellular telephone call to the distribution channel 13 and, after the distribution channel 13 responds, cooperate with the distribution channel 13 to facilitate transmission of the stereoscopic panoramic image set to the distribution channel 13.
  • the processing unit 32 can use a predetermined telephone number in initiating the cellular telephone call, or it can make use of a telephone number provided by the operator through the operator control panel 22.
  • the operator control panel 22 can include a numeric keypad that the operator can use to provide the telephone number.
  • the processing unit 32 prior to transferring the information comprising the stereoscopic panoramic image set, can also encode the information using any of a plurality of encoding or compression algorithms, such as the well known JPEG or GIF algorithms, which can facilitate a reduction of the time that might be required to transfer the information.
  • FIG. 4 depicts a functional block diagram of an illustrative viewing device 12m constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • the illustrative viewing device 12m includes a receiver 40, a decoder 41 , a display unit 42 and a direction control unit 43.
  • the receiver 40 is provided to receive information defining the panoramic images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set from the distribution channel 13.
  • the receiver 40 provides the information to the decoder 41 for decoding. After the decoder 41 has decoded the digital information, it can provide it to the display unit 42 for display to the operator.
  • the display unit 42 includes a display device for displaying images to a viewer and may also include sufficient memory for storing panoramic images comprising one or more stereoscopic panoramic image sets. If the display unit 42 does include sufficient memory for storing panoramic images comprising a plurality of stereoscopic panoramic image sets, the viewing device 12m can also include a control that allows an operator to select a stereoscopic panoramic image set for display. If the display unit 42 is unable to display the entire stereoscopic panoramic image set at one time, the direction control unit 43 can allow a viewer to select a portion of the stereoscopic panoramic image set to be displayed.
  • the display unit 42 preferably displays the stereoscopic panoramic image set in a stereoscopic manner.
  • the display unit 42 may display respective images of the stereoscopic panoramic image set in separate left and right displays, each of which can be viewed by a respective one of the viewer's eyes.
  • a binocular device may be provided having respective ocular devices to that displays a respective image, or portion thereof, to a respective one of the eyes of the viewer.
  • the display unit 42 may display the panoramic images such that, when viewed using any of a number of kinds of appliances used facilitate stereoscopic viewing, including, for example, a lenticular lens, glasses with polarized lenses or lenses of different color, or other appliances as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the images will be viewed stereoscopically.
  • appliances used facilitate stereoscopic viewing, including, for example, a lenticular lens, glasses with polarized lenses or lenses of different color, or other appliances as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the images will be viewed stereoscopically.
  • two panoramic images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set can be generated using two strips from each of a series of images recorded by the stereoscopic data source l ln.
  • a stereoscopic panoramic image set comprising a plurality of panoramic images, may be generated that, when the panoramic images are viewed in sets, will provide a stereoscopic image. This will be described in connection with FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 5 depicts a series of successive image 50(1), 50(2),...50(3) (generally identified by reference numeral 50(f)) that are recorded by the stereoscopic data source 1 In as the stereoscopic data source 1 In is translated and/or rotated.
  • a plurality of panoramic images 51a, 51b.... comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set are generated using respective strips a ( , a 2 ,...a 3 , b l5 b 2 , ...b 3 ,... from the respective images 50(i).
  • Strips a consult a 2 ,...a 3 that are used in image 51a all from the same horizontal displacement from the center of the respective images 50(i)
  • stripsbu b j , ...b 3 that are used in image 51b are all from same horizontal displacement from the center of the respective images 50(i), and so forth. It will be appreciated that, if the images 51(i) are viewed in pairs, they will provide stereoscopic depth since they will effectively have different viewing directions.
  • the display 23, 33A, 33B (stereoscopic data source 1 In) and display 42 (viewing device 12m) can display panoramic images comprising a stereoscopic panoramic image set using a lenticular lens, which can provide a stereoscopic image.
  • a lenticular lens which can provide a stereoscopic image.
  • the lenticular lens 61 includes a flat rear surface and a curved forward surface. The panoramic images from a stereoscopic panoramic image set are projected, in segments, at the flat rear surface of the lenticular lens, and the viewer views the stereoscopic image by looking towards the forward surface.
  • each segment 61(s) is depicted 61(1) through 61 (3) (generally identified by reference numeral 61(s)), each of which is associated with a curved forward surface.
  • Each segment 61(s) is provided with a respective segment of each of the panoramic images, identified by reference numeral 62(s)(A), 62(s)(B), 62(s)(C) (generally identified by reference numeral 62(s)(p), where index "p" refers to the respective panoramic image.
  • index "p" refers to the respective panoramic image.
  • the viewer can selectively view one of the three images 63 A, 63B, 63C (generally identified by reference numeral 63p).
  • the three images 63 A, 63B, 63C generally identified by reference numeral 63p.
  • a viewer views the lenticular lens 61 from the right (from above, as shown in FIG. 6)
  • he or she can view the image comprising segments 62(s)(C).
  • a viewer views the lenticular lens from the left (from below as shown in FIG. 6)
  • he or she can view the image comprising segments 62(s)(A).
  • a viewer views the lenticular lens from directly on he or she can view the image comprising segments 62(s)(B).
  • the viewer views the lenticular lens such that the left eye views the lens from the right and the left eye views the lens from the left, and if the panoramic image used for segments 62(s)(A) is the left panoramic image of the stereoscopic panoramic image set and the panoramic image used for segments 62(s)(C) is the right panoramic image of the same stereoscopic panoramic image set, the viewer will view the image stereoscopically.
  • the image recording arrangement which includes the video camera 21 of the illustrative stereoscopic data source l ln, may be similar to those described in the Peleg I or Peleg II patent applications.
  • the center of rotation of the camera will preferably be to the rear of the camera's center of projection to provide that strips obtained from each images will be from a different viewing direction, thereby to facilitate generation of respective panoramic images for the stereoscopic panoramic image set.
  • FIGS. 7 through 14 depict image recording arrangements 100, 110 and 120 that make use of fixed or rotating mirrors or mirror segments
  • FIGS. 10 through 12 depict image recording arrangements 130, 140, 150 that make use of fixed or rotating prisms or prism segment, respectively
  • FIG. 13 depicts an image recording arrangement 160 that makes use of a lens
  • Each image recording arrangement 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 includes arespective camera 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, which may be a still or video camera.
  • Image recording arrangement 170 makes use of a plurality of cameras, which may be still or video cameras.
  • FIG. schematically depicts an image recording arrangement 100 including a camera 101 and a mirror 102 that is oriented at a fixed angle with respect to the camera's axis 103.
  • the angle is selected so as to be between zero and ninety degrees to facilitate reflecting rays 104A through 104C toward the camera's image sensor 105.
  • the rays 104 A, 104B and 104C (generally identified by reference numeral 104) as directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are reflected off the mirror 102 and directed to regions 106A, 106B and 106C, respectively to facilitate recording of an image of the scene.
  • FIG. 104 the rays 104 A, 104B and 104C
  • the rays 104A, 104B and 104C represent respective viewing directions. Strips including the respective regions can be used in generating respective images for an stereoscopic panoramic image set as described above.
  • the mirror 102 serves to relocate the apparent center of proj ection for the rays 104 from a point O in the optical system 107 of the camera 101 to a point O' well ahead of the camera 101 and the rear of the mirror 102. This will allow the camera 101 to be rotated around a center of rotation that passes through the camera 102, and that can even pass through the camera's center of projection O.
  • FIG. 8 schematically depicts an image recording arrangement 110 including a camera 111 and a mirror 112 that can be oriented at a plurality of angular orientations with respect to the camera's axis 113.
  • the angles are selected so as to be between zero and ninety degrees to facilitate reflecting rays 114A and 114B toward the center of the camera's image sensor 115.
  • the rays 114A and 114B (generally identified by reference numeral 114) as directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are reflected off the mirror 112 and directed to the same region toward the center of the image sensor 115, with images 16A, 16B,... being recorded at each of the angular orientations.
  • FIG. 114 the rays 114A and 114B as directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are reflected off the mirror 112 and directed to the same region toward the center of the image sensor 115, with images 16A, 16B,... being recorded at each of the angular orientation
  • the rays 114A and 114B represent respective viewing directions.
  • the camera 111 records respective images for each of the angular positions at which the mirror 112 is oriented to facilitate recording of respective images of the scene. Strips including the respective regions can be used in generating respective images for an stereoscopic panoramic image set as described above.
  • the mirror 112 serves to relocate the apparent center of projection for the rays 114 from a point O in the optical system 117 of the camera 111 to a point O' that conforms to the center of rotation of the mirror 112. As with camera 101, this will allow the camera 111 to be rotated around a center of rotation that passes through the camera 111, and that can even pass through the camera's center of projection O.
  • FIG. schematically depicts an image recording arrangement 120 including a camera 121 and respective mirror segments 122A, 122B that are positioned on opposite sides of the camera's axis 123 and oriented at complementary fixed angles with respect thereto.
  • the angles is selected so as to be between zero and ninety degrees to facilitate reflecting rays 124A and 124B toward the camera's image sensor 125.
  • the rays 124A and 124B (generally identified by reference numeral 124) as directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are reflected off the mirror segments 122 A, 122B and directed to regions 126A and 126B, respectively to facilitate recording of an image of the scene.
  • a ray 124B in the gap will be directed to a region 126B between regions 126A and 126C.
  • the rays 124, 124B and 124C represent respective viewing directions. Strips including the respective regions can be used in generating respective images for an stereoscopic panoramic image set as described above.
  • the mirror segmentsl22A, 122B jointly serve to relocate the apparent center of projection for the rays 104 from a point O in the optical system 127 of the camera 121 to a point O' ahead of the camera 101 and between the mirror segments 122A, 122B.
  • FIGS. 10 and 12 schematically depict image recording arrangements 130, 150 that are similar to respective image recording arrangement 100, 120 described above in connection with FIG. 7, 9 except that, instead of using mirrors, the respective image recording arrangement 130, 150 includes a respective prism 132 (in the case of FIG. 10), or prism segments 152 (in the case of FIG. 12), with prism 132, and prism segments 152A, 152C, being disposed at a fixed angle with respect to the camera's axis 134, 154.
  • a respective prism 132 in the case of FIG. 10
  • prism segments 152 in the case of FIG. 12
  • the rays 134A, 134B and 134C (generally identified by reference numeral 134) directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are refracted by the prism 132 and directed to regions 136A, 136B and 136C, respectively to facilitate recording of an image of the scene, and strips including the respective regions can be used in generating respective images for an stereoscopic panoramic image set as described above.
  • the rays 154A, 154B and 154C (generally identified by reference numeral 154) as directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are refracted by off the prism segments 152A, 152C and directed to regions 156A and 156C, respectively to facilitate recording of an image of the scene. If, as is the case in connection with arrangement 150, there is a gap between the prism segments 152A and 152C, a ray 154B in the gap will be directed to a region 156B between regions 156A and 156C. As shown in FIG. 9, the rays 134, 134B and 134C (FIG.
  • rays 154A, 154B and 154C represent respective viewing directions.
  • the prism 132 and prism segments 152 serve to relocate the apparent center ofprojection for the rays 134, 154 from a point O in the optical system 137, 157 of the camera 131, 151 to a point O' that conforms to the center of projection of the respective camera. As with cameras 101, 121, this will allow the camera 131, 151 to be rotated around a center of rotation that passes through the camera 131, 151 and that can even pass through the camera's center of proj ection O.
  • FIG. 11 schematically depicts image recording arrangement 140 that is similar to respective image recording arrangement 110 described above in connection with FIG. 8, except that, instead of using mirrors, the image recording arrangement 140 includes a prism 142, which can be disposed a plurality of respective angles with respect to the camera's axis 144.
  • the rays 144A, 144B,... (generally identified by reference numeral 144) directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are refracted by the prism 142 and directed toward a region toward the center of the image sensor 145; the camera 141 records respective images 146A, 146B,... for the angular positions at which the mirror 142 is oriented to facilitate recording of respective images of the scene.
  • the rays 144A, 144B,... represent respective viewing directions.
  • the prism 142 serves to relocate the apparent center of proj ection for the rays 144 from a point O in the optical system 147 of the camera 141 to a point O' that conforms to the center of rotation of the respective camera. As with camera 111, this will allow the camera 141 to be rotated around a center of rotation that passes through the camera 141 and that can even pass through the camera's center of projection O.
  • FIG. 13 schematically depicts an image recording arrangement 160 that is similar to image recording arrangements 120 and 150 described above in connection with FIGS .9 and 12, except that, instead of using mirror segments or prism segments, the image recording arrangements 160 includes a lens 162.
  • the rays 164 A, 164B and 164C (generally identified by reference numeral 164) directed toward the image recording arrangement from a scene (not shown) are refracted by the lens and directed to regions 166 A, 166B and 166C, respectively to facilitate recording of an image of the scene, and strips including the respective regions can be used in generating respective images for a stereoscopic panoramic image set as described above.
  • FIG. 164 the rays 164 A, 164B and 164C
  • the rays 164, 164B and 164C represent respective viewing directions.
  • the lens 162 serves to relocate the apparent center of proj ection for the rays 164 from a point O in the optical system 167 of the camera 161 to a point O' that conforms to the center of rotation of the camera 161. As with cameras 121, 151, this will allow the camera 161 to be rotated around a center of rotation that passes through the camera 161 and that can even pass through the camera's center of projection O. It will be appreciated that, in each of the arrangements described above in connection with FIGS.
  • FIG. 14 depicts an arrangement 170 that makes use of a plurality of cameras 171A...171K (generally identified by reference numeral 171k) mounted linearly on a platform 172. It will be appreciated that, when the arrangement 170 is pointed in a particular direction to facilitate recording of respective images by the cameras 171k, in the images recorded by the cameras 171k, strips in the "K" respective images as recorded by the respective cameras will be from different viewing directions.
  • the cameras 171k are enabled to record a series of images as described above.
  • respective strips the series of images recorded by each respective camera 171k', 171k",... may be mosaiced together to form a respective panoramic image. That is, for example, for camera 171k', "S" strips S , S ⁇ ,.. ⁇ 8 , S 2 ⁇ ...
  • the invention provides a number of advantages.
  • the invention provides an arrangement, including a stereoscopic data source for recording images of a scene for use in generating a stereoscopic image set and a viewing device for displaying the stereoscopic image set to provide stereoscopic views of the scene, generating prints, and the like.
  • the stereoscopic data source may record a series of images from which the stereoscopic panoramic image set may be generated. After the stereoscopic data source has recorded the series of images, it can transmit them to the distribution channel 13 for distribution to one or more viewing devices.
  • the distribution channel 13 or viewing devices may themselves generate the images comprising stereoscopic image set.
  • the distribution channel and/or one or more viewing devices will include the components for generating the stereoscopic panoramic image set, which were described above as comprising part of the stereoscopic data source.
  • the cameras described above in connection with FIGS. 7 through 14 have been described as comprising conventional still or video cameras, it will be appreciated that they may comprise cameras in which image recording elements are provided only in the portions of the respective image planes from which strips will be obtained for use in generating the respective images of the stereoscopic image set.
  • segments of respective images from a stereoscopic panoramic image set are displayed and viewed through a lenticular lens
  • they may instead be printed and viewed through a lenticular lens, printed directly on the rear of the lenticular lens, or other arrangements as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • the images are printed on the rear of the lenticular lens, it will be appreciated that the lenticular curved forward surface may be formed before, during or after the images are printed.
  • the strips for each panoramic image of the stereoscopic panoramic image set are indicated as being from the same horizontal displacement in the successive images, it will be appreciated that they may be from different horizontal displacements as described in the Peleg III patent application. This may be useful in connection with to accommodate adjustment of disparity if desired to accommodate stereoscopic depth.
  • a system in accordance with the invention can be constructed in whole or in part from special purpose hardware or a general purpose computer system, or any combination thereof, any portion of which may be controlled by a suitable program.
  • Any program may in whole or in part comprise part of or be stored on the system in a conventional manner, or it may in whole or in part be provided in to the system over a network or other mechanism for transferring information in a conventional manner.
  • the system may be operated and/or otherwise controlled by means of information provided by an operator using operator input elements (not shown) which may be connected directly to the system or which may transfer the information to the system over a network or other mechanism for transferring information in a conventional manner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Testing, Inspecting, Measuring Of Stereoscopic Televisions And Televisions (AREA)
  • Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un agencement d'image stéréoscopique comprenant au moins une source de données stéréoscopiques, au moins un dispositif d'utilisation, et au moins un canal de distribution. La source de données stéréoscopiques enregistre des images à partir desquelles il est possible de générer un ensemble d'images stéréoscopiques. Le dispositif d'utilisation facilite la visualisation, l'impression, ou l'utilisation dudit ensemble d'images stéréoscopiques. Le canal de distribution facilite le transfert d'informations entre la source de données stéréoscopiques et le dispositif d'utilisation, ces informations comprenant les images enregistrées par la source de données stéréoscopiques ou l'ensemble d'images stéréoscopiques. L'invention concerne également un certain nombre de sources de données stéréoscopiques de configurations diverse, notamment des miroirs fixes et mobiles, des prismes, et des lentilles pouvant être utilisés dans la source de données stéréoscopiques de l'agencement d'image stéréoscopique.
EP01925815A 2000-04-19 2001-04-19 Systeme et procede permettant de capturer et de visualiser des images stereoscopiques panoramiques Withdrawn EP1334622A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19838100P 2000-04-19 2000-04-19
US198381P 2000-04-19
US21715900P 2000-07-06 2000-07-06
US217159P 2000-07-06
US23056200P 2000-08-30 2000-08-30
US230562P 2000-08-30
PCT/IB2001/000837 WO2001080545A2 (fr) 2000-04-19 2001-04-19 Systeme et procede permettant de capturer et de visualiser des images stereoscopiques panoramiques

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EP1334622A2 true EP1334622A2 (fr) 2003-08-13
EP1334622A4 EP1334622A4 (fr) 2006-06-07

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AU5249001A (en) 2001-10-30
JP2013038807A (ja) 2013-02-21
EP1334622A4 (fr) 2006-06-07
JP2012080554A (ja) 2012-04-19
WO2001080545A2 (fr) 2001-10-25
WO2001080545A3 (fr) 2002-06-20
JP2004512701A (ja) 2004-04-22
JP5719754B2 (ja) 2015-05-20

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