Stereoscopic camera fitted with means to facilitate the adjustment of its opto-mechanical parameters

• US 20020012043A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Guerin, Jean-Claude, Malnoe, Pascal
• Application Number:
  US09/904,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/158 Switching image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

The invention relates to a stereoscopic camera comprising means to facilitate the adjustment of its optomechanical parameters by an operator. To this end, it comprises storage means (16, 17) in order to store at least one stereoscopic image and a selection means (18) in order to selectively supply to the display means of the camera either the stored stereoscopic image, or the current stereoscopic image filmed by the 2D cameras (10, 11) of the stereoscopic camera.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic camera comprising

first and second cameras (10, 11) intended to generate first and second sequences of images, respectively, each image of the said first sequence being associated with an image of the said second sequence, and

means (14) to display a sequence of stereoscopic images from the said first and second sequences of images,

first storage means (16, 17) in order to store respectively at least one image of the said first sequence of images and the associated image of the said second sequence of images, and

a first selection means (18) placed upstream of the display means and intended to selectively supply to the said display means (14) either the said at least one stored image of the said first sequence of images and the associated stored image of the said second sequence of images, or the said first and second sequences of images coming from the said first and second cameras (10, 11).

2. A stereoscopic camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises:

first and second inputs (12, 13) in order to receive respectively third and fourth sequences of images coming from a piece of equipment external to the said stereoscopic camera, each image of the said third sequence being associated with an image of the said fourth sequence, and

a second selection means (15) in order to selectively supply to the said first storage means (16, 17) either the said first and second sequences of images coming from the said first and second cameras (10, 11), or the said third and fourth sequences of images coming from the said external piece of equipment.

3. The stereoscopic camera according to claim 1, wherein the said first storage means (16, 17) comprise two storage circuits in order for each one to store at least one image.

4. The stereoscopic camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera comprises a second storage means (19) intended to store values representative of adjustment parameters of the said first and second cameras (10, 11), especially the values representative of the angle and the distance between the said first and second cameras, their focal lengths and their respective focuses.

5. The stereoscopic camera according to claim 2, wherein the external piece of equipment is a video recorder.

6. The stereoscopic camera according to claim 2, wherein the external piece of equipment is a hard disk of a recording device.