Method and system for controlling space magnification for stereoscopic images

• US 20030112508A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geo-Rae Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Geo-Rae Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoon, Byoungyi
• Application Number:
  US10/280,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112508A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/464
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/20 using two or more projectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/128 Adjusting depth or disparity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/139 Format conversion, e.g. of frame-rate or size
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system of displaying stereoscopic images. The method comprises displaying at least one stereoscopic image on a set of display device, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images, and providing adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of a space that is imaged. The method also comprises transmitting the magnification adjustment data to a set of remotely located stereoscopic cameras, and adjusting the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the magnification adjustment data.

Claims

1. A method of displaying stereoscopic images, comprising:

displaying at least one stereoscopic image on a set of display device, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images;

providing adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of a space that is imaged;

transmitting the magnification adjustment data to a set of remotely located stereoscopic cameras; and

adjusting the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the magnification adjustment data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

imaging a scene using the adjusted cameras;

transmitting the image to the set of display device; and

receiving and displaying the image on the set of display device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a distance (W_a) between the center points of a viewer'"'"'s eyes;

initializing the camera distance to be the same as the W_a value;

determining whether the magnification adjustment data is greater than 1; and

narrowing the camera distance if the magnification adjustment data is greater than 1.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising widening the camera distance if the magnification adjustment data is less than 1.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the adjusted spatial magnification on the set of display device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a voice signal representing the adjusted spatial magnification.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing the at least one stereoscopic image from three-dimensional structural data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of display device comprises a unitary display device adapted to sequentially the two-dimensional plane images.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of display device comprises a pair of display devices configured to display simultaneously the two-dimensional plane images, respectively.

10. A system for displaying stereoscopic images, comprising:

a set of display device configured to display at least one stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images;

an input device configured to provide adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of a space that is imaged;

a transmitter configured to transmit the magnification adjustment data;

a receiver configured to receive the magnification adjustment data;

a set of stereoscopic cameras; and

a camera controller configured to adjust the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the magnification adjustment data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera controller comprises:

a servo controller configured to determine an adjustment amount based on the spatial magnification adjustment data; and

a horizontal motor configured to adjust the camera distance based on the determined adjustment amount.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of display device is selected from one of the following:

a head mount display, a set of projection display device, a set of LCD device, a set of CRT device, and a set of plasma display panel device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of the display device is configured to display the adjusted spatial magnification.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of display device comprises a unitary display device adapted to sequentially the two-dimensional plane images.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of display device comprises a pair of display devices configured to display simultaneously the two-dimensional plane images, respectively.

16. A camera system for communicating data with a set of display device, comprising:

a set of stereoscopic cameras configured to produce at least one stereoscopic image;

a receiver configured to receive adjustment data for spatial magnification from the set of display device, the space magnification relating to a size of the space that is imaged by the set of stereoscopic cameras; and

a camera controller configured to adjust the distance between the set of stereoscopic cameras based on the spatial magnification adjustment data.

17. The camera system of claim 16, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the adjusted stereoscopic image to the set of display device.

18. The camera system of claim 16, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a distance (W_a) between the center points of a viewer'"'"'s eyes and the camera controller is configured to adjust the camera distance based on the magnification adjustment data and the W_a value.

19. A method of controlling a set of stereoscopic cameras, comprising:

providing a set of stereoscopic cameras;

generating at least one stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images generated by the set of stereoscopic cameras, respectively;

receiving adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of the space that is imaged by the set of stereoscopic cameras; and

adjusting the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the spatial magnification adjustment data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

initializing the camera distance such that the spatial magnification is 1;

determining whether the magnification adjustment data is greater than 1; and

narrowing the camera distance if the magnification adjustment data is greater than 1.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising widening the camera distance if the magnification adjustment data is less than 1.

22. A method of displaying stereoscopic images, comprising:

providing a pair of projection portions spaced at a predetermined distance apart from each other and configured to project three-dimensional structural data of a scene into a pair of two-dimensional planes;

producing at least one stereoscopic image from the three-dimensional structural data by the pair of projection portions spaced at a predetermined distance apart from each other, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images;

displaying the pair of two-dimensional plane images in a pair of display devices, respectively;

providing adjustment data for space magnification to the display devices, the space magnification relating to a size of the scene; and

adjusting the distance between the projection portions based on the magnification adjustment data.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the spatial magnification is related to a size of the scene that is perceived by a viewer.

24. A system for displaying stereoscopic images, comprising:

a pair of projection portions spaced at a predetermined distance apart from each other and configured to produce at least one stereoscopic image from three-dimensional structural data of a scene, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images;

a pair of display devices configured to display the pair of two-dimensional plane images, respectively;

an input device configured to provide adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of the scene; and

a computing device configured to adjust the distance between the projection portions based on the magnification adjustment data.

25. A system for controlling a set of stereoscopic cameras, comprising:

means for providing a set of stereoscopic cameras;

means for generating at least one stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images generated by the set of stereoscopic cameras, respectively;

means for receiving adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of the space that is imaged by the set of stereoscopic cameras; and

means for adjusting the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the spatial magnification adjustment data.