Method and system for calculating a photographing ratio of a camera

• US 20030117395A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• 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:
  US10/280,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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

This invention relates to a method and system for calculating a photographing ratio of a camera. The method comprises providing at least one camera comprising a light adjustment device, the adjustment device being configured to adjust the amount of the light coming into the camera. The method also comprises imaging a scene using the at least one camera, storing maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera, and detecting a degree of adjustment for the light adjustment device while the scene is being imaged. The method also comprises calculating at least one photographing ratio based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the detected degree of adjustment, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera.

Claims

1. A method of calculating a photographing ratio of a camera:

providing at least one camera comprising a light adjustment device, the adjustment device being configured to adjust the amount of the light coming into the camera;

imaging a scene using the at least one camera;

storing maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera;

detecting a degree of adjustment for the light adjustment device while the scene is being imaged; and

calculating at least one photographing ratio based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the detected degree of adjustment, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light adjustment device comprises a focus adjusting device having a plurality of scales, wherein the detecting of the degree is performed by detecting a scale location of the focus adjusting device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the photographing ratio is calculated assuming that the photographing ratio is proportional to the detected scale location and is located between the maximum and minimum photographing ratios.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the photographing ratio is defined as a ratio (A:

B;

C) between three parameters A, B and C, the parameters A and B are defined as horizontal and vertical lengths of the scene imaged by the camera, respectively, and C is defined as a distance between an object lens of the camera and the scene, wherein the parameters A and B are calculated using Equations I and II,

wherein Equation I is;

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the light adjustment device comprises an iris, wherein the detecting of the degree is performed by detecting a degree of opening of the iris.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the photographing ratio is calculated assuming that the photographing ratio is proportional to the detected iris opening degree and is located between the maximum and minimum photographing ratios.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the photographing ratio is defined as a ratio (A:

B;

C) between three parameters A, B and C, the parameters A and B are defined as horizontal and vertical lengths of the scene imaged by the camera, respectively, and C is defined as a distance between an object lens of the camera and the scene to be photographed, wherein the parameters A and B are calculated using Equations III and IV,

wherein Equation III is;

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera comprises a set of stereoscopic cameras configured to produce at least one stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images produced by the set of stereoscopic cameras, respectively, and wherein the calculating of the photographing ratio comprises calculating a set of photographing ratios of the stereoscopic cameras.

9. An apparatus for calculating a photographing ratio for use with at least one camera:

a focus adjusting portion comprising a plurality of scales;

a detection portion configured to detect a current scale location of the focus adjusting portion;

a memory configured to store maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera; and

a photographing ratio calculating portion configured to calculate a photographing ratio of the camera based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the detected scale location, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the photographing ratio is defined as a ratio (A:

B;

C) between three parameters A, B and C, the parameters A and B are defined as horizontal and vertical lengths of a scene imaged by the camera, respectively, and C is defined as a distance between an object lens of the camera and the scene to be photographed, wherein the photographing ratio calculating portion is configured to calculate the parameters A and B using Equations I and II,

wherein Equation I is;

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the photographing ratio calculating portion is configured to calculate the photographing ratio assuming that the photographing ratio is proportional to the detected scale location and is located between the maximum and minimum photographing ratios.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one camera comprises a set of stereoscopic cameras configured to produce at least one stereoscopic image, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images produced by the set of stereoscopic cameras, respectively, and wherein the photographing ratio calculating portion is configured to calculate a set of photographing ratios of the stereoscopic cameras.

13. An apparatus for calculating a photographing ratio for use with at least one camera:

an iris;

a detection portion configured to detect a degree of opening of the iris;

a memory configured to store maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera; and

a photographing ratio calculating portion configured to calculate a photographing ratio of the camera based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the detected opening degree, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the photographing ratio is defined as a ratio (A:

B;

C) between three parameters A, B and C, the parameters A and B are defined as horizontal and vertical lengths of a scene imaged by the camera, respectively, and C is defined as a distance between an object lens of the camera and the scene, wherein the photographing ratio calculating portion is configured to calculate the parameters A and B using Equations III and IV,

wherein Equation III is;

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the maximum and minimum photographing ratios comprise 3:

2;

1 and 1.5;

1;

1, respectively.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the photographing ratio calculating portion comprises a digital signal processor and a program executed by the digital signal processor.

17. A camera having an apparatus for calculating a photographing ratio:

an image data processing portion configured to process a photographed image;

a focus adjusting portion comprising a plurality of scales;

a detection portion configured to detect a current scale location of the focus adjusting portion;

a memory configured to store maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera;

a photographing ratio calculating portion configured to calculate a photographing ratio of the camera based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the scale location, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera; and

an output portion configured to output the calculated photographed ratio and the photographed mage.

18. The camera of claim 17, further comprising a composite signal generating portion configured to combine the calculated photographed ratio with the photographed mage to produce a composite signal.

19. A system for calculating a photographing ratio of a camera, comprising:

means for providing at least one camera comprising a light adjustment device, the adjustment device being configured to adjust amount of the light coming into the camera;

means for imaging a scene using the at least one camera;

means for storing maximum and minimum photographing ratios of the camera;

means for detecting a degree of adjustment for the light adjustment device while the scene is being imaged; and

means for calculating at least one photographing ratio based on the maximum and minimum ratios and the detected degree of adjustment, wherein the photographing ratio is related to a range of the scene imaged by the camera.