Multiple angle display produced from remote optical sensing devices

• US 20030164962A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orasee Corp
• Original Assignee: Orasee Corp
• Inventors: Karszes, William, Peters, Paul, Nims, Jerry C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,894,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/06 by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses

Abstract

Multiple left-eye, right-eye three images of a ground area are obtained from an aerial or satellite platform. The left-eye, right-eye images are transferred to a digital processor which rasterizes and interleaves the images to an output file for printing. The output file is printed on a hard copy medium and overlaid with a microlens sheet having a plurality of lenses. The lenses refract the printed image such that a viewer sees from a first position relative to the hard copy a three-dimensional image of the ground area as seen from a first aerial or satellite viewing position and, from a second position relative to the hard copy, sees a three-dimensional image of the ground area as seen from a second aerial or satellite viewing position. Optionally, the interleaving and the microlenses are such that a viewer can obtain a 360 degree view, of three dimensional images of the ground area by rotating the hard copy through a plurality of viewing positions.

Claims

1. A method for high altitude imagery, comprising:

detecting a first image of the ground area from a first point at an altitude;

detecting a second image of the ground area from a second point at an altitude;

generating a first image pixel array corresponding to the first image and a second image pixel array corresponding to the second image;

storing a microlens data representing values of physical parameters of a lenticular sheet;

interleaving the first image pixel array and the second image pixel array to form an output interleaved pixel array, the first output interleaved pixel array based in part on the microlens data;

printing the output interleaved pixel array on a printable medium; and

viewing the printed output interleaved pixel array through the microlens sheet.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third second image of the ground area from a third point at an altitude; and

generating a third image pixel array corresponding to the third image,

wherein the interleaving interleaves the first image pixel array, the second image pixel array and the third image pixel array to form the output interleaved pixel array, and

wherein the interleaving and printing is such that viewing the printed output interleaved pixel array from a first viewing position with respect to the microlens sheet a three-dimensional image based on the first detected image and the second detected image is seen and, from a second viewing position with respect to the microlens sheet, a three-dimensional image based, at least in part, on the third detected image is seen.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said detecting a first image includes

providing a platform supporting an optical detector for obtaining a two-dimensional image of a ground area;

moving the platform at an altitude over the ground area; and

obtaining said first image from said optical detector.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said platform includes a satellite.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein

said satellite has an orbit, and

said optical detector includes a first camera and a second camera, the first camera having a field of view ahead of the satellite with respect to the orbit direction and the second camera having a field of view behind the satellite with respect to the orbit direction.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein said detecting a first image includes

providing a platform supporting an optical detector for obtaining a two-dimensional image of a ground area;

moving the platform at an altitude over the ground area; and

obtaining said first image from said optical detector.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said platform includes a satellite.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein

said satellite has an orbit, and

said optical detector includes a first camera and a second camera, the first camera having a field of view ahead of the satellite with respect to the orbit direction and the second camera having a field of view behind the satellite with respect to the orbit direction.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein

the first field of view and second field of view move along the surface of the earth as the satellite orbits, and

said first point is where the first field of view aligns with the ground area of interest and said second point is where the second field of view aligns with the ground area of interest.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein

said optical detector further includes a third camera, the third camera having a field of view that moves along the surface of the earth at a position, relative to a projection of the orbit onto the surface of the earth, between the first field of view and the second field of view, and

said third point is where the third field of view aligns with the ground area of interest.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said microlens sheet includes a plurality of closed periphery footprint lenses arranged in a plane, with a first reference axis and a second reference axis, substantially perpendicular to the first reference axis, extending in the plane.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a third second image of the ground area from a third point at an altitude; and

generating a third image pixel array corresponding to the third image,

wherein

the interleaving interleaves the first image pixel array, the second image pixel array and the third image pixel array to form the output interleaved pixel array,

the interleaving and printing is such that viewing the printed output interleaved pixel array from a first viewing position relative to the first reference axis a first three-dimensional image based on the first detected image and the second detected image is seen and, from a second viewing position with respect to the first reference axis, a second three-dimensional image, based, at least in part, on the third detected image, and microlens sheet, a three-dimensional image based, at least in part, on the third detected image is seen.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a third second image of the ground area from a third point at an altitude;

detecting a fourth image of the ground area from a fourth point at an altitude;

generating a third image pixel array corresponding to the third image; and

generating a fourth image pixel array corresponding to the fourth image,

wherein

the interleaving interleaves the first image pixel array, the second image pixel array and the third image pixel array to form the output interleaved pixel array,

the interleaving and printing is such that viewing the printed output interleaved pixel array from a first viewing position relative to the first reference axis a first three-dimensional image based on the first detected image and the second detected image is seen and, from a second viewing position with respect to the first reference axis, a second three-dimensional image, based, at least in part, on the third detected image is seen, and when viewing the microlens sheet at a first rotational position with respect to the second reference axis a third three-dimensional image based, at least in part, on the fourth detected image is seen.