Method for creating and presenting an accurate reproduction of three-dimensional images converted from two-dimensional images

• US 20050146521A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reald DDMG Acquisition LLC (RealD Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Reald DDMG Acquisition LLC (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Best, Charles J.L., Kaye, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/792,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146521A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/00 Geometric image transformations in the plane of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/122 Improving the 3D impression of stereoscopic images by modifying image signal contents, e.g. by filtering or adding monoscopic depth cues H04N13/128 takes precedence
• 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 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion

Abstract

A method for providing a three-dimensional image includes selecting a screen size or range of screen sizes for a three-dimensional image and scaling depth information associated with objects in a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of the objects when the three-dimensional image is presented at the screen size or within the range of screen sizes selected.

Claims

1. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

selecting a screen size or range of screen sizes for a three-dimensional image; and

scaling depth information associated with objects in a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of the objects when the three-dimensional image is presented at the screen size or within the range of screen sizes selected.

2. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 1, wherein the depth information is scaled down.

3. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 1, wherein the depth information is scaled up.

4. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 1, wherein the depth information is scaled using an interactive user interface configured to allow a user of the interactive user interface to view a representation of the three-dimensional image during the scaling of the depth information.

5. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 1, wherein the depth information is at least partially automatically scaled depending upon the screen size or the range of screen sizes selected.

6. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 1, further comprising:

scaling hidden surface reconstruction information associated with hidden surface areas in the three-dimensional image to preserve reconstructions of the hidden surface areas when the three-dimensional image is presented at the screen size or within the range of screen sizes selected.

7. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 6, wherein the hidden surface reconstruction information is scaled down.

8. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 6, wherein the hidden surface reconstruction information is scaled up.

9. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 6, wherein the hidden surface reconstruction information is scaled using an interactive user interface configured to allow a user of the interactive user interface to view a representation of the three-dimensional image during the scaling of the hidden surface reconstruction information.

10. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 6, wherein the hidden surface reconstruction information is at least partially automatically scaled depending upon the screen size or the range of screen sizes selected.

11. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

providing a machine-readable data file that includes scaling depth information associated with objects in a three-dimensional image, the scaling depth information being usable to preserve perceived depths of the objects within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size or within a particular range of screen sizes.

12. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

providing a machine-readable data file that includes scaling hidden surface reconstruction information associated with hidden surface areas in a three-dimensional image, the scaling hidden surface reconstruction information being usable to preserve reconstructions of the hidden surface areas when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size or within a particular range of screen sizes.

13. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes.

14. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 13, wherein the scaling is performed on an image used to create the three-dimensional image.

15. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 13, wherein the scaling is performed at an interactive user interface configured to allow a user of the interactive user interface to view the three-dimensional image during the scaling.

16. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 13, wherein the scaling is performed on a lower resolution version of an image used to create the three-dimensional image.

17. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 13, wherein the scaling is performed at an interactive user interface configured to allow a user of the interactive user interface to view a lower resolution version of the three-dimensional image during the scaling.

18. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

scaling down higher resolution images to generate lower resolution images;

processing the lower resolution images to determine three-dimensional conversion information; and

applying the three-dimensional conversion information to the higher resolution images to create three-dimensional images.

19. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein scaling down includes reducing an image file size of the higher resolution images to generate the lower resolution images.

20. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein scaling down includes reducing a number of pixels of the higher resolution images to generate the lower resolution images.

21. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein scaling down includes reducing a color depth size of the higher resolution images to generate the lower resolution images.

22. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein the three-dimensional conversion information includes depth perspective information.

23. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein the three-dimensional conversion information includes hidden surface reconstruction information.

24. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 18, wherein the three-dimensional conversion information is scaled up before it is applied to the higher resolution images.

25. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

using the image data to reproduce a three-dimensional image.

26. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 25, wherein using the image data to reproduce the three-dimensional image includes displaying the three-dimensional image.

27. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 25, wherein using the image data to reproduce the three-dimensional image includes projecting the three-dimensional image.

28. A method for providing three-dimensional images, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with three-dimensional images in order to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional images when the three-dimensional images are presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

projecting the three-dimensional images on movie screens.

29. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 28, wherein the three-dimensional images are projected using a film media.

30. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 28, wherein the three-dimensional images are digitally projected.

31. A method for providing three-dimensional images, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with three-dimensional images in order to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional images when the three-dimensional images are presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

displaying the three-dimensional images in a home theatre environment.

32. A method for providing three-dimensional images, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with three-dimensional images in order to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional images when the three-dimensional images are presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

displaying the three-dimensional images on a video display.

33. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 32, wherein the video display is a television.

34. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 32, wherein the video display is a television-type display.

35. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 32, wherein the video display is a television-type home video display.

36. The method for providing three-dimensional images of claim 32, wherein the video display is a computer monitor.

37. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

recording the image data on a data storage device.

38. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the data storage device is a movie storage device suitable for use in movie theatres.

39. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the data storage device is a server.

40. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the data storage device is a hard drive.

41. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the data storage device is a digital media disk.

42. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the data storage device is a digital versatile disk.

43. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image with a digital projector.

44. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image on a video display.

45. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image on a television.

46. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image on a television-type display.

47. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image on a television-type home video display.

48. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 37, wherein the image data is recorded such that the data storage device can be used to reproduce the three-dimensional image on a computer monitor.

49. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

using an electromagnetic transmission medium to transmit the image data.

50. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 49, wherein the electromagnetic transmission medium includes radio waves.

51. A method for providing a three-dimensional image, comprising:

receiving or accessing image data created by scaling depth and/or hidden surface area reconstruction information associated with a three-dimensional image to preserve perceived depths of objects or other image components within the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is presented at a particular screen size, multiple screen sizes, or within a particular range of screen sizes; and

using a communications network to transmit the image data.

52. The method for providing a three-dimensional image of claim 51, wherein the communications network includes the Internet.