Proximity assisted 3D rendering

• US 20050286125A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gulliksson, Johan, Sundstrom, Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 8,300,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/462
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/26 of the autostereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/373 for tracking forward-backward translational head movements, i.e. longitudinal movements

Abstract

A mobile device for rendering or transforming three-dimensional images is disclosed. The mobile device determines a distance and/or location of a user relative to the device and adjusts the three-dimensional image to provide improved viewing of the three-dimensional image at the sensed distance and/or location. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A device adapted for displaying a three dimensional image, said device comprising:

a display surface for displaying the said three dimensional image;

a sensor for gathering distance data related to at least one of a location and a distance between the device and a user of the device; and

an image generator for generating the three dimensional image based on the distance data.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the camera creates distance data based on a size of a feature of the user.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the feature is at least one of an eye, a nose, a face, and a mouth of the user.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the camera creates distance data based on a distance between two features of the user.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the two features are a left eye and a right eye.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the two features are an eye and a nose.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance data comprises at least one of a real-time sensed location and a real-time sensed distance between the user and the device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance data comprises a difference between a previous set of location data or distance data and a currently sensed set of location data or distance data.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

13. A method of rendering a three dimensional image, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing at least one of a location and distance of a user;

creating distance data based on at least one of the location or the distance of the user; and

rendering the three dimensional image based on the distance data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

re-sensing at least one of the location and the distance of the user;

determining whether the rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting;

adjusting the rendered three dimensional image if it is determined that the rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting; and

determining whether an imaging application requiring rendering of the three dimensional image should be ended.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, if it is determined that the imaging application should not be ended, repeating the steps of re-sensing, determining whether the rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting, adjusting, and determining whether an imaging application requiring rendering of the three dimensional image should be ended.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining whether an imaging application should be ended comprises the step of receiving an input from the user to end the imaging application.

17. A method of transforming a pre-rendered three dimensional image, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the pre-rendered three dimensional image;

sensing at least one of a location and a distance of the user;

generating distance data based on at least one of the sensed location and the sensed distance of the user; and

transforming the pre-rendered three dimensional image based on the distance data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

re-sensing at least one of the location and the distance of the user;

determining whether the transformed pre-rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting;

adjusting the transformed pre-rendered three dimensional image if it is determined that the pre-rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting; and

determining whether an imaging application requiring transforming of the three dimensional image should be ended.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, if it is determined that the imaging application should not be ended, repeating the steps of re-sensing, determining whether the transformed pre-rendered three dimensional image requires adjusting, adjusting, and determining whether an imaging application requiring transforming of the three dimensional image should be ended.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining whether an imaging application should be ended comprises the step of receiving an input from the user to end the imaging application.