Image display apparatus and control method thereof

• US 20060227209A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Tomohiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• 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 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

On the basis of an image taken by a right image taking unit and/or an image taken by a left image taking unit, an imaging parameter common to the right and left image taking units is calculated. The calculated imaging parameter is set in the right and left image taking units.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

right and left image taking means for taking right and left images of a real space;

output means for outputting the images taken by said right and left image taking means to an image processing unit;

right and left display means for displaying right and left display images based on right and left image signals output from the image processing unit;

calculation means for calculating an imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means on the basis of the image taken by said right image taking means and/or the image taken by said left image taking means; and

setting means for setting, in said right and left image taking means, the imaging parameter calculated by said calculation means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculation means comprises:

first means for obtaining first luminance information in a predetermined area in the image taken by said right image taking means;

second means for obtaining second luminance information in a predetermined area in the image taken by said left image taking means; and

third means for determining, on the basis of a luminance value represented by the first luminance information and a luminance value represented by the second luminance information, at least one of the first luminance information and the second luminance information as luminance information to be used for obtaining the imaging parameter, and

wherein the imaging parameter is obtained by using the luminance information determined by said third means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said third means

determines to use the first luminance information and the second luminance information to obtain the imaging parameter when both the luminance value represented by the first luminance information and the luminance value represented by the second luminance information fall within a stipulated range,

determines to use the first luminance information to obtain the imaging parameter when only the luminance value represented by the first luminance information falls within the stipulated range, and

determines to use the second luminance information to obtain the imaging parameter when only the luminance value represented by the second luminance information falls within the stipulated range.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said third means

determines to use the first luminance information and the second luminance information to obtain the imaging parameter when a difference value between the luminance value represented by the first luminance information and the luminance value represented by the second luminance information falls within a stipulated range, and

determines to use one of the first luminance information and the second luminance information, which represents a luminance value closer to a predetermined reference luminance value, when the difference value falls outside the stipulated range.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined area is one of an AE area and an AWB area.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus comprises an HMD (Head-Mounted Display).

7. An image display apparatus which displays, on right and left display means, right and left images obtained by superimposing CG on images taken by right and left image taking means, the apparatus comprising:

selection means for selecting, on the basis of a relationship between first luminance information based on the image taken by said right image taking means and second luminance information based on the image taken by said left image taking means, the first luminance information and/or the second luminance information as luminance information to be used for obtaining an imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means;

calculation means for calculating the imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means by using the luminance information selected by said selection means; and

setting means for setting, in said right and left image taking means, the imaging parameter calculated by said calculation means.

8. A control method of an image display apparatus including

right and left image taking means for taking right and left images of a real space,

output means for outputting the images taken by said right and left image taking means to an image processing unit, and

right and left display means for displaying right and left display images based on right and left image signals output from the image processing unit, the method comprising:

a calculation step of calculating an imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means on the basis of the image taken by said right image taking means and/or the image taken by said left image taking means; and

a setting step of setting, in said right and left image taking means, the imaging parameter calculated in the calculation step.

9. A control method of an image display apparatus which displays, on right and left display means, right and left images obtained by superimposing CG on images taken by said right and left image taking means, the method comprising:

a selection step of selecting, on the basis of a relationship between first luminance information based on the image taken by said right image taking means and second luminance information based on the image taken by said left image taking means, the first luminance information and/or the second luminance information as luminance information to be used for obtaining an imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means;

a calculation step of calculating the imaging parameter common to said right and left image taking means by using the luminance information selected in the selection step; and

a setting step of setting, in said right and left image taking means, the taking parameter calculated in the calculation step.