Apparatus, system and method for generating stereoscopic images and correcting for vertical parallax
First Claim
1. A stereoscopic imaging system for generating stereoscopic images of an object from a combination of a first video signal representative of a stream of first input image frames of such object which are captured by a first camera and a second video signal representative of a stream of second input image frames of such object which are captured by a second camera independently from such first camera, such second camera being juxtaposed with such first camera in a horizontal plane, said system comprising:
- (a) a control means coupled to such first and second camera for receiving such first and second video signal, determining presence of a vertical parallax therebetween and converting such first and second video signal into said stereoscopic image of such object; and
(b) a drive means connected to such first and second camera and operably coupled to said control means for tilting, in a vertical plane, one of such first and second camera in response to at least one control signal received from said control means thereby correcting for said vertical parallax presence determined by said control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stereoscopic imaging system for generating stereoscopic images includes a pair of cameras juxtaposed with each other in a horizontal plane each capturing a stream of video images. A controller is provided for controlling motion of each camera, determining presence of a vertical parallax between the images from each camera and converting such first and second video signal into said stereoscopic image of such object. A drive apparatus is provided for linearly moving one camera and for rotating the other camera in response to at least one control signal received from the controller thereby correcting for determined vertical parallax presence. The novel drive apparatus includes an electrically powered linear drive mechanism for moving the first camera and an electrically powered motor and gear arrangement for rotating the second camera. The images are analyzed in a generally real-time manner and image capture and generation is not blocked during analysis.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stereoscopic imaging system for generating stereoscopic images of an object from a combination of a first video signal representative of a stream of first input image frames of such object which are captured by a first camera and a second video signal representative of a stream of second input image frames of such object which are captured by a second camera independently from such first camera, such second camera being juxtaposed with such first camera in a horizontal plane, said system comprising:
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(a) a control means coupled to such first and second camera for receiving such first and second video signal, determining presence of a vertical parallax therebetween and converting such first and second video signal into said stereoscopic image of such object; and (b) a drive means connected to such first and second camera and operably coupled to said control means for tilting, in a vertical plane, one of such first and second camera in response to at least one control signal received from said control means thereby correcting for said vertical parallax presence determined by said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for correcting for a vertical parallax in stereoscopic images of an object generated from a first video signal representative of a stream of first input image frames of such object which are captured by a first camera and a second video signal representative of a stream of second input image frames of such object which are captured by a second camera independently from such first camera, such second camera being juxtaposed with such first camera in a horizontal plane, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first drive means which is coupled to such first camera for at least enabling linear movement thereof relative to such second camera; and (b) a second drive means coupled to such second camera for tilting such second camera in a vertical plane. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of correcting for a vertical parallax in stereoscopic images of an object generated from a combination of a first video signal representative of a stream of first input image frames of said object which are captured by a first camera and a second video signal representative of a stream of second input image frames of said object which are captured by a second camera independently from said first camera, said second camera being juxtaposed with said first camera in a horizontal plane, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving, by a control means, said first video signal and said second video signal; (b) analyzing, with said control means, said first input image frames and said second input image frames; (c) calculating, with said control means, a value of said vertical parallax between corresponding first input image frames and said second input image frames; (d) generating, with said control means, a correction control signal corresponding to said vertical parallax determined in step (c); (e) receiving said correction control signal at a drive means connected to said control means and coupled to one of said first and second camera; and (f) tilting said one of said first and second camera, by said drive means, in a vertical plane and in a direction which is opposite to said direction of said vertical parallax determined in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of generating at least one stereoscopic image, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a first and a second camera in a horizontal plane and in a spaced relationship therebetween; (b) generating, with said first camera, a first signal representative of a first input image of said object; (c) generating, with said second camera, a second signal representative of a second input image of said object; (d) analyzing, by said control means, said first signal and said second signal; (e) determining, by said control means, a vertical parallax between said first signal and said second signal; and (f) tilting one of said first and said second camera to correct said vertical parallax determined in step (e). - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification