Method and apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image

• US 20090268014A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: University of Durham
• Inventors: Holliman, Nicolas S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• 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 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems

Abstract

A method of generating a stereoscopic image is disclosed. The method includes defining at least two, three or more regions in a scene representing a region of interest, a near regions and/or a far region. This is followed by forming an image pair for each region, this image pair containing the information relating to objects in or partially in their respective region. The perceived depth within the regions is altered to provide the idea or best perceived depth within the region of interest and acceptable or more compressed perceived depths in the other regions. The image pairs are then mapped together to form a display image pair for viewing on a display device.

Claims

1. A method for generating a stereoscopic image of a scene having a first and a second object, the first object having a first predetermined depth in the scene and the second object having a second predetermined depth in the scene, the method comprising:

presenting the first object at a first perceived depth in a region of interest of the stereoscopic image of the scene, wherein a ratio of the perceived depth of the first object to the predetermined depth of the first object is set at a desired viewing ratio; and

presenting the second object at a second perceived depth in a second region of the stereoscopic image of the scene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second region is substantially non-overlapping with the region of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest comprises a perceived depth range in the stereoscopic image of the scene, the perceived depth range maps to a depth range in the scene.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is a real world representation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is a synthetic representation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest is defined by a first volume in space between a first plane at a first distance from a viewer and a second plane at a second distance from the viewer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second region is defined by a second volume in space between a third plane at a third distance from the viewer and a fourth plane at a fourth distance from the viewer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest comprises one of a near region and a far region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the perceived depth of the second object to the predetermined depth of the second object is distorted.

10. A method for generating a stereoscopic image of a scene having a first, a second, and a third object, the first object having a first predetermined depth in the scene, the second object having a second predetermined depth in the scene, and the third object having a third predetermined depth in the scene, the method comprising:

presenting the first object at a first perceived depth in a region of interest of the stereoscopic image of the scene, wherein a ratio of the perceived depth of the first object to the predetermined depth of the first object is set at a desired viewing ratio;

presenting the second object at a second perceived depth in a second region of the stereoscopic image of the scene; and

presenting the third object at a third perceived depth in a third region of the stereoscopic image of the scene.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the region of interest comprises a middle region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a middle region of the scene, the second region comprises a near region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a near region in the scene, and the third region comprises a far region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a far region in the scene.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the region of interest comprises one of a near region, a far region, and a middle region.

13. An apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image of a scene having a first and a second object, the first object having a first predetermined depth in the scene and the second object having a second predetermined depth in the scene, the apparatus comprising:

a first object presenting device for presenting the first object at a first perceived depth in a region of interest of the stereoscopic image of the scene;

a second object presenting device for presenting the second object at a second perceived depth in a second region of the stereoscopic image of the scene;

wherein a ratio of the perceived depth of the first object to the predetermined depth of the first object is set at a desired viewing ratio.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second region is substantially non-overlapping with the region of interest.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the region of interest comprises a perceived depth range in the stereoscopic image of the scene, the perceived depth range mapping to a depth range in the scene.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scene is a real world representation.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scene is a synthetic representation.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, the region of interest is defined by a first volume in space between a first plane at a first distance from a viewer and a second plane at a second distance from the viewer.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second region is defined by a second volume in space between a third plane at a third distance from the viewer and a fourth plane at a fourth distance from the viewer.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the region of interest comprises one of a near region and a far region.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the perceived depth of the second object to the predetermined depth of the second object is distorted.

22. An apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image of a scene having a first, a second, and a third object, the first object having a first predetermined depth in the scene, the second object having a second predetermined depth in the scene, and the third object having a third predetermined depth in the scene, the method comprising:

a first object presenting device for presenting the first object at a first perceived depth in a region of interest of the stereoscopic image of the scene, wherein a ratio of the perceived depth of the first object to the predetermined depth of the first object is set at a desired viewing ratio;

a second object presenting device for presenting the second object at a second perceived depth in a second region of the stereoscopic image of the scene; and

a third object presenting device for presenting the third object at a third perceived depth in a third region of the stereoscopic image of the scene.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the region of interest comprises a middle region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a middle region of the scene, the second region comprises a near region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a near region in the scene, and the third region comprises a far region in the stereoscopic image of the scene mapping to a far region in the scene.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the region of interest comprises one of a near region, a far region, and a middle region.