Stereoscopic image generation device and program

• US 20090310935A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kazunari Era
• Original Assignee: Kazunari Era
• Inventors: Era, Kazunari
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/128 Adjusting depth or disparity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion

Abstract

In a stereoscopic image generation device according to the invention, an obtaining means 11 obtains sequentially a plurality of original images Ga arranged in a time line and forming a content item. A calculation means 12 calculates an image characteristic value Ng from pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in an original image Ga obtained by the obtaining means 11. A storage device 21 stores a project file Fp by which image characteristic values Nf for the original images Ga forming the content item are respectively associated with stereoscopic parameters for generating stereoscopic images Gb from the original images Ga. A retrieval means 13 compares an image characteristic value calculated by the calculation means 12 from a particular original image Ga, with each of the image characteristic values Nf stored in the storage device 21, to retrieve a stereoscopic parameter for the particular original image Ga on the basis of a comparison result. A stereoscopic imaging means 14 generates a stereoscopic image Gb from each original image Ga, based on the stereoscopic parameter retrieved by the retrieval means 13.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image generation device comprising:

an obtaining means that obtains sequentially a plurality of original images arranged in a time line and forming a content item;

a calculation means that calculates a first image characteristic value from pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in one of the plurality of original images obtained by the obtaining means;

a storage means that stores second image characteristic values for the plurality of original images and stereoscopic parameters for generating stereoscopic images from the original images, with the second image characteristic values respectively associated with stereoscopic parameters;

a retrieval means that compares a first image characteristic value calculated by the calculation means from a particular original image, with each of the second image characteristic values stored in the storage means, to retrieve a stereoscopic parameter for the particular original image, based on a comparison result; and

a stereoscopic imaging means that generates a stereoscopic image from the particular original image, based on the stereoscopic parameter retrieved by the retrieval means.

2. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation means calculates the first image characteristic value by summing up the pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in one of the plurality of original images.

3. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, wherein

the calculation means calculates a first image characteristic value for each of a plurality of areas, into which one of the plurality of original images is divided from pixel values of pixels belonging to corresponding one of the areas,

the storage means stores second image characteristic values respectively for a plurality of areas, into which each of the plurality of original images forming the content item is divided, with the second image characteristic values associated with the stereoscopic parameters, and

the retrieval means compares the first image characteristic values calculated by the calculation means with the second image characteristic values stored in the storage means, for each of the plurality of areas forming the one of the plurality of original images, to retrieve a stereoscopic parameter associated with the particular original image.

4. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 3, wherein the calculation means calculates, respectively for the plurality of areas into which the one of the plurality of original images is divided, numerical values each depending on pixel values of pixels belonging to corresponding one of the areas, and calculates, as the first image characteristic values for the plurality of areas, relative values expressing the numerical values for the plurality of areas in relation to each other, respectively.

5. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, wherein

the storage means stores the stereoscopic parameters for respective ones of the plurality of original images in an order in which a plurality of original images is arranged;

the retrieval means retrieves the stereoscopic parameter for the particular original image, and further sequentially retrieves stereoscopic parameters for successive ones of the plurality of original images which are successive to the particular original image, and

the stereoscopic imaging means generates stereoscopic images from the successive ones of the original images, based on the stereoscopic parameters sequentially retrieved by the retrieval means.

6. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, wherein if a playback point for the content item is changed, the retrieval means then regards, as the particular image, one of the plurality of original images which corresponds to a changed playback point, and retrieves a stereoscopic parameter for the one of the plurality of original images newly regarded as the particular image.

7. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, wherein if a plurality of stereoscopic parameters respectively associated with different original images are retrieved for the first image characteristic value calculated by the calculation means from the particular original image, the retrieval means then compares each of the first image characteristic values calculated by the calculation means respectively for original images successive to the particular original image, with the second image characteristic values stored in the storage means, thereby to determine stereoscopic parameters for the particular original image and for the original images successive to the particular original image.

8. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 7, wherein if a plurality of stereoscopic parameters respectively associated with different original images are retrieved for the first image characteristic value calculated by the calculation means from the particular original image, the stereoscopic imaging means stops generating stereoscopic images until the stereoscopic parameters for the particular original image and for the original images successive to the particular original image are determined by the retrieval means.

9. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 1, further comprising a division means that divides a plurality of original images obtained by the obtaining means into a plurality of groups, wherein

the storage means stores a plurality of records divided into a plurality of groups, the plurality of records respectively including second image characteristic values and stereoscopic parameters for corresponding ones of the plurality of original images, and

if a plurality of stereoscopic parameters respectively associated with different original images are retrieved for the first image characteristic value calculated by the calculation means from the particular original image, the retrieval means compares a total number of original images in one of the groups divided by the obtaining means, to which the particular original image belongs, with a total number of original images associated with each of the groups of the records stored in the storage means, thereby to retrieve stereoscopic parameters associated with one of the groups to which the particular original image belongs, based on a comparison result.

11. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 2, wherein if a playback point for the content item is changed, the retrieval means then regards, as the particular image, one of the plurality of original images which corresponds to a changed playback point, and retrieves a stereoscopic parameter for the one of the plurality of original images newly regarded as the particular image.

12. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 3, wherein if a playback point for the content item is changed, the retrieval means then regards, as the particular image, one of the plurality of original images which corresponds to a changed playback point, and retrieves a stereoscopic parameter for the one of the plurality of original images newly regarded as the particular image.

13. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 4, wherein if a playback point for the content item is changed, the retrieval means then regards, as the particular image, one of the plurality of original images which corresponds to a changed playback point, and retrieves a stereoscopic parameter for the one of the plurality of original images newly regarded as the particular image.

14. The stereoscopic image generation device according to claim 5, wherein if a playback point for the content item is changed, the retrieval means then regards, as the particular image, one of the plurality of original images which corresponds to a changed playback point, and retrieves a stereoscopic parameter for the one of the plurality of original images newly regarded as the particular image.

10. A program for causing a computer to execute:

an obtaining processing of obtaining sequentially a plurality of original images arranged in a time line and forming a content item;

a calculating processing of calculating a first image characteristic value from pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in one of the plurality of original images obtained by the obtaining processing;

a retrieval processing of retrieving a stereoscopic parameter associated with the first image characteristic value calculated by the calculation processing, from a storage means that stores second image characteristic values for the plurality of original images and stereoscopic parameters for generating stereoscopic images from the plurality of original images, with the second image characteristic values respectively associated with stereoscopic parameters; and

a stereoscopic processing of generating a stereoscopic image from the particular original image, based on the stereoscopic parameter retrieved by the retrieval processing.