Single camera device and method for 3D video imaging using a refracting lens

• US 20100188483A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Berger, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,723,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing

Abstract

An example embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that captures 3D images having a lens barrel, including a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel, an image capture element at the second end of the lens barrel, and a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel. The image capture device may have an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region capable of capturing an image that is smaller than the total image capture area of the image capture element. The image capture element may capture images continuously at a predetermined frame rate. The image capture element may change the adjustable active region and the set of positioning elements may be adapted to continuous change the position of the refracting lens among a series of predetermined positions at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing 3D images including a lens barrel having a first end where light enters the lens barrel and a second end, comprising:

a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel;

an image capture element adapted to capture an image projected onto the second end of the lens barrel, having an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region capable of capturing an image that is smaller than the total image capture area of the image capture element;

a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel, the refracting lens being mounted to a set of adjusting elements, the set of positioning elements for adjusting the position of the edge of the refracting lens.

2. The system for capturing 3D images of claim 1, wherein the set of positioning elements is configured to position the refracting lens such that light entering the lens barrel at a first angle, relative to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the adjustable active region at a first location on the image capture element.

3. The system for capturing 3D images of claim 2, wherein the set of positioning elements is configured to position the refracting lens such that light entering the lens barrel at a second angle, relative to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the adjustable active region at a second location on the image capture element.

9. The apparatus for capturing 3D images of claim 1, wherein the set of positioning elements adjust the position of the refracting lens receive a current or voltage at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.

10. The apparatus for capturing 3D images of claim 1, wherein the set of positioning elements are piezoelectric elements.

4. The system for capturing 3D images of claim 4, wherein the image capture element captures images continuously at a predetermined frame rate.

6. The apparatus for capturing 3D images of claim 4, wherein the set of positioning elements are adapted to change the positions of the refracting lens and the image capture element is adapted to change the location of the adjustable active region at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.

7. The apparatus for capturing 3D images of claim 4, wherein

the set of positioning elements are adapted to hold the first refracting lens at a first predetermined angle relative to the optical axis;

and

the first set of positioning elements are mounted a rotating element that rotates the refracting lens about the optical axis.

8. The apparatus for capturing 3D images of claim 7, wherein the rotating element rotates the refracting lens at a rate of revolution corresponding to time period that is a multiple of the predetermined frame rate.

5. The system for capturing 3D images of claim 5 wherein

the set of positioning elements are adapted to continuous change the position of the refracting lens to different positions from a series of predetermined positions in a predefined order;

and

the image capture element is adapted to change the location of the adjustable active region to correlate with each of the series of predetermined positions in a predefined order.

11. A method for capturing 3D, images, comprising:

passing light through a lens at a first end of a lens barrel;

capturing the light at an adjustable active region of an image capture element at a second end of the lens barrel;

positioning a refracting lens positioned along an optical axis of the lens barrel so that a surface plane of the refracting lens is not perpendicular to the optical axis, the refracting lens being mounted to a set of positioning elements.

12. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 11 wherein the step of positioning the refracting lens includes positioning the refracting lens such that light entering the lens barrel at a first angle, relative to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the adjustable active region at a first location on the image capture element.

13. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 11 wherein the step of positioning the first refracting further includes positioning position the refracting lens such that light entering the lens barrel at a second angle, relative to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the adjustable active region at a second location on the image capture element.

14. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 11 wherein the capturing step includes capturing images continuously at a predefined frame rate.

15. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 14 wherein

the step of positioning the refracting lens includes continuously changing the position of the refracting lens to different positions from a series of predetermined positions in a predefined order;

and

the capturing step includes changing the location of the adjustable active region to a location to correlate with each of the series of predetermined positions in a predefined order.

16. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 15 wherein the set of positioning elements and image capture element change the positions of the refracting lens and the image capture element changes the location of the adjustable active region at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.

17. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 14 wherein the set of positioning elements hold the refracting lens at a predetermined angle relative to the optical axis;

and

further comprising rotating the refracting lens about the optical axis.

18. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 17 wherein the rotating step includes rotating the refracting lens at a rate of revolution corresponding to a multiple of the predetermined frame rate.

19. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 11 wherein the set of positioning elements receive a current or voltage at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.

20. The method for capturing 3D images of claim 11 wherein the set of positioning elements are piezoelectric elements.