METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIA FOR SELECTING IMAGE CAPTURE POSITIONS TO GENERATE THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) IMAGES

• US 20110025829A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3DMedia Corporation
• Original Assignee: 3DMedia Corporation
• Inventors: Markas, Tassos, McNamer, Michael, Robers, Marshall, Hurst, Jason Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,436,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/50
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/06 with axial movement of lens or gate between exposures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting image capture positions to generate three-dimensional images are disclosed herein. According to one aspect, a method includes determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene. The method can also include displaying a real-time image of the scene on a display. Further, the method can include determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image. The method can also include displaying the first and second guides on the display for guiding selection of a position of an image capture device to capture a second still image of the scene for pairing the first and second still images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an image capture position to generate a three-dimensional image, the method comprising:

using at least one processor for;

determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene;

displaying a real-time image of the scene on a display;

determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

displaying the first and second guides on the display for guiding selection of a position of an image capture device to capture a second still image of the scene for pairing the first and second still images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a plurality of first guides comprises determining at least one of a first horizontal guide, a first vertical guide, and a first perspective guide, and

wherein determining a plurality of second guides comprises determining at least one of a second horizontal guide, a second vertical guide, and a second perspective guide.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

applying edge sharpness criteria to identify the first template region to generate horizontal and vertical guides; and

optionally applying a Hough transform or similar operation to identify the second horizontal, vertical, and perspective guide.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a plurality of first guides comprises providing at least one window that displays a live-view of the scene;

and

wherein determining a plurality of second guides comprises determining at least one guide based on objects in the previously captured image.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing the first still image using the image capture device, and

wherein the displaying of the real-time image of the scene occurs subsequent to the step of capturing the first still image.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving, at the image capture device, input for entering a stereoscopic mode.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

storing settings of the image capture device used when the first still image is captured; and

capturing the second or other still images using the stored settings.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically changing the displayed real-time image of the scene as the position of the image capture device changes with respect to the scene.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically changing positioning of the first and second guides with respect to one another on the display as the position of the image capture device changes with respect to the scene.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically or manually capturing the second still image, or stopping capturing images when in continuous capture mode, when the first and second guides become aligned.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second guides become aligned when the image capture device is positioned using such predetermined criteria for pairing the first and second/last still images as the stereoscopic pair of the three-dimensional image.

12. A system for selecting an image capture position to generate a three-dimensional image, the system comprising:

a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions;

a computer processor that executes the computer-executable instructions;

an image generator configured to;

determine a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene; and

determine a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

a display configured to;

display a real-time image of the scene; and

display the first and second guides for guiding selection of a position of an image capture device to capture a second still image of the scene, as well as any images in between, for pairing any of the captured images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:

determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene;

displaying a real-time image of the scene on a display;

determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

displaying the first and second guides on the display for guiding selection of a position of an image capture device to capture a second still image of the scene, as well as any images in between, for pairing any of the captured images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

14. A method for positioning an image capture device for generating a three-dimensional image, the method comprising:

using at least one processor for;

determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene;

mechanically-moving the image capture device;

capturing at least one real-time image of the scene during movement of the image capture device;

determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

mechanically-positioning the image capture device to a predetermined position where the guides are aligned to capture a second still image of the scene, as well as any images in between, for pairing any of the captured images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining a plurality of first guides comprises determining at least one of a first horizontal guide, a first vertical guide, and a first perspective guide, and

wherein determining a plurality of second guides comprises determining at least one of a second horizontal guide, a second vertical guide, and a second perspective guide.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

applying edge sharpness criteria to identify the first template region to generate horizontal and vertical guides; and

optionally applying a Hough transform or similar operation to identify the second horizontal, vertical, and perspective guide.

17. The method of claim 14 comprising providing a motorized device configured to controllably move the image capture device.

18. A system for positioning an image capture device for generating a three-dimensional image, the system comprising:

a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions;

a computer processor that executes the computer-executable instructions;

an image generator configured to;

determine a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene;

capture at least one real-time image of the scene during movement of the image capture device; and

determine a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

a motorized device configured to;

move the image capture device; and

position the image capture device to a predetermined position where the guides are aligned to capture a second/last still image of the scene for pairing any of the captured images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:

determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene;

mechanically-moving the image capture device;

capturing at least one real-time image of the scene during movement of the image capture device;

determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image; and

mechanically-positioning the image capture device to a predetermined position where the guides are aligned to capture a second/last still image of the scene for pairing any of the captured images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.