APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A 3D IMAGE

• US 20110043609A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: REBO Co.
• Original Assignee: REBO Co.
• Inventors: CHOI, Seung Wook, Lee, Min Kyu
• Application Number:
  US12/720,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2513 with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10068 Endoscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/521 from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/121 using special illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and a method for processing a three dimensional image. The apparatus for processing the three dimensional image includes a lattice pattern projection unit configured to project a reference lattice pattern onto a photographic object; a photographing unit configured to generate an image information by photographing the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is projected; a depth information extraction unit configured to extract a depth information of the photographic object based on comparison between the reference lattice pattern projected onto the photographic object and a modified lattice pattern included in the image information; and a left and right eye information generation unit configured to generate a left and right eye information in correspondence with the depth information, the left and right eye information containing a three dimensional information of the photographic object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a three dimensional image, the apparatus comprising:

a lattice pattern projection unit configured to project a reference lattice pattern onto a photographic object;

a photographing unit configured to generate an image information by photographing the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is projected;

a depth information extraction unit configured to extract a depth information of the photographic object based on comparison between the reference lattice pattern projected onto the photographic object and a modified lattice pattern included in the image information; and

a left and right eye information generation unit configured to generate a left and right eye information in correspondence with the depth information, the left and right eye information containing a three dimensional information of the photographic object.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the depth information of the photographic object is extracted by the depth information extraction unit by using an information of at least one of a distance between adjacent lines forming the modified lattice pattern, a width, a gradient or a variation of the gradient of the line.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein projection of the reference lattice pattern by the lattice pattern projection unit onto the photographic unit is turned on or turned off corresponding to a predetermined period.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lattice pattern projection unit includes a flickering control unit that controls such that a projection light including the reference lattice pattern flickers corresponding to the predetermined period.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lattice pattern projection unit includes a mirror unit configured to rotate corresponding to the predetermined period to reflect a projection light including the reference lattice pattern toward the photographic object.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lattice pattern projection unit includes a prism configured to refract a projection light including the reference lattice pattern in a direction toward the photographic object.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the photographing unit photographs the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is projected and the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is not projected, respectively, to generate the image information.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the left and right eye information generation unit generates the left and right eye information that contains the three dimensional information of the photographic object in correspondence with the depth information by using the image information generated by photographing the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is not projected.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lattice pattern projection unit is coupled to an endoscope.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lattice pattern projection unit is rotatably coupled to the endoscope by using a hinge connection.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a rotation means coupled to one end of the lattice pattern projection unit to rotate the lattice pattern projection unit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first mirror configured to allow a projection light that is emitted from the lattice pattern projection unit and is incident on a first surface thereof to pass therethrough and configured to reflect a light that is reflected from the photographic object and is incident on a second surface thereof.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an optical unit including the lattice pattern projection unit, the photographing unit and the first mirror is positioned within an endoscope or is provided in a separate device that is attachable/detachable to/from the endoscope.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a second minor positioned in a front end of the lattice pattern projection unit to reflect the projection light toward the first mirror.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an optical unit including the lattice pattern projection unit, the photographing unit, the first mirror and the second minor is positioned within an endoscope or is provided in a separate device that is attachable/detachable to/from the endoscope.

16. A method of processing a three dimensional image, the method comprising:

projecting a reference lattice pattern onto a photographic object;

generating an image information by photographing the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is projected;

extracting a depth information of the photographic object based on comparison between the reference lattice pattern projected onto the photographic object and a modified lattice pattern included in the image information; and

generating a left and right eye information in correspondence with the depth information, the left and right eye information containing a three dimensional information of the photographic object.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in the extracting of the depth information, the depth information of the photographic object is extracted by using an information of at least one of a distance between adjacent lines forming the modified lattice pattern, a width, a gradient or a variation of the gradient of the line.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in the projecting of the reference lattice pattern, projection of the reference lattice pattern onto the photographic unit is turned on or turned off corresponding to a predetermined period.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, in the generating of the image information, the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is projected and the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is not projected are respectively photographed to generate the image information.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, in the generating of the left and right eye information, the left and right eye information that contains the three dimensional information of the photographic object is generated in correspondence with the depth information by using the image information generated by photographing the photographic object onto which the reference lattice pattern is not projected.