Modifying Perspective of Stereoscopic Images Based on Changes in User Viewpoint

• US 20110122130A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: zSpace Inc.
• Original Assignee: zSpace Inc.
• Inventors: Clemens, Nancy L., Gray, Alan S., Vesely, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,717,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/06 Ray-tracing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/30 Clipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering

Abstract

Modifying perspective of stereoscopic images provided by one or more displays based on changes in user viewpoint. The one or more displays may include a first display that is provided substantially horizontal for displaying 3D horizontal perspective images and/or a second display that is provided substantially vertical for displaying text or conventional images such as 2D images, or 3D vertical perspective images. The horizontal display surface may be typically positioned directly in front of the user, and at a height of about a desktop surface so that the user can have about a 45° looking angle. The vertical display surface may be positioned in front of the user and preferably behind and above the horizontal display surface.

Claims

1. A method for presenting three dimensional (3D) images using a display, comprising:

determining a first viewpoint of a user;

displaying a 3D image on the display based on the first viewpoint of the user, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image according to a first perspective;

receiving first open space user input regarding movement of a first graphic object within the 3D image, wherein said receiving first open space user input regarding movement of the first graphic object of the 3D image comprises receiving position information of the stylus;

determining a second viewpoint of the user after said displaying the 3D image, wherein the second viewpoint is determined after a change of viewpoint of the user, wherein the second viewpoint is different than the first viewpoint;

displaying an updated 3D image on the display based on the second viewpoint of the user and based on the first open space user input, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the updated 3D image according to a second perspective, wherein the second perspective is different than the first perspective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises providing a stereoscopic image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving first open space user input is performed using a stylus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first perspective is horizontal and wherein the second perspective is central.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first perspective is a first oblique perspective and wherein the second perspective is a second oblique perspective.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using a second display, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display according to a third perspective that is different than the first perspective.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the first viewpoint of the user comprises determining a position of the user'"'"'s left eye and/or determining a position of the user'"'"'s right eye.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the position information is determined using camera triangulation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is an obliquely positioned display.

17. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 9, wherein said determining the first viewpoint of the user comprises determining a position of the user'"'"'s left eye and/or determining a position of the user'"'"'s right eye.

18. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 8, wherein the display is configured as a horizontal display.

11. A computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions for presenting stereoscopic three dimensional (3D) images using a display, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

determine a first viewpoint of a user;

display a 3D image on the display based on the first viewpoint of the user, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image according to a first perspective;

receive first open space user input regarding movement of a first graphic object within the 3D image using a stylus, wherein said receiving first open space user input regarding movement of the first graphic object of the 3D image comprises receiving position information of the stylus;

determine a second viewpoint of the user after said displaying the 3D image, wherein the second viewpoint is determined after a change of viewpoint of the user, wherein the second viewpoint is different than the first viewpoint;

display an updated 3D image on the display based on the second viewpoint of the user and based on the first open space user input, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the updated 3D image according to a second perspective, wherein the second perspective is different than the first perspective.

12. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 11, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises providing a stereoscopic image.

13. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 11, wherein the first perspective is horizontal and wherein the second perspective is central.

14. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 11, wherein the first perspective is a first oblique perspective and wherein the second perspective is a second oblique perspective.

15. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 11, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using a second display, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display.

16. The computer-accessible non-transitory memory medium of claim 15, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display according to a third perspective that is different than the first perspective.

19. A system for presenting stereoscopic three dimensional (3D) images using a display, comprising:

a processor;

an input device configured to provide information to the processor indicating a current viewpoint of the user;

a display coupled to the processor;

a stylus configured to communicate with the processor, wherein the stylus is configured for use by a user to manipulate objects displayed by the first and/or second display, wherein the stylus is configured to provide current information regarding graphic object manipulation to the processor;

a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores program instructions executable to;

determine a first viewpoint of a user;

display a 3D image on the display based on a first viewpoint of the user, wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image according to a first perspective;

receive first open space user input regarding movement of a first graphic object within the 3D image using the stylus, wherein said receiving first open space user input regarding movement of the first graphic object of the 3D image comprises receiving position information of the stylus;

determine a second viewpoint of the user after said displaying the 3D image, wherein the second viewpoint is determined after a change of viewpoint of the user, wherein the second viewpoint is different than the first viewpoint;

display an updated 3D image on the display based on the second viewpoint of the user and based on the first open space user input, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the updated 3D image according to a second perspective, wherein the second perspective is different than the first perspective.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the display is configured as an obliquely positioned display.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first perspective is horizontal and wherein the second perspective is central.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the first perspective is a first oblique perspective and wherein the second perspective is a second oblique perspective.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a second display;

wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display, wherein said displaying the updated 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display;

wherein said displaying the 3D image comprises displaying the 3D image using the second display according to a third perspective that is different than the first perspective.

24. A method for presenting stereoscopic images using a display, comprising:

determining a first viewpoint of a user;

determining display information of the display;

displaying a stereoscopic image on the display based on the first viewpoint of the user and the display information of the display, wherein said displaying the stereoscopic image comprises displaying the stereoscopic image according to a first perspective, wherein the first perspective is determined using the first viewpoint and the display information;

determining a second viewpoint of the user after said displaying the stereoscopic image, wherein the second viewpoint is determined after a change of viewpoint of the user, wherein the second viewpoint is different than the first viewpoint;

displaying an updated stereoscopic image on the display based on the second viewpoint of the user and based on the display information, wherein said displaying the updated stereoscopic image comprises displaying the updated stereoscopic image according to a second perspective, wherein the second perspective is different than the first perspective, wherein the second perspective is one of the central perspective or the oblique perspective.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said displaying the stereoscopic image and said displaying the updated stereoscopic image comprises utilizing a render surface that corresponds to the display using the display information.