METHODS AND DEVICES FOR GENERATING A STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE

• US 20140098197A1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: GERIS, Ryan Alexander, BAKER, William Keith, BHULLAR, Amandeep Singh
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Methods and devices for generating a stereoscopic image are described. In one aspect, the electronic device includes a first camera for generating first camera data, a second camera for generating second camera data and a third camera for generating third camera data. The cameras are positioned on a same side of the electronic device and in spaced relation to each other. The electronic device also includes a controller coupled with the first camera, the second camera and the third camera. The controller is configured to: identify an orientation of the electronic device; and generate a stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the second camera data when the electronic device is at a first orientation, and generate the stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the third camera data when the electronic device is at a second orientation.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first camera for generating first camera data, a second camera for generating second camera data and a third camera for generating third camera data, the cameras positioned on a same side of the electronic device and in spaced relation to each other; and

a controller coupled with the first camera, the second camera and the third camera, the controller configured to;

identify an orientation of the electronic device; and

generate a stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the second camera data when the electronic device is at a first orientation, and generate the stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the third camera data when the electronic device is at a second orientation.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an orientation sensor coupled to the controller, the orientation sensor generating orientation data based on an orientation of the electronic device, and wherein identifying an orientation of the electronic device includes determining whether the electronic device is at the first orientation or the second orientation based on the orientation data.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein identifying an orientation of the electronic device includes determining whether the electronic device is closer to the first orientation or the second orientation based on the orientation data, and wherein the stereoscopic image is generated based on the first camera data and the second camera data when the orientation of the electronic device is closer to the first orientation and the stereoscopic image is generated based on the first camera data and the third camera data when the orientation of the electronic device is closer to the second orientation.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cameras are positioned to form a right triangle, the first camera positioned at the corner of the right triangle that forms a ninety degree angle, the second camera and the third camera positioned at the other corners of the right triangle, and wherein the first camera and the second camera are horizontally aligned when the electronic device is at the first orientation and the first camera and the third camera are horizontally aligned when the electronic device is at the second orientation.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cameras are positioned to form a triangle, the first camera positioned at a corner of the triangle forming an angle between thirty and sixty degrees, the second camera and the third camera positioned at the other corners of the triangle, and wherein the first camera and the second camera are horizontally aligned when the electronic device is at the first orientation and the first camera and the third camera are horizontally aligned when the electronic device is at the second orientation.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first orientation of the electronic device is a portrait orientation and the second orientation of the electronic device is a landscape orientation.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to rotate an image captured by the first camera prior to generating the stereoscopic image when the electronic device is in the second orientation.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the third camera when the electronic device is at the first orientation.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the second camera when the electronic device is at the second orientation.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to capture images simultaneously by the first camera, the second camera and the third camera prior to generating the stereoscopic image.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth camera for generating fourth camera data, the fourth camera positioned on the same side and in spaced relation to the first camera, the second camera and the third camera, and wherein identifying an orientation of the electronic device includes identifying a third orientation of the electronic device, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the fourth camera data when the electronic device is at the third orientation.

12. A method implemented by a controller of an electronic device, the electronic device having a first camera for generating first camera data, a second camera for generating second camera data and a third camera for generating third camera data, the cameras positioned on a same side of the electronic device and in spaced relation to each other, the method comprising:

identifying an orientation of the electronic device; and

generating a stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the second camera data when the electronic device is at a first orientation, and generating the stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and the third camera data when the electronic device is at a second orientation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic device includes an orientation sensor coupled to the controller, the orientation sensor generating orientation data based on an orientation of the electronic device, and wherein identifying an orientation of the electronic device includes determining whether the electronic device is at the first orientation or the second orientation based on the orientation data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying an orientation of the electronic device includes determining whether the electronic device is closer to the first orientation or the second orientation based on the orientation data, and wherein the stereoscopic image is generated based on the first camera data and the second camera data when the orientation of the electronic device is closer to the first orientation and the stereoscopic image is generated based on the first camera data and the third camera data when the orientation of the electronic device is closer to the second orientation.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first orientation of the electronic device is a portrait orientation and the second orientation of the electronic device is a landscape orientation.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

rotating an image captured by the first camera prior to generating the stereoscopic image when the electronic device is in the second orientation.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

disabling the third camera when the electronic device is at the first orientation.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

disabling the second camera when the electronic device is at the second orientation.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

capturing images simultaneously by the first camera, the second camera and the third camera prior to generating the stereoscopic image.

20. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions including instructions for:

identifying an orientation of an electronic device; and

generating a stereoscopic image based on first camera data from a first camera and second camera data from a second camera when the electronic device is at a first orientation, and generating the stereoscopic image based on the first camera data and third camera data from a third camera when the electronic device is at a second orientation.