THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECORDING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM USING NEAR- AND DISTAL-FOCUSED IMAGES

• US 20140176673A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kennedy, John T.
• Application Number:
  US14/105,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176673A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10148 Varying focus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/571 from focus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/006 Pseudo-stereoscopic systems, i.e. systems wherein a stereoscopic effect is obtained without sending different images to the viewer's eyes

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for providing simulated three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional display screen without the use of special filters or overlays on the display or special eyewear. Images having different focal points are displayed as pictures and switched between rapidly, such that the human eye automatically adjusts to focus on each picture in succession. As the pictures are presented sequentially, the viewer may perceive that the display shows images at different depth planes. The number of depth planes may vary between embodiments.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of frames of a scene in sequence as captured at a plurality of different aperture settings;

selecting a particular number of the plurality of frames for inclusion in an output stream; and

generating the output stream by combining the particular number of the plurality of frames in a pre-determined sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream so that frame luminosity is varied within the output stream.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream so that luminosity of only a portion of pixels in a particular frame is varied.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream so that a number of frames captured at a first aperture setting are in immediate sequence with a number of frames captured at a second aperture setting.

6. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream so that a number of frames captured at a first aperture setting are interleaved with a number of frames captured at a second aperture setting.

7. The method of claim 2, comprising compressing the output stream for network transmission.

8. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream so that at least one P-frame is inserted between a first frame and a second frame, and the at least one P-frame is encoded based on a difference in depth of field between a first aperture setting and a second aperture setting.

9. The method of claim 2, comprising generating the output stream to include at least 60 image frames per second.

10. The method of claim 2, comprising:

capturing by an imaging device the plurality of frames of the scene; and

adjusting a focal point setting of the imaging device so that an aperture setting is different at each of a plurality of different focal points.

11. The method of claim 2, comprising:

capturing by an imaging device the plurality of frames of the scene; and

adjusting focus of the imaging device so that a focus setting is different in at least one of the plurality of different aperture settings.

12. The method of claim 2, comprising outputting for display image frames of the output stream at an interval of 1/25^th of a second.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular number of the plurality of frames is equal to a number of the plurality of frames.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular number of the plurality of frames is unequal to a number of the plurality of frames.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the compressing of the output stream comprises comparing a first image representation received for a first aperture setting with at least one second image representation received for at least one second aperture setting, detecting differences between the first and second image representations, and communicating the differences in the output stream.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-determined sequence includes a sequence of frames different than the received sequence of frames.