Image data processing apparatus and image reproduction apparatus

• US 5,764,236 A
• Filed: 10/11/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichiro, Katayama, Akihiro, Urisaka, Shinya, Ono, Eita
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Application Number:
  US08/540,870
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 395/129, 395/118, 395/119, 395/125, 348/59, 348/42, 345/429, 345/418, 345/419, 345/425
• US Class Current: 345/606
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/117 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image data processing apparatus for generating an image corresponding to a view point, which is constituted by multi view points image data hold means for holding a plurality of image data having mutually different positions as view points, corresponding point trace detection means for sequentially detecting a coefficient which defines a trace of mutually corresponding points among the multi view points image data and member for outputting the coefficient of each of a plurality of the corresponding point traces present in the multi view points image data.

Claims

1. An image data processing apparatus for generating an image corresponding to a view point comprising:

multi view points image data holding means for holding a plurality of images obtained by phototaking an object from a plurality of view points arranged in a left and right direction;

corresponding point trace detection means for sequentially detecting a coefficient representing a relationship between view point positions and displaying positions of corresponding points being mutually corresponded among said multi view points image data;

wherein the coefficient is used when images of view points different from the view points when said object is phototaken are reproduced; and

means for outputting the coefficient of each of a plurality of the corresponding point traces present in the multi view points image data.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said corresponding point trace detection means comprises means for detecting a coefficient which defines a straight line as the corresponding point trace on an epipolar plane image of the multi view points image data.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said corresponding point trace detection means comprises means for detecting a coefficient which defines a plane as the mutually corresponding point trace among the multi view points image data.

4. An image reproduction apparatus for reproducing an image in correspondence with a view point, comprising:

coefficient input means for inputting a coefficient representing a relationship between view point positions and a displaying positions of corresponding points being mutually corresponded among a plurality of images obtained by phototaking an object from a plurality of view points arranged in a left or right direction;

means for inputting a view point position including a view point position different from the view point positions of said plurality of image data;

image interpolation generation means for generating an image corresponding to the inputted view point position by interpolation on the basis of the coefficient; and

means for outputting the generated image to a display device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the coefficient is a coefficient which defines a straight line as the corresponding point trace on an epipolar plane image of the multi view points image data.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the coefficient is a coefficient which defines a plane as the corresponding point trace of the multi view points image data.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising view point position detection means for detecting a position of an eye of an observer who observes the display device, and wherein the view point position from said view point position detection means is inputted to said view point position input means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising distortion correction means for correcting a distortion of the image generated by said image interpolation generation means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display device comprises a stereoscopic display.

10. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display device comprises a lenticular display.