Method and system for recording spatially-multiplexed images of 3-D objects for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof

• US 5,886,816 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Inventors: Faris, Sadeg M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thong
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US08/478,246
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 359/464, 359/465, 359/466, 359/494, 359/63, 348/49, 348/51, 348/57, 348/58
• US Class Current: 359/464
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/22 of the stereoscopic type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1335 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133538 with spatial distribution of the polarisation direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133627 Projection-direct viewing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/132 Overhead projectors, i.e. capable of projecting hand-writing or drawing during action epidiascopic projectors G03B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/30 adapted to collapse or fold, e.g. for portability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• 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 13/218 : using spatial multiplexing
• 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 13/246 : Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 : Colour aspects
• 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 13/296 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/30 : Image reproducers optical systems for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 : Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 : using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 : using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 : using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 : with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 : Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 : for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/373 : for tracking forward-backward translational head movements, i.e. longitudinal movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/376 : for tracking left-right translational head movements, i.e. lateral movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/38 : for tracking vertical translational head movements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 : for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 : specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 : the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7491 : of head mounted projectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 : Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

An electro-optical recording system for recording spatially multiplexed images (SMI) of a 3-D object for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution. A micropolarization panel of electrically passive polarization is employed to produce first and second patterns corresponding to spatially modulated perspective images. These pixel patterns are optically combined to produce a spatially multiplexed image of the 3-D object which can be used for stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution.

Claims

1. A system for recording a spatially multiplexed image of an object for use for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution, comprising:

first means for forming a first perspective image of said object along a first optical path and imparting a first polarization P1 to light emanting from said first perspective image so as to produce a first polarized perspective image;

second means for forming a second perspective image of said object along a second optical path and imparting a second polarization state P2 to light emanting from said second perspective image so as to produce a second polarized perspective image, said second polarization state P2 being different than said first polarization state P1;

an optically sensitive element having a recording surface;

a micropolarization panel of electrically passive contruction directly mounted to the recording surface of said optically sensitive element and including;

an optically transparent laminate portion mounted to said recording surface and having a thickness dimension on the order of about 10 to about 20 microns,

an optically transparent substrate portion in direct physical contact with said laminate portion, and

first and second optically transparent patterns permanently formed in said optically transparent laminate portion,

said first and second optically transparent patterns physically interfacing each other at surfaces disposed above and substantially perpendicular to said recording surface, and each having a spatial period from about 25 microns to about 5000 microns;

said first optically transparent pattern formed in said optically transparent plastic substrate being characterized by said first polarization state P1 and spatially modulating said first polarized perspective image in accordance with a first spatial modulation pattern so as to produce on said recording surface a first spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a first pixel pattern;

said second optically transparent pattern formed in said optically transparent plastic substrate being characterized by said second polarization state P2 and spatially modulating said second polarized perspective image in accordance with a second spatial modulation pattern so as to produce on said recording surface a second spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a second pixel pattern, said second spatial modulation pattern being the logical complement of said first spatial modulation pattern; and

an image combining means, disposed along said first and second optical paths, for optically combining and spatially superimposing said first and second spatially modulated perspective images on the recording surface of said optically sensitive element;

whereby, the first and second pixel patterns of said optically combined and spatially superimposed images form a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of said first and second spatially modulated perspective images of said object, and being suitable for use in 3-D stereoscopic viewing of said object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said optically sensitive element is selected from the group consisting of photographic medium, image sensor, and image transducer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said micropolarization panel has a thickness less than about 300 microns.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said optically sensitive element is a CCD image sensor and said optically transparent substrate is laminated directly onto said CCD image sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said CCD image sensor is operably associated with an image recording device selected from the group consisting of a movie camera and a video camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first optically transparent pattern comprises a first polarization pattern which imparts said first polarization state P1 to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first polarization pattern, and wherein said second optically pattern comprises a second polarization pattern which imparts said polarization state P2 to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second polarization pattern.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first polarization state P1 is a first linear polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P2 is a second linear polarization state different from said first linear polarization state P1.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first polarization state P1 is a clockwise circular polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P2 is a counter-clockwise circular polarization state.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first optically transparent pattern comprises a first retardation pattern which imparts said first polarization state P1 to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and wherein said second optically transparent pattern comprises a second retardation pattern which imparts said second polarization state P2 to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second retardation pattern.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first retardation pattern comprises a first quarter wave retardation pattern which imparts a clockwise circular polarization state to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and wherein said second retardation pattern comprises a second quarter wave retardation pattern which imparts a counter-clockwise circular polarization state to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second retardation pattern.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said optically transparent laminate portion further comprises a polarization layer, and said first optically transparent pattern comprises a first retardation pattern, wherein said first retardation pattern imparts said first polarization state P1 to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and

wherein said second optically transparent pattern imparts said second polarization state P2 to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first retardation pattern imparts half-wave retardation to light emanating from said first pixel pattern and passing through said first retardation pattern, and said second optically transparent pattern imparts zero retardation to light emanating from said second pixel pattern and passing through said second optically transparent pattern.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said polarization layer is characterized by a linear polarization state.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first polarization state P1 is a first linear polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P2 is a second linear polarization state, which is different from said first linear polarization state P1.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said polarization layer is characterized by a circular polarization state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first polarization state P1 is a clockwise circular polarization state, and wherein said second polarization state P2 is a counter-clockwise circular polarization state.

17. A system for recording a spatially multiplexed image of an object for use for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution, comprising:

first means for forming a first perspective image of said object along a first optical path and imparting a first polarization state P1 to light emanting from said first perspective image so as to produce a first polarized perspective image;

second means for forming a second perspective image of said object along a second optical path and imparting a second polarization state P2 to light emanting from said second perspective image so as to produce a second polarized perspective image, said second polarization state P2 being different than said first polarization state P1;

an optically sensitive element having a recording surface;

a micropolarization panel of electrically passive contruction directly mounted to the recording surface of said optically sensitive element and including

an optically transparent laminate portion mounted to said recording surface,

an optically transparent substrate portion in direct physical contact with said laminate portion, and

first and second optically transparent patterns permanently formed in said optically transparent laminate portion,

said first and second optically transparent patterns physically interfacing each other at surfaces disposed above and substantially perpendicular to said recording surface;

said first optically transparent pattern formed in said optically transparent plastic substrate being characterized by said first polarization state P1 and spatially modulating said first polarized perspective image in accordance with a first spatial modulation pattern so as to produce on said recording surface a first spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a first pixel pattern;

said second optically transparent pattern formed in said optically transparent plastic substrate being characterized by said second polarization state P2 and spatially modulating said second polarized perspective image in accordance with a second spatial modulation pattern so as to produce on said recording surface a second spatially modulated perspective image consisting of a second pixel pattern, said second spatial modulation pattern being the logical complement of said first spatial modulation pattern; and

an image combining means, disposed along said first and second optical paths, for optically combining and spatially superimposing said first and second spatially modulated perspective images on the recording surface of said optically sensitive element;

whereby the first and second pixel patterns of said optically combined and spatially superimposed images form a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of said first and second spatially modulated perspective images of said object, and being suitable for use in 3-D stereoscopic viewing of said object.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said optically sensitive element is selected from the group consisting of photographic medium, image sensor, and image transducer.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said micropolarization panel has a thickness less than about 300 microns.

20. The system of claim 17;

wherein said optically sensitive element is a CCD image sensor and said optically transparent substrate is laminated directly onto said CCD image sensor.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said CCD image sensor is operably associated with an image recording device selected from the group consisting of a movie camera and a video camera.