Method and system for producing stereoscopic 3-dimensional images

• US 5,953,054 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geo-3D, Inc. (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Geo-3D, Inc. (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Mercier, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/658,870
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/44, 348/50, 348/51, 382/154
• US Class Current: 348/50
• 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 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388

Abstract

A method and a system for producing stereoscopic 3-dimensional images from a single motion picture video film having a plurality of frames containing successive images which are produced from a single video camera in motion. The motion picture video film is produced by displacing the camera along an axis with a viewing axis of the camera oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of displacement of the camera. Images of the motion picture video film are overlaid or alternated in a synchronized fashion and separated by a time sequence to produce video signals of composite images capable of producing 3-dimensional images which can be viewed on a screen with eyeglasses having lenses conditioned to view separate ones of the overlaid or alternating images, simultaneously, whereby a viewer person can observe a depth of field in the composite images. The video signals can be derived by using two film copies each feeding an associated one of two recording devices to produce time separated video signals which are multiplexed and then recorded in a further recording device to produce a video film of the composite images. The video signals may be produced by the use of a computer with composite image digital signals stored in the memory of the computer.

Claims

1. A system for producing stereoscopic 3-dimensional images from a single motion picture video film having a plurality of frames containing successive images which are produced from a single video camera in horizontal motion, said system comprising a computer having a recording medium, means for storing digital information signals on said recording medium, a display screen associated with said computer, a keyboard associated with said computer, program means to produce composite 3-dimensional digital information signals by generating said digital information signals representative of successive ones of said images superimposed or alternating in synchronism with time delayed digital information signals also representative of successive ones of said images, said composite 3-dimensional digital information signals displayed on said screen, a frame stabilizer circuit to monitor and adjust said digital information signals representative of said superimposed or alternating signals to correct horizontal and vertical alignment of said superimposed or alternating signals representative of images in said frames due to said horizontal motion, said program means permitting a user person by means of said keyboard to modify said time delayed digital information signals to vary the position of said superimposed images to modify a 3-dimensional image displayed on said display screen, and eyeglasses having having lenses conditioned to view separate ones of said overlaid or alternating images simultaneously whereby a viewer person can observe a depth of field in said images displayed and produced by said composite 3-dimensional digital information signals.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recording medium is a memory of said computer.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display screen is a computer or television screen.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said composite 3-dimensional digital information signals are connected to a video recording device for producing a video film copy of said motion picture video film by converting said digital information signals to analog signals, and a television screen connected to said video recording device for observing said motion picture by said viewer person.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided converting means associated with said computer for converting analog said digit said images into said digital information signals.