Method of and apparatus for generating a 3-D image from a 2-D image having a changeable focusing micro-lens array

• US 5,986,811 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Wohlstadter, Jacob N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACK, RICKY LEVERN
• Application Number:
  US08/476,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 359/619, 359/620, 359/621, 359/622, 359/623, 359/625, 359/626, 359/665, 359/666
• US Class Current: 359/626
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/122 Improving the 3D impression of stereoscopic images by modifying image signal contents, e.g. by filtering or adding monoscopic depth cues H04N13/128 takes precedence
• 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 13/229 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/232 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• 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 13/25 using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/293 Generating mixed stereoscopic images; Generating mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/307 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/322 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 : Calibration thereof
• 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 13/366 : using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 : with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• 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 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

Recent advances in surface techniques have lead to the development of extremely small (sub-micron) scale features. These techniques allow the formation of polymer micro-lenses as well as variable focus liquid lenses. The present invention primarily concerns the use of small scale lenses for the fabrication of novel displays which exhibit three-dimensional (3D) effects. Both still images and video images (or other motion images) can be generated.

Claims

1. A method for generating a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image having a plurality of image points, comprising the step of:

passing light from said two-dimensional image through an array of micro-lenses and thence to a viewer, light from each of said image points passing through one or more micro-lenses in alignment therewith to thereby control the apparent distance of said image points from said viewer thereby generating said three-dimensional image from said two-dimensional image for perception by said viewer, wherein said array includes at least one micro-lens having a changeable focal length.

2. A method for generating a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image having a number of image points, comprising the steps of:

(a) passing light from said two-dimensional image through an array of micro-lenses and thence to a viewer, light from each of said image points passing through one or more micro-lenses in alignment therewith, wherein said array includes at least one micro-lens having a changeable focal length,

(b) varying (i) the distance of said two-dimensional image from said array, and/or (ii) the distance of said array from said viewer, and/or (iii) the focal length of each of said micro-lenses,

thereby controlling the apparent distance of said image points from said viewer thereby generating said three-dimensional image from said two-dimensional image for perception by said viewer.

3. A method as recited in claim 2,, wherein said three-dimensional image appears continuous to said viewer.

4. An imaging system for creating a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image having a plurality of image points, comprising:

(a) an array of micro-lenses, a plurality thereof having a variable focal length; and

(b) means for holding at least one micro-lens in said array in alignment with one or more image points in said two-dimensional image;

wherein said array of micro-lenses creates said three-dimensional image from said two-dimensional image.

5. An imaging system for creating a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image having a plurality of image points, comprising:

(a) an array of micro-lenses, a plurality thereof having a variable focal length;

(b) means for holding at least one micro-lens in said array in alignment with one or more image points in said two-dimensional image; and

(c) means for varying the distance between said array and said two-dimensional image;

wherein said array of micro-lenses creates said three-dimensional image from said two-dimensional image.

6. An imaging system for creating a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional image having a plurality of image points, comprising:

(a) an array of micro-lenses, a plurality thereof having a variable focal length;

(b) means for holding at least one micro-lens in said array in alignment with one or more image points in said two dimensional image;

(c) means for varying the distance between said array and said two-dimensional image; and

(d) means for varying the distance between said array and a viewer of said three-dimensional image;

wherein said array of micro-lenses creates said three-dimensional image from said two-dimensional image.