Process and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional video images

• US 6,008,839 A
• Filed: 11/27/1995
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Original Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Inventors: Quendt, Dieter, Gold, Ulrich, Nagele, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/565,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 348/43, 348/46, 348/47, 348/51, 348/52, 348/42, 348/48, 348/55, 348/56
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of 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 13/239 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 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding

Abstract

In a process for the display of three-dimensional video images, in which at least two associated stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images are electro-optically sensed at a given read-in frequency and the partial images are then sequentially reproduced on a display, the sensing of the two partial images takes place with a constant delay time with respect to each other, so that a delay which remains constant is ensured between the image formation in the camera and the reproduction of the partial image.

Claims

1. Process for displaying three dimensional video images comprising:

taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images at two cameras with a constant delay time relative to each other and at a pre-determined read-in frequency, and

sequentially reproducing said partial images,

wherein said constant delay time corresponds to a read-in duration of one half half-image time.

2. Process according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing each of said partial images between image-taking and reproduction in at least one partial memory, and

reading out said partial images from said partial memory at twice said read-in frequency.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein said image-taking step comprises:

taking two left-hand and two right-hand stereoscopic halt images of each original image to be taken.

4. Process according to claim 1, further comprising synchronizing electro-optical image-taking of said partial images in two video cameras with said constant time delay by means of a synchronizing connection.

5. Process according to claim 2, wherein said storing step comprises:

storing said partial images in at least one half half-image memory in each of two stereoscopic processing channels, and

converting analog signals of said partial images from two video cameras into digital signals for said one half half-image memory.

6. Process according to claim 3, wherein said reproducing step comprises reproducing said partial images on a display in the following sequence:

right-hand half-image 1, odd numbered;

left-hand half-image 1, odd numbered;

right-hand half-image 1, even numbered;

left-hand half-image 1, even numbered.

7. Process according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a color television system for displaying said three-dimensional video images, and

selecting said constant delay time depending upon said selected color television system.

8. Process according to claim 7, wherein a constant delay time of 10 milliseconds is selected when a PAL standard is selected.

9. Process according to claim 7, wherein a constant delay time of 8.3 milliseconds is selected when a NTSC standard is selected.

10. Apparatus for displaying three dimensional video images, comprising:

two video cameras for taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images at a pre-determined read-in frequency,

a reproducer that sequentially reproduces said partial images, and

a synchronized connection between said two video cameras for delaying recording processes of said two video cameras, one with respect to the other, by a predetermined constant delay time that corresponds to a read-in duration of one half half-image time.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one partial memory that comprises a half-image memory into which said stereoscopic partial images are read at a read-in frequency and which is read-out at twice said read-in frequency, said half-image memory having a capacity at least sufficient for half a half-image.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising projection apparatus connected to said half-image memory for displaying said stereoscopic partial images.

13. Process for displaying three dimensional video images comprising:

taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images at two cameras with a constant delay time relative to each other and at a pre-determined read-in frequency,

sequentially reproducing said partial images,

storing each of said partial images between image-taking and reproduction in at least one partial memory, and

reading out said partial images from said partial memory at twice said read-in frequency,

wherein said reading out of each of said partial images begins while said storing of said same partial image still takes place.

14. Process according to claim 13, wherein said image-taking step comprises:

taking two left-hand and two right-hand stereoscopic half images of each original image to be taken.

15. Process according to claim 13, further comprising synchronizing electro-optical image-taking of said partial images in said two cameras with said constant time delay via a synchronizing connection.

16. Process according to claim 13, wherein said storing step comprises:

storing said partial images in at least one half half-image memory in each of two stereoscopic processing channels, and

converting analog signals of said partial images from two cameras into digital signals for said one half half-image memory.

17. Process according to claim 13, wherein said reproducing step comprises:

reproducing said partial images on a display in the following sequence;

right-hand half-image 1, odd numbered;

left-hand half image 1, odd numbered;

right-hand half-image 1, even numbered;

left-hand half-image 1, even numbered.

18. Process according to claim 13, further comprising:

selecting a color television system for displaying said three-dimensional video images, and

selecting said constant delay time depending upon said selected color television system.

19. Process according to claim 18, wherein a constant delay time of 10 milliseconds is selected when a PAL standard is selected.

20. Process according to claim 18, wherein a constant delay time of 8.3 milliseconds is selected when a NTSC standard is selected.

21. Process for displaying three dimensional video images comprising:

taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images at two cameras with a constant delay time relative to each other and at a pre-determined read-in frequency,

sequentially reproducing said partial images,

storing each of said partial images between image-taking and reproduction in at least one partial memory, and

reading out said partial images from said partial memory at twice said read-in frequency,

wherein said reading out of each of said partial images begins while said storing of said same partial image still takes place, and said constant delay time corresponds to a read-in duration of one half half-image time.

22. Apparatus for displaying three dimensional video images comprising:

two video cameras for taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images with a constant delay time relative to each other and at a pre-determined read-in frequency,

a reproducer that sequentially reproduces said partial images,

at least one partial memory that stores each of said partial images between image-taking and reproduction,

wherein said partial images are read into said partial memory at said predetermined read-in frequency and read out from said partial memory at twice said read-in frequency, and

wherein reading out of each of said partial images begins while said storing of said same partial image still takes place.

23. Apparatus for displaying three dimensional video images comprising:

two video cameras for taking at least two stereoscopic left-hand and right-hand partial images with a constant delay time relative to each other and at a pre-determined read-in frequency,

a reproducer that reproduces said partial images, and

at least one partial memory that stores each of said partial images between image-taking and reproduction,

wherein said partial images are read into said partial memory at said predetermined read-in frequency and read out from said partial memory at twice said read-in frequency, and

wherein reading out of each of said partial images begins while said storing of said same partial image still takes place, and said constant delay time corresponds to a read-in duration of one half half-image time.