System and method for generating stereoscopic image data

• US 6,388,666 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Inventors: Murray, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Cliff N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US09/179,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/419, 345/156, 382/154, 709/231, 359/557, 348/43
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/261 with monoscopic-to-stereoscopic image conversion
• 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

Abstract

A system and corresponding method for generating stereoscopic image from modelling data and camera animation curve data created in the process of creating a computer graphics animation sequence intended for 2D display. The system comprises a database in which the modelling data and the original camera animation curve data are stored, as well as a stereoscopic camera animation curve data generator and an animation sequence renderer. The stereoscopic camera animation curve data generator inputs the original camera animation curve data and generates stereoscopic camera animation curve data for at least one stereoscopic camera which is fixed in position and alignment with respect to another stereoscopic camera (which may be the original camera used to generate the original computer graphics animation sequence). The renderer inputs the stereoscopic camera animation curve data and the modelling data and generates stereoscopic image data.

Claims

1. A system for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data from 2D camera animation curve data, comprising:

(a) database means for storing modelling data and the 2D camera animation curve data; and

(b) stereoscopic camera animation curve data generation means responsive to the 2D animation curve data, for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data for stereoscopic cameras, comprising node generation means for generating a dummy node and for generating a first stereoscopic camera fixed in position relative to the dummy node and for generating a second stereoscopic camera fixed in position relative to the dummy node and separated from the first stereoscopic camera.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the node generation means is adapted to fix the first stereoscopic camera in alignment relative to the dummy node and to fix the second stereoscopic camera in alignment relative to the dummy node.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the dummy node is located equidistant between the first stereoscopic camera and the second stereoscopic camera.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

5. A system for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data from 2D camera animation curve data created for a 2D camera, comprising:

(a) database means for storing modelling data and the 2D camera animation curve data; and

(b) stereoscopic camera animation curve data generation means responsive to the 2D animation curve data, for generating a second stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the 2D camera and separated from the 2D camera and for generating second stereoscopic camera animation curve data.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

7. A system for generating stereoscopic image data from animation data comprising modelling data and 2D camera animation curve data created for a 2D comprising:

A. database means for storing the modelling data and the 2D camera animation curve data;

(b) stereoscopic camera animation curve data generation means responsive to the animation curve data, for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data for at least one stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the 2D camera; and

(c) rendering means responsive to the stereoscopic camera animation curve data and responsive to modelling data for rendering stereoscopic image data.

8. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the animation data also comprises 2D image data.

9. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

10. A method for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data from 2D camera animation curve data, comprising the following steps:

(a) generating a dummy node;

(b) generating a first stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the dummy node;

(c) generating a second stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the dummy node and separated from the first stereoscopic camera;

(d) applying the 2D animation curve data to the dummy node;

(e) generating first stereoscopic camera animation curve data correlated to the 2D animation curve data; and

(f) generating second stereoscopic camera animation curve data correlated to the 2D animation curve data.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

12. A method for generating stereoscopic camera animation curve data from 2D camera animation curve data created for a 2D camera, comprising the following steps:

(a) generating a second stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the 2D camera and separated from the 2D camera;

(b) applying the 2D animation curve data to the 2D camera; and

(c) generating second stereoscopic camera animation curve data correlated to the 2D animation curve data.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

14. A method for generating stereoscopic image data from animation data comprising modelling data and 2D camera animation curve data, comprising the following steps:

(a) generating a dummy node;

(b) generating a first stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the dummy node;

(c) generating a second stereoscopic camera fixed in position and alignment relative to the dummy node and separated from the first stereoscopic camera;

(d) applying the 2D animation curve data to the dummy node;

(e) generating first stereoscopic camera animation curve data correlated to the 2D animation curve data;

(f) generating second stereoscopic camera animation curve data correlated to the 2D animation curve data;

(g) rendering first stereoscopic image data correlated to the first stereoscopic camera animation curve data and to the modelling data; and

(h) rendering second stereoscopic image data correlated to the second stereoscopic camera animation curve data and to the modelling data.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, comprising inputting first camera characteristic data and second camera characteristic data.

16. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the 2D camera animation curve data comprises data correlated to camera rotation.

17. A system for determining attributes of a stereoscopic image to be generated using modelling data and a first stereoscopic camera and a second stereoscopic camera, comprising:

(a) an input device;

(b) processing means capable of receiving measured data from the input device correlated to measurements in arbitrary but internally consistent modelling units taken from the modelling data and the position of the first and second stereoscopic cameras, for calculating attribute data correlated to attributes of the stereoscopic image in real world units; and

(c) an output device operationally coupled to the processing means for displaying the attribute data.