Stereoscopic image processing apparatus

• US 6,396,946 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sogawa, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US09/238,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 382/154,151,153 348/116,118,119,122,129,113,143
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• 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 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded 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 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

A stereoscopic image detecting unit has a first non-volatile memory for storing inherent camera characteristic data therein and an image processing unit has a second non-volatile memory for storing inherent circuit characteristic data therein. When the stereoscopic image detecting unit is connected with the image processing unit through a serial cable and video cables and then electric power is turned on, the inherent camera characteristic data are sent to the image processing unit. In the image processing unit, based on the camera data sent from the image detecting unit and the circuit characteristic data in the image processing unit, data for correcting the optical dispersion between two cameras and that of signal characteristic are established.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image processing apparatus having an image detecting unit including a pair of cameras for imaging stereoscopic image pictures and an image processing unit for processing said image pictures, comprising:

a first non-volatile memory provided in said image detecting unit for memorizing a camera characteristic data for correcting dispersions of characteristics between said pair of cameras;

a first computer provided in said image detecting unit for reading out said characteristic data from said non-volatile memory and for transmitting said data to said image processing unit;

a second non-volatile memory provided in said image processing unit for memorizing a circuit characteristic data for correcting dispersions of characteristics between two systems of said cameras; and

a second computer provided in said image processing unit for correcting image signals outputted from said pair of cameras based on said circuit characteristic data read out from said second non-volatile memory and said camera characteristic data sent from said image detecting unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said camera characteristic data includes a data for correcting a dispersion of an output characteristic of an image sensor of said respective cameras.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said camera characteristic data includes a data for correcting a dispersion of a circuit characteristic in a video signal generating circuit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit characteristic data includes a control data of a gain control amplifier for changing a gain of image signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit characteristic data includes a control data of a variable offset circuit for varying an offset of image signals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit characteristic data includes a data of a look-up table for changing a gain of image signals.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said circuit characteristic data includes a data of a shading correction table for correcting a dispersion of sensitivity per zone in said image pictures.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said camera characteristic data includes an image transforming data for correcting a deviation of the optical position of said pair of cameras.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said camera characteristic data includes an angle of view correction data for correcting a deviation of focal length between lenses and the effect of aberration of lenses.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said camera characteristic data includes a data for correcting a deviation between infinite points of images taken by said pair of cameras.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image detecting unit is independent from said image processing unit.

12. A stereoscopic image processing apparatus having an image detecting unit including a pair of cameras for imaging stereoscopic image pictures and an image processing unit for processing said image pictures, comprising:

a first non-volatile memory provided in said image detecting unit for memorizing a camera characteristic data for correcting dispersions of characteristics between said pair of cameras;

a means provided in said image detecting unit for reading out said characteristic data from said non-volatile memory and for transmitting said data to said image processing unit;

a second non-volatile memory provided in said image processing unit for memorizing a circuit characteristic data for correcting dispersions of characteristics between two systems of said cameras; and

a means provided in said image processing unit for correcting image signals outputted from said pair of cameras based on said circuit characteristic data read out from said second non-volatile memory and said camera characteristic data sent from said image detecting unit.