3D camera

• US 6,512,892 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Montgomery, David James, Woodgate, Graham John, Holliman, Nicolas Steven, Jones, Graham Roger, Lee, Delman
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US09/662,563
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 396/322, 396/324, 396/325, 396/326, 396/329, 396/333, 396/297
• US Class Current: 396/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/111 Transformation of image signals corresponding to virtual viewpoints, e.g. spatial image interpolation
• 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 13/133 Equalising the characteristics of different image components, e.g. their average brightness or colour balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of 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 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• 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 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/302 for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 : using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 : using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0088 : Synthesising a monoscopic image signal from stereoscopic images, e.g. synthesising a panoramic or high resolution monoscopic image

Abstract

A 3D camera includes at least two detector heads which are moveable laterally with respect to each other but whose optical are maintained parallel. Each of the detector heads includes a zoom lens and a detector. A user selects the separation between the detector heads and the camera electronics automatically select the field of view by controlling the zoom lenses as a function of the detector head separation.

Claims

1. A three dimensional camera comprising:

at least one imaging and detecting device which is moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis thereof; and

defining means for defining a non-zero depth range of a scene whose image is to be captured at first and second positions; and

characterised by further comprising deriving and limiting means for deriving as a function of the depth range a separation between said first and second positions and for limiting the separation such that the parallax between images captured at the first and second positions is less than a predetermined maximum parallax throughout the depth range, wherein the optical axes of the or each device in said first and second positions are parallel.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising at least two imaging and detecting devices.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the devices are substantially identical to each other.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that detectors of the devices are disposed in a common plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axes.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the detector of at least one of the devices is offset laterally with respect to the optical axis of the device.

6. A camera as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that one of the devices is fixed.

7. A camera as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the detector of each device is rotatable through substantially 90°

about the optical axis of the device.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised by further comprising a visual indicator for indicating whether a stereoscopic image to be captured is within predetermined parallax limits.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the indicator comprises a viewfinder.

10. A camera as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the indicator comprises an indicator light.

11. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined maximum parallax is a function of a predetermined display geometry on which captured images are intended to be displayed.

12. A camera as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the predetermined display geometry comprises display screen size, intended viewing distance and eye separation.

13. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the defining means is arranged to define at least one fixed depth range limit.

14. A camera as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the at least one fixed depth range limit approximates infinity.

15. A camera as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the at least one fixed depth range limit comprises a camera minimum focus distance.

16. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the defining means comprises first selecting means for manually selecting the depth range.

17. A camera as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the first selecting means is arranged to provide manual entry of the depth range.

18. A camera as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the first selecting means is arranged to select from a plurality of predetermined depth ranges.

19. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the defining means is arranged to measure at least one depth range limit.

20. A camera as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the defining means comprises an auto-focus sensor.

21. A camera as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the at least one depth range limit comprises a near depth point.

22. A camera as claimed in claim 21, characterised in that the defining means comprises second selecting means for manually selecting from a plurality of fixed far depth points.

23. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the or each device has a variable field of view.

24. A camera as claimed in claim 23, characterised by further comprising third selecting means for manually selecting one of the separation and the field of view and fourth selecting means for automatically selecting the other of the separation and the field of view as a function of the one of the separation and the field of view.

25. A camera as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the function is a monotonically increasing function.

26. A camera as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the function is also a function of the maximum and minimum distances from the camera of objects whose images are to be captured.

27. A camera as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the function is also a function of the geometry of a display for displaying images captured by the camera.

28. A camera as claimed in claim 27, characterised by further comprising means for supplying to the fourth selecting means data representing the display size and viewing distance.

29. A camera as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the field of view of each device is selectable by selecting a portion of the detector.

30. A camera as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the field of view of each device is selectable by adjusting the focal length of an imaging optical system of the device.

31. A camera as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the devices comprise zoom lenses whose optical nodes are disposed in at least one common plane perpendicular to the optical axes.

32. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised by further comprising more than two devices with the spacings between adjacent pairs of the devices being maintained substantially equal to each other.

33. A camera as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the detector of the or each device comprises a charge-coupled device.