Method and apparatus for maximizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram

• US 6,519,088 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lipton, Lenny
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, AUDREY Y
• Application Number:
  US09/889,433
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/463, 359/464, 348/59, 348/55, 351/201
• US Class Current: 359/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/349 Multi-view displays for displaying three or more geometrical viewpoints without viewer tracking for viewing without the aid of special glasses using fly-eye lenses H04N13/307
• 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

A lenticular stereogram has an improved viewing zone for a specific viewing distance when an image print (207) having an optimum image column width is utilized. The optimum image column width is determined by observing a series of two color prints having variable image column widths mounted under a lenticular screen (206) through an imaging apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram, comprising:

a. providing a test image in intimate juxtaposition with a lenticular screen, wherein the test image includes a plurality of columns each corresponding to an individual lenticule of the lenticular screen, and wherein each column of the test image has a predefined column width and includes at least a first stripe of a first color and a second stripe of a second color alternating with each other, and wherein the first color and the second color are visually distinct;

b. observing the test image and lenticular screen from a specified viewing position with a viewing device, wherein the viewing device includes a first eye perspective viewer and a second eye perspective viewer;

c. determining an optimum column width for an interdigitated stereoscopic image, wherein the optimum column width is obtained when the first color is observed with the first eye perspective viewer while the second color is observed with the second eye perspective viewer in step b;

d. providing a modified test image if the optimum column width is not obtained in step c and then repeating steps b and c with the modified test image, wherein the modified test image is identical to the test image except that the column width is altered; and

e. producing a stereoscopic image for use in a lenticular stereogram, wherein the stereoscopic image includes interdigitated columns each having the optimum column width.

2. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, further comprising aligning a central one of the plurality of columns with a center lenticule of the lenticular screen.

3. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, wherein the first color contrasts with the second color.

4. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, wherein the first color and the second color are selected from the group consisting of:

black and white, magenta and cyan, or green and red, respectively.

5. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, wherein an interdigitation program is used to adjust the column width of the plurality of columns.

6. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, wherein a pair of human eyes are used to view the test image from the first eye perspective viewer and from the second eye perspective viewer.

7. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 1, wherein a pair of digital cameras are used to view the test image from the first eye perspective viewer and from the second eye perspective viewer.

8. A method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram, comprising:

a. providing a plurality of test images, wherein each test image has a plurality of columns each having the same column width and wherein the column width differs by a known amount for each test image, and wherein each column includes at least a first stripe of a first color and a second stripe of a second color alternating with each other, and wherein the first color and the second color are visually distinct;

b. holding a first of the test images in intimate juxtaposition with a lenticular screen;

c. observing the test image from a specified viewing position with a viewing device, wherein the viewing device includes a first eye perspective viewer and a second eye perspective viewer,

d. determining an optimum column width for an interdigitated stereoscopic image, wherein the optimum column width is obtained when the first color is observed with the first eye perspective viewer while the second color is observed with the second eye perspective viewer in step b;

e. substituting another of the test images if the optimum column width magnification was not obtained in step d and repeating steps b, c and d; and

f. producing a stereoscopic image for use in a lenticular stereogram, wherein the stereoscopic image includes interdigitated columns each having the optimum column width.

9. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, further comprising aligning a central interdigitated column of the stereoscopic image print or the projected image with a center lenticule of the lenticular screen.

10. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, wherein the first color contrasts with the second color.

11. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, wherein the first color and the second color are selected from the group consisting of:

black and white, magenta and cyan, or green and red, respectively.

12. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, wherein an interdigitation program is used to produce the plurality of test prints or the plurality of test projected images.

13. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, wherein a pair of human eyes are used to view the test print from the first eye perspective viewer and from the second eye perspective viewer.

14. The method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram of claim 8, wherein a pair of cameras are used to view the test print from the first eye perspective viewer and from the second eye perspective viewer.

15. A method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram, comprising:

a. providing a plurality of test images, wherein each test image has a plurality of columns each having the same column width and wherein the column width differs by a known amount for each test image, and wherein each column includes at least a first stripe of a first color and a second stripe of a second color alternating with each other, and wherein the first color and the second color are visually distinct;

b. holding a first of the test images in intimate juxtaposition with a lenticular screen;

c. observing the first test image from a specified viewing position with a viewing device, wherein the viewing device includes a first eye perspective viewer and a second eye perspective viewer,

d. determining an optimum column width for an interdigitated stereoscopic image, wherein the optimum column width is obtained when the first color is observed with the first eye perspective viewer while the second color is observed with the second eye perspective viewer in step b;

e. substituting another of the test images if the optimum column width magnification was not obtained in step c and repeating steps b, c and d;

f. producing a stereoscopic image for use in a lenticular stereogram, wherein the stereoscopic image includes interdigitated columns each having the optimum column width.

16. A method of optimizing the viewing zone of a lenticular stereogram having a lenticular screen in intimate juxtaposition with a stereo image pair, wherein the lenticular screen includes a plurality of individual lenticules and the stereo image pair includes a plurality of columns of preset column width each corresponding to an individual lenticule, each of said columns having alternating image stripes of left eye perspective images and right eye perspective images, comprising adjusting the column width to obtain optical alignment of each column with its corresponding lenticule for a specified viewing position, wherein the adjusting step comprises:

a. providing a series of test images, wherein each test image includes a plurality of columns each corresponding to an individual lenticule of the lenticular screen, and wherein each column has a preset column width, the preset column width being different for each of the test images, and wherein each column includes at least a first stripe of a first color and a second stripe of a second color alternating with each other, and wherein the first color and the second color are visually distinct;

b. holding a first of the test images in intimate juxtaposition with the lenticular screen;

c. observing the test image and lenticular screen from a specified viewing position with a viewing device, wherein the viewing device includes a first eye perspective viewer and a second eye perspective viewer;

d. determining an optimum column width for the stereo image pair to be viewed from the specified viewing position, wherein the optimum column width is obtained when the first color is observed with the first eye perspective viewer while the second color is observed with the second eye perspective viewer in step c;

e. providing another of the test images if the optimum column width is not obtained in step d and then repeating steps c and d; and

f. producing the stereo image pair to have interdigitated columns each having the optimum column width.