Image processing apparatus for displaying three-dimensional image

• US 6,760,020 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiroyuki, Uchiyama, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santiago, Enrique L
• Application Number:
  US09/266,858
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/420, 345/191, 345/427, 345/563
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of 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 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/307 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers

Abstract

A stereoscopic image processing apparatus which can automatically assign stereoscopic viewing parameters to VRML data in which no stereoscopic viewing parameters are defined. VRML data is input, and the user sets or changes stereoscopic viewing parameters (initial values of the base line length and convergence angle) required for stereoscopic viewing on the basis of the input VRML data.

The initial value of the base line length is set based on the maximum size of the range of the space of the VRML data, and the initial value of the convergence angle is set at “0”. These initial values are arbitrarily changed at a user interface.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image processing apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving three-dimensional space data;

storing means for storing the three-dimensional space data received by said receiving means;

generating means for generating a parameter required for performing a stereoscopic viewing on the basis of the three-dimensional space data received by said receiving means; and

determination means for determining necessity of generation of the parameter on the basis of a file extension of the three-dimensional space data received by said receiving means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter defines a base line length of a user.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the parameter defines a convergence angle of a user.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the parameter defines a convergence angle of a user.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

user setting means for allowing a user to set a value of a stereoscopic viewing parameter; and

means for changing a value of the stereoscopic viewing parameter in accordance with the set value.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising display means, and wherein said user setting means displays a GUI on said display means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said GUI is implemented by a slide bar, jog dial or wheel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stereoscopic viewing parameter defines a base line length of the user.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the stereoscopic viewing parameter defines a base line length of the user.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stereoscopic viewing parameter defines a convergence angle of the user.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the stereoscopic viewing parameter defines a convergence angle of the user.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein parameters that include a base line length, and an initial value of the base line length is estimated from the size of the entire space which is said generating means generates plural estimated from the three-dimensional space data.

12. A program storage medium for a computer program storing:

a receiving step program of receiving and storing three-dimensional space data;

a storing step program of storing the three-dimensional space data receiving by said receiving step program;

a generating step program of generating a parameter required for preforming stereoscopic viewing on the basis of the received three-dimensional space data receiving by said receiving step program; and

a determination step program of determining necessity of generation of the parameter on the basis of a file extension of the three-dimensional space data received by said receiving step program.

13. A program storage medium for a computer program storing:

a step program of receiving and storing three-dimensional space data;

a step program of determining necessity of generation of a parameter on the basis of a file extension of the received three-dimensional space data; and

a step program of generating a parameter required for stereoscopic viewing on the basis of the received three-dimensional space data if it is determined that the parameter must be generated.