Method and apparatus for optimizing the viewing distance of a lenticular stereogram

• US 7,375,886 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stereographics Corporation (RealD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lipton, Lenny, Feldman, Mark H., McKee, William James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Audrey
• Application Number:
  US10/827,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 359/462, 359/463, 348/59
• US Class Current: 359/463
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays

Abstract

A method and apparatus for optimizing viewing distance for a stereogram system. In a stereogram, an image is held in close juxtaposition with a lenticular screen. In the invention, a data store is used to store optimum pitch values for specified viewing distances. An interdigitation program then acts on the table values and creates a mapping of interdigitated views for each viewing distance. The user can then select or specify a desired viewing distance, and the optimum mapping of views is automatically chosen for display.

Claims

1. A method for improving viewing zones for a lenticular stereogram comprising a lenticular screen, the method comprising:

viewing a plurality of test images positioned behind the lenticular screen from a plurality of selected distances, each test image comprising a plurality of visually distinct columns having at least one column width;

identifying a relatively visually distinct test image, wherein column width for the test image identified represents a selected column width;

compiling a table comprising a plurality of selected viewing distances and associated selected column widths; and

creating at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance using the table by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising selectively choosing a desired viewing distance.

9. A method as in claim 8, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.

10. A method in claim 8, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the desired viewing distance is selected.

11. A method as in claim 8, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.

12. A method as in claim 8, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.

2. A stereogram system having a lenticular screen, comprising:

a data store arranged as a table comprising a plurality of specified viewing distances from the stereogram system, each specified viewing distance associated with a column width determined by viewing test images positioned behind the lenticular screen from a plurality of selected viewing distances from the lenticular screen, each test image comprising a plurality of visually distinct columns having at least one column width, the specified viewing distance correlated to a selected column width of a visually acceptable test image; and

a processor comprising an interdigitation program configured to use the table to create at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.

3. A system as in claim 2, further comprising a selector for choosing a desired viewing distance.

4. A system as in claim 3, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.

5. A system as in claim 3, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the selected viewing distance is selected.

6. A system as in claim 3, whereby for a selected viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.

7. A system as in claim 3, whereby for a selected viewing distance having no associated column width, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.

13. A method for determining a table of column widths and associated viewing distances used to provide enhanced viewing zones for viewing a stereoscopic image, comprising:

providing a plurality of test images, each test image comprising multiple sets of visually distinct alternating columns and each test image having a column width associated therewith;

viewing at least one test image positioned behind a lenticular screen from a test image viewing distance;

identifying a selected column width associated with one relatively visually distinct test image when the one test image appears as one visually distinct image from a left eye viewing position and a different visually distinct image from a right eye viewing position when viewed at the test image viewing distance; and

repeating said viewing and said identifying for multiple viewing distances and compiling the viewing distances and associated column widths in the table.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

creating at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance using the table by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.

15. A method as in claim 14, further comprising selectively choosing a desired viewing distance.

16. A method as in claim 15, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.

17. A method as in claim 15, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the desired viewing distance is selected.

18. A method as in claim 15, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.

19. A method as in claim 15, whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated optimum lenticular stereogram pitch value, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.