System and method for spherical stereoscopic photographing

• US 7,429,997 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DD Micoy Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micoy Corporation (Digital Domain Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Givon, Dor
• Primary Examiner(s): Philippe; Gims S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REKSTAD, ERICK J
• Application Number:
  US10/416,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,498 Days
• Field of Search: 396/324, 396/325, 396/332, 348/38, 348/48, 348/36, 352/69, 352/70, 352/57, 359/725
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/00 Stereoscopic photography
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/302 for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel imaging system for obtaining full stereoscopic spherical images of the visual environment surrounding a viewer, 360 degree both horizontally and vertically. Displaying the images obtained by the present system, by means suitable for stereoscopic displaying, gives the viewers the ability to look everywhere around them, as well as up and down, while having stereoscopic depth perception of the images displayed images. The system according to the present invention comprises an array of cameras, wherein the lenses of said cameras are situated on a curved surface, pointing out from common centers of said curved surface. The captured images of said system are arranged and processed to create sets of stereoscopic image pairs, wherein one image of each pair is designated for the observer right eye and the second image to his left eye, thus creating a three dimensional perception.

Claims

1. A photographing system for capturing a full stereoscopic curved image, or a continuous part thereof, said system comprising:

a three-dimensional array of cameras having lenses, wherein the lenses of all said cameras are situated on a curved surface, pointing out from common centers of said curved surface, wherein a collective field of vision captured by all of said lenses covers a whole visual area surrounding said photographing system, or a continuous part thereof, and wherein any point in said collective field of vision is captured by at least two of said lenses; and

a markers system that forms a set of image-position markers in a portion of the full stereoscopic curved image, or the continuous part thereof;

wherein the curved surface is a spherical surface;

wherein said cameras are arranged in a specific configuration wherein a field of vision of any of said lenses is overlapped to a first extent by fields of vision of two lenses, one of which is adjacent on one side, and the other of which is adjacent on an opposite side of said lens with respect to a vertical axis, and to a second extent by the fields of vision of adjacent lenses lying above and below said lens with respect to a horizontal axis, wherein said second extent is less than said first extent, and wherein said collective field of vision comprises a collection of fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images wherein any point within each of said fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images is captured by at least two of said lenses.

2. A multi-lens camera apparatus for generating a full stereoscopic curved image, or a continuous part thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a set of lenses which are situated on a curved surface pointing out from common centers of said curved surface, wherein a collective field of vision captured by all of said lenses covers a whole visual environment surrounding said camera apparatus, or a continuous part thereof, and any point in said collective field of vision is captured by at least two of said lenses;

means for sensing and storing image information of images captured by each of said lenses; and

marking means for forming a set of image-position markers in the images;

wherein the curved surface is a spherical surface;

wherein said lenses are arranged in a specific configuration wherein a field of vision of any of said lenses is overlapped to a first extent by fields of vision of two lenses, one of which is adjacent on one side, and the other of which is adjacent on an opposite side of said lens with respect to a vertical axis, and to a second extent by the fields of vision of adjacent lenses lying above and below said lens with respect to a horizontal axis, wherein said second extent is less than said first extent, and wherein said collective field of vision comprises a collection of fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images wherein any point within each of said fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images is captured by at least two of said lenses.

3. A process for capturing a full or partial stereoscopic curved image of a visual environment to be displayed to a viewer by means allowing for stereoscopic viewing, said process comprising:

arranging a three-dimensional array of cameras wherein lenses of all said cameras are situated on a curved surface pointing out from common centers of said curved surface, wherein a collective field of vision captured by all of said lenses covers a whole visual environment surrounding said array of cameras, or a continuous part thereof, and wherein any point in said collective field of vision is captured by at least two of said lenses; and

forming a set of image-position markers in a portion of the full or partial stereoscopic curved image;

wherein the curved surface is a spherical surface;

further comprising arranging said lenses in a specific configuration wherein a field of vision of any of said lenses is overlapped to a first extent by fields of vision of two lenses, one of which is adjacent on one side, and the other of which is adjacent on an opposite side of said lens with respect to a vertical axis, and to a second extent by the fields of vision of adjacent lenses lying above and below said lens with respect to a horizontal axis, wherein said second extent is less than said first extent, and wherein said collective field of vision comprises a collection of fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images wherein any point within each of said fully circular stereoscopic panoramic images is captured by at least two of said lenses.