Three dimensional images

• US 7,561,730 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Winscom, Christopher J., Evans, Gareth B., Wells, Leslie R., Loveridge, Jennifer C., Hewitson, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker; Wesley
• Application Number:
  US10/732,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20040136571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 382/154
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A method and system of capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene and using the information obtained to produce a physical representation of the object or scene. The physical representation may be dynamic, for moving objects, or permanent.

Claims

1. A three dimensional imaging method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

Capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene;

Obtaining information from the three dimensional image;

Producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the characteristic of the surface representing the distance of the object or scene from the point of image capture is a physical stimulus at each point of the surface, and wherein the physical stimulus is temperature, the difference in temperature representing difference in the distance.

2. A three dimensional imaging method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

Capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene;

Obtaining information from the three dimensional image;

Producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the surface is formed of an array of pin members, and wherein the displacement of the pin members is controlled by an electro magnetic actuator.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movement of the controlling means is amplified to produce a larger movement of the pin members.

3. A system comprising means for capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene, means for obtaining information therefrom and means for producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions wherein the characteristic of the surface representing the distance of the object or scene from the point of image capture is a physical stimulus at each point of the surface, and wherein the physical stimulus is temperature, the difference in temperature representing difference in distance.

4. A three dimensional imaging method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

Capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene;

Obtaining information from the three dimensional image;

Producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the characteristic of the surface representing the depth information is a non linear function of the distance of the object or scene from the point of image capture, and wherein the gradient of the non linear function decreases to zero with increasing distance of the object or scene from the point of image capture.

5. A three dimensional imaging method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

Capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene;

Obtaining information from the three dimensional image;

Producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the surface is formed of an array of pin members, and wherein the temperature of each pin member represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface, or additional information regarding the image, the temperature changing according to that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface.

6. A three dimensional imaging method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

Capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene;

Obtaining information from the three dimensional image;

Producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the surface is formed of an array of pin members, and wherein the top of the pin members support a surface element, the surface element being able to tilt with respect to the pin member to conform to an average direction of the surface adjacent the surface element.

8. A system comprising means for capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene, means for obtaining information therefrom and means for producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the surface comprises an array of pin members, and wherein the temperature of each pin member represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface, or additional information regarding the image, the temperature changing according to that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface.

9. A system comprising means for capturing a three dimensional image of an object or scene, means for obtaining information therefrom and means for producing a physical representation of the scene using the obtained information, the physical representation having a surface in which one characteristic of the surface represents the distance from the point of image capture of that point of the scene corresponding to the position on the surface in two dimensions, wherein the surface comprises an array of pin members, and wherein a surface element is located at the top of and supported by each pin member, the surface element being tiltable to conform to an average direction of the surface adjacent the surface element.