Seamless image viewing system and method

• US 7,907,200 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Yanagisawa, Takuma
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/662,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.06, 348/333.08, 348/333.09, 348/335
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

An image display system according to the present invention includes a camera that shoots a background, a monitor that displays a shot background image, and an optical lens arranged on a display surface of the monitor. An imaginary image, obtained due to presence of the optical lens, of the monitor image is made to substantially match with a background surface, so that observers viewing the background through the monitor can recognize that the monitor image and the background look continuous. As a result, the image display system and the image display method that can cause the observers viewing the background through the monitor to recognize that the monitor image and the background look continuous are provided.

Claims

1. An image display system that causes an observer to recognize that a monitor image and a background look continuous, the image display system comprising:

a camera that shoots the background;

a monitor that displays the shot background image; and

an optical lens that is arranged between a display surface of the monitor and the observer, wherein an imaginary image, obtained due to presence of the optical lens, of the monitor image is made to substantially match with a background surface,

wherein the camera is arranged on a shielding object placed between the monitor and the background, and

a distance d between the monitor and the optical lens satisfies following Expression (X1)

2. The image display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a distance measuring unit that measures the distance l between the monitor and the background surface; and

a distance adjustment mechanism that adjusts the distance d between the monitor and the optical lens, wherein the distance adjustment mechanism adjusts the distance d by using Expression (X1) based on the distance l between the monitor and the background surface measured by the distance measuring unit.

3. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein a magnification Mg of the background image displayed on the monitor satisfies following Expression (X2)

4. The image display system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a distance measuring unit that measures the distance l between the monitor and the background surface; and

a display-size converting unit that converts the magnification Mg of the background image displayed on the monitor, wherein the display-size converting unit converts the magnification Mg by using Expression (X2) based on the distance l between the monitor and the background surface measured by the distance measuring unit.

5. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein a lens size r measured from an optical axis of the optical lens in a predetermined direction satisfies following Expression (X3)

6. The image display system according to claim 1, further comprising a combined-image generating unit that generates a combined image by combining an additional image with the background image, wherein the monitor displays the combined image.

7. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a multi-lens camera, and the image display system further comprises a viewpoint-converted-image generating unit that generates an observer'"'"'s viewpoint-based background image based on a plurality of background images shot by the multi-lens camera.

8. An image display method that causes an observer to recognize that a monitor image and a background look continuous, the image display method comprising:

a step of shooting the background; and

a step of displaying a shot background image on a display surface of the monitor at which an optical lens is arranged, wherein an imaginary image, obtained due to presence of the optical lens, of the monitor image is made to substantially match with a background surface,

wherein a distance d between the monitor and the optical lens satisfies following Expression (X1)