Multi-dimensional imaging system and method

• US 8,194,168 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 54 Essential Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mowry, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US11/447,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20060274188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 348/335
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/40 giving the observer of a single two-dimensional [2D] image a perception of depth
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/52 the 3D volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D planes, e.g. depth sampling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/22 Double cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/10 having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

Disclosed is a camera to provide images for use in multi-dimensional imaging. In an embodiment, the camera includes an image gathering lens operable to obtain a lens image of a visual, a plurality of optic modules operable to provide distinct focusing options for the lens image, a relaying module operable to relay at least part of the lens image to the plurality of optic modules and a plurality of capture devices operable to capture a plurality of distinct versions of the lens image from the plurality of optic modules relayed from the relaying module. In another embodiment, a multi-dimensional imaging system is provided that includes a camera, such as described above, and further includes a computing device operable to receive and display the plurality of distinct versions, and a data management module operable to receive data related to the distinct versions and to display the distinct versions on separate displays.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first optics module having a first focal length;

a second optics module having a second focal length different from the first focal length;

a lens image diverter configured to simultaneously relay light from a lens to the first optics module and the second optics module;

a first capture device configured to capture a first series of images from the light after being relayed through the first optics module;

a second capture device configured to capture a second series of images from the light after being relayed through the second optics module; and

a device configured to resize the second series of images based upon a difference in display distance between the second series of images and the first series of images.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens image diverter is a beam splitting device configured to divide the light from the lens.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lens image diverter is a mirroring type configured to provide up to full relay of the light from the lens to the first optics module and the second optics module.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the first series of images and the second series of images.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first capture device is further configured to capture the first series of images at a first frame rate and the second capture device is further configured to capture the second series of images at a second frame rate different from the first frame rate.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a time-code recorder configured to add time-code information to the first series of images and the second series of images.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a display device configured to synchronously display the first series of images overlaid on the second series of images in accordance with the time-code information in a three-dimensional display.

8. A system, comprising:

means for focusing light;

means for simultaneously relaying the light to a first optics module having a first focal length and a second optics module having a second focal length that is different from the first focal length;

means for capturing a first series of images from the light after being relayed through the first optics module;

means for capturing a second series of images from the light after being relayed through the second optics module; and

means for resizing the second series of images based upon a difference in display distance between the second series of images and the first series of images.

9. A system, comprising:

a first optics module having a first focal length;

a second optics module having a second focal length that is different from the first focal length;

a relaying module configured to simultaneously relay light indicative of a scene to the first optics module and the second optics module;

a first charged coupled device configured to generate a first series of images from light focused through the first optics module;

a second charged coupled device configured to generate a second series of images from light focused through the second optics module; and

a device configured to resize the second series of images as a function of a difference in display distance between the second series of images and the first series of images.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a time-code recorder configured to add time-code information to the first series of images and the second series of images.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a display device configured to synchronously display the first series of images overlaid on the second series of images in accordance with the time-code information in a three-dimensional display.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first charged coupled device is further configured to generate the first series of images at a first capture rate and the second charged coupled device is configured to generate the second series of images at a second capture rate that is different from the first capture rate.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first capture rate is higher than the second capture rate.

14. A tangible computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, the instructions comprising:

instructions for generating a first series of images from light relayed from a lens through a first optics module having a first focal length;

instructions for generating a second series of images from the light relayed from the lens through a second optics module having a second focal length that is distinct from the first focal length, wherein the instructions for generating the second series of images include instructions for generating the second series of images; and

instructions for resizing the second series of images based on a difference in display distance between the second series of images and the first series of images.

15. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein instructions for generating the first series of images comprise instructions for generating the first series of images at a capture rate that is different from a capture rate of the second series of images.

16. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for storing the first series of images and second series of images.

17. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for adding time-code information to the first series of images and the second series of images.

18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions for synchronously displaying the first series of images overlaid on the second series of images in accordance with the time-code information in a three-dimensional display.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a first digitizing unit configured to record a first series of images from light relayed from a lens through a first optics module having a first focal length;

a second digitizing unit configured to record a second series of images from the light relayed from the lens through a second optics module having a second focal length that is distinct from the first focal length, wherein the second digitizing unit is further configured to record the second series of images; and

a device configured to resize the second series of images as a function of a difference in display distance between the second series of images and the first series of images.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a time-code recorder configured to add time-code information to the first series of images and the second series of images.