Calibrator for autostereoscopic image display

• US 8,368,690 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3-D Virtual Lens Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: 3-D Virtual Lens Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoppenstein, Reuben, Rosenthal, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): McDowell, Jr., Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US13/506,799
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 348/42
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• 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 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/315 the parallax barriers being time-variant
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide devices, systems and methods that enable viewing of three-dimensional images on an autostereoscopic display using a barrier grid of dynamically configurable grid characteristics. The barrier grid is configurable to include alternating light-transmitting and light-blocking portions that may be characterized by and configured using a set of one or more grid indicia. The cooperative display of an image on an image display device and the dynamically configurable barrier grid enables autostereoscopic 3D and 4D viewing of images.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a 3D composite image for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the method comprising:

displaying a barrier grid associated with an image display device in the autostereoscopic image display system, the barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

displaying a calibration image on the image display device;

variably resizing the calibration image on the image display device;

determining a brightness of the calibration image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid;

terminating the variable resizing of the calibration image when the brightness is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the calibration image with the barrier grid; and

storing resizing settings of the calibration image upon terminating the variable resizing of the calibration image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at an image processing device, a composite image;

resizing the composite image based on the resizing settings; and

displaying the resized composite image on the image display panel for cooperative display with the barrier grid in the autostereoscopic image display system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the brightness is determined by a camera spaced from the autostereoscopic image display system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the brightness is determined by a photodetector spaced from the autostereoscopic image display system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically configuring one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a brightness of the calibration image on the image display device upon dynamically configuring the one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid; and

terminating configuration of the one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid when the brightness is exactly or approximately at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the barrier grid with the calibration image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration image is displayed on the entire image display device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration image is displayed on a portion of the image display device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein variably resizing the calibration image comprises:

changing the horizontal dimension of the calibration image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

changing the vertical dimension of the calibration image based on the altered horizontal dimension to preserve an aspect ratio of the calibration image.

11. A system for calibrating a 3D composite image for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the system comprising:

a dynamically configurable barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

an image display device;

a brightness detection device configured to determine a brightness of an image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid; and

a calibration system configured to;

display a calibration image on the image display device,

variably resize the calibration image on the image display device, and

terminate the variable resizing of the calibration image when the brightness of the calibration image, as detected at the brightness detection device, is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the calibration image with the barrier grid.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a storage device for storing resizing settings of the calibration image upon terminating the variable resizing.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an image processing system configured to;

receive a composite image,

resize the composite image based on the resizing settings, and

display, on the image display device, the resized composite image for cooperative display with the barrier grid in the autostereoscopic image display system.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a processing system configured to;

dynamically configure one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a brightness of the calibration image on the image display device upon dynamically configuring the one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid; and

terminate configuration of the one or more grid characteristics of the barrier grid when the brightness is exactly or approximately at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the barrier grid with the calibration image.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded thereon one or more computer-executable instructions for a method for calibrating a 3D composite image for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the method comprising:

displaying a barrier grid associated with an image display device in the autostereoscopic image display system, the barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

displaying a calibration image on the image display device;

variably resizing the calibration image on the image display device;

determining a brightness of the calibration image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid;

terminating the variable resizing of the calibration image when the brightness is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the calibration image with the barrier grid; and

storing resizing settings of the calibration image upon terminating the variable resizing.

17. A method for calibrating a dynamically configurable barrier grid for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the method comprising:

displaying a dynamically configurable barrier grid associated with an image display device in the autostereoscopic image display system, the barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

displaying a calibration image on the image display device;

variably resizing the barrier grid;

determining a brightness of the calibration image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid;

terminating the variable resizing of the barrier grid when the brightness is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the barrier grid with the calibration image; and

storing resizing settings of the barrier grid upon terminating the variable resizing.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

variably resizing the calibration image on the image display device;

determining the brightness of the calibration image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid;

terminating the variable resizing of the calibration image when the brightness is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the calibration image with the barrier grid; and

storing resizing settings of the calibration image upon terminating the variable resizing.

19. A system for calibrating a dynamically configurable barrier grid for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the system comprising:

a first image display panel;

a dynamically configurable barrier grid digitally encoded and renderable on a second image display panel, the barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

a brightness detection device configured to determine a brightness of an image cooperatively displayed by the first and second image display panels;

a calibration system programmable to;

display a calibration image on the first image display panel,

variably resize the barrier grid rendered on the second image display panel, and

terminate the variable resizing of the barrier grid when the brightness of the calibration image, as detected at the brightness detection device, is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the barrier grid with the calibration image; and

a storage device for storing resizing settings of the barrier grid upon termination of the variable resizing of the barrier grid.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having encoded thereon one or more computer-executable instructions for a method for calibrating a dynamically configurable barrier grid for display in an autostereoscopic image display system, the method comprising:

displaying a dynamically configurable barrier grid associated with an image display device in the autostereoscopic image display system, the barrier grid configurable to include a plurality of alternating vertical light-transmitting portions and light-blocking portions;

displaying a calibration image on the image display device;

variably resizing the barrier grid;

determining a brightness of the calibration image cooperatively displayed by the image display device and the barrier grid;

terminating the variable resizing of the barrier grid when the brightness is at or above a predefined minimum level, the predefined minimum level indicating calibration of the barrier grid with calibration image; and

storing resizing settings of the barrier grid upon terminating the variable resizing.