Method and apparatus for displaying stereographic images of a region

• US 8,384,762 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MBDA UK Ltd. (MBDA SAS)
• Original Assignee: MBDA UK Ltd. (MBDA SAS)
• Inventors: Markham, Keith Christopher, Gate, Martin Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US12/600,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/43, 348/50, 348/51, 348/207.1, 348/296, 348/E13.074, 348/E13.001, 378/41
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of displaying stereographic images of a region R. The method comprises: moving a vehicle (10) relative to the region, the vehicle carrying a camera system (12) for acquiring images I of the region; during movement of the vehicle relative to the region acquiring a series of temporally sequential multiple images (I1, I2, . . . ) of the region at respective multiple different spaced apart locations (L1, L2, . . . ) of the vehicle relative to the region; displaying successive stereographic images of the region during movement of the vehicle relative to the region. Each stereographic image comprises a first of said multiple images acquired at a first location and a second of said multiple images acquired at a second location which are temporally spaced apart in the series one from the other. The method comprises the step of varying the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to a velocity of the vehicle relative to the region so that the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined amount so that the stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the velocity of the vehicle relative to the region.

Claims

1. A method of displaying stereographic images of a region, the method comprising the following steps:

moving a vehicle relative to the region, the vehicle carrying a camera system for acquiring images of the region,

during movement of the vehicle relative to the region acquiring a series of temporally sequential multiple images of the region at respective multiple different spaced apart locations of the vehicle relative to the region,

displaying successive stereographic images of the region during movement of the vehicle relative to the region,

wherein each stereographic image comprises a first of said multiple images acquired at a first location and a second of said multiple images acquired at a second location which are temporally spaced apart by a number of images in the series one from the other,

determining a velocity of the vehicle relative to the region, and

varying the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to said velocity,

wherein at a first velocity of the vehicle relative to the region the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a first number of images in the series and at a second velocity relative to the region the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a second number of images in the series,

wherein the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined amount so that the stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the velocity of the vehicle relative to the region.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising varying the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to a distance of the vehicle from the region so that the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined amount so that the stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the distance of the vehicle from the region.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of adjusting the rectification of one or both of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images dependent on the variation of temporal spacing between the images.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stereographic image is displayed at a location remote from both the region and the vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 4, comprising:

determining an available bandwidth of transmission between the vehicle and the remote location,

varying the rate at which the series of temporally sequential multiple images are acquired and/or the rate at which images are transmitted to the remote location according to the available bandwidth, and

varying the temporal spacing between the first and the second images to allow stereographic images to be displayed substantially without flicker.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera system comprises a moveable camera, which moves relative to the vehicle between capturing images of the region.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein successive stereographic images are displayed at a rate greater than 2Hz.

8. Apparatus for displaying stereographic images of a region, comprising:

a camera system mountable on a vehicle for acquiring a series of temporally sequential multiple images of the region at respective multiple different spaced apart locations of the vehicle relative to the region during movement of the vehicle,

a display device for displaying successive stereographic images of the region during movement of the vehicle relative to the region, and

a control unit configured for;

controlling the display of stereographic images so that each stereographic image comprises a first of said multiple images acquired at a first location and a second of said multiple images acquired at a second location which are temporally spaced apart in the series one from the other,

determining a velocity of the vehicle relative to the region, and

varying the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to said velocity,

wherein at a first velocity of the vehicle relative to the region the control unit is configured to control the display so that the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a first number of images in the series and at a second velocity relative to the region the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a second number of images in the series,

wherein the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined amount so that stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the velocity of the vehicle relative to the region.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to vary the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to a distance of the vehicle from the region so that the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined distance so that the stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the distance of the vehicle from the region.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the rectification of one or both of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images dependent on the variation of temporal spacing between the images.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a transmitter for transmitting acquired images to a remote location, a receiver for receiving the transmitted images at the remote location and providing the acquired images to the control unit for processing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising:

means for determining an available bandwidth of transmission between the transmitter and the receiver and varying the rate at which the series of temporally sequential multiple images are acquired and/or transmitted to the remote location according to the available bandwidth,

wherein the control unit is configured for varying the temporal spacing between the first and the second images to allow stereographic images to be displayed substantially without flicker.

13. A camera system and transmitter arranged for use in the apparatus of claim 11.

14. An aircraft including a camera system and transmitter according to claim 13.

15. A display device and receiver arranged for use in the apparatus of claim 11.

16. A display device, receiver and control unit arranged for use in the image capture and display apparatus of claim 11.

17. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further includes a switch arranged to cause switching of the display device between display of stereographic images by the display device and display of a 2-dimensional image display by the display device.

18. A control unit arranged for use in the apparatus of claim 8.

19. A method of displaying stereographic images of a region, the method comprising the following steps:

moving a vehicle relative to the region and outputting movement data from an on-board system corresponding to vehicle movement;

acquiring images of the region with a camera system comprising a camera mounted on the vehicle and orientating the camera so that it is along a line of sight with the region irrespective of movement of the vehicle, and outputting orientation data corresponding to the orientation of the camera;

during movement of the vehicle relative to the region acquiring a series of temporally sequential multiple images of the region at respective multiple different spaced apart locations of the vehicle relative to the region whereby the images are acquired at different respective image vectors relative to the region,

displaying successive stereographic images of the region during movement of the vehicle relative to the region,

wherein each stereographic image comprises a first of said multiple images acquired at a first image vector and a second of said multiple images acquired at a second image vector which are temporally spaced apart in the series one from the other, and rectifying one or both of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to an angle between the first image vector and the second image vector in the displayed stereographic image dependent on the movement data and orientation data;

determining a velocity of the vehicle relative to the region, and

varying the temporal spacing of the first of said multiple images and the second of said multiple images according to said velocity,

wherein at a first velocity of the vehicle relative to the region the control unit is configured to control the display so that the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a first number of images in the series and at a second velocity relative to the region the first and the second of the multiple images are spaced apart by a second number of images in the series,

wherein the spatial separation between the first and the second locations is not less than a predetermined amount so that stereographic images having a required depth can be displayed independent of the velocity of the vehicle relative to the region.