Single camera device and method for 3D video imaging using a refracting lens
First Claim
1. An apparatus for capturing 3D images including a lens barrel having a first end where light enters the lens barrel and a second end, comprising:
- a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel;
an image capture element adapted to capture an image projected thereon at the second end of the lens barrel, having an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region that captures an image that is smaller in area than the total image capture area of the image capture element;
a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel and disposed between the lens and the image capture element, the refracting lens being mounted to a set of adjusting elements, the set of adjusting elements for adjusting the position of the edge of the refracting lens,wherein, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a first position, a light beam from a target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a first stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a first point of view and a first field of view and, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a second position different from the first position, the light beam from the target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a second stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a second point of view different from the first point of view and a second field of view different from the first field of view with both the first and second points of view and the first and second fields of view being different from a non-refracted image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An example embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that captures 3D images having a lens barrel, including a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel, an image capture element at the second end of the lens barrel, and a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel. The image capture device may have an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region capable of capturing an image that is smaller than the total image capture area of the image capture element. The image capture element may capture images continuously at a predetermined frame rate. The image capture element may change the adjustable active region and the set of positioning elements may be adapted to continuous change the position of the refracting lens among a series of predetermined positions at a rate corresponding to the predetermined frame rate.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for capturing 3D images including a lens barrel having a first end where light enters the lens barrel and a second end, comprising:
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a lens disposed at a first end of the lens barrel; an image capture element adapted to capture an image projected thereon at the second end of the lens barrel, having an adjustable active region, the adjustable active region being a region that captures an image that is smaller in area than the total image capture area of the image capture element; a refracting lens positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel and disposed between the lens and the image capture element, the refracting lens being mounted to a set of adjusting elements, the set of adjusting elements for adjusting the position of the edge of the refracting lens, wherein, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a first position, a light beam from a target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a first stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a first point of view and a first field of view and, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a second position different from the first position, the light beam from the target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a second stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a second point of view different from the first point of view and a second field of view different from the first field of view with both the first and second points of view and the first and second fields of view being different from a non-refracted image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for capturing 3D images, comprising:
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passing light through a lens at a first end of a lens barrel extending along and about an optical axis; capturing the light at an adjustable active region of an image capture element at a second end of the lens barrel, the image capture element disposed on and extending perpendicularly relative to the optical axis, the adjustable active region being a region that captures an image that is smaller in area than the total image capture area of the image capture element; positioning a refracting lens having a diametral centerline and positioned along an optical axis of the lens barrel between the lens and the image capture element, the refracting lens being mounted to a set of adjusting elements, the set of adjusting elements for adjusting the position of the edge of the refracting lens, wherein, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a first position, a light beam from a target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a first stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a first point of view and a first field of view and, when the set of adjusting elements adjust the position of the edges of the refracting lens to a second position different from the first position, the light beam from the target object, effectively parallel to the optical axis, is refracted by the refracting lens to the center of the active region so that the refracted light beam represents a second stereoscopic image captured by the image capture element and having a second point of view different from the first point of view and a second field of view different from the first field of view with both the first and second points of view and the first and second fields of view being different from a non-refracted image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification