Device for creating and enhancing three-dimensional image effects
First Claim
1. A device for creating three-dimensional image effects and which receives an image as two separate image pathways spaced apart along a horizontal axis, the device comprising:
- an intermittent image pathway occluder which receives the two image pathways, and which alternately and intermittently occludes the two image pathways;
a horizontal imaging-shifting component for shifting at least one of the two image pathways leftward or rightward along a horizontal axis, and comprising at least one horizontal image-shifting element which is positioned to receive and shift at least one of the two image pathways leftward or rightward;
a vertical imaging-shifting component for shifting the two image pathways upward and downward along a vertical axis, and comprising an upward image-shifting element and a downward image-shifting element, wherein the upward image-shifting element is positioned to receive and shift one of the two image pathways upward and wherein the downward image-shifting element is positioned to receive and shift the other of the two image pathways downward; and
an image pathway compositing component which forms a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image after the two image pathways have been shifted by the horizontal imaging-shifting component and the vertical imaging-shifting component, and after the two image pathways have been alternately and intermittently occluded by the intermittent image pathway occluder.
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Abstract
A device for creating more natural three-dimensional image effects which may be recorded, for example, by video cameras. The device has an intermittent image pathway occluder for receiving at least two image pathways which alternately and intermittently occludes the two image pathways, a horizontal imaging-shifting component for shifting at least one of the image pathways leftward or rightward, a vertical imaging-shifting component for shifting the image pathways upward and downward, and an image pathway compositing component which forms a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image after the image pathways have been shifted by the horizontal and vertical imaging-shifting components, and after passing through the intermittent image pathway occluder. Also, a device for enhancing the more natural three-dimensional effect of such images which are created and which may be recorded and/or displayed.
24 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device for creating three-dimensional image effects and which receives an image as two separate image pathways spaced apart along a horizontal axis, the device comprising:
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an intermittent image pathway occluder which receives the two image pathways, and which alternately and intermittently occludes the two image pathways; a horizontal imaging-shifting component for shifting at least one of the two image pathways leftward or rightward along a horizontal axis, and comprising at least one horizontal image-shifting element which is positioned to receive and shift at least one of the two image pathways leftward or rightward; a vertical imaging-shifting component for shifting the two image pathways upward and downward along a vertical axis, and comprising an upward image-shifting element and a downward image-shifting element, wherein the upward image-shifting element is positioned to receive and shift one of the two image pathways upward and wherein the downward image-shifting element is positioned to receive and shift the other of the two image pathways downward; and an image pathway compositing component which forms a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image after the two image pathways have been shifted by the horizontal imaging-shifting component and the vertical imaging-shifting component, and after the two image pathways have been alternately and intermittently occluded by the intermittent image pathway occluder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for creating and enhancing three-dimensional image effects and which receives an image as two separate image pathways spaced apart along a horizontal axis, the device comprising:
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an intermittent optical image pathway occluder which receives the two image pathways, and which alternately and intermittently occludes passage of the two image pathways therethrough; a first set of optical elements for shifting the two image pathways leftward and rightward along a horizontal optical axis after passing through the intermittent optical image pathway occluder, and comprising a leftward image-shifting optical element and rightward image-shifting optical element, wherein the leftward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift one of the two image pathways horizontally towards the left, and wherein the rightward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the other of the two image pathways towards the right; a second set of optical elements for shifting the two image pathways upward and downward along a vertical optical axis after passing through the intermittent optical image pathway occluder, and comprising an upward image-shifting optical element and downward image-shifting optical element, wherein the upward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift one of the two image pathways upward and wherein the downward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the other of the two image pathways downward; an angularly adjustable coincidence mirror positioned to receive one of the two image pathways after the image pathways are shifted by the first or second set of optical elements and having a forward reflective surface; an angularly adjustable transmissive and reflective coincidence glass plate having a forward transmissive surface and a rearward reflective surface, and which is positioned so that the transmissive surface receives and passes the other of the two image pathways through the glass plate after the other image pathway is shifted by the first or second set of optical elements; wherein the mirror and glass plate are angularly adjustable such that the forward reflective surface and the rearward reflective surface can be substantially parallel, and wherein when the forward and rearward reflective surfaces are substantially parallel, the image pathway received by the mirror is reflected by the forward reflective surface thereof towards the rearward reflective surface of the glass plate so as to form a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image from the image pathway reflected by the forward reflective surface and the image pathway passing through the glass plate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for at least creating three-dimensional image effects and which receives an image as at least three separate image pathways, the device comprising:
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a first set of optical elements for shifting a first and/or second of the at least three image pathways leftward and/or rightward along a horizontal optical axis, and comprising a leftward image-shifting optical element and/or rightward image-shifting optical element, wherein the leftward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the first image pathway leftward, and wherein the rightward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the second image pathway rightward; a second set of optical elements for shifting a third and fourth of the at least three image pathways upward and downward along a vertical optical axis, and comprising an upward image-shifting optical element and a downward image-shifting optical element, wherein the upward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the third image pathway upward and wherein the downward image-shifting optical element is positioned to receive and shift the fourth image pathway downward; at least one electronic image receptor component which is positioned to receive each of the shifted image pathways such that the at least one electronic image receptor component operates to alternately and intermittently occlude receipt of the third and fourth shifted image pathways, and, when receiving both the first and second shifted image pathways, operates to alternately and intermittently occlude receipt of the first and second shifted image pathways; and an image pathway compositing component which forms a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image from the received first and/or second shifted image pathways, and the received third and fourth shifted image pathways. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification