Method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information

• US 9,664,612 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steropes Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Steropes Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Mitchell, Thomas N., Shinkoda, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Geisel, Kara E
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, MAURICE C
• Application Number:
  US13/724,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/21 Polarisation-affecting properties G01N21/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/23 using wavelength separation, e.g. using anaglyph techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/04 with movement of beam-selecting members in a system defining two or more viewpoints
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/12 involving recording of different viewpoint images in different colours on a colour film
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/26 using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens. The apparatus also includes a polarizer located proximate the aperture plane, the polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens. The apparatus further includes a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, the modulator being operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information, the apparatus comprising:

a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens;

a polarizer located proximate said aperture plane, said polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, said first and second portions of said single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens, wherein said first portion of said polarizer comprises a first polarizer having a first polarization orientation and wherein said second portion of said polarizer comprises a second polarizer having a second polarization orientation, said first and second polarization orientations comprise any one of;

respective linear polarization orientations that are orthogonal, respective left-handed and right-handed elliptical polarization orientations, and respective left-handed and right-handed circular polarization orientations; and

a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, said modulator being operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through said first portion of said single imaging path and forming a second image through said second portion of said single imaging path, said first image representing objects within the field of view from said first perspective viewpoint and said second image representing said objects from said second perspective viewpoint, said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of said objects, wherein said modulator is disposed in the single imaging path before said polarizer, wherein said modulator is operably configured to;

select one of said first and second polarization states for transmission, and alternate between;

transmitting the selected polarization state; and

causing said selected polarization state to undergo a change between said first polarization orientation and said second polarization orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the modulator and the polarizer are separated by at least one lens element in the lens along the imaging path.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an image sensor, said image sensor being operably configured to separately record said first and second images.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said modulator is disposed between the lens and said image sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said polarizer comprises a polarizing coating applied to a surface of a lens element disposed proximate to said aperture plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said polarizer are operable to vary in extent to cause said first and second perspective viewpoints to change location while forming said first and second images, said change in perspective viewpoint location providing a corresponding change in said representation of said three dimensional spatial attributes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to said polarizer, said actuator being operably configured to cause an orientation of said polarizer to be rotated by 90 degrees to facilitate selectively configuring the apparatus to generate images in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first variable stop disposed in said first portion of the single imaging path proximate said polarizer and a second variable stop disposed in said second portion of the single imaging path proximate said polarizer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens includes a lens group comprising one of a zoom lens group, a telephoto lens group, and a prime lens group.

10. A method for generating three-dimensional image information using a lens having a single imaging path and an associated field of view, the method comprising:

directing light captured within the field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens;

receiving said captured light through a polarizer located proximate said aperture plane, said polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, said first and second portions of said single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens, wherein receiving said captured light comprises receiving light having a first polarization orientation through said first portion of said polarizer and receiving light having a second polarization orientation through said second portion of said polarizer, said first and second polarization orientations comprise any one of;

respective linear polarization orientations that are orthogonal, respective left-handed and right-handed elliptical polarization orientations, and respective left-handed and right-handed circular polarization orientations, and

controlling a modulator disposed in the single imaging path to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through said first portion of said single imaging path and forming a second image through said second portion of said single imaging path, said first image representing objects within the field of view from said first perspective viewpoint and said second image representing said objects from said second perspective viewpoint, said first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of said objects, wherein said modulator is disposed in the single imaging path before said polarizer, and wherein controlling said polarization state of said modulator comprises, selecting one of said first and second polarization states for transmission, and alternating between;

transmitting the selected polarization state; and

causing said selected polarization state to undergo a change between said first polarization orientation and said second polarization orientation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of controlling a modulator controls a modulator that is separated from the polarizer by at least one lens element along the imaging path.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving said captured light at said polarizer comprises receiving the captured light at a polarizing coating applied to a surface of a lens element disposed proximate to said aperture plane.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising varying an extent of said first and second portions of the imaging path to cause said first and second perspective viewpoints to change location while forming said first and second images, said change in perspective viewpoint location providing a corresponding change in said representation of said three dimensional spatial attributes.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising selectively rotating said polarizer by 90 degrees to generate images in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving said captured light through said polarizer comprises receiving captured light associated with said first portion of the single imaging path through a first variable stop and receiving captured light associated with said second portion of the single imaging path through a second variable stop.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising separately recording said first and second images using an image sensor.