Self adjusting stereo camera system

• US 20020158984A1
• Filed: 03/14/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Brodsky, Tomas, Lee, Mi-Suen, Cohen-Solal, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• 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 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A stereo camera system including: a stereo imaging system such as two or more cameras or a camera and a set of angled mirrors, for outputting at least one stereo image; a recognition system for locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging system and at least one of a distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest; and an adjustor for automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest.

Claims

1. A stereo camera system comprising:

a stereo imaging means for outputting at least one stereo image;

recognition means for locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging means and at least one of a distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest; and

adjusting means for automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest.

2. The stereo camera system of claim 1, wherein the stereo imaging means comprises:

a camera; and

a set of mirrors angled with respect to each other at a predetermined angle and disposed a predetermined distance from the camera for producing a stereo effect in the output of the camera.

3. The stereo camera system of claim 2, wherein the camera is a still camera and the at least one stereo image is a still image.

4. The stereo camera system of claim 2, wherein the camera is a video camera and the at least one stereo image is a sequence of video images.

5. The stereo camera system of claim 2, wherein the adjusting means comprises at least one of:

angle adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined angle between the set of mirrors;

distance adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined distance between the camera and the set of mirrors; and

focal length adjustment means for changing a focal length of the camera.

6. The stereo camera of claim 5, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of the angle, distance, and focal length adjustment means based on an input signal from the recognition means.

7. The stereo camera system of claim 1, wherein the stereo imaging means comprises two or more cameras, each camera being angled a predetermined angle and distanced a predetermined distance with respect to each other and the object of interest.

8. The stereo camera system of claim 7, wherein the two or more cameras are still cameras and the at least one stereo image is a still image.

9. The stereo camera system of claim 7, wherein the two or more cameras are video cameras and the at least one stereo image is a sequence of video images.

10. The stereo camera system of claim 7, wherein the adjusting means comprises at least one of:

angle adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined angle of at least one of the two or more cameras;

baseline adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined distance between the two or more cameras;

distance adjusting means for adjusting a distance between at least one of the two or more cameras and the object of interest; and

focal length adjustment means for changing a focal length of at least one of the two or more cameras.

11. The stereo camera of claim 10, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of the angle, baseline, distance, and focal length adjustment means based on an input signal from the recognition means.

12. The stereo camera system of claim 1, wherein the recognition means is a stereo vision system.

14. The stereo camera system of claim 13, wherein the stereo imaging means comprises:

a camera; and

a set of mirrors angled with respect to each other at a predetermined angle and disposed a predetermined distance from the camera for producing a stereo effect in the output of the camera.

15. The stereo camera system of claim 14, wherein the adjusting means comprises at least one of:

angle adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined angle between the set of mirrors;

distance adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined distance between the camera and the set of mirrors; and

focal length adjustment means for changing a focal length of the camera.

16. The stereo camera of claim 15, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of the angle, distance, and focal length adjustment means based on an input signal from the recognition means.

17. The stereo camera system of claim 13, wherein the stereo imaging means comprises two or more cameras, each camera being angled a predetermined angle and distanced a predetermined distance with respect to each other.

18. The stereo camera system of claim 17, wherein the adjusting means comprises at least one of:

angle adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined angle of at least one of the two or more cameras;

distance adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined distance between the two or more cameras; and

focal length adjustment means for changing a focal length of at least one of the two or more cameras.

19. The stereo camera of claim 18, further comprising a controller for controlling at least one of the angle, distance, and focal length adjustment means based on an input signal from the recognition means.

20. The stereo camera system of claim 1, wherein the recognition means is a stereo vision system.

13. A stereo camera system for use with a stereo imaging means, the stereo imaging means outputting at least one stereo image, the stereo camera system comprising:

recognition means for locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging means and at least one of a distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest; and

adjusting means for automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest.

21. A method for adjusting a stereo camera system to control spatial resolution of an object of interest in the field of view of a stereo imaging means, the method comprising the steps of:

outputting at least one image from the stereo imaging means;

locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging means and at least one of the distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest; and

automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging means and the size of the object of interest.