METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM FOR GENERATING STEREOSCOPIC IMAGES

• US 20090244265A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Mikio, Ishiyama, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems

Abstract

A stereoscopic image generating apparatus is constituted by: an image obtaining section, for obtaining a plurality of image groups, each constituted by a plurality of images for generating stereoscopic images and obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints; and an image layout section, for generating a stereoscopic layout image, in which a single image group selected from among the plurality of image groups as an image of interest is arranged at a predetermined position on a display screen in a stereoscopically viewable manner, and selected images from among the image groups other than the single image group are arranged such that they appear to be inclined and facing toward the predetermined position on the display screen at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus, comprising:

image obtaining means, for obtaining a plurality of image groups, each constituted by a plurality of images for generating stereoscopic images and obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints; and

image layout means, for generating a stereoscopic layout image, in which a single image group selected from among the plurality of image groups as an image of interest is arranged at a predetermined position on a display screen in a stereoscopically viewable manner, and selected images from among the image groups other than the single image group are arranged such that they appear to be inclined and facing toward the predetermined position on the display screen at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position.

2. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the image layout means selects images which are obtained by photography at central photography positions and at photography positions in the vicinities of central photography positions as the selected images, from among the images included in the image groups other than the single image group.

3. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the image layout means selects images which are obtained by photography at rightward photography positions as the selected images to be arranged at the left side of the predetermined position, and selects images which are obtained by photography at leftward photography positions as the selected images to be arranged at the right side of the predetermined position, from among the images included in the image groups other than the single image group.

4. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the image layout means selects images which are obtained by photography at central photography positions and at photography positions in the vicinities of central photography positions as the selected images to be arranged closer to the predetermined position, and selects images which are obtained by photography at positions farther from the central photography positions as the positions at which the selected images are to be arranged becomes farther from the predetermined position, from among the images included in the image groups other than the single image group.

5. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the image layout means comprises:

first layout means, for arranging a plurality of images of interest, which are included in the selected single image group, at the predetermined position within a plurality of layout images;

second layout means, for reducing the selected images in the width directions thereof at different reduction rates to generate a plurality of reduced selected images, and arranging the plurality of reduced selected images, using a predetermined reference position at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position within the plurality of layout images as references; and

stereoscopic converting means, for generating the stereoscopic layout image from the plurality of layout images, in which the plurality of images of interest and the plurality of reduced selected images are arranged.

6. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means matches the edges of the plurality of reduced selected images toward the side of the predetermined position with the reference positions within the plurality of layout images, and arranges the plurality of reduced selected images within each of the plurality of layout images.

7. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means matches the edges of the plurality of reduced selected images at the side opposite the side toward the predetermined position with the reference positions within the plurality of layout images, and arranges the plurality of reduced selected images within each of the plurality of layout images.

8. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means matches portions other than the edges of the plurality of reduced selected images with the reference positions within the plurality of layout images, and arranges the plurality of reduced selected images within each of the plurality of layout images.

9. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means generates the plurality of reduced selected images at the same reduction rate for selected images to be arranged within each of the layout images, when arranging the plurality of selected images within the layout images.

10. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means generates the plurality of reduced selected images at a greater reduction rate for selected images to be arranged farther away from the predetermined position, when arranging the plurality of selected images within the layout images.

11. A stereoscopic image generating apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the second layout means sets the reduction rate of the selected images such that the parallax therein becomes less than or equal to the parallax of the plurality of images of interest within the selected single image group.

12. A stereoscopic image generating method, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of image groups, each constituted by a plurality of images for generating stereoscopic images and obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints; and

generating a stereoscopic layout image, in which a single image group selected from among the plurality of image groups as an image of interest is arranged at a predetermined position on a display screen in a stereoscopically viewable manner, and selected images from among the image groups other than the single image group are arranged such that they appear to be inclined and facing toward the predetermined position on the display screen at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position.

13. A computer readable medium having recorded therein a program that causes a computer to execute a stereoscopic image generating method, comprising the procedures of:

obtaining a plurality of image groups, each constituted by a plurality of images for generating stereoscopic images and obtained by photography of subjects from different viewpoints; and

generating a stereoscopic layout image, in which a single image group selected from among the plurality of image groups as an image of interest is arranged at a predetermined position on a display screen in a stereoscopically viewable manner, and selected images from among the image groups other than the single image group are arranged such that they appear to be inclined and facing toward the predetermined position on the display screen at at least one of the right and left sides of the predetermined position.