Three-dimensional display system

• US 6,816,158 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Robert D. Pedersen, Tracy D. Blake
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Robert D. Pedersen, Tracy D. Blake
• Inventors: Blake, Tracy D., Pedersen, Robert D., Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US09/183,191
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/418, 345/427
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses

Abstract

A system and method for generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene 6 on a screen 12 that provides multiple viewing positions for one or more viewers 16. A stereoscopic video capture system 2 and 4 picks up video images 3 and 5 of the scene 6. A video signal processing unit processes the video images into video signals. The video signal processing unit has a graphics controller 8 for controlling and processing the video signals into stereoscopic display signals. A display unit 10 displays the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images on the screen 12, and the graphics controller 8 manipulates the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display signals on the display unit 10 of the screen 12 to the one or more viewers 16. Multiple viewing angles and distances are provided for the one or more viewers 16. The stereoscopic display images are oscillated to provide multiple viewing angles. The stereoscopic display images comprise vertical image pair strips 32 and 34 and dark vertical strips 49 interposed between the vertical image pair strips 32 and 34. These strips 32 and 34 and strips 49 are alternately interchanged in position for oscillating the stereoscopic display images, typically above a critical fusion frequency for human vision, to provide multiple viewing angles. The vertical image pair strips 32 and 34 are varied in width to provide multiple viewing distances. A control unit, such as a remote unit 200 or 210 or attached unit, is used for adjusting the multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display images on the screen 12 for the one or more viewers 16.

Claims

1. A system for generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene on a screen providing multiple viewing positions for least one viewer, the system comprising:

(a) a video signal processing unit for processing video images into video signals wherein the video signal processing unit has a graphics controller for controlling and processing the video signals into stereoscopic display signals; and

(b) a display unit for displaying the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images on the screen;

(c) wherein the graphics controller manipulates the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display signals on the display unit of the screen to the at least one viewer; and

(d) the graphics controller is controlled to adjust the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the multiple viewing positions provided by the graphics controller are multiple viewing angles for the at least one viewer.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the graphics controller oscillates the stereoscopic display images in a horizontal direction to provide the multiple viewing angles.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the stereoscopic display images further comprises:

(a) vertical image pair strips; and

(b) dark vertical strips interposed between the vertical image pair strips;

(c) wherein the vertical image pair strips and the dark vertical strips are alternately interchanged in position for oscillating the stereoscopic display images.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the stereoscopic display images oscillate above a critical fusion frequency for human vision.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic display images further comprise:

(a) vertical image pair strips; and

(b) dark vertical strips interposed between the vertical image pair strips;

(c) wherein widths of the vertical image pair strips are varied to adjust the stereoscopic display images to provide the multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic video capture system further comprises:

(a) a first video camera arranged to capture the video images of the scene corresponding to a left stereoscopic image view of the scene; and

(b) a second video camera arranged to capture the video images of the scene corresponding to a right stereoscopic image view of the scene.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the video signal processing unit further comprises:

(a) an analog-to-digital converter for converting the video images from the stereoscopic video capture system to a digital signal; and

(b) a graphics digital signal processor for processing the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter to generate the stereoscopic image signals.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the graphics digital signal processor processes the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter and generates the stereoscopic display signals that are displayed on the screen as the stereoscopic display images.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the stereoscopic display signals generated by the graphics digital signal processor comprises alternating, interleaved vertical strips of the video images of the scene to produce the three-dimensional images to the at least one viewer located at a particular viewing position in front of the screen.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein positions of the vertical strips produced by the graphics digital signal processor is adjusted by the at least one viewer to optimize viewing effect of the three-dimensional images at different angular positions in front of the screen.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the display unit further comprises:

(a) a display medium for displaying the video signals; and

(b) a lenticular screen superimposed between the display medium and the at least one viewer to focus the stereoscopic display images on the screen.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stereoscopic video capture system for picking up the video images of the scene.

14. A system for generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene on a screen providing multiple viewing positions for least one viewer, the system comprising:

(a) a video signal processing unit for processing video images into video signals wherein the video signal processing unit has a graphics controller for controlling and processing the video signals into stereoscopic display signals;

(b) a display unit for displaying the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images on the screen; and

(c) a control unit for adjusting the multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display images on the screen for the at least one viewer.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the control unit is a remote control unit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the control unit is attached to the display unit.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the control unit controls and updates viewing angle of the at least one user.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the control unit controls and updates viewing distance of the at least one user.

19. A method of making a system for generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene on a screen providing multiple viewing positions for at least one viewer comprising:

(a) providing a video signal processing unit for processing the video images into video signals wherein the video signal processing unit has a graphics controller for controlling and processing the video signals into stereoscopic display signals;

(b) providing a display unit for displaying the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images on the screen;

(c) using the graphics controller to manipulate the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display signals on the display unit of the screen to the least one viewer; and

(d) rising the graphics controller to adjust the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a stereoscopic video capture system for picking up video images of the scene.

21. A method of generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene on a screen providing multiple viewing positions for least one viewer, comprising:

(a) processing video images into signals by use of a video signal processing unit and controlling and processing the video signals by use of a graphics controller into stereoscopic display signals;

(b) displaying the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images on the screen;

(c) manipulating the stereoscopic display images by use of a graphics controller to provide multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display signals on the screen to the least one viewer; and

(d) adjusting the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein manipulating further comprises manipulating the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing angles for the at least one viewer.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein manipulating further comprises oscillating the stereoscopic display images in a horizontal direction to provide the multiple viewing angles.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein oscillating further comprises oscillating the stereoscopic display images in a horizontal direction above a critical fusion frequency for human vision.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein manipulating further comprises:

(a) providing vertical image pair strips and dark vertical strips interposed between the vertical image pair strips, and

(b) alternately interchanging the vertical image pair strips and the dark vertical strips in position for oscillating the stereoscopic display images.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein manipulating further comprises manipulating the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein manipulating further comprises:

(a) providing vertical image pair strips and dark vertical strips interposed between the vertical image pair strips, and

(b) varying widths of the vertical image pair strips to adjust the stereoscopic display images to provide the multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen.

28. The method of claim 21 further comprising using a control unit for adjusting the multiple viewing positions of the stereoscopic display images on the screen for the at least one viewer.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprising picking up video images of the scene by use of a stereoscopic video capture system.

30. A system for generating and displaying three-dimensional images of a scene providing multiple viewing positions for at least one viewer, the system comprising:

(a) means for picking up video images of the scene by use of a stereoscopic video capture system;

(b) means for processing the video images into video signals and controlling and processing the video signals into stereoscopic display signals;

(c) means for displaying the stereoscopic display signals as stereoscopic display images; and

(d) means for manipulating the stereoscopic display images to provide multiple viewing distances of the at least one viewer from the screen based on individual viewer input.