Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for selecting image capture positions to generate three-dimensional images

• US 8,810,635 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3DMedia Corporation
• Original Assignee: 3DMedia Corporation
• Inventors: McNamer, Michael, Robers, Marshall, Markas, Tassos, Hurst, Jason Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US13/865,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20140009586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 348/50
• US Class Current: 348/50
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/06 with axial movement of lens or gate between exposures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting image capture positions to generate three-dimensional images are disclosed herein. According to one aspect, a method includes determining a plurality of first guides associated with a first still image of a scene. The method can also include displaying a real-time image of the scene on a display. Further, the method can include determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image. The method can also include displaying the first and second guides on the display for guiding selection of a position of an image capture device to capture a second still image of the scene for pairing the first and second still images as a stereoscopic pair of a three-dimensional image.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an image capture position to generate a three-dimensional image, the method comprising:

using an image capture device including at least one processor for;

capturing a first image of a scene at a first position;

determining a depth of field based on at least one characteristic of the capture;

determining a displacement distance based on the determined depth of field;

capturing a real-time image of the scene while moving the image capture device laterally;

utilizing at least a pixel attribute from the real-time image to determine a current position of the image capture device with respect to the first position;

capturing a second image at the current position determined by the difference between the first position and the second position being approximately equal to the determined displacement; and

creating a stereoscopic image pair based on the first and second images.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, at the image capture device, input for entering a stereoscopic mode.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing settings of the image capture device used when the first image is captured; and

capturing the second or other still images using the stored settings.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically changing the displayed real-time image of the scene as the position of the image capture device changes with respect to the scene.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically or manually capturing the second still image, or stopping capturing images when in continuous capture mode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a plurality of guides associated with one of the first image of the scene and the captured real-time image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a plurality of guides further comprises determining a plurality of guides associated with the first captured image.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a plurality of guides further comprises determining a plurality of guides associated with the real-time image of a scene.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a plurality of first guides associated with the first captured image;

displaying the first guides on a display based on the determined displacement distance;

displaying a real-time image of the scene on the display;

determining a plurality of second guides associated with the real-time image;

displaying the first and second guide guides on the display for guiding selection of a position of the image capture device to capture a second image of the scene; and

capturing the second image of the scene when the first and second guides are substantially aligned.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the first and second guides comprises of displaying a portion of the first captured image by superimposing it over the real-time image.

6. A method for positioning an image capture device for generating a three-dimensional image, the method comprising:

using at least one processor for;

capturing a first image of a scene at a first position;

determining a depth of field based on at least one characteristic of the capture;

determining a displacement distance based on the determined depth of field;

mechanically-moving the image capture device;

capturing at least one real-time image of the scene during movement of the image capture device;

utilizing at least a pixel attribute from the real-time image to determine a current position of the image capture device with respect to the first position;

capturing a second image at the current position determined by the difference between the first position and the second position being approximately equal to the determined displacement; and

creating a stereoscopic image pair based on the first and second images.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

applying edge sharpness criteria to identify the first template region to generate horizontal and vertical guides; and

optionally applying a Hough transform or similar operation to identify the second horizontal, vertical, and perspective guide.

8. The method of claim 6 comprising providing a motorized device configured to controllably move the image capture device.