EP0229067A1 - Images tridimensionnelles - Google Patents

Images tridimensionnelles

Info

Publication number
EP0229067A1
EP0229067A1 EP85905095A EP85905095A EP0229067A1 EP 0229067 A1 EP0229067 A1 EP 0229067A1 EP 85905095 A EP85905095 A EP 85905095A EP 85905095 A EP85905095 A EP 85905095A EP 0229067 A1 EP0229067 A1 EP 0229067A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
images
viewpoints
camera
cameras
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP85905095A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Christopher John Gill
Elizabeth Jane Gill
Original Assignee
National Research Development Corp UK
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Research Development Corp UK filed Critical National Research Development Corp UK
Publication of EP0229067A1 publication Critical patent/EP0229067A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
    • G02B30/20—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes
    • G02B30/22—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the stereoscopic type
    • G02B30/24—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the stereoscopic type involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters

Definitions

  • This invention relates to creation and display of three dimensional images.
  • Three dimensional images are at present produced by photographing a scene from two viewpoints which are normally separated from each other by the interpupillary distance of 65mm. Where only a still picture is required, a single pair of pictures is taken and when moving pictures are required a series of pairs of pictures are taken. The resulting pair or pairs of pictures are then viewed by an observer using either one of several types of special viewing apparatus or a special viewing screen so that one picture of the or each pair is viewed by one eye and the other picture is viewed by the other eye. These methods of producing three dimensional images suffer from the need to provide either a special viewing apparatus or a special screen.
  • the data is representative of a sequence of images.
  • the present invention may be performed with only three viewpoints, it has been found that an improvement is obtained where there are four viewpoints and that a further improvement is obtained where there are five viewpoints. It is envisaged that satisfactory results will be obtained with more than five viewpoints although the complexity of the apparatus will increase as the number of viewpoints increases. Accordingly, it is preferred that the information is representative of pictures taken from five viewpoints.
  • the data creating means comprises a set of television cameras spaced apart laterally with reference- o a common viewing direction, camera control means for operating said cameras, and a mixing circuit for mixing the individual video signals from said cameras to provide a single video signal representative of said set of images .
  • the camera control means may provide an individual control signal for each camera. Alternatively, the camera control means may provide a common control signal for all of said cameras.
  • each field may be formed from the video signal from a respective one of said cameras.
  • some or all of the fields of said single video signal may be formed by mixing the video signals from two or more of said cameras .
  • the data creating means comprises a single camera and an optical arrangement for receiving light at a set of viewpoints and projecting the light from each viewpoint in turn onto said camera.
  • the optical arrangement may include rotatable reflecting elements .
  • the data creating means comprises a computer program to produce said data from control information.
  • a method for creating data for producing three dimensional images comprising creating data representative of a set of images using information representative of pictures taken from at least three viewpoints spaced laterally apart from each other with regard to a common viewing direction, each image being composed from information form at least one viewpoint and the composition of each image or group of images with respect to the viewpoints differing from the composition of an adjacent image or group of images, characterized in that at least three of said viewpoints are spaced around a central position
  • the data is repesentative of a sequence of images.
  • the information is representative of pictures taken from five viewpoints.
  • the data may be created by arranging a camera so that it may be positioned at each one of a set of viewpoints,moving the camera from viewpoint to viewpoint in accordance with a predetermined sequence, and taking at least one picture at each viewpoint.
  • the sequence is repeated and, where the camera is arranged to take still pictures, the sequence need be performed once only.
  • a recording medium on which is stored data created by the method set out above.
  • a method of displaying three dimensional images comprising projecting a set images of a scene onto a screen, the images using information representative of pictures taken from at least there viewpoints spaced laterally apart from each other with regard to a common viewing direction, each image being composed from information from at least one viewpoint, and the composition of each image or group of images with regard to the viewpoints differing from the composition of an adjacent image or group of images, characterized in that at least three of said viewpoints are spaced around a central position.
  • the images may be projected with the aid of a cine projector, or a set of still projectors, or a television set.
  • an apparatus for projecting three dimensional images onto a screen characterized in that said apparatus comprises three or more still projectors arranged to project images onto a common screen, and a shutter arrangement associated with the projectors for permitting each projector to project an image onto the screen with a predetermined timing.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera mount used in an apparatus embodying this invention
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the camera mount of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a block diagram of the electronic circuitry used with the camera mount of Figure 1;
  • Figures 4a to 4f are a set of sequence charts for describing operation of the apparatus shown in Figures
  • Figure 5 is an aperture board used in a method
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a projection apparatus embodying this invention
  • Figure 7 is a view of an aperture disc used with the projection apparatus shown in Figure 6.
  • five video cameras are positioned at five separate viewpoints which are spaced apart laterally with regard to a common viewing direction.
  • the five video cameras are then focussed onto a single point of a scene to be photographed and the resulting five video signals are mixed in a predetermined sequence to obtain a single video signal.
  • the single video signal may be supplied to a television monitor directly or, alternatively, it may be stored using a video cassette recorder and then replayed at a later stage.
  • the signal is displayed using the television monitor, it has been found that the resulting images provide a three dimensional effect similar to that obtained with conventional stereoscopic techniques. However, there is no need to use a special screen or viewing apparatus.
  • the camera mount 16 has four channel shaped members 17 to 20 arranged in the shape of a cross with the open parts of these members facing outwardly.
  • the camera 15 is mounted in a tube 21 positioned in the square-shaped opening defined by the four inner walls of the channel- shaped members 17 to 20.
  • Each of the cameras 11 to 14 is mounted in a respective one of square-shaped tubes 22 to 25 which are positioned respectively inside the members 17 to 20.
  • the square tube 22 is provided with a mounting bracket 27 at its front end and five pairs of apertures 28 are formed in the front end of the channel shaped member 17.
  • the front, end of the square tube 22 is pivotally mounted on the front end of channel shaped member 17 by a pivot rod 28a which is passed through a selected one of -the pairs of apertures 28 and apertures in the bracket 27.
  • the rear end of tube 22 is connected to a screw thread 29 which passes through a guide 30 mounted on the end of member 17.
  • a wing nut 29a is secured to screw thread 29 and the inclination of camera 11 may be set by adjusting nut 30.
  • Tubes 23 to 25 are mounted in a similar manner.
  • the cameras 11 to 15 are mounted at five viewpoints, four of which will normally be at the corners of a square and the fifth is at the middle of the square. The separation between the viewpoints may be adjusted, as described before, and the inclination of cameras 11 to 14 may be adjusted with regard to the viewing direction of camera 15.
  • the cameras 11 to 15 are each connected to a respective one of camera control units 31 to 35.
  • the camera control units 31 to 35 receive synchronising signals from a mixing circuit 36 and each of these units 31 to 35 supplies the video signal from its associated camera 11 to 15 to circuit 36.
  • the mixing circuit 36 the five video signals are mixed to provide data in the form of a single video signal which is supplied on a line 37 to the input terminal of a video cassette recorder 38. This single video signal is supplied either directly or during replay through a line 39 to a television monitor 40. If it is not desired to store the video signal, the video cassette recorder 38 may be removed and the video signal supplied directly fr •om circuit 36 to monitor 40.
  • the video signals are mixed in circuit 36 according to a predetermined sequence and this sequence may be set by a programmer 41.
  • Six possible sequences are shown in Figures 4a to 4f and, in these figures, each rectangle represents a single video field.
  • Each video frame is of course formed from two video fields.
  • the video signal commences with a first field of a first frame from camera 11, a second field of the first frame from camera 12, a first field of a second frame from camera 13, a second field of a second frame from camera 14, followed by a first field of a third frame from camera 15.
  • the sequence then continues with a second field of a third frame from camera 11, a first field from a fourth frame from camera 12, a second field from a fourth frame from camera 13, a first field from a fifth frame from camera 14, and a second field from a fifth frame from camera 15.
  • the sequence is then repeated in a similar manner.
  • the single video signal commences with a single field from each of cameras 11 to 15 in turn followed by a single field from camera 13. The sequence is then repeated.
  • the sequence shown in Figure 4d commences with a single field from camera 11 followed by four fields from camera 13, a field from camera 12, four fields from camera 13, a field from camera 15, four fields from camera 13, a field from camera 14, and four fields from camera 13. The sequence is then repeated.
  • each of the sequences shown in Figures 4b, 4c and 4d provides an improvement in stability over the previously described sequence. It will also be observed that each of the sequences shown in Figures 4b, 4c and 4d includes a higher content of the video signal from the central camera 13 than the previous sequence and this is the reason for the improvement.
  • each video field of the resulting single video signal is formed from a video field of one of the cameras 11 to 15.
  • some of the video fields of the single video signal are formed from a combination of video fields from two cameras.
  • the first field of the single video signal is formed from the upper half of a field from camera 11 and the lower half of a field from camera 13, the second field comprises a whole field from camera 13, and the third field comprises a lower half of a field from camera 11 and an upper half of a field from camera 13.
  • the sequence then continues in a generally similar manner.
  • the first field of the single video signal is formed from the upper third of a field from camera 11 together with the lower two thirds of a field from camera 13, and this is follo _wed by a field which comprises the middle third of a field from camera.12 together with the upper third and lower third of a field from camera 13, and this is followed by a single field from camera 13.
  • the sequence then continues in a , generally similar manner as that shown.
  • the video signals from cameras 11 to 15 may be mixed so that in each field of the single video signal adjacent pixels or picture points are provided from the video signals of different cameras.
  • the first five pixels may be provided respectively from cameras 11 to 15 and in the second field the first five pixels may be provided respectively from cameras 14, 15, 13, 11, 12.
  • each field of the single video signal is composed from the video signals of one or more of the individual cameras 11 to
  • the camera control units 31 to 35 may be replaced by a single camera control unit to drive all cameras 11 to 15.
  • the upper and lower edges of the displayed images from the outer cameras will normally converge. If the convergence is sufficient to cause a problem, this may be eliminated by driving the cameras 11, 12, 14 and 15 in such a way that the convergence is eliminated.
  • FIG. 5 there is shown an aperture board 50 which is used for recording three dimensional images in accordance with this invention.
  • the aperture board 50 has formed therein five apertures A, B, C, D and ⁇ .
  • the apertures A, B, D and E are positioned at the four corners of a square and the aperture C is positioned at the centre of the square.
  • a cine camera is positioned at each aperture in turn in a predetermined sequence and one or more pictures are taken at each aperture.
  • the camera For each picture, the camera is aimed and focussed at a central point of the object to be photographed, in order to view the pictures, the film is projected using a conventional projector and the screen is viewed by an observer using either one or both eyes simultaneously and a three dimensional effect is obtained without the need for using any special screen or viewing apparatus.
  • the pictures may be taken using a video camera.
  • the aperture board 50 may also be used with a still camera using transparency film and, in this case, a picture is taken at each aperture.
  • the resulting five transparencies are displayed using the projector arrangement shown in Figure 6.
  • the projection apparatus shown in Figure 6 comprises a central projector 60, two upper side projectors 61 and 62, and two lower side projectors, not shown, positioned respectively beneath projector 61 and 62.
  • Projector 60 has a transparency holder 63 and an objective lens 64. As shown for projectors 61 and 62, each side projector is provided with a transparency holder 65, a mirror 66 for reflecting the beam from the projector through 90° and an objective lens 67.
  • An aperture disc 68 is positioned immediately in front of objective lenses 64, 67 and mounted for rotation about an axis 69. Although only half of the disc 68 is shown in Figure 6, this disc is shown in greater detail by way of a front view in Figure 7.
  • Arcuate apertures are formed in disc 68 which permit projection of images from the individual projectors onto a screen 70. Specifically, the disc has four apertures 71 which permit projection of images from the projector 60, apertures 72 and 73 permit projection of images from projectors 61 and 62, and apertures 74 and 75 which permit projection of images from the two lower projectors .
  • the apertures are arranged so that only one projector is permitted to project its image at any one time.
  • Each of the apertures 72 to 75 subtends an equal angle with respect to the centre of the disc 68 so that images from the four side projectors are projected for equal periods of time.
  • the angle subtended by the apertures 71 is three times greater than the angle subtend by the apertures 72 to 75 with the result that the image from projector 60 will be displayed for periods which are three times greater than the periods for the images from the side projectors.
  • the disc 68 is rotated and the resulting images displayed on screen 70 provide a three dimensional effect without the need for special viewing apparatus, it has been that particularly good results occur when the disc 68 is rotated at a speed such that each aperture 71 corresponds to a projection time of
  • each aperture 72 to 74 corresponds to a projection time of 1/90 second.
  • the disc 68 can be replaced with an individual shutter for each projector, the shutters being operated by a single control device which could be a computer.
  • Another apparatus for recording three dimensional pictures comprises an optical arrangement which receives light at a set of viewpoints and projects the light from each -viewpoint in a predetermined sequence onto a single camera.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 6 could be used for recording pictures by replacing the five projectors with five video cameras and combining the five video signals into a single video signal.
  • the individual images are recorded sequentially.
  • the present invention is not limited to recording images in this way.
  • a cine camera could be constructed which records pictures from five viewpoints at successive instants of time, at each instant pictures from all five viewpoints being recorded simultaneously.
  • the five pictures for each instant could be recorded alongside each other so as to form a row of pictures on the cine film with the rows for successive instants being spaced along the length of the film. It would then be necessary to construct a suitable projection for projecting the individual pictures in a desired pattern.
  • the present invention has been described with reference to forming images using light, the present invention may also be applied to the formation of images using different types of radiation and may, for example, be used to form images using X-rays or acoustic beams.
  • the present invention may also be applied to the creation of images using a computer which is programmed to form images representative of pictures taken from different viewpoints.
  • a computer can be programmed to create pictures without the necessity of using a camera.
  • the present invention may be applied to the case where only the foreground or rearground of the scene £as the three dimensional effect.
  • the part of the scene which is to have the three dimensional effect is created using any of the methods described above whereas the remainder of the screen is created using conventional techniques.

Abstract

Différents agencements permettent d'enregistrer et de visualiser des images tridimensionnelles. Dans un agencement, cinq caméras vidéo (11 à 15) sont écartées latéralement par rapport à la direction de prise de vue. Quatre caméras sont positionnées sur les quatre coins d'un carré et la cinquième caméra est positionnée au centre du carré. Le réglage de la netteté des caméras (11 à 15) se fait sur un point unique et les cinq signaux vidéo résultants sont mélangés selon une séquence prédéterminée dans un circuit mélangeur (36) pour obtenir un seul signal vidéo. Lorsque ce signal est visualisé par un moniteur (40) on obtient un effet tridimensionnel. Dans un autre agencement, une plaque est pourvue de cinq ouvertures, dont quatre sont situées aux quatre coins d'un carré et la cinquième au centre du carré. Les images sont prises avec une caméra cinématographique conventionnelle positionnée tour à tour devant chaque ouverture, selon une séquence prédéterminée, une seule image étant exposée à chaque ouverture. Lorsque l'on projette le film résultant on obtient un effet tridimensionnel. Dans une autre variante, des diapositives sont prises à partir de cinq points de prise de vue, dont quatre sont situés aux quatre coins d'un carré et le cinquième au centre du carré. Les cinq diapositives sont ensuite projetées sur un écran en utilisant cinq projecteurs et un obturateur permettant de projeter des images individuelles selon une séquence prédéterminée. On obtient ainsi un effet tridimensionnel.
EP85905095A 1984-10-23 1985-10-21 Images tridimensionnelles Withdrawn EP0229067A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848426775A GB8426775D0 (en) 1984-10-23 1984-10-23 Three dimensional images
GB8426775 1984-10-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0229067A1 true EP0229067A1 (fr) 1987-07-22

Family

ID=10568613

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85905095A Withdrawn EP0229067A1 (fr) 1984-10-23 1985-10-21 Images tridimensionnelles

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0229067A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS62501463A (fr)
AU (1) AU4963385A (fr)
BR (1) BR8507262A (fr)
GB (1) GB8426775D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1986002741A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU606575B2 (en) * 1985-10-23 1991-02-14 Hughes, Lily Harriet A system for the recording, projection and comparison of three dimensional motion and static pictures
JPH06501782A (ja) * 1990-08-08 1994-02-24 トルータン　ピーティーワイ　リミテッド 三次元画像のための複数アングル投影
AU644397B2 (en) * 1990-08-08 1993-12-09 Trutan Pty Limited Multiple angle projection for 3-d imagery
JPH05346950A (ja) * 1991-12-19 1993-12-27 Eastman Kodak Co 三次元シーンを感知するための方法及び装置
GB2355612A (en) * 1999-10-19 2001-04-25 Tricorder Technology Plc Image processing arrangement producing a combined output signal from input video signals.

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US732472A (en) * 1903-03-06 1903-06-30 Firm Of Elektrogravuere Ges Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Engraving-machine.
JPS52119818A (en) * 1976-04-01 1977-10-07 Kiyoshi Nagata Stereoscopic color televisition transmitter*receiver system and apparatus therefor

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8602741A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4963385A (en) 1986-05-15
JPS62501463A (ja) 1987-06-11
GB8426775D0 (en) 1984-11-28
BR8507262A (pt) 1987-11-03
WO1986002741A1 (fr) 1986-05-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1048167B1 (fr) Systeme et procede pour la formation et l'affichage d'images panoramiques et d'images de cinema
EP0799547B1 (fr) Procede pour obtenir le deplacement virtuel d'une camera independamment du temps dans des films cinematographiques
US5727242A (en) Single-lens multiple aperture camera for 3D photographic/video applications
US5625435A (en) Non-scanning 3D photographic printer with a partitioned aperture
KR101075047B1 (ko) 다차원 이미징 시스템 및 방법
EA003495B1 (ru) Устройство и способ для фотографирования трехмерного изображения, устройство и способ для воспроизведения трехмерного изображения и устройство и способ для изменения положения воспроизводимого трехмерного изображения
KR100354840B1 (ko) 입체영상 취득을 위한 촬영기 및 촬영방법
US5801811A (en) 3D photographic printer using a matrix display for exposure
KR100351805B1 (ko) 3차원 영상 디스플레이 시스템
EP0229067A1 (fr) Images tridimensionnelles
JP2008536159A (ja) 三次元画像撮像カメラ及び眼鏡を必要としない非立体三次元観察装置
JP3386082B2 (ja) 撮影装置におけるビューファインダー
JPH0475489B2 (fr)
US5253107A (en) Panoramic interactive system including coordinated movement of a film record within a viewing head
EP0378542A1 (fr) Procede et dispositifs de delimitation
GB2304252A (en) Integrating a plurality of images
GB2312349A (en) Animated parallax display
JPS59202456A (ja) 立体視装置
JPH08227105A (ja) 多面形ディスプレイの作成方法及び装置
JPH07311426A (ja) 映像記録機用の立体鏡装置
JPH07134345A (ja) 立体画像撮影装置、立体画像撮影用アタッチメントおよび立体画像観賞装置
JPS60205525A (ja) 立体映画装置
Inoué et al. Presentation of Video Data
JPS6348093A (ja) ステレオテレビ方式及びその装置
GB2326732A (en) Three dimensional imaging

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19870410

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: GILL, ELIZABETH JANE

Owner name: GILL, CHRISTOPHER JOHN

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: GILL, CHRISTOPHER JOHN

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19881205

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19890426