JP2003348622A - Method for displaying stereoscopic vision and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for displaying stereoscopic vision whereby even a user not accustomed to watch a stereoscopic vision display apparatus can gradually get accustomed to watch stereoscopic vision by a method suitable for each user and constructed so that the user hardly feels excessive fatigue in the eyes and the brain. <P>SOLUTION: The method for displaying the stereoscopic vision displays left eye vision and right eye vision whose contents differ from each other by the amount of parallax respectively on the left eye and right eye of the user, and includes a step for changing, as time elapses, the amount of parallax from an initial value to a final value that are predetermined; and a step that the user enters the rate of change in the amount of parallax. The method changes the amount of parallax according to the rate of change obtained from the rate of change entry step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image display method and a storage medium for displaying a left-eye image and a right-eye image having different contents for the left eye and the right eye of a user by the amount of parallax, respectively.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, three-dimensional data has been handled in fields such as medical image processing such as CG (computer graphics), CT and MRI, molecular modeling, three-dimensional CAD or scientific visualization. A stereoscopic image display device may be used as a device for displaying three-dimensional data.

[0003] A stereoscopic image display apparatus currently in practical use utilizes the principle of stereo vision, and a left-eye image and a right-eye image having different contents for the left and right eyes of a user by the amount of parallax, respectively. Is displayed. The user perceives parallax from the difference between the content of the left-eye video and the content of the right-eye video, and can view a video with a three-dimensional effect according to the amount of parallax. That is, the perspective of the target object looks different depending on the magnitude of the parallax amount.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of stereo vision.
In the figure, both objects 201 and 202 are within the visual field of the left eye 204 and the right eye 205 of the user. At this time,
Assuming that a transparent screen 203 has been placed in front of the user, a projected image 206 is obtained by projecting an image visible to the left eye of the user onto the screen 203. Similarly, when an image visible to the right eye of the user is projected on the screen 203,
A projection image 207 is obtained. This time, conversely, assuming that only the display surface 203 of the stereoscopic video display device is placed in front of the user, the video 206 is displayed to the left eye of the user, and the video 207 is displayed to the right eye of the user. It looks as if the objects 201 and 202 exist with a depth to the user's eyes.

[0005] Such images 206 and 207 are collectively referred to as a stereo image, and include a real image (photographed by a photograph or a video camera) or CG (computer graphics).
Can be obtained by creating In actual shooting, images are simultaneously shot from two positions, that is, a left eye position and a right eye position, or shot at different times. CG
In the creation of (computer graphics), three-dimensional data expressing the shape and reflectance of the object, the left eye position, the right eye position, the position of the virtual screen for projecting the object, the attribute data of the light source, and the like are used. Then, a projection image for the left eye and a projection image for the right eye on the virtual screen are obtained by calculation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the amount of parallax.
In the figure, it is assumed that the left eye 305 is looking in the direction of the line of sight 303 and is focused on the focal point 301.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the right eye 306 is watching the direction of the line of sight 304 and is focused on the focal point 301.
The virtual screen 302 is at a predetermined equidistant distance from the left eye 305 and the right eye 306. At this time, an angle 307 between the line of sight 303 and the line of sight 304 is called a convergence angle, and the left eye 3
The distance 308 of the line segment connecting the center of the pupil 05 and the center of the pupil of the right eye 306 is called the base line length. Then, as the convergence angle and the base line length increase, the amount of parallax between the left-eye image and the right-eye image projected on the virtual screen increases. That is, the parallax amount is obtained as a function of the convergence angle and the base line length.

Various devices have been proposed as stereoscopic image display devices using the above-described stereoscopic principle. For example, polarized glasses, in which left and right images are displayed on a display using polarized light whose wavefronts are deflected in directions orthogonal to each other, and the left and right images are separated and displayed on the left and right eyes by allowing the user to wear polarized glasses. There is a stereoscopic video display (3D display) of the system.

[0009] Further, the image for the left eye and the image for the right eye are alternately switched and displayed on the display in a short cycle of about 1/60 second, and only one of the left and right lenses is interlocked with the cycle. 2. Description of the Related Art There is a 3D display of a liquid crystal shutter glasses type in which left and right images are alternately displayed on left and right eyes by causing a user to wear liquid crystal shutter glasses for transmitting images. The polarizing glasses method and the liquid crystal shutter glasses method can be realized by a configuration using a liquid crystal projector and a screen, and are called a 3D screen.

[0010] Further, a slit having a regular pattern in a pixel unit is attached on the display, and the user views the display from a specific distance and a specific direction, thereby separating the left and right images into the left and right eyes, respectively. There is a parallax barrier type 3D display.
Also, a lenticular lens having a regular pattern in pixel units is pasted on the display, and the user views the display from a specific distance and a specific direction, thereby separating the left and right images to the left and right eyes, respectively. There is a lenticular lens type 3D display.
In the parallax barrier type and lenticular lens type 3D displays, since the user does not need to wear glasses, these are collectively referred to as a direct-view 3D display.

An HMD (Head Mounted) having two glasses-type display surfaces, displaying a left-eye image on the left display surface, and displaying a right-eye image on the right display surface.
Display).

A 3D display or a 3D screen of a polarizing glasses system or a liquid crystal shutter glasses system is suitable for demonstration or presentation for a large number of people because a large number of people can view a stereoscopic image at the same time. HMD does not require a place for installation,
Also, since the direction of the face can be freely changed, it is suitable for use in situations where the user is expected to move. Since direct-view 3D displays do not require wearing glasses,
If it is used by a small number of one or two people, it can be used for various purposes similarly to a flat image display (2D display).

[0013]

However, regardless of which device is used, since the user observes the display surface of these devices, the method of moving and focusing the eyeball is different from the case of directly observing the real object. Are different. Therefore, suddenly showing a stereoscopic video having a large parallax amount to a user who is not accustomed to viewing the stereoscopic video display device is a factor that causes the eyes and brain of the user to feel excessive fatigue.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-172004 discloses a stereoscopic image display method in which the amount of parallax is continuously changed from 0 to a finite value.

However, in the above proposal, the user cannot change the initial value, the final value, and the rate of change of the amount of parallax, and cannot change the amount of parallax suitable for each user. Further, in the above proposal, the amount of parallax when the image is viewed in front of the image display surface (positive parallax amount) and the amount of parallax when the image is viewed far from the image display surface (negative number parallax) The amount of disparity is not distinguished, but in actuality, when the amount of parallax becomes a positive number and when the amount of parallax becomes a negative number, the feeling of fatigue exerted on the user's eyes and brain is different, so that the optimal amount of parallax can be changed. It was difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a purpose thereof is to enable a user who is not accustomed to a stereoscopic video display apparatus to gradually become accustomed to a stereoscopic video in a method suitable for each user. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display method and a storage medium in which the eyes and brain are less likely to feel excessive fatigue.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a stereoscopic system for displaying a left-eye image and a right-eye image having different contents by a parallax amount to the left and right eyes of a user. A video display method, characterized by including a parallax amount changing step of gradually changing a parallax amount from a predetermined initial value to a final value over time.

Further, the present invention is a storage medium storing a stereoscopic image display program for displaying a left-eye image and a right-eye image having different contents for the left eye and the right eye of the user by the amount of parallax, respectively. And a program for executing a parallax amount changing step of gradually changing the parallax amount from a predetermined initial value to a final value over time.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, step 101 indicates the start of processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. In step 102, the user inputs a user ID (user identification information). In step 103, the user is asked whether the amount of parallax D is a positive number or a negative number, and a response is input. At this time, instead of simply inquiring the sign of D, whether the image should be displayed on the image display surface so that it can be seen in front (D
May be inquired as to whether the image is to be viewed far from the image display surface (whether D is a negative number). Instead of simply inquiring with characters, an image such as a graph may be displayed and inquired.

At step 104, the response inputted by the user at step 103 is determined. If D is a positive number, the process proceeds to step 105, and if D is a negative number, step 1 is performed.
Proceed to 06. After the process 1 is executed in the step 105 or the process 2 is executed in the step 106, the process proceeds to the step 107.
And the processing 3 is executed. Processing 1, 2, and 3 will be described later.

In FIG. 2, step 105 indicates the start of processing 1. In step 111, the initial value Dps of the positive parallax amount corresponding to the user ID and the final value D of the positive parallax amount
The pe and the change rate ΔDp of the positive parallax amount are read from the storage device. However, Dps, Dp corresponding to the user ID
If e and ΔDp have not been previously stored, the read will fail.

In step 112, it is determined whether or not the reading in step 111 is successful. If the reading is successful, the process proceeds to step 114, and if the reading is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step 113. In step 113, Dps, Dpe and ΔDp common to all users are read from the storage device. Here, Dps, Dpe, and Δ common to all users
Since Dp is given in advance, reading of these values does not fail.

In step 114, Dps, Dpe and ΔDp read out in step 111 or step 113 are read.
Is displayed to the user, the user is asked whether these values are to be corrected, and the response is entered. In step 115, the response inputted by the user in step 114 is determined, and Dp
Step 1 to modify the values of s, Dpe and ΔDp
Proceed to step 16; otherwise, proceed to step 117.
In step 116, the values of Dps, Dpe and ΔDp are input from the user.

In step 117, the values of Dps, Dpe and ΔDp are stored in the storage device in association with the user ID. In step 118, the initial value Ds of the amount of parallax, the final value De of the amount of parallax, and the change rate ΔD of the amount of parallax are Dp, respectively.
Substitute s, Dpe and ΔDp. Then step 1
In step 07, processing 3 is executed.

In FIG. 3, step 106 indicates the start of processing 2. In step 121, the initial value Dns of the negative parallax amount corresponding to the user ID, the final value Dne of the negative parallax amount, and the change rate ΔDn of the negative parallax amount are read from the storage device. However, Dns, D corresponding to the user ID
If ne and ΔDn have not been previously stored, the read will fail.

In step 122, it is determined whether or not the reading in step 121 is successful. If the reading is successful, the process proceeds to step 124, and if the reading is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step 123. In step 123,
Dns, Dne and ΔDn common to all users are read from the storage device. Here, since Dns, Dne, and ΔDn common to all users are given in advance, reading of these values does not fail.

In step 124, Dns, Dne and ΔDn read in step 121 or step 123 are read.
Is displayed to the user, the user is asked whether these values are to be corrected, and the response is entered. In step 125, the response inputted by the user in step 124 is determined, and Dn
Step 1 when modifying the values of s, Dne and ΔDn
The process proceeds to step S <b> 26, and if not corrected, proceeds to step 127.
In step 126, the values of Dns, Dne and ΔDn are input from the user.

At step 127, the values of Dns, Dne and ΔDn are stored in the storage device in association with the user ID. In step 128, the initial value Ds of the amount of parallax, the final value De of the amount of parallax, and the change rate ΔD of the amount of parallax are Dn, respectively.
Substitute s, Dne and ΔDn. Then step 1
In step 07, processing 3 is executed.

In FIG. 4, step 107 indicates the start of processing 3. In step 131, Ds is substituted for the parallax amount D.

In step 132, an arbitrary stereoscopic image having a parallax amount D is displayed. For example, it is possible to draw an object having a predetermined shape and size using CG (computer graphics), or from an actual image taken in advance using various parallax amounts. It is also possible to select and display one that matches the current parallax amount.

In step 133, the current value of D is notified to the user. As the notification method, various methods such as a character display, a graphic display such as a graph, or a voice notification can be adopted.

In order to keep the stereoscopic image displayed in step 132 as it is for a certain period of time, in step 134, the process is suspended for a predetermined time. How to suspend processing
Depending on the configuration of the device that implements the stereoscopic video display method according to the present invention, for example, there is a method of setting a system timer and restarting the process after a timeout notification is notified. Also, for example, there is a method of executing meaningless processing for a predetermined time.

In step 135, it is determined whether or not D is smaller than De. If D is smaller, the process proceeds to step 136. If not, the process proceeds to step 137 to end the embodiment. At step 136, ΔD is added to D to update the value of D. Thereafter, the process returns to step 132 to display a stereoscopic video using the updated D value.

With the above processing, a stereoscopic video can be displayed while the amount of parallax is gradually changed from a predetermined initial value to a final value over time.
In addition, the user can be notified of the current amount of parallax. Furthermore, the user can input the initial value, the final value, and the change rate of the parallax amount for each of the positive parallax amount and the negative parallax amount.

The initial value, the final value, and the change rate of the parallax amount are stored for each of the positive parallax amount and the negative parallax amount together with the user identification information, and the previously stored parallax amount is stored at the next execution of the process. , The initial value, the final value, and the rate of change can be restored.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A user who is not accustomed to a stereoscopic image display device can gradually become accustomed to a stereoscopic image in a method suitable for each user. The effect of being able to provide is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereo vision.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a parallax amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

D Parallax amount Ds Initial value of parallax amount De Final value of parallax amount ΔD Parallax change rate Dps Initial value of positive parallax Dpe Final value of positive parallax amount ΔDp Rate of change of positive parallax Dns Initial value of negative parallax Dne Final value of negative parallax ΔDn Negative parallax change rate

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Taichi Matsui             Kyano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Inc. F term (reference) 5B050 CA07 FA02 FA06                 5C006 AF44 EC12 EC13 FA01                 5C061 AB12 AB17 AB24                 5C080 AA10 BB05 CC04 DD01 EE26                       JJ06 JJ07                 5C082 BA47 BD02 CA52 CA55 CA81                       CB06 DA42 MM10

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A stereoscopic video display method for displaying a left-eye video and a right-eye video having different contents by a parallax amount to a left eye and a right eye of a user, respectively. A stereoscopic image display method, comprising a parallax amount changing step of gradually changing a determined initial value to a final value. 2. The three-dimensional object according to claim 1, further comprising a change rate input step of inputting a change rate of the parallax amount from a user, wherein the parallax amount is changed according to the change rate obtained from the change rate input step. Video display method. 3. The stereoscopic video display method according to claim 1, further comprising a parallax amount limit value input step of inputting one or both of an initial value and a final value of the parallax amount from a user. 4. The stereoscopic video display method according to claim 1, further comprising a parallax amount notification step of notifying a user of a current parallax amount. 5. A user information storage step of storing an initial value, a final value, and a change rate of a parallax amount together with user identification information, and an initial value of the parallax amount stored by the user information storage step when the user identification information is provided. 5. The stereoscopic video display method according to claim 1, further comprising a user information restoring step of restoring a final value and a change rate. 6. A positive number of parallaxes, where the amount of parallax when an image is viewed in front of the image display surface is a positive number, and the amount of parallax when the image is viewed far from the image display surface is a negative number. Initial value of the amount of parallax for each of the amount and the negative amount of parallax,
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the value has a final value and a change rate.
6. The stereoscopic video display method according to any one of 5. 7. A storage medium storing a stereoscopic video display program for displaying a left-eye video and a right-eye video having different contents for the left eye and the right eye of the user by the amount of parallax, respectively. A storage medium storing a program for executing a parallax amount changing step of gradually changing a parallax amount from a predetermined initial value to a final value. 8. A program for executing a change rate input step of inputting a change rate from a user, and storing a program for changing a parallax amount according to the change rate obtained from the change rate input step. Item 7. The storage medium according to Item 7. 9. The storage according to claim 7, wherein a program for executing a parallax amount limit value inputting step of inputting one or both of an initial value and a final value of the parallax amount from a user is stored. Medium. 10. The storage medium according to claim 7, wherein a program for executing a parallax amount notification step of notifying a user of a current parallax amount is stored. 11. A program for executing a user information storage step of storing an initial value, a final value, and a change rate of a parallax amount together with user identification information, and the parallax stored by the user information storage step when given user identification information. The storage medium according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a program for executing a user information restoring step of restoring an initial value, a final value, and a change rate of the amount is stored. 12. When the amount of parallax when an image is viewed in front of the image display surface is a positive number, and when the amount of parallax when the image is viewed far from the image display surface is a negative number, the number of parallaxes is a positive number. The storage medium according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a program having an initial value, a final value, and a change rate of the amount of parallax for each of the amount and the negative number of parallaxes is stored.