WO2001002894A1

WO2001002894A1 - Stereoscopic display device and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: WO2001002894A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000708
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyu-Bong Park; Kyu-Hun Park
Original assignee: Glowin Tek Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-07-01
Filing date: 2000-07-01
Publication date: 2001-01-11
Also published as: AU5577900A; KR20010071198A; KR200265369Y1; JP2003504664A; KR20010008536A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a stereoscopic image display device and method for fabrication of the same. The device comprises an original image film made by synthesizing N (N: positive integer) photographs. The original image film is made in such a way that the N photographs are taken of objects from N positions while the focal point of a camera does not coincide with the center of the object nearest to a photographing line and the camera is moved from the left to the right, the N photographs are vertically and respectively divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths, and the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths. A light filtering film is positioned between the original image film and a viewer. A plurality of transparent stripes having equal widths and a plurality of black stripes having equal widths are alternately arranged in the light filtering film.

Description

STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD MAKING THE

SAME

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to devices for obtaining a three- dimensional image from a two-dimensional image utilizing a binocular parallax and methods for fabricating the same, and particularly to a stereoscopic image display device that comprises an original image film corresponding to a display and a light filtering film corresponding to a parallax barrier and method for fabricating the same.

Background Art

A general stereoscopic image display device comprises a display on which a synthesized image is placed and a parallax barrier which is positioned between the display and a viewer. The synthesis of photographs is performed by dividing into a plurality of vertical strips a plurality of photographs taken at a plurality of angles and selectively combining the vertical strips into a synthesized image. The parallax barrier includes a plurality of slits formed by alternately arranging a plurality of openings and a plurality of closed portions.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a parallax barrier type stereoscopic image display device, which is provided with an improved original image film, thereby improving the depth and three-dimensional effects of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image display device having a simple construction, which is capable of being manufactured at a low cost.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device, comprising: an original image film made by synthesizing N (N: positive integer) photographs, the original image film being made in such a way that the N photographs are taken of objects from N positions while the focal point of a camera does not coincide with the center of the object nearest to a photographing line and the camera is moved from the left to the right, the N photographs are vertically and respectively divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths, and the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths in the order of {(1, 1), (2, 2), AAA, (N, N)}, {(1, N+l), (2, N+2), AAA,

(N, 2N)}, AAA, {(1, X*N+1), (2, X*N+2), AAA, (N, X*N+N)} if a Jth vertical strip from the left of a photograph taken from a Kth (1#K#N) position is denoted by (K, J); and a light filtering film positioned between the original image film and a viewer, in which a plurality of transparent stripes having equal widths and a plurality of black stripes having equal widths are alternately arranged.

The present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device, wherein the width of each transparent stripe is equal to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs; or in a case where N is more than 3, the width of each transparent stripe is equal to two times to (N-l) times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs. The present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device, wherein the original image film and the light filtering film are respectively attached to the front and back of a transparent plate, and the transparent plate is formed of acrylic, APET or glass.

The present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device, further comprising a lighting device, the lighting device being positioned behind the original image film.

The present invention provides a method for fabricating a stereoscopic image display device, comprising the steps of: synthesizing N (N: positive integer) photographs into an original image film, the original image film being made in such a way that the N photographs are taken of objects from N positions while the focal point of a camera does not coincide with the center of the object nearest to a photographing line and the camera is moved from the left to the right, the N photographs are vertically and respectively divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths, and the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths in the order of {(1, 1), (2, 2), AAA, (N, N)}, {(1, N+l), (2, N+2), AAA,

(N, 2N)}, AAA, {(1, X*N+1), (2, X*N+2), AAA, (N, X*N+N)} if a Jth vertical strip from the left of a photograph taken from a Kth (1#K#N) position is denoted by (K, J); and positioning a light filtering film between said original image and a viewer, in which a plurality of transparent stripes having equal widths and a plurality of black stripes having equal widths are alternately arranged.

The present inventing provides a method for fabricating a stereoscopic image display device, wherein the width of each transparent stripe is made equal to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is made equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs; or in a case where N is more than 3, the width of each transparent stripe is made equal to two times to (N-l) times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is made equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. la is a schematic diagram showing a method for taking photographs of objects in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. lb is a view showing photographs taken in accordance with the photograph taking method of the present invention; Fig. 2a is a schematic diagram showing the division of photographs in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2b is a schematic diagram showing the synthesis of images in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a front view showing the arrangement of the black stripes and transparent stripes of the light filtering film in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of an original image film, a transparent plate, a light filtering film and a light source, in accordance with the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, there is described the fabrication of an original image film 42 that has depth and three-dimensional effects. The fabrication of the original image film 42 comprises the steps of obtaining N photographs taken from N different positions and synthesizing these photographs into an image (N: positive integer).

First of all, a photograph taking method is described. While objects are arranged as shown in Fig. la, a plurality of photographs are sequentially taken of the objects along a photographing line L spaced apart from a focal point F, with the focal point F being fixed on the center of a second object 12. A photograph taken from a Kth (K is a positive integer not less than 1 and not greater than N) position, an object situated in front of the focal point F and an object situated behind the focal point F are denoted by a photograph C_K, a first object 10 and a third object 14, respectively. In such a case, as the value of K becomes larger, that is, a photographing position becomes moved to the right, the image of the first object 10 becomes moved to the left and the image of the third object 14 becomes moved to the right. Even though the image of the second object 12 becomes moved in relation to the increase of the value of K, the movement of the second object 12 is negligible as shown in Fig. lb because the amount of the movement of the second object 12 is minute. Although there is depicted a case where three objects are photographed and the center of the second object 12 coincides with the focal point F, the present invention is not limited to this case. It is sufficient for the present invention that one or more objects are photographed and the center of the nearest object to the photographing line L does not coincide with the focal point F.

With reference to Figs. 2a and 2b, a photograph synthesizing method is described. First of all, the photographs are vertically divided into vertical strips of equal widths. If a Jth vertical strip from the left of a photograph taken from a Kth position is denoted by (K, J), the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths in the order of {(1, 1), (2, 2), AAA, (N, N)}, {(1, N+l), (2, N+2), AAA, (N, 2N)}, AAA, {(1, X*N+1), (2, X*N+2), AAA, (N, X*N+N)}.

With reference to Fig. 3, the manufacture of a light filtering film 32 is described. A plurality of black stripes 34 and a plurality of transparent stripes 36 are alternately arranged on the light filtering film 32. The width of each transparent stripe 36 is made equal to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe 34 and each transparent stripe 36 is made equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs. However, the ratio of the width of each transparent stripe 36 to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the ratio of the sum of the widths of each black stripe 34 and each transparent stripe 36 to each vertical strip of the photographs are not limited to these. The brightness of the image can be varied by changing these ratios. The light filtering film 32 serves to allow the two-dimensional original image film to be three-dimensionally seen by a viewer. The original image film cannot be seen three-dimensionally without the aid of the light filtering film 32. Depth and three-dimensional effects can be obtained from the two-dimensional original image film by viewing the original image film, which is taken at different angles with the same focal point, through the transparent stripes 36 of the light filtering film 32. The light filtering film 32 is preferably made of polyester.

With reference to Figs, la and 2b, there is described a case where N is three and the number of objects are three.

The center of the second object 12 coincides with the focal point F, the first object 10 is situated in front of the second object 12, and the third object 14 is situated behind the second object 12.

In this case, a photograph taken from a first position, a photograph taken from a second position and a photograph taken from a third position are respectively denoted by a photograph 1, a photograph 2 and a photograph 3. As shown in Fig. 1, comparing the photograph 2 or 3 with the photograph 1, the first object 10 is moved to the left, the third object 14 is moved to the right and the second object is scarcely moved. However, since the depth effect in the parallax barrier type image conversion method depends upon the amount of the object represented in each photograph, an improved depth effect can be obtainable in comparison with image conventional conversion methods. The images obtained above are vertically divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths. The vertical strips of the photographs are attached to one another along their lengths, while the second vertical strip of the photograph 2 is positioned next to the first vertical strip of the photograph 1 , the third vertical strip of the photograph 3 is positioned next to the second vertical strip of the photograph 2, the fourth vertical strip of the photograph 1 is positioned next to the third vertical strip of the photograph 3 and so on (the order of the vertical strips are determined from the left to the right). An original image draft is obtained by the combination of the vertical strips of the photographs. The original image draft is printed out to be an original image film 42. The width of each transparent stripe 36 of the light filtering film 32 is made equal to the width of each vertical strip of the images and the width of each black stripes 34 of the light filtering film 32 is made two times as large as the width of each transparent stripe 36. However, if the width of each transparent stripe 36 is made two times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the images, the width of each black stripe 34 is made two times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the images.

A transparent plate 44 may be interposed between the original image film 42 and the light filtering film 32, so that the transparent plate 44 serves to support the entire device and to improve the three-dimensional effect of the device. The transparent plate 44 is made of material having high transparency and high rigidity, such as acrylic or APET. In the case of a transparent film of less than 600 x 800 mm, glass may be employed as its material, thereby improving the clearness of the image. In a case where a billboard is fabricated in accordance with the present invention, the original image film 42 and the light filtering film 32 is preferably and attached to the front and back of the transparent plate 44, respectively. When the size of a billboard is (500 x 1000 mm) to (1500 x 3000 mm), the thickness of the transparent plate 44 is preferably 3 to 5 mm.

If the rearward of the original image film 42 is covered, light is intercepted, thereby deteriorating the clearness of the image. When a lighting device is positioned behind the original image film 42, the clearness of the image is improved. A lighting device that is capable of emitting light similar to natural light is desired.

In practice, the fabrication of a stereoscopic image display device (for example, a large-sized billboard) follows the steps of; 1) taking photographs of an object using a camera having a plurality of lens with the focal points of the lens coinciding with each other, or taking photographs of the object while a camera mounted on a track is moved with the focal point of the camera fixed on a single position, 2) image-scanning the photographs, 3) correcting the photographs, adjusting the color tone of the photographs and creating images corresponding to the photographs, using an image processing program installed in a computer,

4) synthesizing the images into a single image and examining its two- dimensional and three-dimensional depths (if the adjustment of the two- dimensional and three-dimensional depths is necessary, correcting the depths of the images. The method for synthesizing the images was described with reference to Figs. 2a and 2b.),

5) outputting the synthesized image as an original image film 42 (the original image film 42 may be made in the form of a wide color film, dura film, clear film, back light film or the like),

6) providing a light filtering film 32 using a polyester film (the interval between each pair of neighboring transparent stripes 36 and the width of each black stripe 34 are as described above),

7) attaching the original image film to the back of the transparent plate 44 and attaching the light filtering film 32 to the front of the transparent plate 44, with the vertical strips of the photographs on the original image film coinciding with the transparent stripes 36 on the light filtering film 32, and

8) if necessary, positioning a lighting device behind the original image film.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a stereoscopic image display device, which is capable of representing a three-dimensional image having improved depth and three-dimensional effects, and which has a simple construction being manufactured at a low cost.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image display device, comprising: an original image film made by synthesizing N (N: positive integer) photographs, said original image film being made in such a way that the N photographs are taken of objects from N positions while the focal point of a camera does not coincide with the center of the object nearest to a photographing line and the camera is moved from the left to the right, the N photographs are vertically and respectively divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths, and the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths in the order of {(1, 1), (2, 2), AAA, (N, N)}, {(1, N+l), (2, N+2), AAA, (N, 2N)}, AAA, {(1,

X*N+1), (2, X*N+2), AAA, (N, X*N+N)} if a Jth vertical strip from the left of a photograph taken from a Kth (1#K#N) position is denoted by (K, J); and a light filtering film positioned between said original image film and a viewer, in which a plurality of transparent stripes having equal widths and a plurality of black stripes having equal widths are alternately arranged.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the width of each transparent stripe is equal to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein in a case where N is more than 3, the width of each transparent stripe is equal to two times to (N-l) times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said original image film and said light filtering film are respectively attached to the front and back of a transparent plate, and said transparent plate is formed of acrylic, APET or glass.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lighting device, said lighting device being positioned behind said original image film.

6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a lighting device, said lighting device being positioned behind said original image film.

7. A method for fabricating a stereoscopic image display device, comprising the steps of: synthesizing N (N: positive integer) photographs into an original image film, said original image film being made in such a way that the N photographs are taken of objects from N positions while the focal point of a camera does not coincide with the center of the object nearest to a photographing line and the camera is moved from the left to the right, the N photographs are vertically and respectively divided into a plurality of vertical strips of equal widths, and the vertical strips are attached to one another along their lengths in the order of {(1, 1), (2, 2), AAA, (N, N)}, {(1, N+l), (2, N+2), AAA, (N, 2N)}, AAA, {(1, X*N+1), (2, X*N+2), AAA, (N, X*N+N)} if a Jth vertical strip from the left of a photograph taken from a Kth (1#K#N) position is denoted by (K, J); and positioning a light filtering film between said original image and a viewer, in which a plurality of transparent stripes having equal widths and a plurality of black stripes having equal widths are alternately arranged.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the width of each transparent stripe is made equal to the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is made equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein in a case where N is more than 3, the width of each transparent stripe is made equal to two times to (N-1) times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs, and the sum of the widths of each black stripe and each transparent stripe is made equal to the N times as large as the width of each vertical strip of the photographs.