Stereo-viewers Patents (Class 359/466)
  • Patent number: 7248232
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus which occupies a small space and which is capable of supplying image information having high definition and high resolution. An information processing apparatus of the invention employs a head mount display (HMD) utilizing compact flat panel displays as a display device for displaying information. The use of a head mount display as the display device of the information processing apparatus prevents any reduction in a work space. It also makes it possible to change the size of a virtual display screen freely. In addition, the information processing apparatus of the invention is capable of displaying a plurality of pieces of information on the virtual display screen at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 7218339
    Abstract: The method uses three pictures, A, B and C, two of which are substantially similar pictures having images, A, B, and one that is dissimilar, usually a solid color, C. Continuous movement is created by repetitively viewing the series A, B, C. Additionally, each picture can be blended or superimposed to create a blended A/B, CIA and B/C and then the blend put together with the others, in a series, C/A, A, A/B, B, B/C, C. This series is then repeated a plurality of times to create an illusion of sustained, ongoing motion with a degree of three-dimensionality, with synchronous Pulfrich light-filtering available to enhance the effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Kenneth Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7215356
    Abstract: A 3D stereo display method and a device thereof. Two sets of shutters are disposed in a display. The shutters are complimentarily interlaced with each other. The opening/closing of the two sets of shutters are controlled by time interval concept. When the display frequency is odd frequency, one set of shutters is activated. When the display frequency is even frequency, the other set of shutters is activated. The two sets of shutters are continuously opened and closed according to the variation of the frequency so that in odd and even frequencies, the left and right eyes can respectively see independent images formed of different subpixels. Therefore, a 3D display effect is presented to bare eyes without reducing resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Lin, Han Chang Lin, Wun Hung Wang
  • Patent number: 7123211
    Abstract: A surround-vision display system with a very high visual dynamic range is made possible by distributing a limited number of LED's on the inside of a drum and then spinning that drum around a user. The pixel information for each horizontal position in space is sent to each corresponding LED it visits that position. The LED's are arranged in a grid on a panel tile, and the panel tile is tilted slightly, e.g., at 1.1-degrees. The result is each panel tile presents a continuous vertical stripe in the picture frame as all its LED's are swept by in the drum motion. Several panel tiles stacked vertically inside the drum all contribute to the whole height of the picture frame, e.g., several feet. The entire inside circumference of the drum is populated with the LED panel tiles to keep frame refresh rates up to avoid flicker while keeping drum rotation speeds down to reasonable levels. Thus even though the LED's and drum are moving, the image projected appears to be relatively stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andreas Nowatzyk
  • Patent number: 7113334
    Abstract: It comprises a first prism (10, 10a, 10b), with triangular base, on which is arranged at least one second transparent prism (2, 11) the combination defining a prismatic body which is arranged on the stereoscopic pair so that, when the user's eyes (13, 14) are positioned in front of the upper face of the prismatic body, each eye visualises the corresponding stereogram (3, 4) via the upper face of the prismatic body, reproducing the three-dimensional vision effect. In an embodiment of the invention the second prism (2, 11) is triangular and provision has been made for a third prism (12, 15) of identical configuration to the above, in which case the stereoscopic photographs/images (3, 4) are divided into halves A, B, C, D which are duly arranged for achieving three-dimensional visualisation. It comprises illumination equipment (5), some lenses (8, 8a) and a directional filter (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: José Javier Alejo Trevijano
  • Patent number: 7068241
    Abstract: A stereo picture recognition device has a time-sharing picture display shutter disposed between a display surface of a display device and a viewer. The time-sharing picture display shutter has a function of shutting off only an area covered by a viewing angle which corresponds to a display area of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Akira Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6970290
    Abstract: A display 1a with a shading means is divided into three areas. A shading part of the shading means shifts by ¼ of a pitch of the shading part in each of the areas. When the shading part shifts by the ¼ of the pitch, an image passes by corresponding to each of areas after shifting. An image display surface is also divided into areas by corresponding to the above division into areas, and a display order of a left eye image and a right eye image in stripe shapes is controlled for each of the areas. Shifting by the ¼ of the pitch is not provided in the H2 area, but is provided in the H1, H3 areas, and replacement of the left eye image and the right eye image is provided only in the H1 area. In this case, the right eye image passes through L1? from the H1 area and enters a right eye of the viewer, the right eye image passes through R2 from the H2 area and enters the right eye of the viewer, and the right eye image passes through R2? from the H3 area and enters the right eye of the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mashitani, Goro Hamagishi
  • Patent number: 6922285
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image photographing optical system includes a pair of front optical components of negative refractive power, a combining optical element for superposing respective optical axes of the pair of front optical components on each other, a rear optical component disposed such that the superposed optical axes coincide with an optical axis of the rear optical component, a pair of shutters capable of independently controlling amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from an object, and a pair of deflection mirrors arranged to deflect light fluxes coming from the pair of front optical components and to guide the deflected light fluxes to the combining optical element, wherein the optical system forms parallactic images in a time-series manner by causing the pair of shutters to alternately change the amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6859240
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic display and method of displaying multidimensional images involves a first lenticular array preferably of cylindrical lenses positioned between a viewer and a pixel array, and a second lenticular array also preferably of cylindrical lenses positioned between the first lenticular array and the viewer. The pixel array includes several pixel groups that project images through corresponding groups of first lenses within the first lenticular array. A pitch of the lenses within the second lenticular array differs from a pitch of the lenses in the first lens groups within the first lenticular array. The display can be manufactured or retrofit with the first and second lenticular arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: MEMS Optical Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Brown, Peter Erbach
  • Patent number: 6829089
    Abstract: A monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated, line by line, from an electromechanical grating light modulator (85) and projected, as a real intermediate image, near the focal surface (22) of a curved mirror (24) by means of a scanning ball lens assembly (100). To form each left and right intermediate image component, a separate image generation system (70) comprises a scanning ball lens assembly (100) comprising a spherical lens (46) for wide field of view and a reflective surface (102). A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the left and right scanning ball lens pupil at the corresponding left and right viewing pupil (14) of the observer (12) and essentially provides a single center of curvature for projection components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John A. Agostinelli, Marek W. Kowarz
  • Patent number: 6819489
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for displaying three-dimensional images with a display device. A blocking grid is positioned between a display device and a viewer, and a drive system oscillates the blocking grid in accordance with the display of a plurality of images. Each image is aligned with the grid and is structured such that each eye of the viewer sees only a displayed portion of a displayed image intended for that eye, thereby creating a three-dimensional effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Harris
  • Patent number: 6813075
    Abstract: Therefore, it is an object of the present invention in the slide mount holder section, so that a rectangular stereo slide mount and a stereo slide mount having circular-arc left and right opposite ends can be smoothly loaded and positioned, without using any adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Minoru Inaba
  • Patent number: 6813083
    Abstract: A device for reproducing a three-dimensional image with a background, which device reproduces a three-dimensional image standing out from a background picture. The device includes a white-color point light source array and a color transmission spatial distribution filter having a function of specially weighting intensity and color of light. These components reproduce a three-dimensional image by generating a group of light rays which can be seen as if a three-dimensional color object standing out from the background picture is actually present. Color and/or intensity weights are imparted to the color transmission spatial distribution filter, except for a transmission portion thereof, such that the background picture of the three-dimensional image can be seen at the vicinity of the white-color point light source array or the color transmission spatial distribution filter. The device can be applied to standing-out displays, standing-out signboards, and wall-mounted show windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6804056
    Abstract: In a multi-eye camera head unit (10), a panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) and three-dimensional image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (112) are exchanged in correspondence with the image sensing mode. The panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) includes a pair of optical elements (111R, 111L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces. The three-dimensional image sensing camera head unit (112) includes a pair of optical elements (112R, 112L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kotaro Yano, Keisuke Araki, Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20040196553
    Abstract: An observation apparatus includes a housing, a pair of display devices capable of correspondingly displaying a pair of different images for stereoscopic observation obtained from a stereoscopic observation mechanism, an eyepiece portion having a pair of observation windows, a window portion formed having an opening through which an external area around the housing can be observed by means of the eyepiece portion, and a shutter which opens and closes the window portion. The display devices is located in the housing so as to be connected to the stereoscopic observation mechanism, through which an observation target region can be observed stereoscopically. The pair of observation windows of the eyepiece portion is attached to the housing, and images displayed individually on the display devices can be observed by left and right eyes through the observation windows, individually. The window portion and the shutter are attached to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Banju, Masahiro Kudo, Shingo Nogami, Takahiro Kogasaka, Kazuo Morita, Masayuki Irie
  • Patent number: 6768585
    Abstract: A monocentric arrangement of optical components providing stereoscopic display of a virtual image, electronically generated, line by line, from an electromechanical grating light modulator (85) and projected, as a real intermediate image, near the focal surface (22) of a curved mirror (24) by means of a scanning ball lens assembly (100). To form each left and right intermediate image component, a separate image generation system (70) comprises a scanning ball lens assembly (100) comprising a spherical lens (46) for wide field of view and a reflective surface (102). A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the left and right scanning ball lens pupil at the corresponding left and right viewing pupil (14) of the observer (12) and essentially provides a single center of curvature for projection components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John A. Agostinelli, Marek W. Kowarz
  • Publication number: 20040125448
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating three-dimensional images is disclosed. The device has at least four mirrors, arranged in an inner set and an outer set. An enclosure, preferably cylindrical in shape, houses the mirrors and alignment apparatus and can be placed in three different positions. The camera takes two-dimensional photographs or operates in two modes of three-dimensional photography: forward looking and backward looking. This device is preferably attached to a digital camera. The device can also be used when the digital camera is attached to a hand held personal computing device, for example a Handspring™ Visor™ computer made by Handspring, Inc. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are six mirrors, including four inner mirrors and one set of outer mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Pieter O. Zanen
  • Patent number: 6744557
    Abstract: A compound lens arrangement for use in an array of such lens arrangements comprising at least two lens elements including a front lens element having a front lens surface which is the largest diameter lens surface in the compound lens arrangement, wherein the exit pupil of the compound lens is bounded by and lies in the plane of the edge of said front lens surface. This enables the compound lens arrangements in an array to abut. The invention particularly relates to compound lens arrangements for use in projectors which projectors are used in an array in an autostereo projection system and allows adjacent projectors to abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventor: Cheng-Huan Chen
  • Publication number: 20040004763
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel means and technique for viewing stereoscopic images with an electronically-controlled optical grid of thin light transmitting slits which forms a virtual lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Reuben Hoppenstein
  • Publication number: 20030214712
    Abstract: In a multi-eye camera head unit (10), a panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) and three-dimensional image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (112) are exchanged in correspondence with the image sensing mode. The panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) includes a pair of optical elements (111R, 111L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces. The three-dimensional image sensing camera head unit (112) includes a pair of optical elements (112R, 112L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kotaro Yano, Keisuke Araki, Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20030210463
    Abstract: A device for generating a 3-D image includes a tubular body with liquid filled therein and two protrusion portions extrude from one side of the body. Two stereoscopically related two-dimensional pictures are located on another side opposite to the side having the two protrusion portions. A 3-D image is seen when viewing the two pictures via the two protrusion portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Hao Yiu
  • Publication number: 20030169496
    Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to a 3D-EYEGLASS for seeing two-dimensional video movie pictures in three dimension straight from standard television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Oscar Bilbao Varona
  • Patent number: 6614426
    Abstract: A method for displaying simulated 3D space as an image includes the steps presenting a different image to each eye of a viewer by use of a 3D image display apparatus having an image display section, and using a convex lens to present as a real image within reach of the viewer's hands a 3D image produced from the images displayed at the image display section by parallax between the eyes. A device is provided for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Communications Research Laboratory, Independent Administrative Institution
    Inventor: Hideki Kakeya
  • Patent number: 6608718
    Abstract: A method and system for producing false three-dimensional images for amusement may be used in haunted houses, fun houses, or similar attractions found at fairs, amusement parks, and/or tourist areas. The method includes forming specific color and geometric patterns on a substantially black background illuminated by ultraviolet light and then viewing the resultant images through the preferred stereoscopic lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Nightmare Network, Inc.
    Inventor: John Burton
  • Patent number: 6590704
    Abstract: In a multi-eye camera head unit (10), a panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) and three-dimensional image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (112) are exchanged in correspondence with the image sensing mode. The panoramic image sensing exchangeable camera head unit (111) includes a pair of optical elements (111R, 111L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces. The three-dimensional image sensing camera head unit (112) includes a pair of optical elements (112R, 112L), which comprise offaxial optical systems each having a plurality of reflecting and refracting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kotaro Yano, Keisuke Araki, Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20030112508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system of displaying stereoscopic images. The method comprises displaying at least one stereoscopic image on a set of display device, the stereoscopic image comprising a pair of two-dimensional plane images, and providing adjustment data for spatial magnification, the spatial magnification relating to a size of a space that is imaged. The method also comprises transmitting the magnification adjustment data to a set of remotely located stereoscopic cameras, and adjusting the distance between the stereoscopic cameras based on the magnification adjustment data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Byoungyi Yoon
  • Publication number: 20030112509
    Abstract: A 3-D viewing system is disclosed that enables multiple operators to share a common objective element while readily adjusting the orientation of images that are displayed to one or more moveable display units. The orientation of images that are displayed at a movable display unit can be made to automatically depend on the position/orientation of the display unit. Thus, greater freedom in viewing postures is provided than previously available in 3-D viewing systems that share a common objective element, and each operator may view a 3-D image with proper perspective for his position/orientation. In order to reduce the number of optical components, the need to adjust optical components, and reduce costs, images from at least two different optical perspectives may be time-division multiplexed onto a single optical detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Susumu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6580556
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image pair may be viewed through a plate having an appropriately-sized aperture. When the viewer's left and right eyes view the image pair through the aperture, a stereoscopic effect may result. In one embodiment, a stereoscopic video conference system may include stereoscopic cameras positioned between the viewer and the apertured plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Kakizawa
  • Patent number: 6546208
    Abstract: The optical device of the present invention is able to capture a three-dimensional image via one or more imaging devices while permitting the viewer to view the object(s) during image acquisition. The user is thereby able to adjust the orientation of the optical device to obtain the desired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: SL3D, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan L. Costales
  • Patent number: 6542297
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image displaying apparatus includes: a casing; a pair of plates engaged at both sides of the casing and having a guide hole having a certain curvature at upper and lower portions and a fixing hole formed near the guide hole; a pair of support frames engaged at both inner sides of the casing, each having a lower portion engaged at a bottom of the casing by a hinge shaft and an engaging groove formed on an inner surface for thereby fixing a half mirror, said support frames being rotatable along the guide hole in upward and downward directions; and a varying means engaged at upper portions of the support frames for fixing the support frames at a certain angle, whereby it is possible to selectively use the apparatus as a 2D image displaying apparatus and a 3D image displaying apparatus by moving the half mirror upwardly or downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Hyun Lee, Sang-Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20030039031
    Abstract: An observer-adaptive autostereoscopic display system (100) comprises a display device (102) having a screen for displaying an image and a shutter (204) being electronically controlled to have transparent (230) and non transparent segments (228, 232, 234) which alternate time-sequentially in synchronism with the display device (102). The shutter (204) is designed to block light that is traveling in arbitrary directions but to let pass light which goes from the display device to predetermined positions and which is bent by lenses (208-226) of a first (202) and a second grid (206) of lenses. The lenses (208-226) are disposed in the first (202) and the second grid (206) at a predetermined pitch distance which is substantially equal to a pixel width of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Andre Redert
  • Patent number: 6525878
    Abstract: A 3-D viewing system is disclosed that enables multiple operators to share a common objective element while readily adjusting the orientation of images that are displayed to one or more moveable display units. The orientation of images that are displayed at a movable display unit can be made to automatically depend on the position/orientation of the display unit. Thus greater freedom in viewing postures is provided than previously available in 3-D viewing systems that share a common objective element, and each operator may view a 3-D image with proper perspective for his position/orientation. In order to reduce the number of optical components, the need to adjust optical components, and reduce costs, images from at least two different optical perspectives may be time-division multiplexed onto a single optical detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030030904
    Abstract: A lightweight viewing assembly for viewing horizontally aligned or vertically arranged stereo images shown on planar panels, particularly those shown on display monitors of computer systems and TV sets is disclosed, which includes a pair of reflector units for directing the sight of each eye toward spaced apart stereo images, a spectacle unit for bearing the reflector units, and a pair of adapter units as an interface between the spectacle unit and the reflector units for directing the sight of each eye toward vertically spaced apart stereo images. Attachment means enables the reflector units and the adapter units to be firmly attached to the spectacle unit and flexibly movable for adjusting the sight of each eye to obtain the best stereoscopic visual quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Mei-Ling Huang
  • Patent number: 6519088
    Abstract: A lenticular stereogram has an improved viewing zone for a specific viewing distance when an image print (207) having an optimum image column width is utilized. The optimum image column width is determined by observing a series of two color prints having variable image column widths mounted under a lenticular screen (206) through an imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: StereoGraphics Corporation
    Inventor: Lenny Lipton
  • Publication number: 20030025995
    Abstract: Autostereoscopic image display apparatus comprising a display device including a 3D image source emitting lightbeams carrying pixels to a lenticular screen having an array of lenses for displaying said 3D image, a parallax barrier being located between the image source on the one hand and the lenticular screen on the other hand, said parallax barrier being provided with an array of light transmissive slits for transmitting said lightbeams to the array of lenses of said lenticular screen, and a viewpoint tracker detecting right and left eye positions and tracking said display device therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Peter-Andre Redert, Winfried Antonius Henricus Berkvens
  • Patent number: 6487013
    Abstract: A stereoscopic viewing apparatus for viewing side-by-side complimentary stereoscopic image pairs of various sizes to produce a three-dimensional effect, the stereoscopic viewing apparatus comprising a pair of left and right spaced-apart ocular windows and variable septa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Monte Jerome Ramstad
  • Publication number: 20020167726
    Abstract: A system for localizing objects has two or more measurement units. Calibration methods provide transformations to a common reference frame by locating calibration features in local reference frames of the measurement units. A calibration target spanning measurement fields of the measurement units may be used. The measurement units may have overlapping measurement fields. The measurement units may comprise stereo vision units or other units capable of locating objects or object features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Rod Barman, Malcolm Steenburgh, Don Murray, Shyan Ku
  • Patent number: 6464358
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a small size and which is highly portable reproduces an image contained within a hologram or holographic stereogram. In one embodiment, when a movable section movably attached to an apparatus body is moved from a first position, in which the mavable sections abuts the apparatus body, to a second position in which the movable section and apparatus body are separated, illumination light from a light source is irradiated at a perdetermined incidence angle onto a hologram or holographic stereogram attached to a hologram attach section. In other embodiments, light from a light source is reflected from an edge portion of a light transmitting member, or from a separately provided mirror, to be irradiated at a perdetermined angle onto the hologram or holographic stereogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirakura, Seijiro Tomita, Toshio Kikuchi, Toshio Iribe, Nobuhiro Kihara
  • Publication number: 20020145798
    Abstract: Therefore, it is an object of the present invention in the slide mount holder section, so that a rectangular stereo slide mount and a stereo slide mount having circular-arc left and right opposite ends can be smoothly loaded and positioned, without using any adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Minoru Inaba
  • Publication number: 20020141056
    Abstract: A stereoscopic video display device comprises three video generators for respectively feeding red, green, and blue images, and a light beam synthesis system. Each of the video generators comprises a backlight, a liquid crystal display panel comprising a color transmission film for each of the colors, and a liquid crystal panel driver. The backlight comprises a light source and a pinhole array plate. A group of light beams is given to the liquid crystal display panel from each of pinholes in the pinhole array plate. A liquid crystal display panel driver feeds a pixel driving signal to the liquid crystal display panel, to form a pixel area, composed of a plurality of pixels, corresponding to each of the pinholes. Each of the pixels composing the pixel area controls the amount of light transmission of the light beam in each direction from the corresponding pinhole. Consequently, the intensity of the light beam in each of the directions is reproduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Osaka University
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Ken Mashitani, Masutaka Inoue, Goro Hamagishi, Shun-ichi Kishimoto, Masahiro Higashino
  • Patent number: 6456433
    Abstract: A handheld stereographic book-type device which includes a content support portion (8) configured to position and support stereographic content (1A, 1B), and a stereoscopic viewer (5) configured to enable interocular adjustment. The stereoscopic viewer includes adjustable left and right lenses and respective adjustable occluding apertures to enable perception of stereographic content configured with left and right peripheral monocular fields (FIGS. 7-9, 2DL & 2DR). A viewer pivotal chassis (3) is configured to couple the stereoscopic viewer to the content support portion (8). The viewer pivotal chassis includes a plurality of pivotal axes (3) parallel to a line which bisects the left and right lenses of said viewer to enable the user to visually scan and traverse up and down the length of said content while maintaining focus of said content therewith said viewer (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventor: Charles W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20020118454
    Abstract: A system for stereoscopic viewing of an image, comprising displaying upon a generally flat surface a conventional stereoscopic pair of images, with the images proximate but separate from one another. The system includes an optical device adapted to be placed in front of a viewer's eyes, in which the optical axis for at least one eye is re-angled, so that each eye generally targets the center of a respective one of the pair of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: John Hey
  • Publication number: 20020101658
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel means and technique for viewing stereoscopic images with an electronically-controlled optical grid of thin light transmitting slits which forms a virtual lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Reuben Hoppenstein
  • Publication number: 20020097197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image display apparatus in which an image from a single image display device is led to two eyes without using a half-mirror, thereby allowing observation of a bright image and facilitating correction of various aberrations. A viewing optical system includes a left ocular part 10L, a right ocular part 10R, and an optical path distributing part 20 for leading a light beam from a single image display device 3 to the left and right ocular parts 10L and 10R. The left and right ocular parts each have at least two reflecting surfaces 12R(L) and 13R(L). The planes of decentered optical paths of the axial principal rays in the left and right ocular parts are arranged to be approximately parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Takayoshi Togino, Tetsuo Nagata
  • Publication number: 20020063957
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image pair may be viewed through a plate having an appropriately-sized aperture. When the viewer's left and right eyes view the image pair through the aperture, a stereoscopic effect may result. In one embodiment, a stereoscopic video conference system may include stereoscopic cameras positioned between the viewer and the apertured plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Akira Kakizawa
  • Patent number: 6392689
    Abstract: A system for displaying moving images from image information, e.g. on videotape or disk, in the form of a series of image frames to be displayed sequentially over a period of time. The image information does not contain stereoscopic information captured at the origin. As in conventional stereoscopic display, at any particular point in time, two image frames, A and B, are displayed simultaneously, one to each of the observer's eyes. However image frames A and B are generated from a single source of sequential image information. Image frame A is derived from a frame F1 and frame B is derived from a frame F2 of the series of source image frames. Frame F2 is positioned to be conventionally displayed after frame F1 by about 0.0167 and about 0.033 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Eugene Dolgoff
  • Publication number: 20020044350
    Abstract: A stereo picture recognition device has a time-sharing picture display shutter disposed between a display surface of a display device and a viewer. The time-sharing picture display shutter has a function of shutting off only an area covered by a viewing angle which corresponds to a display area of the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Seiji Sato, Akira Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20020001129
    Abstract: A stereoscopic viewing apparatus for viewing side-by-side complimentary stereoscopic image pairs of various sizes to produce a three-dimensional effect, the stereoscopic viewing apparatus comprising a pair of left and right spaced-apart ocular windows and variable septa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Monte Jerome Ramstad
  • Publication number: 20010048555
    Abstract: A device for generating a 3-D image includes a tubular body with liquid filled therein and two convex-concave members extrude from one side of the body. Two stereoscopic pictures are located on another side opposite to the side having the two convex-concave members. A 3-D image is seen when viewing the two pictures via the two convex-concave members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventor: Chih-Hao Yiu
  • Publication number: 20010038491
    Abstract: Stereoscopic eyewear (10) enables a viewer to see a three dimensional image from a two dimensional image which is projected or displayed on a screen. The eyewear may be coordinated with the two dimensional image either with a signal transmitted through a cable (40) or with an infrared (IR) transmitter (200, 201) and receiver. The IR transmitter may include two sources of IR light to increase the likelihood of reception by the transmitter. The IR transmitter may have a curved bottom (202) covered with Velcro™ material (203) for attachment to another piece of Velcro™. The curved bottom in combination with the Velcro™ enables control of the orientation of the IR transmitter. When the eyewear is connected via a cable, guide bars (61, 62) or a cable loop (42, 43, 44) can be included to provide strain relieve. The shutter or lens of the eyewear may be made from a liquid crystal cell (11L, 11R).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: John D. Fergason