Stereoscopic Patents (Class 396/324)
  • Patent number: 11399123
    Abstract: Improved fluoresced imaging (FI) and other sensor data imaging processes, devices, and systems are provided to enhance display of different secondary types of images and reflected light images together. Reflected light images are converted to a larger color space in a manner that preserves the color information of the reflected light image. FI or secondary images are transformed to a color range within the larger color space, but outside the color area of the reflected light images, allowing the FI or secondary images to be combined with them in a manner with improved distinguishability of color. Hardware designs are provided to enable real-time processing of image streams from medical scopes. The combined images are encoded for an electronic display capable of displaying the larger color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Steiner
  • Patent number: 11107267
    Abstract: Provided are an image generation apparatus, an image generation method, and a program that can reflect, on a virtual space image, a natural light environment of a real space in actually capturing captured images. A corresponding camera position specification unit (68) specifies a corresponding camera position that is a position in a virtual space equivalent to a captured position that is a position in a real space of a real camera that has captured a captured image. An influence degree determination unit (80) determines a degree of influence on a virtual space image influenced by the captured image captured by the real camera at the captured position equivalent to the corresponding camera position based on a position of a virtual camera in the virtual space and the corresponding camera position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Wataru Kawamata
  • Patent number: 11064100
    Abstract: A stereo camera, including an imaging sensor, and an optical apparatus comprising first and second apertures separated by an interocular distance and configured to focus first and second images on the imaging sensor in a side by side arrangement. An imaging system including the stereo camera, and at least one image processor, configured to receive first and second frames of image data from a stereo camera, and construct volumetric image data based on binocular disparity between the first and second frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: EtherSec Industries Ltd
    Inventor: Adam Wacey
  • Patent number: 10778905
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed including multiple Image Acquisition Devices (IAD), such as cameras, simultaneously, consecutively, or independently filming a scene, each IAD having a known position with respect to each of the other IADs. Each image data stream obtained from each IAD may be uniquely identified, by the position of the IAD or by a unique identifier, to allow selective real-time display and/or playback of each individual image data stream under the control of a user. Depending on the position of an IAD, the image data stream collected by the IAD represents a corresponding viewing angle to the user. Thus, the user may dynamically select a different viewing angle for the same scene by selecting a corresponding image stream during real-time viewing and/or playback. In various embodiments, multiple image streams of the same scene may be selected and viewed simultaneously to provide a 3-Dimensional effect or other visual effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ORB Reality LLC
    Inventor: Roy Feinson
  • Patent number: 10755541
    Abstract: A dome type surveillance camera includes a base, a plurality of cameras, a first connecting section, a plurality of second connecting sections, a hemispherical cover fixed to the base, and a circular rail. The first connecting section is connected on the base and connected with one first camera out of the plurality of cameras. The second connecting sections are connected on the base and connected with each of a plurality of second cameras excluding the first camera out of the plurality of cameras. The cover is disposed to cover the first connecting section, the second connecting sections, and the plurality of cameras. The rail is provided on the base and of which a center is immediately below a top of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kondou, Yuki Yoshikuni, Yu Jojima, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 10754092
    Abstract: An optical light package includes an optical output lens, an optical filter located thereunder and between the output lens and LEDS, a tray of LEDs arrayed on a stage mounted on a linear comb based MEMS device that is distributed in such a way that the stage is movable, and a driver that controls movement of the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew E. Ward, Jeremy Hochman
  • Patent number: 10632926
    Abstract: A system includes a base having a first window and a second window spaced from the first window. The system includes an optical sensor supported by the base. The system includes a mirror supported by the base and movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the mirror directs light from the first window to the sensor. In the second position the mirror directs light from the second window to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Somak Datta Gupta, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Jonathan Diedrich, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brian Bennie, Cheri Lyn Hansen, Haron Abdel-raziq
  • Patent number: 10575808
    Abstract: The imaging system can comprise a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is selectively mounted onto a first rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is selectively mounted onto a second rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail being mounted relative to the first rail such that the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system can also comprise a needle injection assembly that is selectively mounted onto the third rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Leo Zan
  • Patent number: 10455214
    Abstract: An optical system, suitable for use within an augmented reality (AR)-capable display device, comprises a camera and an optical arrangement configured to acquire stereoscopic imagery of an object using the camera. The optical arrangement comprises a first reflective element arranged along a first optical path and defining a first convex surface configured to reflect first light received from the object as first reflected light, wherein at least a first portion of the first reflected light is directed onto a camera focal plane. The optical arrangement further comprises a second reflective element having a predefined disposition relative to the first reflective element. The second reflective element is arranged along a second optical path and defines a second convex surface configured to reflect second light received from the object as second reflected light, wherein at least a second portion of the second reflected light is directed onto the camera focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Joseph L. Olson
  • Patent number: 10397558
    Abstract: A lens bears a plurality of roll-coated layers to pass, to one eye of a viewer, a first image, in a first band of wavelengths, that is appropriate for 3D viewing of a stereoscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Barret Lippey, Charles R. Barker, III
  • Patent number: 10148891
    Abstract: A card operation device includes a body having a mounting hole for being mounted to a camera lens. A card is connected to the body and located in front of the lens. The card is movable up and down along rails in two insides of the body, and may be a masking card or a slotted card. The body has a driving unit and multiple positioning units. A controller is electrically connected to the body to control up-and-down movement, shaking and stopping of the card in front of the lens. The masking card and the slotted card are automatically operated when being set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Tzu-Ping Hsu
  • Patent number: 9922443
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of selecting colors to points in a digital three-dimensional (3D) model representing a scanned object, based on points and color images associated with the 3D model. Certain embodiments involve selecting from the images a patch for each point in the 3D model, and determining a quality of the patches. The selected patches are analyzed to determine an overall score, representing aggregated quality of the patches and an aggregated smoothness indicating variation between patches selected for neighboring points. In some examples, multiple sets of selected patches are analyzed and scored, and the scores are compared to determine a representative patch set that optimizes the quality and the smoothness. Colors are assigned to the points of the digital model based on the representative set of patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Duygu Ceylan, Nathan Carr
  • Patent number: 9894348
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for driver assistance. A driver assistance apparatus executes a first plurality of operations for a first frame of stereo images acquired by a stereo camera, and then executes a second plurality of operations for a second frame of the stereo images. The driver assistance apparatus includes at least one processor configured to receive the first frame from the stereo camera and determine a first scheduling for the first plurality of operations in the first frame, execute the first plurality of operations according to the first scheduling, and measure execution times of the first plurality of operations according to the first scheduling. The at least one processor then receives the second frame from the stereo camera and determines a second scheduling for the second plurality of operations based on the measured execution times of the first plurality operations that were executed in the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dokyun Beon, Hyunil Kwon, Yeonchool Park
  • Patent number: 9774827
    Abstract: An imaging inspection apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a predetermined position between a first position and a second position as a signal output position, the predetermined position being set by using a distance from a reference position that is based on at least one of the first position and the second position; an image-capturing command signal generator configured to determine, when causing a distal end portion of a robot to move from the first position to the second position, whether or not the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, and if it is determined that the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, the image-capturing command signal generator transmits, to the image-capturing device, an image-capturing command signal for capturing an image of the inspection object by using the image-capturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Hiroaki Kitatsuji, Kazuhiko Kojima
  • Patent number: 9621875
    Abstract: A stereophotogrammetry device intended to reduce the 3D surface reconstruction artifacts due to specular reflections when a unique camera body is used. Indeed, specular reflection of the camera flash on shiny objects are creating virtual objects in the scene inducing spikes in reconstruction. The device is constituted of a computing unit (C) enabling 3D reconstruction, a unique camera body (5) equipped with a non-polarized double-optics (OA) and (OB) and two light sources (2A) and (2B) separated by the same distance as the double-optics and aligned with these such that (2A) is aligned with (OA) and (2B) is aligned with (OB) relative to the subject (S). According to geometry considerations, the computing unit (C) is defining the best matching amongst four possible matches relative to the specular spot position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Thirion, Peter Plassmann
  • Patent number: 9524700
    Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium and system for manipulating image data are disclosed. A method of manipulating image data includes accessing first image data configured for display using a first display device. Information associated with a manipulation of the first image data is accessed. Second image data is generated from the first image data using the information, wherein the second image data is configured for display using a second display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: PURE DEPTH LIMITED
    Inventors: Darryl Singh, Hayden J. Rosser, Kwan Wong
  • Patent number: 9479759
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical stereo device with an autofocus feature as well as a corresponding autofocus method for optical stereo devices. The optical stereo device has imaging means configured to provide a stereo image of an object of interest by means of combining a right eye image and a left eye image and a control unit operatively connected to the imaging means and configured to receive the right eye image and the left eye image and to adjust the focus position of the imaging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FORSTGARTEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Ludwig Laxhuber, Joachim Luber
  • Patent number: 9389677
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for a smart helmet includes a camera, a communication subsystem, and a control subsystem. The control subsystem processes the video data from the camera and the communication subsystem transmits this video data from the smart helmet to a destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventors: Kenleigh C. Hobby, Brendan Gowing, David P. Matt
  • Patent number: 9282316
    Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging device, wherein the aperture controller performs a second aperture control in which the larger the amount of shake detected by the shake detector becomes, the further the amount of opening of the aperture unit decreases than the amount of opening required for the first aperture control. The present invention allows to deepen a depth of focus and decrease the amount of parallax by further closing an aperture as the amount of shake becomes larger, so that a stereoscopic effect is weakened when the amount of shake is large, thereby reducing an influence on viewers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9176362
    Abstract: An optical adjusting device includes: a rotating unit that includes and rotates about a through-hole through which light passes; at least one moving unit that is movably disposed relative to the rotating unit and is linearly movable between an advance position corresponding to the through-hole and a retreat position outside the through-hole; a transmitting unit that is disposed between the rotating unit and the moving unit and transmits a rotational force of the rotating unit to the moving unit; and an optical unit that is disposed on the moving unit and blocks at least part of light passing through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheol-eun Jang, Hee-seung Choi, Kun-woo Lee, Woo-jong Cho, Sung-wook Choi
  • Patent number: 9042717
    Abstract: An image system configured to record a scanned image of an area. The system includes a single two-dimensional (2D) imager and a rotatable mirror. The 2D imager is formed of a two-dimensional (2D) array of light detectors. The 2D imager is operable in a line-scan mode effective to individually sequence an activated line of light detectors at a time. The rotatable mirror is configured to rotate about an axis parallel to a plane defined by the rotatable mirror. The rotation is effective to vary an angle of the rotatable mirror to pan a projected image of the area across the 2D imager. The angle of the rotatable mirror and the activated line of the 2D imager are synchronized such that the scanned image recorded by the 2D imager is inverted with respect to the projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yew Kwang Low, Kok Wee Yeo, Chee Keng Yeo, Ronald M. Taylor, Ward K. Everly, William Garrison Shogren
  • Publication number: 20150037022
    Abstract: An image system configured to record a scanned image of an area. The system includes a single two-dimensional (2D) imager and a rotatable mirror. The 2D imager is formed of a two-dimensional (2D) array of light detectors. The 2D imager is operable in a line-scan mode effective to individually sequence an activated line of light detectors at a time. The rotatable mirror is configured to rotate about an axis parallel to a plane defined by the rotatable mirror. The rotation is effective to vary an angle of the rotatable mirror to pan a projected image of the area across the 2D imager. The angle of the rotatable mirror and the activated line of the 2D imager are synchronized such that the scanned image recorded by the 2D imager is inverted with respect to the projected image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: YEW KWANG LOW, KOK WEE YEO, CHEE KENG YEO, RONALD M. TAYLOR, WARD K. EVERLY, WILLIAM GARRISON SHOGREN
  • Patent number: 8937644
    Abstract: Stereoscopic image capture is provided. A blur value expected for multiple pixels in left and right images is predicted. The blur value is predicted based on designated capture settings. A disparity value expected for multiple pixels in the left and right images is predicted. The disparity value is predicted based on the designated capture settings. Stressed pixels are identified by comparing the predicted disparity value to a lower bound of disparity value determined from the predicted blur value using a predetermined model. A pixel with predicted disparity value less than the lower bound is identified as a stressed pixel. The predicted disparity is adjusted by modifying the designated capture settings to reduce the number of stressed pixels, or an alert to the presence of stressed pixels is given to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Siu-Kei Tin
  • Patent number: 8922621
    Abstract: A method of storing 3D image data in a recording medium includes: loading, in a predetermined file type field, image type information indicating either one of a single stereoscopic image or a compound image including a monoscopic image and a stereoscopic image; loading, in a predetermined image configuration information container field, scene descriptor information indicating temporal and spatial relations between a plurality of media objects included in the three-dimensional image, object configuration information indicating attributes of each media object of said plurality of media objects and a configuration relation between encoded streams of the plurality of media objects, configuration information of the encoded streams; loading in an image data container field media data of an image to be stored; and loading, in a meta container field, metadata including information for playing the 3D image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., University-Industry Cooperation Group of Kyunghee University
    Inventors: Do-Young Joung, Tae-Sung Park, Yun-Je Oh, Jae-Yeon Song, Seo-Young Hwang, Doug-Young Suh, Gwang-Hoon Park, Kyu-Heon Kim, Yoon-Jin Lee, Jang-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8886029
    Abstract: A 3-D image pickup apparatus includes a lens portion that includes a lens system; and an adjustment ring portion that includes plural coaxially rotatable rings. Each ring adjusts a respective one of plural optical parameters of the lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Aiichiro Kawasaki, Tetsuro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8817160
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same are provided. The mobile terminal detects an object in which a ghost may appear through a preview image of an image acquired using a dual camera. The mobile terminal may display an indicator for identifying the detected object. Accordingly, a higher quality high dynamic range (HDR) image can be more efficiently acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Choonggun Lee, Seobkeun Lee, Jongseok Park
  • Patent number: 8743179
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact type 3D image photographing apparatus which adjusts a convergence angle with respect to a subject using two lenses in order to photograph a stereoscopic image. The compact type image photographing apparatus includes a housing; a first actuator having a first lens and disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right; a second actuator having a second lens, disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right, and disposed to be spaced apart from the first actuator; a left/right driving part which is disposed at each of the first and second actuators so as to move the first actuator or the second actuator left and right when power is applied; an image sensor which is disposed at each lower side of the first and second actuators so as to photograph a subject through the first and second lenses; and a control part which is disposed at a lower side of the image sensor so as to control power supplied to the left/right driving part, the first actuator and the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Hysonic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Wook Ryu, He-Won Jung, Jae-Kyu Shim, Hye-Kyoung Ji
  • Patent number: 8711203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a graphics system for creating a graphics stream allowing to form a three-dimensional graphics data, the graphics stream consisting of segments. The graphics stream is divided into at least a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprises two-dimensional graphics data and the second segment comprises a depth map for the two-dimensional graphics data. The graphics stream can be decoded by a decoder to form two data sequences to be output separately to a display device for rendering a three-dimensional subtitle or graphics image for a three-dimensional video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Philip Steven Newton, Hong Li, Darwin He
  • Patent number: 8698876
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that captures 3D images having a lens barrel. The lens barrel may include a lens disposed at the first end of the lens barrel, an image capture element at the second end of the lens barrel, and a pair of refracting lenses positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel. The first and second refracting lenses may be mounted to a first set and second set of positioning elements. The image capture element may capture images continuously at a predetermined frame rate, and the first and second set of positioning elements may continuously change the position of the first and second refracting lenses among a series of predetermined correlated positions based on the predetermined frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Berger
  • Patent number: 8675044
    Abstract: An image playback method includes starting an image display module, detecting glasses data in a predetermined range, comparing the detected glasses data with a set of data to generate a first comparison result, and the image display module playing a 3D image or a 2D image according to the first comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Ju Yu, Shih-Lin Chiu, Wen-Chin Wu
  • Patent number: 8655163
    Abstract: A consolidated 2D/3D camera system and method of operation. A consolidated 2D/3D camera system may include a first camera having a first lens and a second camera having a second lens. A 3D frame extractor may extract a first 3D image frame from an image captured by the first camera and extract a second 3D image frame from an image captured by the second camera to provide a stereo image pair. A 2D frame extractor may extract a 2D image frame, different from the first 3D image frame, from the image captured by the first camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron Pace Group LLC
    Inventors: Vincent Pace, James Cameron, Patrick Campbell
  • Patent number: 8629388
    Abstract: A 3D image capturing device includes a first lens module, a second lens module, a single sensor, an image sensor; a cross dichroic prism; a first mirror; and a second mirror. The first and second lens module have a first optical axis and a second optical axis, respectively. The second lens module is located juxtaposed with the first lens module. The second optical axis is parallel with the first optical axis. The first and second mirrors are arranged at opposite sides of the cross dichroic prism. The first and second mirrors are configured for reflecting and directing light beams from the first and second lens modules to the cross dichroic prism. The cross dichroic prism is configured to redirect the reflected light beams from the first and second mirrors to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Jung Yu, Shih-Chieh Yen, Yen-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8625981
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Kengo Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 8608325
    Abstract: A focusing mount includes a focusing frame fixed to a focus tube with at least one lens having an optical axis which is connected to a constraining frame by prismatic joints for enabling movement of the focusing mount along the optical axis without any twisting, lateral, rotational or swing movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Loreo Asia Ltd.
    Inventor: Tak Sau Anthony Lo
  • Patent number: 8401380
    Abstract: A stereographic camera and a method of operating a stereographic camera are disclosed. The stereographic camera may include a left camera and a right camera having respective lenses and an interface for receiving a selection of a selected preset operating mode from a plurality of preset operating modes. A preset parameter memory may store a plurality of preset parameter sets, each of the plurality of preset parameter sets associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of preset operating modes, each of the plurality of preset parameters sets including an assumed minimum object distance and an assumed extreme object distance. An interocular distance mechanism may set an interocular distance between the left camera and the right camera based on, at least in part, the assumed minimum object distance and the assumed extreme object distance associated with the selected operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vincent Pace & James Cameron
    Inventors: Vincent Pace, Patrick Campbell
  • Patent number: 8401379
    Abstract: An optical path adjusting device includes a supporting plate having a hole through which light travels, a two-dimensional (2D) aperture disposed in the supporting plate so as to adjust an open area of the hole, and a three-dimensional (3D) aperture having a plurality of first blinds and a plurality of second blinds. The plurality of first blinds are disposed to correspond to a first area of the hole so as to move to open or close the first area, and the plurality of second blinds are disposed to correspond to a second area of the hole so as to move to open or close the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-jong Cho, Mun-cheol Choi, Chan-young Moon
  • Patent number: 8369609
    Abstract: Image processing herein reduces the computational complexity required to estimate a disparity map of a scene from a plurality of monoscopic images. Image processing includes calculating a disparity and associated matching cost for at least one pixel block in a reference image, and then predicting, based on this disparity and associated matching cost, a disparity and associated matching cost for a pixel block that neighbors the at least one pixel block. Image processing continues with calculating a tentative disparity and associated matching cost for the neighboring pixel block, by searching for a corresponding pixel block in a different monoscopic image over a reduced range of candidate pixel blocks focused around the disparity predicted. Searching over a reduced range avoids significant computational complexity. Image processing concludes with determining the disparity for the neighboring pixel block based on comparing the matching costs associated with the tentative disparity and the disparity predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Sanbao Xu
  • Publication number: 20130022344
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3-dimensional lens system adapted to reduce aberrations occurring as a left-eye image passing through a left-eye lens group and a right-eye image passing through a right-eye lens group are off-axially incident to the left-eye lens group and the right-eye lens group, respectively, and that is fabricated in a reduced size without using a reflection mirror. Also disclosed is an image capture device designed to be larger than an image so as to prevent a loss of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Jae-Cheol BAE
  • Patent number: 8355627
    Abstract: A stereographic camera system and a method of operating a stereographic camera system. The stereoscopic camera system may include a left camera and a right camera having respective left and right lenses, a zoom mechanism to set a focal length of the left and right lenses, a focus mechanism to set a focus distance of the left and right lenses, and an IOD mechanism to set an interocular distance between the left and right cameras. A foreground distance sensor may sense, in near-real time, a distance to a closest foreground object. A controller may cause the IOD mechanism to set the interocular distance based on, in part, the focal length, the focus distance, and the distance to the closest foreground object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: James Cameron & Vincent Pace
    Inventors: Vincent Pace, Patrick Campbell
  • Patent number: 8284294
    Abstract: A compound-eye image pickup apparatus includes: a plurality of image pickup devices each including a focusing lens; a moving device configured to move the focusing lens; an automatic focusing device configured to cause the moving device to move the focusing lens within a predetermined range, to acquire focusing positions of each of the plurality of image pickup devices; and a detecting device configured to detect whether or not the focusing position can be acquired, wherein when the detecting device detects that the focusing position of at least one of the plurality of image pickup devices is acquired and the focusing position of the remaining image pickup device is not acquired, the automatic focusing device moves the focusing lens of the image pickup device for which it is detected that the focusing position thereof is not acquired, within an additional range outside of the predetermined range to acquire the focusing position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Kohama
  • Patent number: 8279267
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor, a lens, an adjusting mechanism, and a controller. The image sensor is configured for detecting incident light to generate a corresponding captured image. The lens is configured for guiding light of a scene toward the image sensor. The adjusting mechanism is configured for adjusting a relative position relationship between the image sensor and the lens when the image capture apparatus is capturing the scene. The controller is configured for controlling the image sensor to generate a plurality of captured images of the scene in response to different relative position relationships between the image sensor and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Wan-Yu Chen, Chih-Hui Kuo, Yu-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 8265477
    Abstract: There is disclosed a stereographic camera system and method. A stereographic camera may include a left camera and a right camera including respective lenses and an interface for receiving a selection of a selected mode from a plurality of preset operating modes. One or more preset stereo parameters associated with each of the plurality of operating modes may be stored in a preset parameter memory. An interocular distance mechanism may set an interocular distance between the left camera and the right camera based on, at least in part, the one or more preset stereo parameters associated with the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Vincent Pace, Patrick Campbell
  • Publication number: 20120141105
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a three-dimensional (3D) implementation camera module, and more particularly, a 3D implementation camera module capable of implementing a 3D stereoscopic image using a single camera module by providing two lenses in a single barrel and allowing a sensor to alternately sense images input through the two lenses using a blocking film. The 3D implementation camera module includes: a barrel; at least two lenses embedded in the barrel; a blocking film provided in the barrel to thereby alternately block the lenses; and a sensor provided on a lower portion of the barrel to thereby sense images alternately input from the lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Keun LEE
  • Publication number: 20120121246
    Abstract: An optical path adjusting device includes a supporting plate having a hole through which light travels, a two-dimensional (2D) aperture disposed in the supporting plate so as to adjust an open area of the hole, and a three-dimensional (3D) aperture having a plurality of first blinds and a plurality of second blinds. The plurality of first blinds are disposed to correspond to a first area of the hole so as to move to open or close the first area, and the plurality of second blinds are disposed to correspond to a second area of the hole so as to move to open or close the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-jong Cho, Mun-cheol Choi, Chan-young Moon
  • Patent number: 8160440
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional image which includes a left-eye image and a right-eye image includes: a first imaging unit having a first optical system and operable to take the left-eye image; a second imaging unit having a second optical system and operable to take the right-eye image; and a controller operable to control the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit. The first optical system and the second optical system individually include a convergence angle changing unit capable of optically changing a convergence angle and a focal length changing unit capable of optically changing a focal length. The controller, when controlling the focal length changing unit to change the focal length, controls the convergence angle changing unit based on a predetermined constant convergence angle tracking curve to keep the convergence angle constant before and after the change of the focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Kishida, Takashi Kokuwa, Hiroyuki Makuta
  • Publication number: 20120076484
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Takada, Kengo Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 8094927
    Abstract: A method is provided for customizing scene content, according to a user or a cluster of users, for a given stereoscopic display, including obtaining customization information about the user; obtaining a scene disparity map for a pair of given stereo images and/or a three-dimensional (3D) computer graphic model; and determining an aim disparity range for the user. The method of the present invention also generates a customized disparity map and/or rendering conditions for a three-dimensional (3D) computer graphic model correlating with the user's fusing capability of the given stereoscopic display; and renders or re-renders the stereo images for subsequent display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Elaine W. Jin, Michael E. Miller, Serguei Endrikhovski, Cathleen D. Cerosaletti
  • Patent number: 8078048
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a photographing lens configured to focus light from a subject, a splitter configured to split the focused light to left and right in an area, in which light diffused from one point of the subject becomes parallel light, so as to respectively form different polarized lights, an imaging lens configured to respectively image the split different polarized lights, a transmission unit configured to receive the imaged different polarized lights on the same plane so as to transmit any one of the polarized lights in each area of the plane, an imaging element configured to convert the transmitted light on the plane into an image according to an electronic signal, and an image generating unit configured to extract and interpolate the converted image in each area so as to generate two different images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Kuroki
  • Publication number: 20110280563
    Abstract: A camera body includes a body mount, an imaging element, and a controller. The controller produces left-eye image data such that the top and bottom and the left and right of a left-eye image reproduced from left-eye image data substantially coincide with the top and bottom and the left and right of the subject, when an interchangeable lens unit is configured to mirror-invert a left-eye optical image corresponding to left-eye image data on a light receiving face of the imaging element with respect to a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi UEDA, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20110280564
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a three-dimensional optical system, a lens-side determination section, and a state information production section. The three-dimensional optical system is configured to form an optical image of a subject for stereoscopic view. The lens-side determination section is configured to determine whether the camera body is compatible with three-dimensional imaging. The state information production section produces restrictive information used for restricting the photographing of the camera body, when the lens-side determination section has determined that the camera body is not compatible with three-dimensional imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro IKEDA