Abstract: Three-dimensional color images are produced by combining the red image plane from a left color camera and the blue and green image planes from a right color camera. Techniques for compensating for over or underexposure in a particular image plane are deployed as well as techniques for minimizing subjective disturbance when viewing relatively pure color regions of a 3-dimensional image and for transmission of 3-dimensional color television images to users.

Abstract: In the capture and display of three dimensional images, techniques are provided for controlling the amount of disparity between left and right images used to create a three dimensional representation to permit three dimensional perception which would otherwise be lost as disparity increased beyond psychological and physiological limits. Both mechanical and electronic means for controlling disparity are shown. Techniques are disclosed for creating three dimensional animations which utilize disparity control for adjusting the perceived depth of an object vis-a-vis a neutral plane. When zooming in on an object with a stereo camera pair, the shift in focal length accompanying the zoom is accompanied by a simultaneous shift in disparity so that the stereo effect is not lost when a target object is very close, a moderate distance, or very far from the cameras. Camera separation is changed as a function of target distance to maintain a fixed fraction of the target distance as a default.

Abstract: Three-dimensional color images are produced by combining the red image plane from a left color camera and the blue and green image planes from a right color camera. Techniques for compensating for over or underexposure in a particular image plane are deployed as well as techniques for minimizing subjective disturbance when viewing relatively pure color regions of a 3-dimensional image and for transmission of 3-dimensional color television images to users.

Abstract: In the capture and display of three dimensional images, techniques are provided for controlling the amount of disparity between left and right images used to create a three dimensional representation to permit three dimensional perception which would otherwise be lost as disparity increased beyond psychological and physiological limits. Both mechanical and electronic means for controlling disparity are shown. Techniques are disclosed for creating three dimensional animations which utilize disparity control for adjusting the perceived depth of an object vis-a-vis a neutral plane.

Abstract: A hardware accelerator board utilizes field programmable gate arrays which can be reprogrammed on the fly during program execution to achieve dedicated hardware processing speeds and greater flexibility than provided by compiled or interpreted software. The accelerator board is used to permit the user to interact with the computer system in which the board is installed to interactively produce a correlation of two images of the same scene. Correlated images are used to determine depth of objects in the scene shown in the correlated images.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional wire frame representation is derived from a real 3-dimensional objects, where the surface of the object is generally featureless, by projecting a non-uniform pattern of randomly colored spots onto the 3-dimensional object and capturing images of the object by two cameras located at different positions. A wire frame representation of the object is then reconstructed from corresponding colored spots on the images captured by the two cameras. Wire frame representations are rapidly created using generic wire frames which are prototypical of a class of objects and which are modifiable to correspond to a specific instance of the class. A set of generic wire frames are bundled as a tool kit with software for editing wire frames. A method of morphing from a source 3-dimensional stereo rendered wire frame to a target rendered wire frame is also disclosed and the apparent camera viewpoint can change during morphing.

Abstract: Automatic photographic color rendering of the surfaces of wire frame representation of 3-dimensional objects is described. Bit mapped information of surface areas is captured as part of image processing in the creation of wire frames into the computer. When a wire frame is transformed to a different orientation, the rendering surfaces are automatically transformed and the wire frame can be rendered in the new orientation with photographic quality.

Abstract: Techniques for converting a two-dimensional motion picture into a three dimensional stereo motion picture are disclosed. Wire frames of objects in the motion picture are constructed using the frames of the two-dimensional motion picture, substituted for the two dimensional view of the object, photorealistically rendered and stereo views generated of the rendered wireframes to create stereo views of the scenes of the original motion picture. Key frame sequences can be generated in stereo automatically from stereo set up of the key frame.

Abstract: Three-dimensional color images are produced by combining the red image plane from a left color camera and the blue and green image planes from a right color camera. Techniques for compensating for over or underexposure in a particular image plane are deployed as well as techniques for minimizing subjective disturbance when viewing relatively pure color regions of a 3-dimensional image and for transmission of 3-dimensional color television images to users.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for the rapid creation of wire frame representations of 3-dimensional objects using generic wire frames which are prototypical of a class of objects and which are modifiable to correspond to a specific instance of the class. A set of generic wire frames are bundled as a tool kit with software for editing wire frames. A method of morphing from a source 3-dimensional stereo rendered wire frame to a target rendered wire frame is also disclosed and the apparent camera viewpoint can change during morphing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accurately surveying and determining the physical location of objects in a scene are disclosed which use image data captured by one or more cameras and three points from the scene which may either be measured after the images are captured or may be included in the calibrated target placed in the scene at the time of image capture. Objects are located with respect to a three dimensional coordinate system defined with reference to the three points. The methods and apparatus permit rapid set up and capture of precise location data using simple apparatus and simple image processing. The precise location and orientation of the camera utilized to capture each scene is determined from image data, from the three point locations and from optical parameters of the camera.

Abstract: Three-dimensional color images are produced by combining the red image plane from a left color camera and the blue and green image planes from a right color camera. Techniques for compensating for over or underexposure in a particular image plane are deployed as well as techniques for minimizing subjective disturbance when viewing relatively pure color regions of a 3-dimensional image and for transmission of 3-dimensional color television images to users. TDM and MPEG 2 transmission techniques for stereo image transmission are disclosed. Left and right images are caused to be epipolar to reduce adverse user reaction to extended viewing of stereo images. A three dimensional perspective view may be connected to a stereo view in accordance with the invention.