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.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus has a small size and excellent portability and reproduces a hologram or holographic stereogram during observation constantly with optimal conditions. When a movable section 3 movably attached to an apparatus body 2 is moved to a second position distant from a first position where the movable section 3 is contained in the apparatus body 2, illumination light from a light source 20 is irradiated at a predetermined incidence angle onto a hologram 9 attached to a hologram attach section 10.

Abstract: A cartridge for holding a hologram-image recording medium for use with a hologram-image recording apparatus, including locating means for properly positioning said cartridge, for sequentially exposing and recording interference fringes generated by an object laser beam modulated in accordance with each element image of parallax images and a reference laser beam having coherency with respect to the object laser beam is provided. The cartridge includes a light shielding case capable of shielding external light from inside the cartridge. The case also defines an unreeling opening. A core is positioned within the cartridge around which the hologram recording medium is wound. The hologram recording medium is unreeled from the core to an exposing and recording portion of the hologram-image recording apparatus through the unreeling opening when the cartridge is mounted on the hologram-image recording apparatus.

Abstract: In a merchandise order receiving system, an order controlling server receives an order of a merchandise by a user terminal; a charging and settlement server performs the charging and the settlement of the merchandise; an order receiving server receives an order of the delivery of a merchandise; a print out apparatus prints image data from an image storing server to generate printed material such a hologram or holographic stereogram; a merchandise assembling apparatus generates an assembled merchandise by incorporating the printed matter in the merchandise to supply the assembled merchandise to a shipping terminal.

Abstract: The holographic stereogram print order receiving system and the method thereof are provided, wherein the order receiving server which, upon completion of the connection and user inquiry, receives the 2-D image and the parameter information indicating the zooming zone from the user terminal, then sends these information to the image processing server. Further the zooming image processing is executed relative to the 2-D image using the parameter information such that the zooming image can be observed when viewed by changing its viewpoint. This zooming image processed data is sent to the user terminal as a preview image data. Then, the zooming image processed data the same as the preview image data is sent from the image processing server to the image storing server. The printout device supplied with the zooming image processed data from the image storing server generates a holographic stereogram.

Abstract: The imaging device reads out a first time spatial parameter required for image capturing of an object from various time spatial parameters stored in the storage server and/or recorded on the recording medium, captures the images of the object and produces the captured image data on the basis of this time spatial parameter. The imaging device causes the captured image data and the time spatial parameter corresponding thereto to be stored in the storage server, and/or to be recorded on the recording medium. These captured image data and the time spatial parameter corresponding thereto are supplied to the image data processing unit in the holographic stereogram producing device, in which this supplied time spatial parameter is used as a second time spatial parameter which is required at the time of producing a holographic stereogram.

Abstract: A slit head 76A is provided prior to intermittent feed rollers 73A and 73B. The slit head 76A is made of a rigid body such as magnetic iron and is used as a contact member. The slit head 76A is provided with a slit 78 on the side of a reference light L4 in the vicinity of an exposure position P1. The reference light L4 is transmitted through the slit 78 of the slit head 76A. In addition to magnetic iron, stainless steel and the like are used for the contact member 76A. On the side of an object light L3 at the exposure position P1, there is provided a presser plate member 76B for pressing the holographic recording medium 10 against the slit head 76A. The presser plate member 76B is also provided with a slit 82 and is arranged corresponding to an incident position of the object light L3. A magnetic member is used for the presser plate member 76B.

Abstract: In a system in which images having parallax data, and which are made up of plural images containing the parallax information are processed with viewing point conversion, and the resulting new images having parallax data are used, as in a system of generating a holographic stereogram, a unit for generating the images having parallax data is to be independent from other unit or units. To this end, the information necessary to perform viewing point conversion processing of converting the viewing point for an object is attached to images having parallax data when the images having parallax data have been produced. When the images having parallax data is exchanged between the unit for generating the images having parallax data and other unit or units, the exchanged images having parallax data need to be those to which the information has been attached.

Abstract: An image data generating method for generating image data corresponding to a planar holographic stereogram is provided. First, an object of imaging device is rotated, while the distance between the object and the imaging device is kept substantially constant, for shooting plural images of different viewing angles by the imaging device. The image data of plural images is then corrected for keystone distortion. The image data corrected for keystone distortion is then processed with viewing point conversion processing for converting the viewing point for generating image data of images recorded on the holographic stereogram. In addition, image data including the information for plural images is compressed for storage in the internal storage device of the computer.

Abstract: An image data generating method and apparatus in which, when performing viewing point conversion processing on data of strings of parallax images each made up of plural images containing the parallax information, data of a new string of parallax images can be generated promptly. To this end, a lookup table showing the relation of correspondence between pixels of respective images making up an original string of parallax images and pixels of respective images of a new string of parallax images is prepared at the outset and stored in a lookup table memory 72. The pixel interchanging is effectuated, based on the lookup table, in order to effectuate viewing point conversion processing, to generate the data of the new string of parallax images.

Abstract: A single photographic subsystem 2 photographs an original image for a hologram and provides an image information file Fp. In addition, this subsystem provides a management information file Fm for storing management information about the image information file Fp. An image processing section 4 generates a composite image file Fs by applying specified image processing to the image information file Fp and the management information about the management information file Fm provided from the single photographic subsystem 2 via a transmission system 3a. A hologram printer 5 receives the composite image file Fs generated in the image processing section 4 and prints a holographic stereogram based on this composite image file Fs.

Abstract: An optical member 7 is bonded, at its rear side 7b, to a holographic stereogram 6. The front side 7a of the optical member 7 consists of parallel triangular prisms. Illumination light 9 is applied to the front surface 7a of the optical member 7 at a predetermined angle of, for example, 60°. The optical member 7 is made of, for example, optical glass or transparent plastic. Each triangular prism has an incidence surface 8, to which the illumination light is applied at right angles. The illumination light is applied to the interface 22 between the optical member 7 and the holographic stereogram 6, at an incidence angle &thgr; of, for example, 60°, thereby to suppress surface reflection of the illumination light 9 at the interface 22.

Abstract: A slit head 76A is provided prior to intermittent feed rollers 73A and 73B. The slit head 76A is made of a rigid body such as magnetic iron and is used as a contact member. The slit head 76A is provided with a slit 78 on the side of a reference light L4 in the vicinity of an exposure position P1. The reference light L4 is transmitted through the slit 78 of the slit head 76A. In addition to magnetic iron, stainless steel and the like are used for the contact member 76A. On the side of an object light L3 at the exposure position P1, there is provided a presser plate member 76B for pressing the holographic recording medium 10 against the slit head 76A. The presser plate member 76B is also provided with a slit 82 and is arranged corresponding to an incident position of the object light L3. A magnetic member is used for the presser plate member 76B.

Abstract: A holographic stereogram printing system to print holographic stereograms with good efficiency and no drop in the operating rate of the imaging system and holographic printer. An imaging system control section of an imaging system comprises an operating section that along with controlling the operation of the camera according to the desired selection of the user such as imaging method, image size selection or image layout, also creates an information management file for the base image based on the control information. A holographic stereogram printer prints out a holographic stereogram according to the information management file provided along a transmission path.

Abstract: An image recording method and apparatus for recording an image on a holographic stereogram in such a manner as to generate an optimum reproduced image, and an image reproducing method and apparatus capable of generating an optimum reproduced image from the holographic stereogram. A parallax image string is recorded as a series of strip- or dot-shaped hologram elements by having an object light beam and a reference light beam fall on one and the other surfaces of a recording medium for hologram 130. On the reference light incident side, a light inlet block 52 is arranged for having contact with the recording medium for hologram 130 so that no significant change in the refractive index will be produced on an interface with the recording medium for hologram 130. The reference light beam is illuminated via this light inlet block 52 on the recording medium for hologram.

Abstract: A cartridge for holding a hologram-image recording medium for use with a hologram-image recording apparatus, including locating means for properly positioning said cartridge, for sequentially exposing and recording interference fringes generated by an object laser beam modulated in accordance with each element image of parallax images and a reference laser beam having coherency with respect to the object laser beam is provided. The cartridge includes a light shielding case capable of shielding external light from inside the cartridge. The case also defines an unreeling opening. A core is positioned within the cartridge around which the hologram recording medium is wound. The hologram recording medium is unreeled from the core to an exposing and recording portion of the hologram-image recording apparatus through the unreeling opening when the cartridge is mounted on the hologram-image recording apparatus.

Abstract: An image data generating method for generating image data corresponding to a planar holographic stereogram is provided, in which a parallax image string imaging system for producing a parallax image string may be reduced in size and in which there is no necessity for using a larger image angle of the imaging device and unneeded image data may be diminished to enable effective data utilization. An image data converting method is also provided in which image data of an image recorded on a holographic stereogram may be promptly produced from plural images from which the holographic stereogram is derived. First, an object or an imaging device is rotated, while the distance between the object and the imaging device is kept substantially constant, for shooting plural images of different viewing angles by the imaging device. The image data of plural images as shot is then corrected for keystone distortion.

Abstract: A hologram-image recording method and apparatus are provided which prevents or attenuates vibrations so as to produce a bright holographic stereogram having high diffraction efficiency. Such apparatus may includes an exposing recording portion for sequentially exposing and recording interference fringes generated by an object laser beam modulated in accordance with each element image of parallax images and a reference laser beam having coherency with the object laser beam on a recording medium as an elemental hologram, wherein the object laser beam is incident on a surface of the recording medium and the reference laser beam is incident on one of said surface and an opposite surface of the recording medium. The apparatus may further include a moving device for moving the recording medium in a predetermined direction and a braking device for applying a load to the recording medium which resists the movement thereof.

Abstract: An image recording method and apparatus for recording an image on a holographic stereogram in such a manner as to generate an optimum reproduced image, and an image reproducing method and apparatus capable of generating an optimum reproduced image from the holographic stereogram. A parallax image string is recorded as a series of strip- or dot-shaped hologram elements by having an object light beam and a reference light beam fall on one and the other surfaces of a recording medium for hologram 130. On the reference light incident side, a light inlet block 52 is arranged for having contact with the recording medium for hologram 130 so that no significant change in the refractive index will be produced on an interface with the recording medium for hologram 130. The reference light beam is illuminated via this light inlet block 52 on the recording medium for hologram.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is capable of reducing a vibration of a hologram recording medium so that a holographic stereogram which provides an excellent reproduced image can be prepared in a short time period. A vibration member 55 is provided on the light path of reference light L4, and a hologram recording medium 10 is intermittently fed with the medium 10 kept in contact with an end portion 55a of the member 55. The reference light L4 passes through a slit 56 of the vibration restriction member 55 and is irradiated onto the hologram recording medium 10 through an opening portion 57 opened at the end side 55a.