Abstract: A multiple-lens camera has only one image sensor to capture a number of images at different viewing angles. Using a single image sensor, instead of a number of separate image sensors, to capture multiple images simultaneously, one can avoid the calibration process to calibrate the different image sensors to make sure that color balance and the gain are the same for all the image sensors used. The camera has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the image lenses, and a processor to receive from the image sensor electronic signals indicative of image data of the captured of images. The camera has a connector to transfer the processed image data to an external device or to an image display. The image display device is configured to display one of said plurality of images.

Abstract: A single-lens 2D/3D camera has a light valve placed in relationship to a lens module to control the light beam received by the lens module for forming an image on an image sensor. The light valve has a light valve area positioned in a path of the light beam. The light valve has two or more clearable sections such that only one section is made clear to allow part of the light beam to pass through. By separately making clear different sections on the light valve, a number of images as viewed through slightly different angles can be captured. The clearable sections include a right section and a left section so that the captured images can be used to produce 3D pictures or displays. The clearable sections also include a middle section so that the camera can be used as a 2D camera.

Abstract: A 3D photographic printer uses a digital display device for displaying two or more images for composing a 3D photograph. The images are displayed at different locations so that these images can be projected onto a 3D print material through a projection lens at different projection angles. With the digital display device, it is possible to electronically locate the images at different locations and shift the images or mechanically moving the display device during the 3D photographic composing process. It is also possible that only the print material is mechanically shifted to different locations. The display device and the projection lens can be stationary. The display device can have a monochrome LCD panel and a color light source for illuminating the LCD panel for printing.

Abstract: A single-lens 2D/3D camera has a light valve placed in relationship to a lens module to control the light beam received by the lens module for forming an image on an image sensor. The light valve has a light valve area positioned in a path of the light beam. The light valve has two or more clearable sections such that only one section is made clear to allow part of the light beam to pass through. By separately making clear different sections on the light valve, a number of images as viewed through slightly different angles can be captured. The clearable sections include a right section and a left section so that the captured images can be used to produce 3D pictures or displays. The clearable sections also include a middle section so that the camera can be used as a 2D camera.

Abstract: An image display having a plurality of color sub-pixels is disclosed. The present invention provides a method for arranging the color sub-pixels such that in a column of pixels the sub-pixels of the same color do not form a straight sub-column. In other words, a sub-pixel column contains the sub-pixels of two or more different colors. When a parallax separator, such as a lenticular screen, is placed in relationship to the image display to form a 3D display, the longitudinal axis of the lenticules can be substantially parallel to the sub-pixel columns. Since a sub-pixel column contains the sub-pixels of two or more different colors, each view of the 3D display as separated by a lenticule contains the sub-pixels of two or more different colors. As such, the 3D display image will not appear as monochromatic at a certain viewing angle.

Abstract: A multiple-lens camera has only one image sensor to capture a number of images at different viewing angles. Using a single image sensor, instead of a number of separate image sensors, to capture multiple images simultaneously, one can avoid the calibration process to calibrate the different image sensors to make sure that color balance and the gain are the same for all the image sensors used. The camera has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the image lenses, and a processor to receive from the image sensor electronic signals indicative of image data of the captured of images. The camera has a connector to transfer the processed image data to an external device or to an image display. The image display device is configured to display one of said plurality of images.

Abstract: The prevention of counterfeiting labels for various products is addressed by introducing counterfeit proof labels having optically concealed security safety features and clues for consumer's self identification and verification. The images of groups of questions and answers are printed in a precise serial formation, parallel to the optical center of the micro lenticule at the focal plane of a high resolution micro optic array of the label at the location in relation to the optical centers of the micro lenticule and viewing angle, so that each of the questions and answers can be read at a specific viewing angle. For identification, gently tilling the label back and forth, at different angles, each group of the question and answers will be displayed on the label. If the answers correctly match with the questions, the label is proved to be authentic; if one or more of the answers is wrong or not clear the label is a counterfeit. The label can be read under visible light source without any viewing aid.

Abstract: The prevention of counterfeiting labels for various products is addressed by introducing counterfeit proof labels having optically concealed security safety features and clues for consumer's self identification and verification. The images of groups of questions and answers are printed in a precise serial formation, parallel to the optical center of the micro lenticule at the focal plane of a high resolution micro optic array of the label at the location in relation to the optical centers of the micro lenticule and viewing angle, so that each of the questions and answers can be read at a specific viewing angle. For identification, gently tilling the label back and forth, at different angles, each group of the question and answers will be displayed on the label. If the answers correctly match with the questions, the label is proved to be authentic; if one or more of the answers is wrong or not clear the label is a counterfeit. The label can be read under visible light source without any viewing aid.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with a brightness enhancing strip having a plurality of light reflecting facets for lining along the rims of a game table top. When one or more light sources located above the table top are used to illuminate the table top, some of light rays reaching the strips are reflected toward the center portion of the table top. Such strips are useful for enhancing the brightness of the game table and the game pieces that are placed facing the strips and away from the table rim. Moreover, the strip can be made of a sturdy material so it can also be used as a ruler for aligning a row of game pieces.

Abstract: A dual-mode display system for 2D viewing and includes an image display device and an LCD panel. The image displaying device is used to show a regular 2D image for 2D viewing and to show an interleaved image composed from a right view and a left view of a scene for 3D viewing. The LCD panel having a plurality of linear sections is used to form a parallax barrier for 3D viewing. The same LCD panel can be turned off so that all the linear sections are clear to transmit light for 2D viewing. The image displaying device can be transmissive type and the LCD panel can be placed behind or in front of the displaying device. Preferably, a large-area illuminator is used to provide illumination to the transmissive displaying device. The image displaying device can also be emissive type and the LCD panel must be placed in front of the displaying device.

Abstract: A 3D video viewing system is disclosed, wherein a special lenticular layer is attached on a video monitor which displays at least one interleaved image composed from a plurality of 2D views of a scene. A method of determining the parameters for the lenticular layer is disclosed. In particular, the width of the lenticules on the lenticular layer is determined by many factors, including the thickness, the curvature and the refractive index of the monitor; the number of 2D views to be composed into an interleaved image for display; the normal viewing distance; and the overall viewing angle of the lenticular layer itself. A number of interleaving methods for composing a plurality of 2D views into a composite view are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dual-lens camera which can be used to take single-frame images for 2D photography or dual-frame images for 3D photography. The camera has two taking lenses and two independently operable shutters. The unique feature of this dual-lens camera is that the camera comprises two shutter release buttons. On release button activates only the shutter associated with one taking lens to take a single-frame image. The other button activates both shutters to take a stereo image pair. A film advance mechanism is used to advance the film in accordance with the operating mode of the camera.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with an optical printer for making 3D and animation pictures from a plurality of 2D images on a lenticular print material. The 2D images are sequentially projected by a projection lens onto the print material at different projection angles. In order to change the projection angles, the print material and the projection lens are moved relative to the film to different positions. The method and apparatus, according to the present invention, use a tilting mechanism to tilt the print material about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lenticules and away from the optical axis of the projection lens so as to reduce the moving distance of the print material and the projection lens. In effect, the angular coverage of the printer is extended by the tilting of the print material and, therefore, the printer can make 3D and animation pictures on a print material having a wider viewing angle.

Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with an electronic flash module comprising a plurality of flash subunits to illuminate a photographed scene in flash photography. Each flash subunit comprises a flash-tube and associated charging and triggering circuits; a modeling lamp to allow a photographer to set up the lighting pattern. Each module comprises a trip circuit to synchronously trip all the triggering circuits in the module. It is preferred that the module further comprises a photosensor to activate the trip circuit upon sensing a trigger pulse sent out by a remote device. Preferably, the module comprises connection means so that two or more modules can be linked up to form a panel with a larger illuminating source area. Furthermore, it is preferred that the flash subunits can be selectively and individually disabled to allow the photographer to adjust the illuminating pattern.

Abstract: A photographic printer for making 3D pictures or animation pictures from at least two 2D images on lenticular print material. The printer uses a monitor for sequentially displaying 2D images. A projection lens is used to project the displayed 2D images onto the print material. A tilting mechanism is used to tilt the print material for changing the projection angles. In order to correct for the distortion of images projected on the print material due to tilting, the 2D images are geometrically transformed according to the tilting angles. The same printer can be used to make 2D prints on regular photographic paper. The printer can be equipped with a plurality of projection lenses with different focal lengths so that pictures of different magnification factors can be made.

Abstract: The filmless method and printer for making 3D and animation pictures using a digital reflection-type matrix display device such as a digital micro-mirror device to sequentially display a plurality of 2D views, a light source to illuminate the display device to produce a reflected beam, and a projection lens to form an image from the reflected beam and expose it on a lenticular print material. To fill the image area underlying each lenticule on the print material, each 2D view is projected at a different angle. Two methods can be used: 1) In the scanning method, two of the three elements including the display device, the projection lens and the print material are moved to different positions to change the projection angle; 2) In the non-scanning method, the projection lens has a large aperture sufficient for covering the total viewing angle of the lenticules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing orthostereoscopic composite images in a camera having a large-aperture taking lens to form 2D images of a scene through different aperture sections on a photosensitive medium. An aperture plate having at least one window is used to select the viewing angles of the 2D images by controlling the light transmission path through the taking lens. Only one aperture section is opened at a time to allow the taking lens to form a 2D image. Each 2D image is divided into a plurality of linear segments each having a number of image bands each corresponding to an aperture section. A line-masking device such as a LCD panel comprising a plurality of linear strips can be used to allow in each 2D image only the image bands corresponding to the opened aperture section to form part of the composite image. The composite image can be displayed behind a lenticular screen or a parallax barrier for 3D viewing.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with a brightness enhancing strip having a plurality of light reflecting facets for lining along the rims of a game table top. When one or more light sources located above the table top are used to illuminate the table top, some of light rays reaching the strips are reflected toward the center portion of the table top. Such strips are useful for enhancing the brightness of the game table and the game pieces that are placed facing the strips and away from the table rim. The brightness enhancing strips can also be integrated into a mat for lining a game table top.

Abstract: A 3D camera for acquiring and recording a plurality of 2D images at different viewing angles without relocating the camera wherein a large-aperture taking lens is used for image forming and an aperture controlling means is used to select the section of the lens' aperture through which light rays are transmitted to form a 2D image at one viewing angle at a time. The 3D camera can also have a mirror assembly to direct light rays traversing different sections of the lens' aperture to form 2D images on different image planes.

Abstract: The printer for making 3D and animation pictures from a series of 2D images, according to the present invention, uses an electronic displaying device for sequentially displaying the 2D images. A projection lens is used to sequentially projecting the displayed 2D images, each at a different projection angle through a view-separating screen onto a photosensitive emulsion layer. The projection angles can be achieved or extended by tilting the emulsion layer together with the view-separating screen away from the image plane. Preferably, the electronic displaying means is also tipped to improve the focusing of the projection lens on the tilted image plane. In order to correct for the distortion in the projected image due to tilting and tipping, the 2D images are warped in accordance with the tilting and tipping angles prior to being displayed for exposure.