Abstract: An autostereoscopic 3D display comprises a first unit (503) for generating an intermediate 3D image. The intermediate 3D image comprises a plurality of regions and the first unit (503) is arranged to generate a first number of image blocks of pixel values corresponding to different view directions for the region regions. The number of image blocks is different for some regions of the plurality of regions. A second unit (505) generates an output 3D image comprising a number of view images from the intermediate 3D image, where each of the view images correspond to a view direction. The display further comprises a display arrangement (301) and a driver (507) for driving the display arrangement (301) to display the output 3D image. An adaptor (509) is arranged to adapt the number of image blocks for a first region in response to a property of the intermediate 3D image or a representation of a three dimensional scene from which the first image generating unit (503) is arranged to generate the intermediate image.

Abstract: A display device (120) has a 3D display (160) for emitting at least two views of 3D image data to enable autostereoscopic viewing of 3D image data at multiple viewing positions (182, 184). A processor (140) processes the 3D image data (122) for generating the views for display on the 3D display, and a viewer detector (130) detects a viewer position of a viewer in front of the 3D display. The processor has a viewer conflict detector (141) for detecting and resolving viewer position conflicts. The detector obtains at least a first viewer position of a first viewer via the viewer detector, and detects a viewer position conflict at the first viewer position where said first view and second view do not provide the 3D effect for the first viewer. If so, the detector controls generating the views in dependence of the detected viewer position conflict. At least one of said at least two views as received by the first viewer is dynamically modified to signal or resolve the conflict.

Abstract: Three dimensional [3D] image data and auxiliary graphical data are combined for rendering on a 3D display (30) by detecting depth values occurring in the 3D image data, and setting auxiliary depth values for the auxiliary graphical data (31) adaptively in dependence of the detected depth values. The 3D image data and the auxiliary graphical data at the auxiliary depth value are combined based on the depth values of the 3D image data. First an area of attention (32) in the 3D image data is detected. A depth pattern for the area of attention is determined, and the auxiliary depth values are set in dependence of the depth pattern.

Abstract: Three dimensional [3D] image data and auxiliary graphical data are combined for rendering on a 3D display by detecting depth values occurring in the 3D image data and setting auxiliary depth values for the auxiliary graphical data adaptively in dependence of the detected depth values. The 3D image data and the auxiliary graphical data at the auxiliary depth value are combined based on the depth values of the 3D image data. First an area of attention in the 3D image data is detected. A depth pattern for the area of attention is determined, and the auxiliary depth values are set in dependence of the depth pattern.

Abstract: A system for determining a position characteristic for an object in a room comprises an optically identifiable element (103) positioned on a background surface for a detection area of the room. A camera (101) is positioned across the detection area from the optically identifiable element (103) and captures an image comprising the detection area and the optically identifiable element (103). A detector (403) detects the optically identifiable element (103) in the image based on an optical property. An occlusion processor (405) determines an occlusion property for an occlusion of the optically identifiable element (103) in the image in response to the optical property. A position processor (407) determines a depth position in response to the occlusion property where, the depth position is indicative of a position of the object along the optical axis of the camera (101). The invention may for example allow presence detection and rough localization of a person in a room.

Abstract: The invention provides a directional back-light arrangement for an auto-stereoscopic display in which different parts of the backlight arrangement point in different directions. This means that different parts of the backlight arrangement will be suitable for directing images in different directions, while reducing the effect of optical aberrations resulting from large exit angles.

Abstract: The invention provides a directional back-light arrangement for an auto-stereoscopic display in which different parts of the backlight arrangement point in different directions. This means that different parts of the backlight arrangement will be suitable for directing images in different directions, while reducing the effect of optical aberrations resulting from large exit angles.

Abstract: An auto-stereoscopic display uses a steering backlight to enable individual views to be directed to desired locations corresponding to the position of the eyes of a viewer. However, a single (i.e. monoscopic) image is provided at large angles where the quality of an auto-stereoscopic image may drop below acceptable levels. This is achieved by addressing the light sources in the steering backlight as a function of angle.

Abstract: A display device (120) has a 3D display (160) for emitting at least two views of 3D image data to enable autostereoscopic viewing of 3D image data at multiple viewing positions (182, 184). A processor (140) processes the 3D image data (122) for generating the views for display on the 3D display, and a viewer detector (130) detects a viewer position of a viewer in front of the 3D display. The processor has a viewer conflict detector (141) for detecting and resolving viewer position conflicts. The detector obtains at least a first viewer position of a first viewer via the viewer detector, and detects a viewer position conflict at the first viewer position where said first view and second view do not provide the 3D effect for the first viewer. If so, the detector controls generating the views in dependence of the detected viewer position conflict. At least one of said at least two views as received by the first viewer is dynamically modified to signal or resolve the conflict.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of depth maps for a plurality of images comprises receiving a first image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the first image, generating a depth map for the first image according to a first schema, receiving a second image, obtaining information relating to the shot defined by the second image, detecting a change in the obtained information between the first and second image, and generating a depth map for the second image according to a second schema, the second schema having a complexity different from that of the first schema. The method can comprise accessing first and second depth models. In one embodiment, the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises the second model, and in a second embodiment the first schema comprises the first depth model, and the second schema comprises a combination of the first and the second depth models.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of propagating depth-related information from a first depth-map (810) associated with a first image (820) to a second depth-map (860) associated with a second image (830), the first and second image being temporally proximate images in an image sequence. The method comprises generating an intermediate depth-map (840) associated with the second image (830) by propagating depth values from the first depth-map (810) to the intermediate depth-map (840) using pixels of the first image (820) and the second image (830), and generating a motion vector (850) using information comprising depth values in a spatial region around a first location in the first depth-map (810) and depth values in a spatial region around a second location in the intermediate depth-map (840) and generating a depth value for the second location in the second depth-map (860) using information comprising the motion vector (850) and the first depth-map (810).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device (580) for encoding three-dimensional video data, the device comprising: a first encoder (505) arranged to encode multiple simultaneous views (501) of a scene from different viewpoints; a second encoder (510) arranged to encode depth information of the scene and a third encoder (515) arranged to encode additional information indicative of a relationship between the multiple views and the depth information and a combiner (520) arranged to combine the encoded information into a representation (513) of the three-dimensional video data. The additional information comprises a group classifier indicating whether or not the depth information and at least one of the multiple views correspond to the same source material for, when corresponding, using the depth information and the at least one of the multiple views to render further views of the scene from further different viewpoints.

Abstract: A segmentation unit included an assignment unit configured to assign a first pixel of a first image of a sequence of images to a segment comprises an assignment unit, and to assign a first homogeneity value to the first pixel on basis of the first image. An averaging unit is configured to calculate an average homogeneity value for the first pixel by averaging the first homogeneity value and a second homogeneity value being determined for a second pixel of a second image of the sequence of images. The first and second pixels are related by a motion vector. A comparing unit is configured to compare the average homogeneity value with a threshold in order to assign the first pixel to the segment.

Abstract: A method of processing image data comprises receiving image data, segmenting the image data using a first criteria and a first threshold to create a first segmented view of the image data, segmenting the image data using the first criteria and a second threshold to create a second segmented view of the image data, displaying the first segmented view of the image data, receiving one or more selection user inputs selecting one or more segments of the image data, as displayed in the first segmented view, receiving a defined user input, displaying the second segmented view of the image data, and receiving one or more further selection user inputs selecting one or more segments of the image data, as displayed in the second segmented view. This method can be used in the creation of a depth map. In this case, the process further comprises receiving one or more depth user inputs, the or each depth user input relating to a respective selection user input, and creating a depth map for the image data accordingly.

Abstract: A device for segmenting an image comprises a user input (301, 305, 307) for receiving segment indications and boundary indications for the image. Each segment indication identifies a set of pixel regions and a relationship between the set of pixel regions and an associated segment class of a plurality of segment classes. Each boundary indication identifies a boundary between pixels belonging to different segment classes. A segmentation processor (309) then segments the image into the plurality of segment classes in response to both the number of segment indications and the number of boundary indications. Specifically, a propagation of values linking the pixel regions to segment classes are propagated based on the segment indications with the propagation being constrained (e.g. attenuated or blocked) by the boundary indications. The invention may improve or facilitate interactive image segmentation e.g. for frames of a video signal.

Abstract: In a method for encoding and an encoder for a 3D video signal, center view frames, a depth map for center view frames and an occlusion data frame are encoded. On the basis of the depth map for the center view frame a distinction is made between functional and non-functional data in an occlusion data frame. This allows a strong reduction in bits needed for the encoded occlusion data frame. In the decoder a combined data stream is made of functional data in the encoded occlusion data frames and the center view frames. Preferably the center view frames are used as reference frames in encoding the occlusion data frames.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image enhancement unit and a method of enhancing a first structure (S1) of samples into a second structure (S2) of samples, the first and the second structure both representing a first property of a scene and having a first resolution, based on a third structure (S3) of samples representing a second property and having the first resolution, the first property and the second property respectively representing different properties of substantially the same scene. The method comprising generating a fourth structure (S4) of samples representing the first property, the fourth structure (S4) of samples having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, by down-scaling first samples of the first structure (S1) of samples to form the samples of the fourth structure (S4) of samples.

Abstract: A method of up-scaling a first structure of samples representing a first property, the first structure having a source resolution, into a second structure of samples representing the first property, the second structure having a target resolution, on basis of a third structure of samples representing a second property, the third structure having the source resolution and on basis of a fourth structure of samples representing the second property, the fourth structure of samples having the target resolution, the method comprising: assigning weight factors to respective first samples of the first structure of samples on basis of differences between respective third samples of the third structure of samples and fourth samples of the fourth structure of samples; and computing the second samples of the second structure of samples on basis of the first samples of the first structure of samples and the respective weight factors.

Abstract: A system for determining a position characteristic for an object in a room comprises an optically identifiable element (103) positioned on a background surface for a detection area of the room. A camera (101) is positioned across the detection area from the optically identifiable element (103) and captures an image comprising the detection area and the optically identifiable element (103). A detector (403) detects the optically identifiable element (103) in the image based on an optical property. An occlusion processor (405) determines an occlusion property for an occlusion of the optically identifiable element (103) in the image in response to the optical property. A position processor (407) determines a depth position in response to the occlusion property where, the depth position is indicative of a position of the object along the optical axis of the camera (101). The invention may for example allow presence detection and rough localization of a person in a room.

Abstract: A method of rendering a multi-view image comprising a first output image and a second output image on basis of an input image (102) is disclosed. The method comprises: creating a modulation image (100) comprising irregular shaped objects (106-112); modulating pixel values of a portion of the input image (102) on basis of further pixel values of the modulation image (100), resulting into an intermediate image (104); and generating the multi-view image by means of warping the intermediate image on basis of the disparity data.