Abstract: A method is provided for processing image data for display by a multiple-view display device (24) so as to reduce the visibility of undesirable artefacts. Image pixel data are received (20, 21) representing the pixel brightnesses of respective images or sequences of images. The pixel data are processed (22) by applying a unidirectional filter. The processed pixel data for the images may then be interleaved (23) and supplied to the display device (24).

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel (2) for displaying an image by spatial light modulation. The image is represented by a plurality of image elements each having an image data value (7). The display device further comprises a display controller (1) arranged to determine a signal voltage to be applied to the panel (2) for each image element in dependence upon its image data value (7) and a secondary data value (8) for the element, there being a predetermined mapping between the data values and the signal voltage. The secondary data values (8) are arranged to vary across the image so as to introduce variations in luminance as a result of the mapping. The mapping and secondary data values (8) are mutually arranged to take account of the signal voltage to on-axis luminance response of the panel (2) so that the luminance variations introduced on-axis tend to balance locally through spatial averaging to, and hence would not be perceivable by, an on-axis viewer (3).

Abstract: An adapter is provided for adapting an optical instrument, such as a camera (3) or a projector, to capture or display panoramic three-dimensional images. The adapter comprises a plurality of mirrors (1a, 1b, 1c), each of which has a reflective surface which is in the shape of a curved non-circular conic section rotated about an axis of symmetry (15a, 15b, 15c). The reflective surfaces have first foci which are spaced perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the adapter and which are angularly spaced around the longitudinal axis. For example, the conic section may be a hyperbola with first foci equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis and equiangularly spaced around 15b the longitudinal axis. The axes of symmetry (15a, 15b, 15c) of the mirrors (1a, 1b, 1c) converge to intersect the longitudinal axis at a point which is coincident with the front principal point of, for example, a camera lens (12).

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel (2) for displaying an image by spatial light modulation. The image is represented by a plurality of image elements each having an image data value (7). The display device further comprises a display controller (1) arranged to determine a signal voltage to be applied to the panel (2) for each image element in dependence upon its image data value (7) and a secondary data value (8) for the element, there being a predetermined mapping between the data values and the signal voltage. The secondary data values (8) are arranged to vary across the image so as to introduce variations in luminance as a result of the mapping. The mapping and secondary data values (8) are mutually arranged to take account of the signal voltage to on-axis luminance response of the panel (2) so that the luminance variations introduced on-axis tend to balance locally through spatial averaging to, and hence would not be perceivable by, an on-axis viewer (3).

Abstract: A method is provided for processing image data for display by a multiple-view display device (24) so as to reduce the visibility of undesirable artefacts. Image pixel data are received (20, 21) representing the pixel brightnesses of respective images or sequences of images. The pixel data are processed (22) by applying a unidirectional filter. The processed pixel data for the images may then be interleaved (23) and supplied to the display device (24).

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display comprises a pixellated transflective spatial light modulator which is arranged to provide a visual indication to an observer of the amount of crosstalk caused by reflection of ambient illumination. The display comprises a rear parallax barrier between a backlight and the modulator. Part of the barrier is formed as a screen blocking transmitted light from a first region of the modulator so that the pixels in this region are visible only by reflection of ambient illumination. In a second region, the pixels are illuminated with both transmitted and reflected light. A controller sets the pixels of the first region to maximum intensity and the pixels of the second region to a fraction of the maximum intensity. The fraction corresponds, for example, to a maximum amount of crosstalk which is permissible for autostereoscopic viewing.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for adapting an optical instrument, such as a camera (3) or a projector, to capture or display panoramic three-dimensional images. The adapter comprises a plurality of mirrors (1a, 1b, 1c), each of which has a reflective surface which is in the shape of a curved non-circular conic section rotated about an axis of symmetry (15a, 15b, 15c). The reflective surfaces have first foci which are spaced perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the adapter and which are angularly spaced around the longitudinal axis. For example, the conic section may be a hyperbola with first foci equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal axis and equiangularly spaced around 15b the longitudinal axis. The axes of symmetry (15a, 15b, 15c) of the mirrors (1a, 1b, 1c) converge to intersect the longitudinal axis at a point which is coincident with the front principal point of, for example, a camera lens (12).

Abstract: A stereoscopic display controller supplies serial picture element data to a scanned stereoscopic display which comprises a plurality of picture elements. Each of the picture elements includes image data for M color components, while M is greater than one. The stereoscopic display controller includes: N memories, N being an integer greater than one; a memory controller arranged to write the picture element data for N different views of a three-dimensional image in the respective memories, and arranged to control reading of the memories in turn so that image data for consecutively scanned picture elements of the display are read from different ones of the memories; and a data reordering circuit coupled to outputs of the memories and arranged to reorder the image data for at least one of the color components.

Abstract: A method of rectifying a stereoscopic image consisting of left and right captured images comprises determining left and right rectification transformations. According to one aspect of the invention, statistics of the parameters of the stereoscopic image capture device used to capture the left and right images are used in the determination of the left and/or right rectification transformation. According to another aspect of the invention, the left and right rectification transformations are constrained to correspond to a transformation to a virtual alignment to a parallel camera set-up. Once the left and right rectification transformations have been determined they are preferably used to rectify the left and right images to eliminate, or substantially eliminate, vertical disparity from the rectified image pair. The left and right rectified images may then be displayed on a stereoscopic display device for viewing by an observer, or they may alternatively be stored for later use.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display comprises an SLM which is controlled to provide an image display and a signal display. A parallax optic has a first portion which cooperates with the image display to form a plurality of viewing windows. A second portion of the parallax optic forms first and second images visible to an observer to allow the observer to distinguish between a desired orthoscopic viewing zone and undesirable viewing positions such as pseudoscopic positions. The pitch of parallax elements in the second portion is one and a half times the parallax element pitch in the first portion.

Abstract: A method of producing a stereo image of a (real or simulated) scene using at least one (real or simulated) camera, which creates the impression of being a 3D image when viewed on a display by a user, wherein the depth of the scene is mapped onto a maximum perceived depth of the image on the display, and the maximum perceived depth is chosen to provide comfortable viewing for the user.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display comprises an SLM which is controlled to provide an image display and a signal display. A parallax optic has a first portion which cooperates with the image display to form a plurality of viewing windows. A second portion of the parallax optic forms first and second images visible to an observer to allow the observer to distinguish between a desired orthoscopic viewing zone and undesirable viewing positions such as pseudoscopic positions. The pitch of parallax elements in the second portion is one and a half times the parallax element pitch in the first portion.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display comprises a pixellated transflective spatial light modulator which is arranged to provide a visual indication to an observer of the amount of crosstalk caused by reflection of ambient illumination. The display comprises a rear parallax barrier between a backlight and the modulator. Part of the barrier is formed as a screen blocking transmitted light from a first region of the modulator so that the pixels in this region are visible only by reflection of ambient illumination. In a second region, the pixels are illuminated with both transmitted and reflected light. A controller sets the pixels of the first region to maximum intensity and the pixels of the second region to a fraction of the maximum intensity. The fraction corresponds, for example, to a maximum amount of crosstalk which is permissible for autostereoscopic viewing.

Abstract: A method of rectifying a stereoscopic image consisting of left and right captured images comprises determining left and right rectification transformations. According to one aspect of the invention, statistics of the parameters of the stereoscopic image capture device used to capture the left and right images are used in the determination of the left and/or right rectification transformation.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display controller supplies serial picture element data to a scanned stereoscopic display which comprises a plurality of picture elements. Each of the picture elements includes image data for M colur components, while M is greater than one. The stereoscopic display controller includes: N memories, N being an integer greater than one; a memory controller arranged to write the picture element data for N different views of a three-dimensional image in the respective memories, and arranged to control reading of the memories in turn so that image data for consecutively scanned picture elements of the display are read from different ones of the memories; and a data reordering circuit coupled to outputs of the memories and arranged to reorder the image data for at least one of the color components.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display controller supplies serial picture element data to a scanned stereoscopic display which includes a plurality of picture elements. Each of the picture elements includes image data for M color components, while M is greater than one. The stereoscopic display controller includes: N memories, N being an integer greater than one; a memory controller arranged to write the picture element data for N different views of a three-dimensional image in the respective memories, and arranged to control reading of the memories in turn so that image data for consecutively scanned picture elements of the display are read from different ones of the memories; and a data reordering circuit coupled to outputs of the memories and arranged to reorder the image data for at least one of the color components.

Abstract: A 3D camera includes at least two detector heads which are moveable laterally with respect to each other but whose optical are maintained parallel. Each of the detector heads includes a zoom lens and a detector. A user selects the separation between the detector heads and the camera electronics automatically select the field of view by controlling the zoom lenses as a function of the detector head separation.