Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images includes identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Abstract: A method of creating at least one depth map for an image sequence including the steps of receiving depth data for a plurality of points in the image sequence, utilising the depth data and a classifier to ascertain depth characteristics as a function of image characteristics and relative position and creating a depth map for at least one frame of the image sequence utilising the image characteristics.

Abstract: A method of compressing depth maps including the steps of determining the boundary of at least one object within a depth map, applying a curve to the boundary of each object, and converting the continuous depth data within an area bounded by the curve into at least one ramp function.

Abstract: A method of generating a synthesized 3D image from a source 2D image for display on a 3D display device including mapping a position on the display device to a fractional view number, and determining a source pixel of the 2D image to represent the said fractional view number, wherein the source pixel is determined as a function of the depth of a pixel at the position.

Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Abstract: A method of creating a depth map including the steps of assigning a depth to at least one pixel or portion of an image, determining relative location and image characteristics for each at least one pixel or portion of the image, utilizing the depth(s), image characteristics and respective location to determine an algorithm to ascertain depth characteristics as a function relative location and image characteristics, utilizing said algorithm to calculate a depth characteristic for each pixel or portion of the image, wherein the depth characteristics form a depth map for the image. In a second phase of processing the said depth maps form key frames for the generation of depth maps for non-key frames using relative location, image characteristics and distance to key frame(s).

Abstract: A method of generating images suitable for use with a multi-view stereoscopic display including the steps of intercepting data passed from an application to an application programming interface, the data representing a scene or object to be displayed on the display; processing the data to render multiple views of the scene or object; creating modified data by modifying the intercepted data to represent the multiple views; and passing the modified data to the application programming interface.

Abstract: A method of generating a synthesized 3D image from a source 2D image for display on a 3D display device including mapping a position on the display device to a fractional view number, and determining a source pixel of the 2D image to represent the said fractional view number, wherein the source pixel is determined as a function of the depth of a pixel at the position.

Abstract: A method of encoding depth data within a video image wherein the depth data is included within an active picture area of the video image.

Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Abstract: A method of producing a depth map for use in the conversion of 2D images into stereoscopic images including the steps of: identifying at least one object within a 2D image; allocating an identifying tag to each object; allocating a depth tag to each object; and determining and defining an outline of each object.

Abstract: A method of creating at least one depth map for an image sequence including the steps of receiving depth data for a plurality of points in the image sequence, utilising the depth data and a classifier to ascertain depth characteristics as a function of image characteristics and relative position and creating a depth map for at least one frame of the image sequence utilising the image characteristics.

Abstract: A method of encoding a 2D image with an associated depth map, said 2D image having a plurality of frames making up the 2D image and each frame having a odd and even field, wherein the method includes the step of recording the associated depth map in at least a portion of the odd or even field.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an endoscope including the steps of placing a calibration target in front of the endoscope, capturing an image frame of the calibration target by the endoscope, determining a pixel value for each pixel of the image frame, comparing each pixel value with a reference value and determining a compensation value for each pixel.

Abstract: An image conversion system for converting monoscopic images for viewing in three dimensions including: an input means adapted to receive the monoscopic images; a preliminary analysis means to determine if there is any continuity between a first image and a second image of the monoscopic image sequence; a secondary analysis means for receiving monoscopic images which have a continuity, and analyzing the images to determine the speed and direction of motion, and the depth, size and position of objects; a first processing means for processing the monoscopic images based on data received from the preliminary analysis means or the secondary analysis means; a second processing means capable of further processing images received from the first processing means; a transmission means capable of transferring the processed images to a stereoscopic display system.

Abstract: An image conversion system for converting monoscopic images for viewing in three dimensions including: an input means adapted to receive the monoscopic images; a preliminary analysis means to determine if there is any continuity between a first image and a second image of the monoscopic image sequence; a secondary analysis means for receiving monoscopic images which have a continuity, and analyzing the images to determine the speed and direction of motion, and the depth, size and position of objects; a first processing means for processing the monoscopic images based on data received from the preliminary analysis means or the secondary analysis means; a second processing means capable of further processing images received from the first processing means; a transmission means capable of transferring the processed images to a stereoscopic display system.

Abstract: A system for displaying a plurality of images to multiple viewers (V1, V2, V3, . . . , VN) includes at least one semi-reflective mirror (12), a retroreflective screen (15) and a plurality of optical imaging means (not shown), each viewer being provided with a respective optical imaging means, each optical imaging means including a projection means for projecting images along an optical path, a tracking means (not shown) to determine the spatial position of the respective viewer's eyes, and a focusing means (not shown) to modify the optical path in response to movement of the respective viewer (V1, V2, V3, . . . , VN).

Abstract: A tracking system is provided for locating the eyes of a viewer including: an illumination element; a plurality of cameras; and a processor; wherein at least the viewer's eyes are illuminated by the illumination element to enable capture by each camera, and wherein the processor is adapted to process images from each camera so as to detect the position of the viewer's eyes.

Abstract: A method of producing left and right eye images for a stereoscopic display from a layered source including at least one layer, and at least one object on the at least one layer, including the steps of defining a depth characteristic for each object or layer and respectively displacing each object or layer by a determined amount in a lateral direction as a function of the depth characteristic of each layer.