Abstract: A camera has one or more rows of imaging lenses and an imaging sensor to capture a plurality of images formed by the imaging lenses. Each pair of the imaging lenses in a row is separated by an inter-lens spacing and the inter-lens spacing of any one pair of the imaging lenses is different from the inter-lens spacing of another pair. An image selection device is used to select the images formed by two imaging lenses for making a three-dimensional image. The number of the imaging lenses is three or more.

Abstract: This patent provides a novel stereoscopic imaging system. In the preferred embodiment, the improved stereoscopic imaging system would be incorporated onto a smart phone, which is called the stereoscopic smart phone (SSP). The SSP would work in conjunction with one or more stereoscopic head display units (SHDUs). Once this system is operational, it will allow significant improvements to obtaining stereoscopic imagery. One novel aspect of this patent comprises wherein the stereoscopic cameras on the SSP can move in position to alter stereo separation distance and change the convergence to optimally image a scene.

Abstract: Example stereoscopic image photographing apparatuses and methods are disclosed. A disclosed example stereoscopic image photographing apparatus includes a shutter unit including a first region and a second region that are defined based on a gravity direction as an absolute basis regardless of an arrangement of the stereoscopic image photographing apparatus. A first image signal is generated by converting a first optical signal input through a first region of the shutter unit, and a second image signal is generated by converting a second optical signal input through the second region. In addition, a stereoscopic image is generated using the first image signal and the second image signal. Thus, a stereoscopic image with a difference between right and left views may be generated regardless of an orientation of the stereoscopic image photographing apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing device comprising a representative parallax acquisition unit, a scene separation unit to separate the stereoscopic video into multiple scenes when a parallax width does not comply with an allowable parallax width, a parallax adjustment unit to decide whether a scene parallax width complies with the allowable parallax width, and uniformly adjust the representative parallaxes for the respective stereoscopic image frames constituting the scene such that the scene parallax width complies with the allowable parallax width, the scene parallax width being defined by a maximum value and a minimum value of the representative parallaxes for the respective stereoscopic image frames constituting the scene, and an output unit, wherein the representative parallaxes for the respective stereoscopic image frames include a statistical operation value to be calculated based on parallaxes that, of parallaxes for the stereoscopic image frames, meet a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Afforded is an optical element holder allowing high-accuracy stereo images to be taken. The holder includes: a rectangular parallelepiped beam splitter (5) having a rectangular incident surface (12); a pair of mutually opposing holding members (8) into which end portions of the beam splitter along the x-axis are fitted; and a base portion (9) and screws (10) that press on the holding members (8), drawing them toward each other. Each of the holding members (8) has a flat surface portion covering a lateral surface of the beam splitter (5), and a peripheral wall portion standing along the periphery of the flat surface potion. A width, along the x-axis, whereby the peripheral wall portion and a first light-exit surface opposing the incident surface (12) of the beam splitter (5) overlap is greater than a width, in the same orientation, whereby the incident surface (12) and the peripheral wall portion overlap.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus with photographing function is disclosed. The electronic apparatus comprises a main body and a sliding structure. The main body comprises a lens module and a controlling module. The sliding structure is movably connected to the main body and comprises an optical module. The optical module comprises two light-incidence openings, and the distance between the two light-incidence openings is substantially equal to the average distance between a human's eyes. The lens module is capable of obtaining two images via the optical module through movement of the sliding structure. The two images may be processed via the controlling module to form a 3D image.

Abstract: An optical path adjusting device includes a supporting plate having a hole through which light travels, a two-dimensional (2D) aperture disposed in the supporting plate so as to adjust an open area of the hole, and a three-dimensional (3D) aperture having a plurality of first blinds and a plurality of second blinds. The plurality of first blinds are disposed to correspond to a first area of the hole so as to move to open or close the first area, and the plurality of second blinds are disposed to correspond to a second area of the hole so as to move to open or close the second area.

Abstract: A small-sized stereo-image taking apparatus that includes a small-sized beam splitter for splitting in two the imaging light from a photographic subject and that makes it possible to take both telephotographic-range and wide-angle-range images is afforded. The stereo-image taking apparatus includes: an optical element having an optically functional surface splitting in two the imaging light from a photographic subject; first and second telescopic lens barrels having telescoping functionality; first and second imaging devices mounted on the first and second telescopic lens barrels, for generating first and second images on the basis of first and second imaging light constructing images through the first and second telescopic lens barrels; and first and second moveable sections causing the first and second imaging devices to parallel-shift optical-axis-wise in accordance with extension/retraction of the first and second telescopic lens barrels.

Abstract: A system and method for generating 3D images comprising a plurality of fully-adjustable optical elements arranged in pyramidical configurations on parallel planes such that the cameras have different convergent points and focal points.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographing device whose bulk is intended to be reduced. According to the invention, a permanent division of the object field observed by the device is associated with a catadioptric configuration.

Abstract: A method and system acquire and display light fields. A continuous light field is reconstructed from input samples of an input light field of a 3D scene acquired by cameras according to an acquisition parameterization. The continuous light is reparameterized according to a display parameterization and then prefiltering and sampled to produce output samples having the display parametrization. The output samples are displayed as an output light field using a 3D display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stereo imager that is reduced in the number of members, favorable in view of cost and less susceptible to variations from optical system to optical system. The stereo imager comprises a single image pickup device 4 and a stereo imaging optical system including bending member 21L, 21R, 22L and 22R for bending parallactic light beams from a subject and adapted to form on the single image pickup device 4 at least two parallactic images having mutual parallaxes. The stereo imaging optical system comprises at least one optical member 3 located in front of the single image pickup device 4 and adapted to receive light beams forming at least two parallactic images and have the same optical action or function with respect to each light beam.

Abstract: A compound-eye camera comprises: a camera body substantially shaped like a rectangular solid having a front side and a back side larger than other sides and including a display device on the back side; and substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels, each storing a refractive optical system including two reflective optical elements for refracting a photographing optical axis twice, the lens barrels guiding subject images incident on a pair of right and left objective lenses to image sensors. In the camera, the substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels are each disposed along two adjacent inner surfaces of the camera body. Thereby, a compound-eye camera which has excellent portability and enables the installation of a large display device is achieved.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image photography apparatus is provided, which includes an image photography unit; and an adaptor which causes a left eye image and a right eye image to alternately enter the image photography unit.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an alkaline solution, comprising dissolving a gaseous molecule having oxidizing properties or reducing properties in an aqueous alkaline solution.

Abstract: An optical system includes a pair of front optical components, an optical member for superposing respective optical axes of the pair of front optical components on each other, a rear optical component disposed such that the superimposed optical axes coincide with an optical axis of the rear optical component, the rear optical component including a lens unit arranged to move during zooming, and a lens unit arranged to move during focusing and disposed on an object side of the lens unit arranged to move during zooming, and a pair of shutters capable of independently controlling amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from an object. The optical system forms parallactical images in a time-series manner by causing the pair of shutters to alternately change the amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from the object.

Abstract: The optical device of the present invention is able to capture a three-dimensional image via one or more imaging devices while permitting the viewer to view the object(s) during image acquisition. The user is thereby able to adjust the orientation of the optical device to obtain the desired image.

Abstract: An optical system is provided with a pair of forward optical components each having a shutter for controlling the amount of transmission of a light from an object, an optical member for laying the optical axes of the pair of forward optical components one upon the other, and a rearward optical component disposed so that the optical axis thereof may coincide with the optical axes laid one upon the other. The optical system alternately varies the amounts of transmission of the light transmitted through the shutters of the pair of forward optical components to thereby time-serially form a parallax image.

Abstract: An optical system for shooting a three-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image shooting apparatus using the optical system produces an image with a smaller amount of light leaked from the side to be cut off over an entire image frame when parallax images are obtained by employing a shutter in which the extinction ratio varies depending on an incident angle. The optical system includes a pair of front optical components each having negative optical power, an optical member for superimposing optical axes of the pair of front optical components with each other, a rear optical component disposed to have an optical axis aligned with the superimposed optical axes, and a shutter capable of independently controlling amounts of transmitted light incident upon the pair of front optical components from an object. The shutter is disposed between the pair of front optical components and the rear optical component.

Abstract: Outside air taken in from the outside is cooled to a predetermined temperature by a cooler, and the air cooled by the cooler flows through a low temperature side flow path in a heat exchanger, whereas outside air flows through a high temperature side flow path in the heat exchanger, which allows heat to be exchanged between the cooled air and the outside air. The air, flowing through the low temperature side flow path in the heat exchanger and warmed up by the outside air flowing through the high temperature side flow path, is warmed and humidified by a warmer and a humidifier, and the air with predetermined temperature and humidity is supplied to a coating processing unit. Moreover, the outside air, flowing through the high temperature side flow path in the heat exchanger and cooled by the air flowing through the low temperature side flow path, is warmed by a warmer, and the air with a predetermined temperature is supplied to a developing processing unit.

Abstract: An adapter enables three-dimensional motion photography by means of a single camera, video or film, that includes a single lens system and image pickup. The adapter is engageable to a conventional camera. An optical system within the adapter includes a mirror for detecting a second, distinct perspective of a field-of-view. The two perspective views are orthogonally polarized and applied to a single switchable liquid crystal polarization rotator that is driven by a periodic SYNC signal derived from the camera. A polarization filter receives the output of the rotator which alternately passes perspective views unaltered and rotated by ninety degrees in polarization, providing alternating frames of one or another perspective view to the camera. The stream of alternating perspectives provides a three-dimensional viewing effect when processed by conventional video and film systems.

Abstract: A cylindrical lenticular image is made possible by the interlacing of multiple views of an object. The interlaced views are then printed on a substrate and the substrate formed into a cylinder. A lenticular lens is then properly aligned with the substrate. The result is a three dimensional image that can be rotated to reveal a full three-hundred and sixty degree perspective of the imaged object.

Abstract: A stereoscopic picture-taking method comprises the steps of (1) positioning two image-bearing transparencies each having substantially the same positive image at separate right-position and left-position locations relative to one another; (2) projecting light through the right-positioned transparency first to a right-positioned taking lens of a camera and then to a right-positioned imaging area on a filmstrip in the camera, to expose a latent image on the right-positioned imaging area of the positive image on the right-positioned transparency; and (3) projecting light through the left-positioned transparency first to a left-positioned taking lens of the camera located to the left of the right-positioned taking lens and then to a left-positioned imaging area on the filmstrip located to the left of the right-positioned imaging area, to expose a latent image on the left-positioned imaging area of the positive image on the left-positioned transparency.

Abstract: A method for remote approval of lenticular images and an apparatus which can execute the method. In the method, a centralized hub station receives a series of images. A user then views at a terminal remote from the centralized hub station, a simulated lenticular image using at least some images of the series displayed to simulate viewing an actual lenticular image formed from the images of the series. Following such viewing, an approval is transmitted from the remote terminal to the centralized hub station, for a plurality of the images of the series to be printed as the actual lenticular image. The actual lenticular image is then printed at the hub station based on the approval.

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: A prism 11 installed over focal plates 9 and 10 of a reflex-type stereo camera 1 is a composite prism forming two right and left inversion prisms as a unitary structure. The inner one-half pictures of the right and left inverted pictures on the focal plates 9 and 10 are inverted right side left through the prism 11, so that an erect image of the outer one-half picture in the photographing range of the left lens 5 is projected onto the left side of the central projection plane of the prism 11 and an erect image of the outer one-half picture in the photographing range of the right lens 4 is projected onto the right side thereby to synthesize a picture. Thus, the right and left images can be simultaneously seen through one finder, making it easy to view the image and to operate the camera.

Abstract: Camera provided with a lens, a diaphragm and a photographic film or plate arranged behind the diaphragm and located on a plane which is normal to the optical axis of the lens. The lens comprises: at least two light inlets; a doublet or triplet for each light inlet, suitable for collimating the incoming light and for correcting any aberrations; and a merging system, suitable for merging the homologous light rays which leave the doublets or triplets before they reach the photographic film. The photographic film or plate is a high-resolution film.