Image analysis – Applications – 3-d or stereo imaging analysis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-29
2004-10-19
Mehta, Bhavesh M. (Department: 2625)
Image analysis
Applications
3-d or stereo imaging analysis
C348S042000, C396S324000, C359S376000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06807295
ABSTRACT:
This patent application claims priority based on a Japanese patent application, H11-184153 filed on Jun. 29, 1999 and H11-184163 filed on Jun. 29, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stereoscopic imaging apparatus and camera and method therefor which pick up a stereoscopic image when an object is viewed from different points. More particularly, the present invention relates to the stereoscopic imaging apparatus and camera which image simultaneously a plurality of stereoscopic images.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of image processing as well as image recognition, generally adopted as a method to extract data of an object in the depth direction is a method in which a stereoscopic amount between stereoscopic images is detected utilizing a plurality of stereoscopic images obtained when the object is viewed from different points, so that the depth level up to the object is calculated from the stereoscopic amount.
As conventionally available apparatus which images a plurality of stereoscopic images, there is stereoscopic imaging apparatus shown in FIG.
1
. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a light passing portion
5
which includes an opening that passes the light on a pupil plane of the optical lens
4
. The opening is moved in the parallel direction to the optical lens
4
, and the image having passed the opening is imaged on a light receiving unit, so that a plurality of the stereoscopic images are imaged in sequence (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-42314).
When the opening is situated at
6
a
shown in
FIG. 1
, an image
3
c
in which an object
3
is focused is formed in a position away from the light receiving unit
7
, so that an out-of-focus image
3
a
is imaged on the light receiving unit
7
. When the opening is moved to a position
6
b
shown in
FIG. 1
, the image
3
c
in which the object
3
is focused is formed in the same position. However, in the light receiving unit
7
the out-of-focus image
3
b
is imaged on a position different from
3
a
. A displacement between the image imaged in the light receiving unit
7
and
3
b
is called a stereoscopic amount. By measuring the stereoscopic amount, a distance from the optical lens
4
to the object
3
can be calculated using a lens formula since both the distance between a position
6
a
and a position
6
b
in the opening unit and a focal length are known. By detecting the stereoscopic amount about all regions of the object and then calculating the distances between the optical lens
4
and the all regions, the distance distribution can be obtained.
Moreover, as another method of imaging the stereoscopic image, a plurality of openings are provided in the light passing portion
5
, and one of the openings is opened with other openings being closed in a predetermined time interval, so that a plurality of the stereoscopic images can be imaged in sequence (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-271534).
In order to obtain the depth of the object, the stereoscopic amount needs to be detected by comparing the images among the stereoscopic images. However, when a plurality of stereoscopic images are imaged in the above manner, a time lag occurs between when the first stereoscopic image is taken and when the second stereoscopic image is taken. Thus, if a camera is held by a hand, an error due to such unstable holding may result. Moreover, the object may move during this time lag. Thus, the error will result inevitably in a plurality of the stereoscopic images taken, and is problematic in that information on the correct depth of the object can not be obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide stereoscopic imaging apparatus and method which overcome the above issues in the related art. This object is achieved by combinations described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic imaging apparatus for imaging a plurality of stereoscopic images obtained when an object is viewed from different points, the apparatus comprising: an optical image forming unit having a single optical axis, which image-forms the object; a light receiving unit in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged and the object is image-formed by the optical image forming unit; alight passing portion including first and second openings through which light having passed through first and second regions in the optical image forming unit is irradiated to the light receiving unit; and an optical separation portion which simultaneously images both a first image having passed through the first opening and a second image having passed through the second opening, on the different light receiving elements of the light receiving unit.
Preferably, the first and second openings of the light passing portion are equipped with first and second opening optical filters which transmit different optical light components, respectively.
The optical separation portion may includes: a first light receiving portion optical filter which transmits again a light component having transmitted through the first opening optical filter; and a second light receiving portion optical filter which transmits again a light having transmitted through the second opening optical filter, wherein the first light receiving portion optical filter and the second light receiving optical filter are arranged in an alternate order.
The first and second opening optical filters of the light passing portion are, preferably, opening specific wavelength component transmitting filters which transmit different specific wavelength components of the light, respectively.
The optical separation portion may include: a first light receiving portion specific wavelength component transmitting filter which transmits the light having the same wavelength component as the first opening specific wavelength transmitting filter of the light passing portion; and a second light receiving portion specific wavelength component transmitting filter which transmits the light having the same wavelength component as the second opening specific wavelength component transmitting filter of the light passing portion, wherein the light receiving unit is covered in a manner such that the first and second light receiving portion specific wavelength component transmitting filters are arranged in alternate order.
Moreover, the first light receiving portion specific wavelength component transmitting filter may include: filters that transmit specific RGB wavelength components (&lgr;R
1
, &lgr;G
1
and &lgr;B
1
), respectively, and the second light receiving portion specific wavelength component transmitting filter may include: filters that transmit specific RGB wavelength components (&lgr;R
2
, &lgr;G
2
and &lgr;B
2
), respectively, and wherein the filter transmitting the wavelength &lgr;R
1
and the filter transmitting &lgr;R
2
are arranged adjacently; the filter transmitting the wavelength &lgr;G
1
and the filter transmitting &lgr;G
2
are arranged adjacently; and the filter transmitting the wavelength &lgr;B
1
and the filter transmitting &lgr;B
2
are arranged adjacently.
Moreover, the first and second opening optical filter of the light passing portion are, preferably, opening specific polarization component transmitting filters that transmit the light having a polarization plane of the horizontal direction and a polarization plane of the vertical direction, respectively.
Moreover, the optical separation portion may include light receiving portion specific polarization component transmitting filters which transmit the light having polarization planes of the horizontal and vertical directions, and the light receiving portion specific polarization component transmitting filters which transmit the light having polarization planes of the
Chawan Sheela
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Mehta Bhavesh M.
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