Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2004-01-13
Jankus, Almis R. (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
active
06677939
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image processing apparatus for converting space data described in a language dealing with 3D virtual spaces, e.g., a VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language), into image data that can be stereoscopically viewed, a stereoscopic vision parameter setting apparatus, and a stereoscopic image display apparatus, and methods for these apparatuses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the recent advances in the performance of computers, 3D computer graphics (CG) have been rapidly popularized. Along with this trend, the WWW (Word Wide Web) on the Internet has rapidly become widespread, and the VRML (virtual Reality Modeling Language) has been standardized as a language dealing with a 3D space on the WWW and widely used.
The latest version of this language, which has been currently released, VRML2.0, is used for the construction of a virtual mall for electronic commerce, management of 3D data such as CAD data in an intranet, and the like.
The present applicant has developed a rear-cross lenticular type 3D display (3D display will be referred to as a stereoscopic display apparatus to distinguish it from a 2D display apparatus) as a stereoscopic display apparatus that allows the observer to directly perceive depth. Many stereoscopic display apparatus, other than this display apparatus proposed by the present applicant, have been proposed.
To display a 3D space described in VRML2.0, a VRML viewer apparatus is required. General VRML viewer apparatuses are just 2D display apparatuses (to be referred to as “two-dimensional display apparatuses” hereinafter in association with “stereoscopic display apparatuses”) which uses general monitors to display final images although the described space is a 3D space.
This is because the conventional VRML apparatus cannot efficiently generate images for stereoscopic vision, and hence is not suited for real-time reproduction of stereoscopic images. In addition, some parameters for implementing stereoscopic vision (to be referred to as stereoscopic vision parameters hereinafter) are not supported by VRML2.0, and hence stereoscopic vision cannot be realized in practice.
Stereoscopic vision parameters are parameters associated with base line length, convergence angle, field of view, and the like. In stereoscopically displaying a target such as a 3D geometric model, virtual space, or virtual object, when the unit or value of the size of the target is clear, the target can be displayed to allow the observer to perceive the size and obtain stereoscopic vision. If, for example, an erroneous base line length is set, stereoscopic vision cannot be ensured. It is therefore important to properly set the initial values of stereoscopic vision parameters.
In consideration of this point, the present applicant has proposed a technique of setting the initial value of base line length based on the whole size of a 3D space so as to ensure stereoscopic vision, and setting the convergence angle to 0° (i.e., parallel vision) in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-020757 (Jan. 21, 2000).
Problems associated with stereoscopic vision parameters are not limited to the time of initial setting.
For example, while a walkthrough system is provided for the user who is experiencing a virtual space, the viewpoint conditions (viewpoint position and visual axis direction) for observation of a target dynamically change. For this reason, even if the initial values of base line length and convergence angle are properly set, the base line length and convergence angle must be dynamically changed in accordance with changes in viewpoint conditions as walkthrough progresses.
To meet this demand, the present applicant has proposed a technique of allowing the user to dynamically change the above stereoscopic vision parameters through a graphic user interface provided on the display screen of a stereoscopic display in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-020757.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-020757 has proposed initial values and real-time values of stereoscopic vision parameters.
In this conventional technique, however, since stereoscopic vision parameters are set through a user interface, it is impossible to dynamically change the stereoscopic parameters following change of the viewpoint conditions (viewpoint position, visual axis direction). Therefore, it is necessary to stop viewpoint moving operation and manually change the stereoscopic parameters. Also, according to the method of setting initial value of base line length based on the whole size of the space, there is a problem where an optimum value is not always obtained for a visible part of the space.
Setting the initial value of convergence angle to 0° can also ensure stereoscopic vision. This, however, does not necessarily provide desired stereoscopic vision.
Note that the challenge of setting the initial vales and real-time values of stereoscopic vision parameters is not limited to a system handling VRML data. This challenge is posed in handling every space data as long as it is 3D space data having no stereoscopic vision parameters set or 3D space data in a virtual space in which stereoscopic image data or stereoscopic vision parameters must be dynamically changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above prior art and techniques proposed by the present applicant, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus and parameter setting apparatus which automatically set optimal initial values of stereoscopic vision parameters.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and parameter setting apparatus which automatically update the optimal real-time values of stereoscopic vision parameters.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and parameter setting apparatus which set optimal values of stereoscopic vision parameters in accordance with the needs of a user or observer.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic image processing apparatus for obtaining stereoscopic vision of an arbitrary object by displaying left- and right-eye images of the object, characterized by comprising:
parameter determining means for determining a stereoscopic vision parameter on the basis of image data of one of the left- and right-eye images and displacement information representing a displacement distance between the left- and right-eye images in a 2D rendering space; and
output means for using the determined stereoscopic vision parameter for stereoscopic vision output of the left- and right-eye images.
If, for example, base line length as a stereoscopic vision parameter is set to the displacement distance in a 3D space, stereoscopic vision is ensured. That is, a stereoscopic vision parameter is set without troubling the user or observer.
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the parameter determining means comprises:
displacement distance setting means for presetting a displacement distance between left and right image data of a predetermined object point of the object, which appears when the image data are rendered in the 2D rendering space;
displacement computing means for computing a position of a displaced point separated from coordinates of the object point in the 2D rendering space by the displacement distance in a base line length direction of an observer;
coordinate transformation means for computing coordinates of the displaced point in a 3D space; and
base line length determining means for determining a base line length on the basis of a distance between 3D coordinates of the displaced point and the object point.
The necessity to determine stereoscopic vision parameters becomes noticeable when 3D data having no data about stereoscopic vision parameters is to be handled. Since the initial values of stereoscopic vision parameters must be set for such data, according to still another preferred aspect of the present
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Jankus Almis R.
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