Pulse or digital communications – Bandwidth reduction or expansion – Television or motion video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-09
2001-04-10
Le, Vu (Department: 2613)
Pulse or digital communications
Bandwidth reduction or expansion
Television or motion video signal
C375S240280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215825
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the field of image compression and more particularly to the field of compression of stereographic images.
BACKGROUND ART
Stereographic images are typically generated with two electronic image sensing arrays. These arrays are positioned at a distance from each other to create a pair of images having different fields of view of the same scene. The resulting images can then be used to create a composite image containing depth information. Such depth information provides increased realism by providing a three-dimensional (3D) type view. A significant drawback to such images is the increased data generated by such images and the associated increased storage requirements for such data. The data generated by the dual arrays is twice the amount of data generated for an image having only a single field of view. High resolution images, which contain more data, amplify this problem. Data compression is a known technique for reducing data storage requirements. There remains, therefore, a need for further reduction of data storage requirements for stereographic images while maintaining acceptable image quality.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention advantageously provides reduction of data required to store and generate stereographic images. In a principal aspect, a stereographic image compressor (
100
) comprises a function processing unit (
118
) which is responsive to a first image signal (
110
) and a second image signal (
112
). The first image signal (
110
) contains image information of a scene (
104
) from a first field of view (
111
) and the second image signal (
112
) contains image information of the scene from a second field of view (
114
). The function processing unit (
118
) generates a difference image signal (
120
) that is indicative of differences between the first image signal (
110
) and the second image signal (
112
). A lossy compressor (
126
) compresses information contained in the difference image signal (
120
) to generate a compressed image information signal (
126
).
In certain preferred embodiments, the compressed image information signal (
126
) is stored along with the first image signal (
110
), which is also preferably compressed. The scene (
104
) represented by the first (
110
) and second (
112
) image signals, together with depth information associated with the combination of the two signals, can then be recreated for display from the stored first image signal and the compressed image information signal. Storing the compressed image information signal and the compressed first image signal advantageously reduces, by a significant amount, the data storage requirements for storage of stereographic information.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by reference to the attached specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4704627 (1987-11-01), Yuyama et al.
patent: 4884131 (1989-11-01), Chevion et al.
patent: 5619256 (1997-04-01), Haskell et al.
patent: 5633682 (1997-05-01), Tahara
patent: 5652616 (1997-07-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5886736 (1999-03-01), Chen
patent: 6057884 (2000-05-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6072831 (2000-06-01), Chen
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fenwick & West LLP
Le Vu
LandOfFree
Stereographic image compression with image difference... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stereographic image compression with image difference..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stereographic image compression with image difference... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439673