Image analysis – Applications – 3-d or stereo imaging analysis
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2002-04-09
Chen, Wenpeng (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Applications
3-d or stereo imaging analysis
C382S276000, C359S009000, C359S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06370268
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image data generating method for generating image data of an image recorded on a holographic stereogram. The invention also relates to a video data converting method for processing image data of plural images inclusive of the parallax information with pre-set video data conversion processing for generating image data of an image recorded on a holographic stereogram.
2. Description of the Related Art
A holographic stereogram is prepared by sequentially imaging an object from different viewing points for producing plural images as original images and by sequentially recording the images as elementary hologram (hologram elements) in the form of dots or strips.
For producing a holographic stereogram having the parallax information only in the horizontal direction, an object
100
is sequentially imaged from different viewing points in the horizontal direction for producing plural images
101
having the parallax information in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG.
1
. After forming these images into image data, the latter is processed by a computer by pre-set image data conversion processing for generating image data of an image
102
to be recorded on the holographic stereogram. Each image
102
derived from the image data processed with image data conversion processing is sequentially recorded on end in the horizontal direction as a strip-like element hologram on a recording medium for hologram
103
. This produces a holographic stereogram having the parallax information in the horizontal direction.
With this holographic stereogram, the information of plural images obtained on sequentially imaging an object from plural different viewing points is sequentially recorded in succession in the horizontal direction as a hologram of plural strip-like elements, so that, if a viewer views the holographic stereogram with both his or her eyes, the two-dimensional images as viewed by the left and right eyes of the viewer are slightly different from each other. Thus the user feels parallax so that a three-dimensional image is reproduced.
Meanwhile, if is desired for a reproduced image of a holographic stereogram to be viewed by the viewer as a spontaneous three-dimensional image, it is necessary to lay in store an extremely large number of images from which the holographic stereogram is derived.
Specifically, even with a holographic stereogram having the parallax information only in the horizontal direction, at least hundreds of original images are required, depending on the size or resolution of the holographic stereogram, for generating a sole holographic stereogram.
Thus, since the holographic stereogram handles voluminous image data, the conventional holographic stereogram formulating system stores image data of original images in a large-capacity external storage device, such as a hard disc drive, and pre-set image data conversion processing is performed on the image data for generating the image data of images recorded on the holographic stereogram.
Meanwhile, for producing the string of parallax images, as original images of the holographic stereogram, an imaging device
111
, directed to an object
110
, is moved by translational movement as indicated by arrow B
1
in
FIG. 2
, while the imaging device
111
is maintained in the same orientation, and an object
110
is imaged a large number of times from this position. That is, the imaging device
111
, directed to the object
110
, is moved by translational movement from a position in which the object
110
enters an imaging range by the imaging device
111
to a position in which the object
110
exits the imaging range by the imaging device
111
. During this time, a large number of images are shot.
However, if, with the imaging method, the object
110
is large in size, the imaging device
110
needs to be moved a long distance for imaging the object in its entirety, with the result that the system for producing the string of parallax images is increased in size.
In the above imaging operation, an image angle &thgr;v of the imaging device
111
, which is reflected in the angle of visibility in the horizontal direction of the holographic stereogram, needs to be set to a sufficiently large value. However, for-setting the image angle &thgr;v of the imaging device
111
to a large value, a wide angle lens needs to be used, thus raising the cost of the imaging device
111
. Moreover, if the image is shot using a wide angle lens with the image angle &thgr;v of the imaging device
111
set to a large value, the image tends to be distorted, thus tending to deteriorate the image quality of the holographic stereogram.
In addition, if the string of the parallax images is imaged as described above, many unneeded portions devoid of an image of the object
110
are contained in the string of the parallax images. In particular, the images towards the leading end and the trailing end of the string of the parallax images contain image portions only towards the edge portions thereof, with the main portions thereof being unneeded portions devoid of the image of the object
110
. Thus, if image data is produced from the string of parallax images, a large number of unneeded image data are contained, thus counteracting effective data utilization.
Alternatively, the string of parallax images, as original images of the holographic stereogram, may also be obtained by setting the object
110
on a turntable
112
, with the imaging device
110
being fixed, and by rotating the turntable
112
a preset angle each time the object
110
is imaged, as indicated by arrow B
2
in
FIG. 3
, for shooting plural images with different viewing angles.
As compared to the method of moving the imaging device
111
by transnational movement, as shown in
FIG. 2
, the above-described imaging method has an advantage that the overall size of the imaging system for the string of parallax images can be reduced even if the object
110
has an increased size. Also, a sufficient angle of visibility in the horizontal direction can be assured by rotating the object
110
even if the image angle &thgr;v is small. Moreover, since the object
110
is positioned at all times on the front side of the imaging device
111
even if the turntable
112
is rotated, the parallax images of the string are substantially free of unneeded portions devoid of images of the object
110
. Thus, if the image data is generated from this string of parallax images, unneeded image data are scarcely contained, thus meritoriously assuring effective data utilization.
Since the conventional holographic stereogram is prepared from viewing points at the shooting time, the holographic stereogram produced on the basis of the string of parallax images obtained on rotating the object
110
as described above is arcuately shaped in meeting with the viewing points at the shooting time. As a matter of course, the holographic stereogram is desirably planar in shape in consideration that the holographic stereogram producing system is used as a printer for outputting a hard copy capable of generating a three-dimensional image.
On the other hand, in formulating a holographic stereogram, since voluminous image data needs to be processed with an image data converting operation and subsequently a large number of images needs to be recorded sequentially as hologram elements, it takes considerable time to produce a holographic stereogram.
However, if it is envisaged to implement the holographic stereogram producing system as a printer device for outputting a hard copy capable of producing a three-dimensional image, it is desirable to reduce the time which elapses since inputting of images as original images of the holographic stereogram until completion of the holographic stereogram.
For example, the image data conversion processing of generating image data of images recorded on the holographic stereogram from image data of the original images is extremely time-consuming, and hence it is desired to speed up the image data conversion proce
Ashizaki Koji
Baba Shigeyuki
Kihara Nobuhiro
Shirakura Akira
Kananen Ronald P.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Sony Corporation
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