Stereoscopic (3d) camera system utilizing a monoscopic (2d) control unit

A method for providing an image, the method comprising:

• providing a camera system comprising:
• stereoscopic optics;
• a right image sensor for acquiring a right image from the stereoscopic optics and a left image sensor for acquiring a left image from the stereoscopic optics;
• a horizontal line switch for receiving the right image from the right image sensor and the left image from the left image sensor and creating a composite image wherein the horizontal line signals from the right image sensor are alternated with the horizontal line signals from the left image sensor;
• and
• a single camera processor for receiving the composite image from the horizontal line switch for presenting to a display;
• directing the stereoscopic optics at a field of view;
• using the right image sensor to acquire a right image from the stereoscopic optics and the left image sensor to acquire a left image from the stereoscopic optics;
• using a horizontal line switch to receive the right image from the right image sensor and the left image from the left image sensor and create a composite image wherein the horizontal line signals from the right image sensor are alternated with the horizontal line signals from the left image sensor;
• and
• presenting the composite image to a display.

A method for providing an image, the method comprising:

• providing a camera system comprising:
• monoscopic optics;
• an image sensor for acquiring an image from the monoscopic optics;
• providing apparatus comprising:
• stereoscopic optics;
• a right image sensor for acquiring a right image from the stereoscopic optics and a left image sensor for acquiring a left image from the stereoscopic optics;
• a horizontal line switch for receiving the right image from the right image sensor and the left image from the left image sensor and creating a composite image wherein the horizontal line signals from the right image sensor are alternated with the horizontal line signals from the left image sensor;
• and
• a single camera processor for receiving the composite image from the horizontal line switch and presenting the composite image to a display;
• replacing the monoscopic optics with the stereoscopic optics, and replacing the image sensor with the right image sensor, the left image sensor and the horizontal line switch;
• directing the stereoscopic optics at a field of view;
• using the right image sensor to acquire a right image from the stereoscopic optics and the left image sensor to acquire a left image from the stereoscopic optics;
• using a horizontal line switch to receive the right image from the right image sensor and the left image from the left image sensor and create a composite image wherein the horizontal line signals from the right image sensor are alternated with the horizontal line signals from the left image sensor;
• and
• presenting the composite image to a display.