US 5,671,007 A · Two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging device with improved light valve and field rate

Abstract

A system and method for imaging and viewing, by a viewer, color and monochrome three-dimensional and two-dimensional. images for broadcasting in accordance with NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and other world-wide electronic viewing formats. The invention comprises a camera device, a viewing device, a transmitter for transmitting a drive signal, and at least one pair of viewing glasses. The camera device includes a single imaging lens having a multi-aperture light value, and a single image space for receiving and overlaying a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images at a field rate driven by the drive signal. The pair of viewing glasses includes a left-viewing light valve and a right-viewing-light valve. In response to receiving the drive signal, the left-viewing-light valve opens and closes, synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the plurality of left-eye images. The right-viewing-light valve, responsive to the drive signal, opens and closes synchronized with the field rate, but alternatingly with the left-viewing-light valve, for viewing the plurality of right-eye images. The plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images appear three-dimensional when viewed through the pair of viewing glasses, and appear two-dimensional when viewed without the glasses.

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Claims13

Dependent claims

A two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging system for imaging and viewing, by a viewer having a left eye and a right eye, color and monochrome images simultaneously two-dimensional and three-dimensional, with the color and monochrome images meeting any of NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and other world-wide electronic viewing formats, comprising:

a. a camera device including,
i. means for generating a drive signal synchronized to a vertical field rate;
ii. a single imaging lens;
and
iii. a multi-aperture light valve, located within proximity of the single imaging lens, responsive to the drive signal, for alternatingly and field-sequentially imaging, at the field rate, an object as a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images, said multi-aperture light valve defined as having at least four apertures, with at least two apertures remaining open during the imaging of the plurality of left-eye images and during the imaging of the plurality of right-eye images for enhanced lens light efficiency;
b. a viewing device for displaying the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images;
c. means for transmitting the drive signal;
and
d. at least one pair of viewing glasses including,
i. a drive circuit for receiving the drive signal;
ii. a left-viewing-light valve for operating over the left eye, with said left-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal from said transmitting means, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the plurality of left-eye images;
iii. a right-viewing-light valve for operating over the right eye, with said right-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal from said transmitting means, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, alternatingly from said left-viewing-light valve, for viewing the plurality of right-eye images;
and
e. whereby, with the viewing glasses, the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images appear to the viewer as a three-dimensional image and, without the viewing glasses, the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images appear to the viewer as a two-dimensional image having normal clarity and definition.

11 more elements

A two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging and viewing system for a viewer having a left eye and a right eye, comprising:

a camera device for alternatingly and field-sequentially imaging, responsive to a drive signal, a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images at a field rate, said camera device including,
a single imaging lens;
a light valve having at least a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture, said light valve located within proximity of the single imaging lens, said light valve, responsive to the drive signal, for alternatingly imaging with the first aperture and the second aperture, at the field rate, an object as a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images, respectively, to produce three-dimensional effect, said third aperture and said fourth aperture remaining open during the imaging of the plurality of left-eye images and during the imaging of the plurality of right-eye images for enhanced lens light efficiency;
a viewing device for displaying the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images;
means for transmitting the drive signal;
and
at least one pair of viewing glasses including,
means for receiving the drive signal;
a left-viewing-light valve for operating over the left eye, with said left-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal from said transmitting means, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the plurality of left-eye images;
a right-viewing-light valve for operating over the right eye, with said right-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal from said transmitting means, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, alternatingly from said left-viewing-light valve, for viewing the plurality of right-eye images;
the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images appearing, to the viewer through the viewing glasses, as a three-dimensional image and appearing, to the viewer without the viewing glasses, as a two-dimensional image having normal clarity and definition.

8 more elements

A camera system for producing simultaneously two-dimensional and three-dimensional images at a field rate for viewing by a viewer at a viewing device, said camera system using first transmitting means for transmitting a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images, second transmitting means for transmitting a drive signal, and a pair of viewing glasses having a left-viewing-light valve for operating over a left eye, with said left-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the plurality of left-eye images on the viewing device, said pair of viewing glasses having a right-viewing-light valve for operating over a right eye, with said right-viewing-light valve, responsive to receiving the drive signal, opening and closing synchronized with the field rate, alternatingly from said left-viewing-light valve, for viewing the plurality of right-eye images on the viewing device, comprising:

means for generating the drive signal;
a single imaging lens;
and
a multi-aperture light valve, located within the single imaging lens, responsive to the drive signal, for alternatingly and field-sequentially imaging, at the field rate, an object as a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images, the multi-aperture light valve defined as having a number of apertures more than two, with the number of apertures being a multiple of two, the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images, when viewed through the pair of viewing glasses by the viewer at the viewing device, appearing as a three-dimensional image, the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images, when viewed without the pair of viewing glasses by the viewer at the viewing device, appearing as a two-dimensional image having normal clarity and definition.

1 more element

A method for imaging object space, simultaneously two-dimensional and three-dimensional for viewing by a viewer with a pair of viewing glasses having a left-viewing-light valve and a right-viewing-light valve, using a camera with a single imaging lens having a dual-bifurcated, quadri-aperture light valve diagonally divided upper left to lower right and diagonally divided upper right to lower left, creating an upper-most quarter, a lower-most quarter, a left-most quarter, and a right-most quarter, comprising the steps of:

generating a drive signal for controlling a field rate;
alternatingly and field-sequentially imaging at the field rate, using the single imaging lens, object space as a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images, with the upper-most quarter, the lower-most quarter and the left-most quarter remaining open to field-sequentially image the plurality of left-eye images, and the upper-most quarter, the lower-most quarter and the right-most quarter remaining open to field-sequentially image the plurality of right-eye images;
converting the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images to an image signal on a single image-space;
converting the image signal, at a viewing device, to the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images;
receiving the drive signal at the pair of viewing glasses;
opening and closing, synchronized with the field rate, the left-viewing-light valve for viewing the plurality of left-eye images;
opening and closing, synchronized with the field rate and alternatingly from the left-viewing-light valve, the right-viewing-light valve for viewing the plurality of right-eye images;
viewing by the viewer, through the pair of viewing glasses, a three-dimensional image;
and
viewing by the viewer, without the pair of viewing glasses, a compatible two-dimensional image.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description8,832 words

Summary1,790 words

#This invention relates to color television, and more particularly to three-dimensional television images as viewed through an appropriate viewing device and, in the alternative, as two-dimensional images with normal clarity and definition when viewed by the unaided eye. The same principles relied upon in the context of television also may be applied to motion pictures.

#Stereoscopic, three-dimensional motion pictures and the television broadcast of these motion pictures have been available in an anaglyphic format requiring special glasses which prevented their enjoyment in natural color. Other non-anaglyphic, three-dimensional systems may be viewed in color but, because of obtrusive flicker and ghosting images, are incompatible with motion picture standards or NTSC and other world-wide television and industrial standards and therefore cannot be broadcast.

#Furthermore, cameras capable of capturing most three-dimensional imaging require binocular-lens configurations and proximity to the object to create the three-dimensional illusion. These systems are not easily adapted to the use of variable focal-length lenses and, without excessive ocular separation, are restricted in range to a maximum of approximately sixty feet. In addition to the physical limitations of the hardware itself, binocular lens systems are awkward and difficult to use, and often demand special skills or training before a satisfactory three-dimensional effect can be achieved.

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

#FIG. 1 shows a simplified diagram of the preferred embodiment including a camera device, viewing device, and a pair of viewing glasses;

#FIG. 2 shows a simplified diagram of a lens modified in accordance with the present invention;

Detailed description6,752 words

#Reference now is made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views.

#The present invention provides a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional imaging system for imaging and viewing color and monochrome images, in accordance with NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and other world-wide electronic viewing formats. For three-dimensional imaging, the viewer must have a left eye and a right eye. The system comprises a camera device, first transmitting means, a viewing device, and at least one pair of viewing glasses. The camera device includes generating means, focusing means, imaging means, and first converting means. The generating means is coupled to the imaging means. The imaging means is an integral part of the focusing means. The first converting means is in spatial relation with, or in view of, the imaging means.

#Within the camera device, the generating means generates a drive signal synchronized to an identified, vertical field rate for controlling the imaging means. The focusing means focuses an image of an object. In response to the drive signal, the imaging means alternatingly and field-sequentially images the object at the field rate. The field rate may trigger the light valves, whether bifurcated, dual-aperature, to alternate at a rate of 1/60 second, or the viewing field rate may be decreased by half so that the viewing field rate is 1/120 second, the information in each viewing field is reduced from 262.5 lines to 131.25 lines so that the television frame rate remains at 1/30 second and the television field rate remains at 1/60 second. The images of the object include a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images. The first converting means converts the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images to an image signal, or to an image on film.

Facts

Application

08/454,656Filed 31 May 1995 · continuation in part

Priority

28 Mar 1994

Granted

23 Sep 1997

Term ended

23 Sep 2014

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification10 codes

G02B 30/24
Of the stereoscopic type: involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
H04N 13/167
Processing image signals: synchronising or controlling image signals
H04N 13/194
Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals: transmission of image signals
H04N 13/211
Using a single two-dimensional [2D] image sensor: using temporal multiplexing

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging device with improved light valve and field rate

Life of this patent

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging device with improved light valve and field rate

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims13

Description8,832 words

Drawings

Classification10 codes

Life of this patent

Description8,832 words