True three-dimensional imaging and display system

A three-dimensional image processing system, comprising:

• means for generating a true three-dimensional non-standard image of a scene comprising a plurality of picture elements with each picture element defined by an image value and a distance from a principle point of view to each object in the scene located along a scan ray associated with that picture element;
• means for processing the image values and distances in the generated non-standard image of the scene to generate a plurality of output images of the scene from slightly different display points of view, each output image displaying the scene and the objects visible from the display point of view of the output image;
• and
• means for displaying the plurality of output images for true three-dimensional perception of the scene.

A method for true three-dimensional imaging of a scene including a plurality of objects, comprising the steps of:

• taking a plurality of images of the scene and its included objects from a plurality of spaced apart taken points of view;
• converting the plurality of taken images to a principle point of view;
• and
• combining the converted images to generate a non-standard image of the scene and its included objects from the principle point of view, the non-standard image including image information for the imaged objects in the scene including those objects not necessarily visible from the principle point of view.

A method for true three-dimensional display of an image of a scene including a plurality of objects, the image being from a principle point of view and including image information for the objects both visible and hidden from the principle point of view, comprising the steps of:

• converting the image from the principle point of view to generate a plurality of output images of the scene, each output image being from a slightly different display point of view;
• simultaneously displaying the plurality of output images of the scene;
• and
• restricting viewer perception of portions of each of the displayed plurality of output images to induce parallax in the displayed scene and true three-dimensional perception of the objects therein.