Three dimensional imaging system
AssigneeMeso Scale Technology LLP
InventorJacob N. Wohlstadter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Recent advances in surface techniques have lead to the development of extremely small (sub-micron) scale features. These techniques allow the formation of polymer micro-lenses as well as variable focus liquid lenses. The present invention primarily concerns the use of small scale lenses for the fabrication of novel displays which exhibit three-dimensional (3D) effects. Both still images and video images (or other motion images) can be generated.
Claims32
A method for generating a three dimensional image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing one or more images of the scene, wherein each image is focused at one or more distances;
- (b) selecting subsets of the scene from said images which are optimally focused;
- (c) identifying the focal distance for each selected subset;
- (d) creating a two dimensional image by combining each of the selected subsets;
- (e) aligning one or more lenses with the selected subsets of said two dimensional image, wherein said one or more lenses have focal lengths determined from the identified focal distances of the selected subsets;
- and
- (f) passing light through said lenses to create a three dimensional image.
A method for generating a three dimensional image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing multiple images of a scene focused at different distances within said scene;
- (b) subdividing each of said images into different zones of said scene;
- (c) selecting the optimally focused representation of each zone of said scene from said images;
- (d) compiling the information of the distance of optimal focus for each zone of the scene;
- (e) creating a two dimensional image of said scene by compiling the optimally focused representation of each of said zones into one image;
- (f) aligning one or more lenses with each of said zones in said two dimensional image with focal lengths determined from said information to create a three dimensional representation of said scene.
A method of recording and projecting a three dimensional image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) training a variable focus lens on each of a plurality of image zones within said scene;
- (b) capturing a plurality of images of each of said zones at a plurality of different focus distances;
- (c) storing information representing each of said plurality of images of each of said zones and said focus distances;
- (d) selecting a stored image having a desired degree of focus for each of said zones from among the stored images;
- and
- (e) projecting a zone of desired degree of focus from a selected image through a lens in alignment with said zone, said lens focal length chosen to project an image of said zone at the desired distance.
A method of recording and projecting a three dimensional image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) training a variable focus lens on each of a plurality of image zones within said scene;
- (b) capturing a plurality of images of each of said zones at a plurality of different focus distances;
- (c) storing information representing each of said plurality of images of each of said zones and said focus distances;
- (d) selecting a stored image having a desired degree of focus for each of said zones from among the stored images;
- and
- (e) projecting a plurality of zones of desired degree of focus from a plurality of selected images through a plurality of lenses in alignment with said plurality of zones, said plurality of lenses' focal lengths chosen to project an image of said plurality of zones at the desired distances.
A method of recording and projecting a three dimensional image of a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) training a variable focus lens on each of a plurality of zones within said scene;
- (b) capturing a plurality of images of each of said zones at a plurality of different focus distances;
- (c) storing information representing each of said plurality of images of each of said zones and said focus distances;
- (d) selecting a stored image having a desired degree of focus for each of said zones from among the stored images;
- (e) creating a collage image from the selected stored images having the desired degree of focus for each of said zones to create said three dimensional image;
- and
- (f) projecting a plurality of said zones from said collage image through a plurality of lenses in alignment with said zones, said lenses' focal lengths chosen to project an image of said zones at the desired distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.