US 5,883,695 A · Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images with single sensor

Abstract

Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images for motion picture or TV using a single sensor or camera and a single lens. In carrying out the method of the invention, the camera lens is caused to rotate about an axis defined by the optical path of the incoming image rays. The apex of the cone is defined by the object being rendered. The base of the cone is defined by the image sensor portion of the camera and its circular path remains unchanged during an image rendering session. The lens of the camera, on the other hand, travels in a smaller circular path and the circumference of the path of travel of the lens is increased or decreased depending on the distance from the image to the lens and can change during the image rendering session. Apparatus comprises a frame which is driven by an electro mechanical drive mechanism for moving a camera support body through a conical path. The drive mechanism functions to drive the frame for moving a first portion of the camera support body through a circular path which remains generally constant during an image rendering session and a second portion of the camera support body through a smaller circular path which is determined by the distance from the lens to the image which is at the apex of the cone.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for producing stereoscopic images utilizing a single lens image sensing means optically aligned with said single lens for rendering an object, said method comprising the steps of:

a. training said single lens on an object;
b. focusing said single lens on said object thereby to produce an image of said object on said image sensing means;
c. causing said lens to orbit in a circular path about an axis defined by a line from said object to the center of said circular path to define a lens circular path;
d. simultaneously causing said image sensing means to orbit in a separate coaxial circular path about said axis while maintaining optical alignment with said single lens thereby to define a base circular path, the diameter of said base circular path being greater than the diameter of said lens circular path;
and
e. swinging and tilting said single lens as said single lens describes said lens circular path;
whereby said base circular path and said lens circular path define a virtual cone with said object forming the apex thereof.

4 more elements

Apparatus for producing images with a single lens, said images capable of being viewed stereoscopically, said single lens being mounted in a housing in optical alignment with an image sensing means and with an object being rendered, said apparatus comprising:

a. a housing support body including a first portion disposed for supporting an area of said housing where said image sensing means is located and a second portion disposed for supporting an area of said housing where said lens is mounted;
and
b. a drive mechanism for moving said first portion of said housing support body through a first circular path and said second portion through a coaxial second circular path, said second circular path being of less diameter than said first circular path so that the movement of said lens and said image sensing means in combination define a cone with said first circular path defining the base and said object being rendered being at the apex of said cone.

Apparatus for the production of stereoscopic images comprising the combination of:

a. a single camera body having a front end and an opposed back end;
b. a frame carrying said front end of said camera body for rotation in a first circular path about an axis defined by a line from an object on which said lens is trained to the center of said first circular path and for rotation of said back end of said camera body in a second concentric circular path about said axis, said first circular path having a larger diameter than said second circular path.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images with single sensor

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic images with single sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18