Method and apparatus for image enhancement

Apparatus for capturing at least first and second perspective views of an object field, comprising:

• image capture means;
• optical means for transmission of the views to said image capture means, in which said optical means causes light from the at least first and second views to suffer some optical cross-talk to form at least a first and a second composite image on said capture means;
• and
• processing means,
• wherein said optical means includes at least two real or virtual pupil locations, said pupils having spaced centers of gravity;
• said image capture means provides a linear response to light impinging thereon;
• and said processing means, in use, combines in a linear manner the video data comprising the first composite image with the video data comprising the second composite image to provide first and second primary image data corresponding substantially to the first and the second perspective views of the object field.

A method for use in displaying stereoscopic images by substantially simultaneous display of a plurality of perspective views comprising:

• preconditioning first and second primary image data, said first and second primary data corresponding respectively to a first and a second two-dimensional perspective view, by deriving first supplementary image data from at least the second primary image data and second supplementary image data from at least the first primary image data;
• combining said first supplementary image data with said first primary image data, and said second supplementary image data with said second primary image data;
• and
• displaying on at least one liquid crystal display said first preconditioned image data to a first eye of an observer and said second preconditioned image data to the second eye of said observer, said displaying including driving the liquid crystal display with a non-linear characteristic so that, in use, the light transmitted to the observer is linearly related to the signal input to said driving step after said combining step.

A method for capturing at least first and second perspective views of an object field which includes the steps of:

• providing at least two real or virtual pupils with spaced centers of gravity;
• providing at least one CCD having a linear response to light impinging thereon;
• transmitting said perspective views to the CCD via the pupils, thereby causing light from the at least first and second views to suffer some cross-talk resulting in the formation of at least first and second composite images on the CCD;
• and
• combining in a linear manner at least the captured image data corresponding to the first composite image with captured image data corresponding to the second composite image thereby providing first and second primary image data corresponding substantially to the first and the second perspective views of the object field.

A method for preconditioning image data to be displayed, the image data including first and second primary image signals corresponding to respective views to be displayed simultaneously, said method comprising:

• deriving first supplementary image data from at least the second primary image signal, and deriving second supplementary image data from at least the first primary image signal, the first and second primary image signals used in the deriving steps corresponding to respective views to be displayed simultaneously;
• combining the first primary image signal with said first supplementary image data, thereby producing a first preconditioned signal;
• combining the second primary image signal with said second supplementary image data, thereby producing a second preconditioned signal;
• and
• forwarding said first and second preconditioned signals for display.

Apparatus for preconditioning image data to be displayed, the image data including first and second primary image signals corresponding to respective views to be displayed simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:

• a deriving circuit for deriving first supplementary image data from at least the second primary image signal, and for deriving second supplementary image data from at least the first primary image signal, the first and second primary image signals corresponding to respective views to be displayed simultaneously;
• a combining circuit for combining the first primary image signal with said first supplementary image data, thereby producing a first preconditioned signal;
• and for combining the second primary image signal with said second supplementary image data, thereby producing a second preconditioned signal;
• and
• an output for outputting said first and second preconditioned signals.