Device and method for converting two-dimensional video into three-dimensional video

An apparatus for converting two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images comprising:

• characteristic value extracting means for extracting, from an inputted two-dimensional image signal, a perspective image characteristic value of each of plural parallax calculation regions defined in a one-field screen on a field-by-field basis;
• parallax information generating means for generating parallax information on each of predetermined unit areas in the one-field screen by using the image characteristic value extracted per parallax calculation region;
• and
• phase control means for generating a first image signal and a second image signal from a signal of the inputted two-dimensional image signal which resides in each predetermined unit area, the first and second image signals having a horizontal phase difference therebetween based on the parallax information related to the predetermined unit area;
• the parallax information generating means includes:
• first means for dividing all the parallax calculation regions in the one-field screen into groups associated with respective objects included in the one-field screen by using the perspective image characteristic value of each parallax calculation region;
• second means for generating perspective image information per group by using grouping results given by the first means and the perspective image characteristic value of each parallax calculation region;
• third means for generating perspective image information per parallax calculation region by using the perspective image information per group;
• and
• fourth means for converting the perspective image information per parallax calculation region into parallax information per parallax calculation region.