Method and devices for generating, transferring and processing three-dimensional image data

An imaging module comprising:

• a stereographic imaging arrangement, comprising cameras, configured to take a first raw image along a first optical axis and a second raw image along a second optical axis;
• wherein:
• the imaging module is configured to store the first raw image and the second raw image to an image memory and an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value to a characteristics memory,
• the maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, wherein said minimum imaging depth is a feature of said imaging arrangement and
• the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth, wherein said maximum imaging depth is a feature of said imaging arrangement.

An imaging module comprising:

• a stereographic imaging arrangement configured to take a first raw image along a first optical axis and a second raw image along a second optical axis;
• wherein:
• the imaging module is configured to store the first raw image and the second raw image to an image memory and configured to obtain and store an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value to a characteristic memory,
• the maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, wherein said minimum imaging depth is a feature of said imaging arrangement and
• the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth, wherein said maximum imaging depth is a feature of said imaging arrangement.

A device comprising a receiver;

• wherein:
• the device is configured to receive from a transmitting device a first raw image and a second raw image along with an indication of a disparity range between a maximum input disparity value and a minimum input disparity value,
• said maximum input disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth of an imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and
• the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth.

A method for obtaining three-dimensional digital image data in a device, comprising:

• taking a first raw image along a first optical axis, using a stereographic imaging arrangement of the device;
• taking a second raw image along a second optical axis, using the stereographic imaging arrangement of the device;
• defining an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value, wherein the maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement used to produce the first and second raw images and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth;
• and
• transmitting the first raw image and the second raw image along with the indication of a disparity range.

A method for receiving and processing three-dimensional digital image data, comprising:

• receiving, using a receiver of a device, a first raw image taken along a first optical axis,
• receiving, using the receiver of the device, a second raw image taken along a second optical axis;
• receiving, using the receiver of the device, an indication of a disparity range between a maximum input disparity value and a minimum input disparity value, wherein the maximum input disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth of an imaging arrangement used to produce the first and second raw images and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and the minimum input disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth;
• preparing, by a disparity mapper, a mapping between disparity values in the raw images and disparity values for interlaced images using the indication of a disparity range;
• and
• converting, by an image processor, the interlaced images for displaying.

A memory stored with instructions such that when executed in a computer, causes the computer to:

• transmit a first raw image taken along a first optical axis;
• transmit a second raw image taken along a second optical axis;
• and
• transmit an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value, wherein the maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth of an imaging arrangement used to produce the first and second raw images and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth.

A memory stored with instructions such that when executed in a computer, cause the computer to:

• receive a first raw image taken along a first optical axis;
• receive a second raw image taken along a second optical axis;
• and
• receive an indication of a disparity range between a maximum input disparity value and a minimum input disparity value, wherein the maximum input disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a minimum imaging depth of an imaging arrangement used to produce the first and second raw images and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and the minimum input disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents a maximum imaging depth of the imaging arrangement and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth.

A device comprising:

• means for taking a first raw image along a first optical axis and a second raw image along a second optical axis, wherein:
• the first and second optical axes have a separation at the imaging arrangement,
• the imaging arrangement has a maximum imaging depth and a minimum imaging depth;
• the device further comprising means for transmitting the first raw image and the second raw image to a receiving device along with an indication of a disparity range between a maximum disparity value and a minimum disparity value,
• the maximum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the minimum imaging depth, and
• the minimum disparity value is a measure of a difference between a location in the first raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth and a location in the second raw image that represents the maximum imaging depth.