Hidden Surface In-painting for Modified Viewpoint Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 2D image capture systems are limited in representing scene content, as they only capture what is within the line-of-sight at image capture time, failing to render hidden surfaces and lacking depth information, which restricts accurate rendering of obscured areas.
Innovation Solution
A dual-camera system generates a depth map and 3D model of a scene, identifying hidden surfaces and using machine learning algorithms to in-paint missing pixels, allowing for the extension of hidden surfaces and realistic visualization of obscured areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single 2D camera is used to capture images, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to represent scene content and render hidden surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D image capture to 3D scene representation by introducing depth maps and generating three-dimensional models from two-dimensional images. This dimensional enhancement allows the system to represent hidden surfaces and occluded regions that are not visible in the original 2D capture, directly resolving the limitation of single-camera systems while maintaining reasonable device complexity through computational methods
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-camera system is used to capture images from multiple viewpoints, then the ability to render hidden surfaces is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images from multiple viewpoints simultaneously using the dual-camera system, and pre-processes these images to generate depth maps and 3D models before the actual rendering task. This preliminary processing enables the subsequent rendering of hidden surfaces to be more accurate and efficient, justifying the increased device complexity through enhanced functional capability
3Reliability
If depth information is added to 2D images to enable hidden surface rendering, then the realism of rendered images is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces depth maps as an intermediary data structure that bridges the gap between 2D image capture and 3D scene understanding. These depth maps serve as intermediate representations that encode depth information, enabling the system to generate accurate 3D models and render hidden surfaces realistically without requiring direct complex 3D sensing hardware, thus managing processing complexity while enhancing realism
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes generating depth map for a reference image and generating a three-dimensional (3D) model for a plurality of objects in the reference image based on the depth map. The method additionally includes determining, out of the objects in the 3D model, a background object having a boundary adjacent to a foreground object. The method also includes determining that at least a portion of a surface of the background object is hidden by the foreground object and extending, in the 3D model, the surface of the background object to include the portion hidden by the foreground object. The method further includes in-paint pixels of the extended surface of the background object with pixels that approximate the portion of the surface of the background object hidden by the foreground object.