Stereo Image Processor Parallax Direction Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for generating stereoscopic images with stereo cameras often result in parallax issues when the camera arrangement direction differs from the observer's eye arrangement direction, leading to discomfort and poor recognition of solid shapes, especially when the camera arrangement is not in the horizontal direction.
Innovation Solution
An information processor that includes imaging systems, a determination section to assess the geometrical relationship between camera arrangements and the horizontal direction, and a generating section to select appropriate processes for generating stereoscopic images based on this determination, ensuring parallax is aligned with the observer's eye arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a stereo camera is arranged in the vertical direction to match the aspect ratio of the imaging device, then the camera arrangement utilizes the imaging device effectively, but parallax is caused in the vertical direction which prevents the observer from recognizing solid shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the parallax direction from vertical to horizontal by rotating the image group 90 degrees. This dimensionality change allows the stereoscopic image to be displayed in the horizontal direction, matching the observer's natural eye arrangement, while the camera can remain in vertical arrangement to match the imaging device aspect ratio.
2Reliability
If the stereoscopic image is displayed in the horizontal direction to match the observer's eye arrangement, then the observer can recognize solid shapes, but the subject direction is rotated 90 degrees causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the parallax direction based on the camera arrangement. When cameras are arranged vertically, the system rotates the image group to display parallax horizontally. When cameras are arranged horizontally, the system displays parallax horizontally without rotation. This dynamic adaptation maintains both stereoscopic recognition and subject orientation consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-viewpoint image generating system is used to generate stereoscopic images, then various magnitudes of parallax can be generated, but the problem of mismatch between camera arrangement direction and observer's eye arrangement direction remains unsolved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the camera arrangement direction before generating the stereoscopic image. Based on this determination, the system pre-adjusts the parallax direction and selects appropriate source images to ensure the final displayed image has horizontal parallax matching the observer's eye arrangement, regardless of the camera's initial arrangement direction.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the invention is to provide a technique that can generate an image group of a subject having parallax in a horizontal direction of the actual subject as a stereoscopic image of the subject. In order to attain the object, an information processor includes imaging section having a first imaging system and a second imaging system for imaging a subject from different directions, obtaining section for obtaining determination information for determining a geometrical relationship between an arrangement direction of the first imaging system and the second imaging system and a horizontal direction, determination section for determining the geometrical relationship, and generating section for executing one generating process selected from different first generating process and second generating process according to a determination result of the geometrical relationship based on an imaged result of the imaging section so as to generate a stereoscopic image of the subject.