Stereo Image Synthesis via Digital Beam Path Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional purely optical stereo microscopy requires complex and costly optical designs to provide separate beam paths for each eye, limiting flexibility and increasing costs, while digital methods can simplify the design and enhance image presentation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that record multiple images with varied parameters such as focal plane or illumination direction, and calculate stereo image pairs by combining these images, allowing for simplified optical designs and enhanced digital image processing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate beam paths are provided for each eye in conventional optical stereo microscopy, then stereo imaging capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple images captured by a single camera device into a stereo image pair through digital processing. Instead of using separate optical beam paths for left and right eyes, the system captures multiple images with varied parameters (focus, illumination, perspective) and computationally synthesizes the stereo effect, merging the function of multiple optical paths into one digital processing pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of separate beam paths with a digital processing system. The stereo imaging function is achieved not through physical separation of light paths but through digital combination and processing of captured images, substituting optical complexity with computational simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple images are recorded with varied parameters, then image quality and flexibility improve, but recording time and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial action by selecting only the necessary variations from captured images to create the stereo pair. Instead of requiring complete sets of images for all possible parameters, the system captures a series of images with varied parameters and selectively combines appropriate ones, using less than the full potential data set to achieve the desired stereo effect efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
Various approaches in which an image-recording parameter is varied between a plurality of images of an object and a stereo image pair is displayed on the basis of the images recorded thus are described. Here, in particular, the image-recording parameter can be a focal plane or an illumination direction.