Stereo Imaging Disparity Adjustment for Close Range Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stereo imaging systems face difficulties in displaying close-range objects due to large disparity between left and right stereo images, making it hard for users to fuse their eyes, and using multiple cameras with different baselines increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatic disparity adjustment in stereo imaging systems, where a depth sensing system determines depth values for a region of interest and adjusts the disparity between stereo images using horizontal shifting, cropping, and zooming, ensuring comfortable viewing by reducing disparity as objects approach very close ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a stereoscopic camera with a fixed baseline distance is used to capture close-range objects, then the disparity between left and right stereo images becomes excessively large, but using a smaller baseline to reduce disparity requires multiple cameras which increases system cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the disparity parameter dynamically by detecting depth information and automatically adjusting the disparity between left and right stereo images. When objects are detected at close ranges (below threshold distance), the system reduces disparity automatically, allowing a single camera with fixed baseline to adapt its effective baseline distance through software processing, thereby avoiding the need for multiple physical cameras with different baselines
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed-disparity stereo imaging system to a dynamic adaptive-disparity system. The disparity adjustment is dynamically controlled based on real-time depth detection results, with the system automatically switching between normal disparity mode (for distant objects) and reduced disparity mode (for close-range objects), making the system behavior adaptable to varying object distances
2Ease of operation
If the baseline distance between image capturing elements is reduced to view close-range objects, then disparity is reduced and viewing is more comfortable, but the field of view and depth coverage are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single stereoscopic camera system perform multiple functions by enabling it to handle both distant and close-range objects effectively. Through automatic disparity adjustment based on depth detection, the system universally adapts to different object distances, providing comfortable viewing for close-range objects while maintaining normal operation for distant objects, thus eliminating the need for separate camera systems with different baselines
3Manufacturing precision
If focus control is adjusted to its limit to view close-range objects, then the object can be brought into focus, but the disparity becomes too large for comfortable stereo viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where depth information from the stereo images is detected and used to control the disparity adjustment. The depth detection provides feedback about object distance, which then feeds back to the disparity adjustment algorithm, creating a closed-loop system that automatically optimizes disparity based on actual object distance, ensuring both focus and comfortable stereo viewing
Data Source
AI summary
A stereo imaging system comprises a stereoscopic camera having left and right image capturing elements for capturing stereo images; a stereo viewer; and a processor configured to modify the stereo images prior to being displayed on the stereo viewer so that a disparity between corresponding points of the stereo images is adjusted as a function of a depth value within a region of interest in the stereo images after the depth value reaches a target depth value.