Stereoscopic 3D Caption Rendering via Depth Coordinate Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating captions over three-dimensional (3D) images using 2D coordinate systems result in illegible closed captions due to overlap with stereoscopic 3D images, causing visual disruptions and potential discomfort for viewers.
Innovation Solution
The captions are redrawn to appear parallel with or in front of the 3D image by shifting the left and right viewpoint portions, allowing the entire caption to be visible regardless of the viewpoint, and adjusting parallax to minimize depth conflicts, using a 3D video source with components like demodulators, decoders, and graphics generators to process and combine signals for proper display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If captions are placed using 2D coordinate system on 3D images, then caption positioning is simple, but caption becomes illegible due to overlap with 3D image portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D coordinate system to 3D coordinate system for caption placement. By introducing the depth dimension (z-axis), captions can be positioned at different depths relative to the 3D image, allowing them to appear in front of or behind the image plane rather than overlapping with it. This dimensional change resolves the legibility issue while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the caption rendering process into separate operations for left and right viewpoint images. By processing each viewpoint independently and then combining them, the system can place captions at different depths for each eye, ensuring that when the 3D display renders the images independently, the captions remain legible and do not overlap with the 3D content.
2Device complexity
If captions are added to 3D images using 2D coordinates, then implementation is straightforward, but visual disruption and viewer discomfort occur
Solution Approach 1:
By moving from 2D to 3D coordinate space, the patent allows captions to be positioned at different depths than the 3D image content. This creates visual separation between captions and the 3D objects, eliminating the overlapping and visual disruption that occurs with 2D placement, while the implementation remains relatively straightforward through automated coordinate transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coordinate parameters from 2D (x, y) to 3D (x, y, z), allowing caption positioning to account for depth information. This parameter change enables the system to place captions in front of or behind the 3D image plane, eliminating visual disruption and viewer discomfort while maintaining implementation feasibility through standard graphics processing techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is disclosed for generating a caption relative to a three-dimensional (3D) image. The caption may be generated such that it appears relative to a screen plane of an output device used to render the 3D image. The caption may be added to left and right viewpoint images included within images used by the output device to render the 3D image as a function of the positioning of the caption relative to the screen plane.