Patent Application
20120120051
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method and a system for displaying stereoscopic images, and more particularly, to a method and a system for displaying stereoscopic images according to an adaptive parameter which is adjusted according to the positions of a projector, a screen and a viewer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Three-dimensional (3D) display technology provides more vivid visual experiences than traditional two-dimensional (2D) display technology. Stereoscopic displays are designed to provide the visual system with the horizontal disparity cue by displaying a different image to each eye. Known 3D display systems typically display a different image to each of the observers' two eyes by separating them in time, wavelength or space. There are two major types of 3D viewing environments: naked-eye and glasses-type. Naked-eye 3D display systems include using lenticular screens, barrier screens or auto-stereoscopic projection to separate the two images in space, thereby directly evoking stereoscopic effect. In glasses-type 3D display systems, 3D viewing devices are required to creating the illusion of stereoscopic images from planer images, such as using liquid crystal shutter glasses to separate the two images in time, or color filters of anaglyph glasses or polarizing glasses to separate the two images based on optical properties.
In a 3D display system which includes a separate image source (such as a projector) and a separate display device (such as a screen), the parameters for producing the best projection may vary if a user somehow relocates the image source or the display device. Meanwhile, the convergence setting which results in comfortable human perception may vary if the user moves his position during the 3D presentation. Prior art 3D display systems only allow the user to change these parameter settings according to personal preferences, and this random adjustment may not result in a comfortable viewing environment and may cause eye fatigue. As a result, there is a need for providing an adaptive 3D display system which can improve the rendering of stereo images based on the positions of the image source, the display device and the user.
The present invention provides a 3D display system including a screen; a projective device configured to project images onto the screen according to one or more adaptive parameters; one or more sensors configured to detect one or more distances between the one or more sensors and the screen; a 3D viewing device for creating a stereoscopic effect when used in viewing images projected on the screen; and a controller, coupled to the projective device, configured to receive the one or more distances and then update the one or more adaptive parameters according to the one or more distances.
The present invention also provides a method for displaying 3D images. The methods includes projecting images onto a screen according to one or more adaptive parameters; detecting a first distance between the screen and the projective device when the images are being projected; detecting a second distance between the screen and a 3D viewing device which is configured to create a stereoscopic effect when used in viewing the images projected on the screen; and updating the one or more adaptive parameters according to at least one of the first and second distances.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
In an application of the first embodiment, the image source 310 may project an on-screen display (OSD) message on the screen 200 showing the recommended value of the adaptive parameter based on the current positions of the screen 200 and the image source 310, thereby allowing the user to manually adjust the adaptive parameter accordingly. In another application of the first embodiment, the image source 310 may automatically adjust the adaptive parameter according to the detected distance between the screen 200 and the image source 310 using the controller 32.
The normal human visual system provides two separate views of the world through our two eyes. Each eye has a horizontal field of view of about 60 degrees on the nasal side and 90 degrees on the temporal side. A person with two eyes, not only has an overall broader field of view, but also has two slightly different images formed at the two retinas, thus forming different viewing perspectives. In normal human binocular vision, the disparity between the two views of each object is used as a cue by the human brain to derive the relative depth between objects. This derivation is accomplished by comparing the relative horizontal displacement of corresponding objects in the two images. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the mentioned adaptive parameter is the disparity cue based on which images are projected. Both applications of the first embodiment operate according to an adaptive disparity cue which is constantly updated according to the current positions of the screen 200 and the image source 310, thereby capable of providing the best viewing environment.
Referring to
The information of the detected actual distance is transmitted using a transmitter 44 of the 3D viewing device 420 and received by the receiver 36 of the image source 320, as depicted by the dotted arrow in
In ophthalmology, convergence is the simultaneous inward movement of both eyes toward each other which is mediated by the medial rectus muscle, usually in an effort to maintain single binocular vision when viewing an object. Accommodation is the process by which the vertebrate eye changes optical power to maintain a clear image (focus) on an object as its distance changes. Accommodation and convergence allow us to see objects clearly both near and far without diplopia (double vision). Under the assumption of emmetropia, the normal condition of perfect vision in which parallel light rays are focused on the retina without the need for accommodation, the effort of convergence is related to the distance between the eyes and the object. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the mentioned adaptive parameter is the convergence setting based on which images are projected. Both applications of the second embodiment operate according to an adaptive convergence which is constantly updated according to the current positions of the screen 200 and the 3D viewing device 420, thereby capable of providing the most comfortable viewing environment.
Referring to
The information of the actual detected distances is transmitted using the transmitter 44 of the 3D viewing device 420 and received by the receiver 36 of the image source 320, as depicted by the dotted arrow in
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the mentioned adaptive parameters include the disparity cue and the convergence setting based on which images are projected. Both applications of the third embodiment operate according to an adaptive disparity cue and an adaptive convergence which are constantly updated according to the current positions of the screen 200, the image source 330 and the 3D viewing device 430, thereby capable of providing the best viewing environment.
In the present invention, the sensor 30 of the image source 310, 320 or 330 may be infrared (IP) sensor capable of measuring IR light radiating from the screen 200 in its field of view, thereby determining the distance between the screen 200 and the image source 310, 320 or 330. The sensor 40 of the 3D viewing device 420 or 430 may be a wireless sensor with motion sensing capability, such as one used in Wii console, thereby determining the distance between the screen 200 and the 3D viewing device 420 or 430.
In the present invention, stereoscopic images are projected according to adaptive parameters which are adjusted according to the current positions of an image source, a screen and a user wearing a 3D viewing device. By detecting the distance between the image source and the screen and the distance between the 3D viewing device and the screen during a 3D presentation, the present 3D display system may automatically adjust the adaptive parameters or provide the user with the recommended values of the adaptive parameters which result in the best and most comfortable 3D viewing environment.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.
