Method and apparatus for optimizing the viewing distance of a lenticular stereogram
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for optimizing viewing distance for a stereogram system. In a stereogram, an image is held in close juxtaposition with a lenticular screen. In the invention, a data store is used to store optimum pitch values for specified viewing distances. An interdigitation program then acts on the table values and creates a mapping of interdigitated views for each viewing distance. The user can then select or specify a desired viewing distance, and the optimum mapping of views is automatically chosen for display.
1. A method for improving viewing zones for a lenticular stereogram comprising a lenticular screen, the method comprising:
viewing a plurality of test images positioned behind the lenticular screen from a plurality of selected distances, each test image comprising a plurality of visually distinct columns having at least one column width;
identifying a relatively visually distinct test image, wherein column width for the test image identified represents a selected column width;
compiling a table comprising a plurality of selected viewing distances and associated selected column widths; and
creating at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance using the table by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.
2. A stereogram system having a lenticular screen, comprising:
a data store arranged as a table comprising a plurality of specified viewing distances from the stereogram system, each specified viewing distance associated with a column width determined by viewing test images positioned behind the lenticular screen from a plurality of selected viewing distances from the lenticular screen, each test image comprising a plurality of visually distinct columns having at least one column width, the specified viewing distance correlated to a selected column width of a visually acceptable test image; and
a processor comprising an interdigitation program configured to use the table to create at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.
3. A system as in claim 2 , further comprising a selector for choosing a desired viewing distance.
4. A system as in claim 3 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.
5. A system as in claim 3 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the selected viewing distance is selected.
6. A system as in claim 3 , whereby for a selected viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.
7. A system as in claim 3 , whereby for a selected viewing distance having no associated column width, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.
8. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising selectively choosing a desired viewing distance.
9. A method as in claim 8 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.
10. A method in claim 8 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the desired viewing distance is selected.
11. A method as in claim 8 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.
12. A method as in claim 8 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.
13. A method for determining a table of column widths and associated viewing distances used to provide enhanced viewing zones for viewing a stereoscopic image, comprising:
providing a plurality of test images, each test image comprising multiple sets of visually distinct alternating columns and each test image having a column width associated therewith;
viewing at least one test image positioned behind a lenticular screen from a test image viewing distance;
identifying a selected column width associated with one relatively visually distinct test image when the one test image appears as one visually distinct image from a left eye viewing position and a different visually distinct image from a right eye viewing position when viewed at the test image viewing distance; and
repeating said viewing and said identifying for multiple viewing distances and compiling the viewing distances and associated column widths in the table.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
creating at least one interdigitated image for one selected viewing distance using the table by interdigitating image views such that a display area beneath each lenticule in the lenticular screen is made of a number of discrete stripes corresponding to the selected column width corresponding to the one selected viewing distance.
15. A method as in claim 14 , further comprising selectively choosing a desired viewing distance.
16. A method as in claim 15 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a default column width is provided.
17. A method as in claim 15 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, the column width associated with the viewing distance closest to the desired viewing distance is selected.
18. A method as in claim 15 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated column width, a linear interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.
19. A method as in claim 15 , whereby for a desired viewing distance having no associated optimum lenticular stereogram pitch value, a cubic interpolation process between column widths and viewing distances enumerated in the table is used to determine an associated column width.