SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALLOWING A USER TO DYNAMICALLY MANIPULATE STEREOSCOPIC PARAMETERS
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for controlling 2-D to 3-D image conversion. In one embodiment, stereo visualization and rendering of the final image is performed by allowing a user to independently select inter-ocular and convergence distances on a frame by frame basis. The user can view the effect of each selected parameter on a real-time basis and may, if desired, use interpolation and select parameters only for key frames.
1 . A method for controlling a stereo effect in a set of frames of stereo paired images, each image of said pair appearing to emanate from a lens at a particular physical location, said method comprising:
accepting from a user a desired inter-ocular distance parameter between said lenses of an image pair;
accepting from a user a convergence distance parameter from said lenses of said image pair; and
presenting an effect of each said accepted parameter on a stereo presentation of said image.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a camera.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said lenses is an original image.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said inter-ocular parameters and said convergence parameters are independent from each other.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein said presenting is on a real-time basis.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein said presenting is via at least one of: interleaved video shutter, polarized dual projector.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein said parameters are accepted on a frame by frame basis.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein said parameters are accepted via at least one of: Graphical User Interface (GUI); keyboard, mouse.
9 . The method of claim 5 wherein said parameters are accepted at keyframes spaced apart frames.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein non-keyframes are selected by interpolation.
11 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:
rendering a continuous set of stereo images over a number of frames based, at least in part, on said accepted parameters for said set of frames.
12 . The method of claim 10 further comprising:
caching certain frames during said rendering.
13 . Code for controlling a processor to establish a stereo effect in a set of frames of stereo paired images, each image of said pair appearing to emanate from a lens at a particular physical location, said code comprising:
control sequences for accepting from a user a desired inter-ocular distance parameter between said lenses of an image pair;
control sequences for accepting from a user a convergence distance parameter from said lenses of said image pair, said convergence distance parameter not being dependant upon said accepted inter-ocular parameter; and
control sequences for presenting an effect of each said accepted parameter on a stereo presentation of said image.
14 . The code of claim 12 wherein said control sequences for presenting operates in real-time.
15 . The code of claim 14 wherein said control sequences for accepting parameters allows parameters to be accepted on a frame by frame basis.
16 . The code of claim 14 wherein said control sequences for accepting parameters allows said parameters to be accepted at key spaced apart frames.
17 . The code of claim 16 further comprising:
control sequences for interpolating which frames should be used as key frames.
18 . The code of claim 17 further comprising:
control sequences for rendering a continuous set of stereo images over a number of frames based, at least in part, on said accepted parameters for said set of frames.
19 . The code of claim 18 further comprising:
control sequences for caching certain frames during said rendering.
20 . A method for 2-D to 3-D image conversion, said method comprising:
accepting from a user for certain frames of said conversion a set of parameters independently specifying both inter-ocular and convergence distances with respect to said certain frames; and
allowing said user to view an effect on said image conversion of each said accepted distance.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein said allowing is on a real-time basis.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein said allowing is via at least one of: interleaved video shutter, polarized dual projector.
23 . The method of claim 20 wherein said parameters are accepted on a frame by frame basis.
24 . The method of claim 20 wherein said parameters are accepted at keyframes spaced apart frames.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein non-keyframes are selected by interpolation.
26 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:
rendering a continuous set of stereo images over a number of frames based, at least in part, on said accepted parameters.
27 . The method of claim 26 further comprising:
caching certain frames during said rendering.