Single camera for stereoscopic 3-D capture
View Patent ↗A stereoscopic 3-D imaging apparatus has a camera and a wedged optical component attachable to the front of the camera. The wedged optical component is rotatable around the front of the camera using a rotating device, and the rotating device controls the rotation speed of the wedged optical component. The camera is capable of capturing stereoscopic 3-D images, resulting in lower costs and a simple capture process.
1. A stereoscopic 3-D imaging apparatus comprising:
a camera;
a wedged optical component attachable to the front of the camera, the wedged optical component being rotatable and having a first face facing towards the front of the camera, two edges of different lengths connected to the first face, the two edges being disposed at right angles with respect to the first face, and an angled face with respect to the front of the camera, the angled face extending from respective ends of the two edges opposing the first face; and
a rotating device controlling the rotation speed of the wedged optical component.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wedged optical component is achromatized.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating device signals phases of the wedged optical component.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein signals are sent from a phase control to a recording component of the camera.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the recording component is a photo cell.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the recording component includes photographic film.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating device is capable of rotating at high speeds.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the wedged optical component depends on the distance required between two positions.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wedged optical component attaches to the camera by attachment through the rotating device.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the attachment is a screw-on attachment.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical component rotates at speeds capable of capturing an image from phase I and phase II.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the image capture of phase I and II is performed nearly simultaneously.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , synchronized to capture images when the wedged optical component 10 is in phase I or phase II.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation speed is controlled to a desired rotation speed.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wedged optical component directly receives ambient light unaided by other optical or reflective components.