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WO2012174633A1 - Procédé et appareil de génération d'informations d'images tridimensionnelles - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil de génération d'informations d'images tridimensionnelles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012174633A1
WO2012174633A1 PCT/CA2011/001391 CA2011001391W WO2012174633A1 WO 2012174633 A1 WO2012174633 A1 WO 2012174633A1 CA 2011001391 W CA2011001391 W CA 2011001391W WO 2012174633 A1 WO2012174633 A1 WO 2012174633A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
polarizer
imaging path
modulator
single imaging
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/CA2011/001391
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas N. Mitchell
Ichiro Shinkoda
Martin BECKETT
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Isee3D Inc
Original Assignee
Isee3D Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/CA2011/000739 external-priority patent/WO2011160212A1/fr
Application filed by Isee3D Inc filed Critical Isee3D Inc
Priority to CN201180073005.1A priority Critical patent/CN103827730B/zh
Priority to EP11868356.4A priority patent/EP2724192A4/fr
Priority to JP2014516140A priority patent/JP6076970B2/ja
Priority to US14/128,135 priority patent/US20160360953A1/en
Publication of WO2012174633A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012174633A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B35/00—Stereoscopic photography
    • G03B35/02—Stereoscopic photography by sequential recording
    • G03B35/04—Stereoscopic photography by sequential recording with movement of beam-selecting members in a system defining two or more viewpoints
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
    • A61B1/044—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances for absorption imaging
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/04—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
    • A61B1/046—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances for infrared imaging
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
    • G02B30/20—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes
    • G02B30/34—Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/30—Polarising elements
    • G02B5/3083—Birefringent or phase retarding elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B35/00—Stereoscopic photography
    • G03B35/08—Stereoscopic photography by simultaneous recording
    • G03B35/12—Stereoscopic photography by simultaneous recording involving recording of different viewpoint images in different colours on a colour film
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
    • H04N13/204—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras
    • H04N13/207—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor
    • H04N13/211—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor using temporal multiplexing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N13/00—Stereoscopic video systems; Multi-view video systems; Details thereof
    • H04N13/20—Image signal generators
    • H04N13/204—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras
    • H04N13/207—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor
    • H04N13/218—Image signal generators using stereoscopic image cameras using a single 2D image sensor using spatial multiplexing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0059—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence
    • A61B5/0077—Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/145—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value ; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue
    • A61B5/1455—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value ; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
    • A61B5/14551—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value ; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters for measuring blood gases
    • A61B5/14552—Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2213/00—Details of stereoscopic systems
    • H04N2213/001—Constructional or mechanical details

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to generating three-dimensional image information and more particularly to generating three-dimensional image information using a single imaging path.
  • Stereoscopic optical systems are capable of producing images that represent depth information by producing separate images from differing perspective viewpoints.
  • the separate images may be separately presented to respective left and right eyes of a user so as to mimic operation of the human eyes in viewing a real scene and allowing the user to perceive depth in the presented views.
  • the separated or stereo images are generally produced by an optical system having either a pair of spatially separated imaging paths or by using different portions of a single imaging path to produce images having differing perspective viewpoints.
  • the images may then be presented using eyewear that is able to selectively permit the separate images to reach the user's respective left and right eyes.
  • a special display may be configured to project spatially separated images toward the user's respective left and right eyes.
  • stereoscopic imaging also finds application in the field of surgery where a 3D endoscope may be used to provide a 3D view to the surgeon.
  • Stereoscopic imaging may also be useful in remote operations, such as undersea exploration for example, where control of a robotic actuator is facilitated by providing 3D image information to an operator who is located remotely from the actuator.
  • Other applications of stereoscopic imaging may be found in physical measurement systems and in 3D film production equipment used in the entertainment industry.
  • an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information includes a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens, and a polarizer located proximate the aperture plane, the polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens.
  • the apparatus also includes a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, the modulator being operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • the apparatus includes an image sensor disposed in the single imaging path for receiving the first and second images.
  • a location of the aperture plane may be defined by one of a location of a physical aperture of the lens, or a location of a conjugate of the physical aperture.
  • the first portion of the polarizer may include a linear polarizer having a first linear polarization orientation and the second portion of the polarizer may include a linear polarizer having a second linear polarization orientation, the first linear polarization orientation being orthogonal to the second linear polarization orientation.
  • the first linear polarization orientation may be oriented at 45 degrees.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path after the polarizer, and the modulator may be operably configured to alternate between transmitting light having the first linear polarization state and transmitting light having the second linear polarization state.
  • a quarter wave plate may be disposed in the single imaging path after the modulator.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path before the polarizer, and the modulator is operably configured to select one of the first and second linear polarization states for transmission, and to alternate between transmitting the selected linear polarization state, and causing a 90° change in polarization orientation of the selected linear polarization state.
  • a quarter wave plate may be disposed in the single imaging path before the modulator.
  • the first portion of the polarizer may include a polarizer having a left-handed elliptical polarization orientation and the second portion of the polarizer may include a polarizer having a right-handed elliptical polarization orientation.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path after the polarizer, and the modulator may be operably configured to alternate between transmitting light having the left-handed elliptical polarization orientation and transmitting light having the right-handed elliptical polarization orientation.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path before the polarizer, and the modulator may be operably configured to select one of the left-handed and right-handed elliptical polarization orientations for transmission, and to alternate between transmitting the selected polarization orientation, and causing the selected polarization orientation to undergo a change between the left-handed polarization orientation and the right-handed polarization orientation.
  • the left-handed elliptical polarization orientation may include a left-handed circular polarization orientation and the right-handed elliptical polarization orientation may include a right-handed circular polarization orientation.
  • the modulator may be disposed in front of the lens.
  • the image sensor may be operably configured to separately record the first and second images.
  • the modulator may be disposed between the lens and the image sensor.
  • the modulator may include a liquid crystal material.
  • the modulator may include a Faraday rotator.
  • the modulator may include a spatial modulator operable to move to alternate between introducing a first region of the modulator having the first polarization orientation into the single imaging path, and introducing a second region of the modulator having the second polarization orientation into the single imaging path.
  • the modulator may be disposed at a location in the single imaging path at which a convergence or divergence angle of the captured light is less than an angle of acceptance criteria associated with the modulator.
  • the polarizer may include a polarizing coating applied to a surface of a lens element disposed proximate to the aperture plane.
  • a displacement between the polarizer and the aperture plane may be sufficiently small such that intensity variations in the first and second images due to vignetting by the first and second portion of the polarizer may be below a threshold that is detectable by the human eye.
  • the displacement may be sufficiently small to reduce the intensity variations to below 30% across an image plane associated with the first and second images.
  • the lens may include a plurality of generally circular lens elements defining a generally circular cross-section single imaging path and the polarizer may include a left half and a right half, the respective left and right halves of the polarizer defining respective left and right semicircular portions of the single imaging path.
  • the lens may include a plurality of generally circular lens elements defining a generally circular cross-section single imaging path and the polarizer may include a left sector and a right sector, the respective left and right sectors of the polarizer defining respective left and right sectors of the single imaging path disposed about a vertical centerline of the lens.
  • the first and second portions of the polarizer may be operable to vary in extent to cause the first and second perspective viewpoints to change location while forming the first and second images, the change in perspective viewpoint location providing a corresponding change in the representation of the three dimensional spatial attributes.
  • the apparatus may include an actuator coupled to the polarizer, the actuator being operably configured to cause an orientation of the polarizer to be rotated by 90 degrees to facilitate selectively configuring the apparatus to generate images in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a first variable stop disposed in the first portion of the single imaging path proximate the polarizer and a second variable stop disposed in the second portion of the single imaging path proximate the polarizer.
  • the stops may be irises and may be disposed in front of the polarizer.
  • the imaging sensor may be configured for receiving the first and second images through a color filter array comprising a unit cell tessellated across the surface of the imaging sensor, the unit cell comprising a plurality of red filter elements with differing transmission spectra, at least one red filter element in each unit cell having a transmission spectrum that falls outside the sRGB color space.
  • the unit cell may include a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, with the second red filter element transmitting red light of a range of wavelengths, the range of wavelengths being substantially different from the range of wavelengths of the first red filter and including a wavelength of about 660 nm.
  • the apparatus may include a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, the second red filter element being configured for transmitting wavelengths of light that are transmitted to a measurably different extent by oxygenated hemoglobin as compared with unoxygenated hemoglobin.
  • the apparatus may include an image display system user-selectably configurable for generating a false color based on a signal from sensor pixels filtered by at least one of the filter elements in the unit cell other than filter elements transmitting blue or green light.
  • the imaging sensor may be configured for receiving the first and second images through a color filter array including a unit cell tessellated across a surface of the imaging sensor and the unit cell may include a plurality color filter elements having differing transmission spectra, at least a first of the plurality of filter elements may have an invisible wavelength range within the range of about 700 nm to about 1000 nm.
  • the at least the first of the plurality of filter elements may have an invisible wavelength range that extends within one of a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm and a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.
  • Another of the plurality of filter elements may have an invisible range that extends within the other of a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm and a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.
  • the method involves directing light captured within the field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens, and receiving the captured light at a polarizer located proximate the aperture plane, the polarizer including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens.
  • the method also involves controlling a modulator disposed in the single imaging path to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming on an image sensor a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming on the image sensor a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • Directing light to an aperture plane of the lens may involve directing light captured within the field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens located at one of a location of a physical aperture of the lens, or a location of a conjugate of the physical aperture.
  • Receiving the captured light may involve receiving light having a first linear polarization orientation through the first portion of the polarizer and receiving light having a second linear polarization orientation through the second portion of the polarizer, the first linear polarization orientation being oriented orthogonal to the second linear polarization orientation.
  • the first linear polarization orientation may be oriented at 45 degrees.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path after the polarizer, and controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve alternating between transmitting light having the first linear polarization state and transmitting light having the second linear polarization state.
  • Linearly polarized light transmitted by the modulator may be directed through a quarter wave plate, thereby rendering light transmitted by the quarter wave plate circularly polarized.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path before the polarizer, and controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve selecting one of the first and second linear polarization states for transmission, and alternating between transmitting the selected linear polarization state and causing a 90° change in polarization orientation of the selected linear polarization state.
  • Directing light to an aperture plane of the lens may involve directing light captured within the field of view of the lens through a quarter wave plate disposed in front of the modulator, thereby rendering linearly polarized at least one of circularly polarized light and elliptically polarized light from the objects.
  • Rendering linearly polarized may involve rendering polarized to one of the first polarized state and the second polarized state the one of the circularly polarized light and the elliptically polarized light.
  • Receiving the captured light may involve receiving light having a left-handed elliptical polarization state through the first portion of the polarizer and receiving light having a right-handed elliptical polarization state through the second portion of the polarizer.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path after the polarizer, and controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve alternating between transmitting light having the left-handed elliptical polarization state and transmitting light having the right-handed elliptical polarization state.
  • the modulator may be disposed in the single imaging path before the polarizer, and controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve selecting one of the left-handed and right-handed elliptical polarization states for transmission, and alternating between transmitting the selected polarization state and causing the selected polarization state to undergo a change between the left-handed polarization state and the right-handed polarization state.
  • the left-handed elliptical polarization state may be a left-handed circular polarization state and the right-handed elliptical polarization state may be a right-handed circular polarization state.
  • Controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve controlling a polarization state of a modulator disposed in front of the lens.
  • Controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve moving the modulator to alternate between introducing a first region of the modulator having the first polarization state into the single imaging path, and introducing a second region of the modulator having the second polarization state into the single imaging path.
  • Controlling the polarization state of the modulator may involve controlling a polarization state of a modulator disposed at a location in the single imaging path at which a convergence or divergence angle of the captured light may be less than an angle of acceptance criteria associated with the modulator.
  • Receiving the captured light at the polarizer may involve receiving the captured light at a polarizing coating applied to a surface of a lens element disposed proximate to the aperture plane.
  • Receiving the captured light at the polarizer may involve receiving the captured light at a polarizer displaced from the aperture plane by a sufficiently small displacement such that intensity variations in the first and second images due to vignetting by the first and second portion of the polarizer may be below a threshold that may be detectable by the human eye.
  • the displacement may be sufficiently small to reduce the intensity variations to below 30% across an image plane associated with the first and second images.
  • the lens may include a plurality of generally circular lens elements defining a generally circular cross-section single imaging path and receiving the captured light may involve transmitting light having the first polarization state through a left half of the polarizer and transmitting the light having the second polarization state through a right half of the polarizer, the respective left and right halves of the polarizer defining respective left and right semicircular portions of the single imaging path.
  • the lens may include a plurality of generally circular lens elements defining a generally circular cross-section single imaging path and receiving the captured light may involve transmitting light having the first polarization state through a left sector portion of the polarizer and transmitting the light having the second polarization state through a right sector portion of the polarizer, the left and right sector portions being disposed about a vertical centerline of the lens.
  • the method may involve varying an extent of the first and second portions of the imaging path to cause the first and second perspective viewpoints to change location while forming the first and second images, the change in perspective viewpoint location providing a corresponding change in the representation of the three dimensional spatial attributes.
  • the method may involve selectively rotating the polarizer by 90 degrees to generate images in one of a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.
  • Receiving the captured light through the polarizer may involve receiving captured light associated with the first portion of the single imaging path through a first variable stop and receiving captured light associated with the second portion of the single imaging path through a second variable stop.
  • variable stops may be irises.
  • the captured light associated with the first portion of the single imaging path may be directed to the polarizer through the first variable stop and the captured light associated with the second portion of the single imaging path may be directed to the polarizer through the second variable stop.
  • the method may involve adjusting a depth of focus of the apparatus along the first portion of the imaging path by adjusting the first variable stop and adjusting a depth of focus of the apparatus along the second portion of the imaging path by adjusting the second variable stop.
  • Forming on the image sensor the first and second images may involve receiving the first and second images through a color filter array, the color filter array including a unit cell tessellated across a surface of the image sensor and the unit cell including a plurality of red filter elements having differing transmission spectra. At least one red filter element in each unit cell may have a transmission spectrum that falls outside the sRGB color space.
  • the unit cell may include a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, the second red filter element being configured to transmit light of a range of wavelengths, the range of wavelengths being substantially different from a range of wavelengths of the first red filter and including a wavelength of about 660 nm.
  • the unit cell may include a green filter element, a blue filter element, a first red filter element and a second red filter element, the second red filter element being configured for transmitting wavelengths of light that are transmitted to a measurably different extent by oxygenated hemoglobin as compared with unoxygenated hemoglobin.
  • the method may involve receiving the first and second images at an image display system and causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of the plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color by the image display system.
  • Causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of the plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color may involve causing portions of the first and second images corresponding to sensor elements associated with one of the plurality of red filter elements to be displayed in a false color in response to a user selection.
  • Forming on the image sensor the first and second images may involve receiving the first and second images through a color filter array including a unit cell tessellated across a surface of the imaging sensor the unit cell including a plurality color filter elements having differing transmission spectra, at least a first of the plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range within the range of about 700 nm to about 1000 nm.
  • the at least the first of the plurality of filter elements has an invisible wavelength range that extends within one of a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm, and a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.
  • Another of the plurality of filter elements has an invisible range that extends within the other of a wavelength range between about 700 nm and about 800 nm, and a wavelength range between about 800 nm and about 1000 nm.
  • an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information using a lens having a single imaging path and an associated field of view includes provisions for directing light captured within the field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens, provisions for transmitting light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path, and provisions for transmitting light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens.
  • the apparatus also includes provisions for selectively changing a polarization state of light passing through the single imaging path to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • the apparatus further includes image sensing means for generating digital representations of said first and second images.
  • an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information includes a lens having a single imaging path operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane of the lens, an optical element located proximate the aperture plane, the optical element including a first portion disposed to transmit light having a first state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion disposed to transmit light having a second state through a second portion of the single imaging path, the first and second portions of the single imaging path providing respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens.
  • the apparatus also includes a modulator disposed in the single imaging path, the modulator being operable to selectively change a state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path, the first image representing objects within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image representing the objects from the second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • the apparatus also includes an image sensor disposed in the single imaging path.
  • the first portion of the optical element may include a polarizer disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through the first portion of the single imaging path and the second portion of the optical element may include a polarizer disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through the second portion of the single imaging path and the modulator may be operable to selectively change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between the first polarization state and the second polarization state.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for generating three- dimensional image information according to a first embodiment of the invention; is a partially cut away perspective view of a liquid crystal image modulator; is a top view depicting an operational state of the of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a plan view of a spatial modulator embodiment for implementing the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 5 is a series of graphs depicting current waveforms for controlling the spatial modulator shown in Figure 4;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative actuator for the spatial modulator shown in Figure 4.
  • Figures 7 - 9 are a series of views showing an alternative embodiment of a polarizer used in the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 10 is a top view of an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information according to another embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 11 is a graphical depiction of transmission spectra for interference filters used in yet another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 12 is a top view of an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information according to a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 13 is a top view of an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 14 is a top view of an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information according to another alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 15 is a semi-schematic view of an apparatus for generating three- dimensional image information according to a further embodiment of the invention for enhanced red and near-infrared imaging.
  • an apparatus for generating three-dimensional image information is shown generally at 100.
  • the apparatus 100 includes a lens 102 having a single imaging path generally oriented along a central axis 103.
  • the lens 102 is operable to direct light captured within a field of view of the lens to an aperture plane 104 of the lens.
  • the apparatus 100 also includes a polarizer 108 located proximate the aperture plane 104.
  • the aperture plane 104 may be a physical aperture plane of the lens 102 or may be a conjugate of the aperture plane.
  • the polarizer 108 includes a first portion 110 disposed to transmit light having a first polarization state through a first portion of the single imaging path and a second portion 112 disposed to transmit light having a second polarization state through a second portion of the single imaging path.
  • the first and second portions of the single imaging path provide respective first and second perspective viewpoints within the field of view of the lens 102.
  • the apparatus 100 further includes a modulator 106 disposed in the single imaging path.
  • the modulator 106 is selectively operable to change a polarization state of light passing through the modulator to alternate between forming a first image through the first portion of the single imaging path and forming a second image through the second portion of the single imaging path.
  • the first image represents an object (such as the object 116) within the field of view from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image represents the object from the second perspective viewpoint.
  • the first and second images are together operable to represent three-dimensional spatial attributes of the object 116.
  • the lens 102 includes a plurality of lens elements including lens elements 118, 120, and 122, which make up a zoom lens group 124 and define the location of the aperture plane 104.
  • the focal length of the zoom lens group 124 may be varied by moving lens elements 118 and 120.
  • the lens 102 also includes a focusing lens 126 for focusing the images at the image plane 114.
  • the lens 102 may be made of a greater or lesser number of lens elements and may be a prime, telephoto, or other type of lens used in imaging.
  • the modulator 106 includes an input 128 for receiving a control signal for selectively causing the modulator to change the polarization state of the light passing through the modulator.
  • the apparatus 100 also includes a controller 130 having an output 132 for producing the control signal.
  • the controller 130 also includes an input 134 for receiving a synchronization signal (SYNCH), which may be received from control circuitry associated with an image recording element such as a charge coupled device (not shown) disposed at the image plane 114 for recording the first and second images.
  • SYNCH synchronization signal
  • the modulator 106 may be implemented using a liquid crystal device, Faraday rotator, or other electro- optic device that is operable to change a polarization state of light passing through the device in response to receiving a control signal or drive signal.
  • the modulator 106 may be implemented by mechanically moving a polarizing element as detailed later herein.
  • the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 may be implemented using a linear polarizer having a first linear polarization orientation and the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 may be implemented using a linear polarizer having a second linear polarization orientation, the first linear polarization orientation being orthogonal to the second linear polarization orientation.
  • the first and second polarization orientations are respectively at +45° and -45° to vertical but in other embodiments the polarizations may be otherwise oriented (e.g. vertically and horizontally).
  • orienting the first and second polarization orientations at ⁇ 45° prevents differences between the first and second images due to light received from the field of view of the lens 102 being partially polarized, as would occur when light reflects off surfaces such as a roadway or body of water, for example.
  • the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 may include a polarizer operable to transmit light having a left-handed elliptical polarization state and the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 may include a polarizer operable to transmit light having a right-handed elliptical polarization state.
  • the first and second portions 1 0 and 112 of the polarizer 108 may include materials operable to transmit light having respective left-handed circular polarization and right-handed circular polarization states.
  • the apparatus 100 When oriented as shown in Figure 1, the apparatus 100 is configured to generate images in what is commonly referred to as "landscape orientation" (i.e. the longest dimension of the image is horizontally oriented).
  • the resulting first and second images are separated into right and left images, which advantageously causes the first and second images to correspond to images that would usually be viewed by a user's horizontally separated right and left eyes.
  • landscape orientation i.e. the longest dimension of the image is horizontally oriented
  • portrait orientation i.e. where the longer dimension of the image is vertically oriented.
  • the apparatus may be configured to permit configuration in either a landscape mode or a portrait mode.
  • the polarizer 108 may be rotated by 90 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow 136, such that the first and second images are vertically separated in the orientation of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1.
  • the 90 degree rotation of the polarizer 108 may be implemented using a mechanical rotator having an actuator that is manually operated by the user.
  • the mechanical rotator may be actuated by an electric motor either in response to user selection of a portrait mode, or automatically in response to an orientation signal generated by an orientation sensor such as an accelerometer or gravity sensor (not shown).
  • the modulator 106 may be implemented using a liquid crystal to modulate the polarization state of light.
  • a liquid crystal image modulator is shown generally at 200.
  • the modulator 200 includes a liquid crystal material layer 202 disposed between a first glass plate 204 and a second glass plate 206.
  • the first glass plate 204 includes a first transparent electrode 208, which extends across a surface of the first glass plate.
  • the second glass plate 206 includes a second transparent electrode 212, which extends across a surface of the second glass plate.
  • the liquid crystal modulator 200 also includes a connector 210 for making an electrical connection to the first transparent electrode 208 and a connector 214 for making an electrical connection to the second transparent electrode 212.
  • the connectors 210 and 214 facilitate application of a drive voltage between the electrodes 208 and 212 to cause an electric field to be established within the liquid crystal layer 202 for changing polarization properties of the liquid crystal material.
  • the modulator 200 also includes a polarizing layer 216 that permits light of having a first linear polarization orientation to be transmitted.
  • the first linear polarization orientation is at an angle of -45° to vertical.
  • the first linear polarization orientation may be otherwise oriented, as disclosed earlier herein.
  • the thickness of the various layers are not shown to scale.
  • the liquid crystal layer 202 may be a twisted nematic crystal material, which in the relaxed state with no drive voltage applied between the connectors 210 and 214 causes a rotation of a polarization orientation of light passing through the layer.
  • the liquid crystal may be configured to cause linearly polarized light to undergo a 90° rotation of the polarization orientation in the relaxed state.
  • the twisted nematic crystal material re-orients to permit the light to pass through the layer 202 without changing the polarization orientation.
  • the liquid crystal layer 202 may be actuated by application of a drive signal having a 50% duty cycle square wave varying between a voltage and V, where the voltages are selected within a range of safe operating voltages to provide a 90° change to the polarization orientation of the light from a -45° polarization orientation (as received after transmission through the polarizing layer 216) to a +45° polarization orientation.
  • the controller 130 (shown in Figure 1) may be configured to selectively generate the drive signal when it is desired to actuate the liquid crystal layer 102 to permit the light to pass. In the un-actuated state of the liquid crystal, no drive potential is applied between the connectors 210 and 214. Alternatively, the controller 130 may provide a low level actuation signal that controls a modulator driver (not shown) to selectively generate the drive voltage signal.
  • the modulator 200 For use in embodiments where the modulator 200 is located before the polarizer 108 in the imaging path (as shown in Figure 1), light impinges on the polarizing layer 216 and only light having a -45° polarization orientation is transmitted to the liquid crystal layer 202. With no drive voltage applied between the connectors 210 and 214 the vertically polarized light undergoes a rotation in polarization orientation and emerges from the liquid crystal layer as light having a +45° polarization orientation. When a drive voltage is applied between the connectors 210 and 214, the light having a -45° polarization orientation is transmitted without any change to polarization orientation. The modulator 200, in this mode of operation thus selectively changes the polarization state of transmitted -45° polarized light between -45° and +45° in response to application of the drive voltage.
  • the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 comprises a linear polarizer operable to transmit light polarized at +45° and to block light polarized at -45°.
  • the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 comprises a linear polarizer operable to transmit light polarized at -45° and to block light polarized at +45°.
  • the liquid crystal image modulator 200 is configured such that incoming light impinges on polarizing layer 216, which is configured to transmit light polarized at -45° before passing through the liquid crystal layer 202
  • light rays 150 emanating from a point 140 may include randomly polarized light and light components polarized at -45° are transmitted by the polarizing layer 216, while otherwise polarized light components are blocked.
  • the control signal PC (generated by the controller 130 shown in Figure 1) has a signal state PC1 that causes the modulator 200 to be in the relaxed state, which causes the liquid crystal layer to change the polarization orientation of the light by 90° from -45°to +45°, such that the light rays 144 and 152 are polarized at +45°.
  • the light rays 152 are captured by the lens 102 and directed to the aperture plane 104 where the rays pass through the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 and impinge on the image plane 114.
  • Light rays 142 emanating from the point 140 may also include randomly polarized light, and as before only light components polarized at -45° are transmitted through the polarizing layer 216.
  • the light rays 144 emerging from the modulator 200 are thus polarized at +45° and are blocked by the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 and thus do not reach the image plane 14.
  • T e first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 thus defines the first portion of the single imaging path of the lens 102 that is involved in forming a first image.
  • the modulator 200 When the control signal PC changes state to a signal state PC2, the modulator 200 is placed in an activated or un-twisted nematic state and light polarized at -45° passing through the polarizing layer 216 is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 202 without undergoing a change in polarization orientation, thus remaining oriented in a -45° polarization state.
  • the light rays 144 are captured by the lens 102 and directed to the aperture plane 104 where the rays 144 are transmitted through the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 and impinge on the image plane 114.
  • Light rays 152 are blocked at the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 and do not reach the image plane 114.
  • the second portion 112 of the polarizer 108 thus defines the second portion of the single imaging path of the lens 102 that is involved in forming a second image.
  • the user When the first and second images are selectively directed to respective left and right eyes of a user, the user will be able to discern 3D information from the images, in much the same way that the user would be able to discern 3D information when viewing the actual object 116.
  • the first and second images may be alternately displayed as separate video fields on a video display monitor.
  • Various types of active and passive eyewear are available for directing such displayed first and second images to the user's eyes. Passive types of eyewear generally rely on additional wavelength or polarization processing of the displayed images to enable passive filter elements in the eyewear to separate the images.
  • Active types of eyewear generally include a receiver for receiving a synchronization signal from a display to alternatively permit transmission of the first and second images to the respective left and right eyes.
  • the first and second images may be processed to match up identifiable features in the respective images and to determine lateral shifts between the identified features. The determined lateral shifts, along with knowledge of the imaging parameters of the apparatus 100, may be used to calculate a difference in depth between points on an object or between objects at different depths.
  • the polarizer 108 may be a passive polarizer element, which permits use of relatively thin materials such as an absorptive polarizer film or thin film polarizer. Such materials permit the polarizer 108 to be placed very close to or at the aperture plane 104, even in a lens 102 that has limited space between lens elements. It is advantageous to have selective transmission/blocking of the light for producing the first and second images occurring at least proximate an aperture plane of the lens 102 to reduce or eliminate vignetting of the images due to the selective transmission of light through the first or second portions of the single imaging path.
  • the polarizer may be located proximate an iris (not shown) of the lens that defines the system aperture and controls an amount of light captured by the lens 102.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 may be applied directly as a coating to a lens element defining an aperture plane of a lens, or a lens element that is located proximate the aperture plane of the lens.
  • an optical sensitivity analysis may be performed to yield a distance tolerance representing a maximum displacement of the polarizer 108 from the aperture plane 104.
  • Such an analysis may take into account geometric offsets in the first and second images due to vignetting due to the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108, and the distance tolerance would provide a maximum distance from the aperture plane to satisfy a criterion for acceptable 3D imaging quality.
  • the degree to which imaging quality is affected by moving the polarizer 108 away from the aperture plane is dependent on the re
  • the polarizer 108 may have to be located very close to the aperture plane 104 to minimize vignetting and thus provide first and second images having substantially uniform image intensity across the image.
  • it may be acceptable to permit quite significant image intensity falloff at edges of the images since the human eye is not extremely sensitive to such falloff.
  • a 30% to 50% image falloff at the outer edges of an image may be acceptable.
  • Modulators such as the liquid crystal modulator 200 are generally thicker in the direction of light transmission and thus may not be easily accommodated at the aperture plane.
  • the modulator 200 may be located at any of a number of locations within the lens 102.
  • the modulator 06 is located in front of the lens 102, but in other embodiments an appropriately configured modulator could equally well be located between any of the lens elements, or between the focusing lens 126 and the image plane 114, for example.
  • a modulator that operates as an active polarizing element may be characterized in terms a ratio of intensities between light having respective first and second polarization states.
  • the polarization ratio falls off when a convergence or divergence angle of light impinging on the polarizer is greater than an angle of acceptance criteria associated with said modulator.
  • the lens 102 may have a region over which the light is close to being collimated, which provides a generally optimal location for the modulator 200, subject to other spacing and design constraints associated with the particular lens.
  • Light having a polarization orientation of +45° from the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 will be rotated to have a polarization orientation of -45° will thus be transmitted through the polarizing layer 216 to the imaging plane 114 forming the first image.
  • the light having a polarization orientation of -45° from the second potion 112 of the polarizer 108 will be rotated to a +45° polarization orientation and will be blocked by the polarizing layer 216.
  • the liquid crystal in the un-twisted nematic state passes light having either a -45° or +45° polarization orientation without change to polarization orientation and the -45° polarized light is transmitted through the polarizing layer 216 to the image plane 114 forming the second image.
  • the +45° polarized light from the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 will be blocked by the polarizing layer 216.
  • the modulator 106 shown in Figure 1 may be implemented using the spatial modulator shown generally at 380 in Figure 4.
  • the spatial modulator 380 includes a polarizer 382 having a first region 384 operable to transmit light having a +45° polarization orientation and a second region 386 operable to transmit light having a -45° re
  • the polarizer 382 is mounted on an arm 388, which in turn is mounted on a pivot 390 to provide side-to-side motion of the spatial modulator 380.
  • the arm 388 also includes a magnet 392 mounted partway along the arm.
  • the magnet 392 is disposed between first and second electromagnets 394 and 396 having respective coils 410 and 412.
  • the polarizer 382, arm 388, pivot 390, and the electromagnets 394 and 396, together make up a mechanical actuator operable to produce a force for moving the polarizer 382 from side-to-side in the direction of the arrow 402 between a first arm position (as shown in solid outline) and a second position (shown in broken outline at 404).
  • first and second arm positions are defined by a pair of stops 414 and 416, which respectively define first and second positions of the arm and the polarizer 382.
  • the stops 414 and 416 each comprise a threaded portion 420 that engages a complimentary threaded portion 422 to provide for adjustment of movement of the arm 388 and polarizer 382.
  • An extent of the single imaging path of a lens (such as the lens 102 shown in Figure 1) is shown in broken outline at 406.
  • the first polarizing region 384 is disposed to permit light having a +45° polarization orientation to pass through the single imaging path while blocking light having a -45° polarization orientation.
  • the second polarizing region 386 is disposed to permit light having a -45° polarization orientation to pass through the single imaging path while blocking light having a +45° polarization orientation.
  • the modulator driver 130 shown in Figure 1 may be replaced by the modulator driver 430 shown in Figure 4.
  • the modulator driver 430 includes a first pair of outputs 432 for driving the coil 410 of the first electromagnet 394 and a second pair of outputs 434 for driving a coil 412 of the second electromagnet 396.
  • the modulator driver 430 also includes an output 436 for producing a synchronization signal (SYNC) for synchronizing operation of an image sensor to capture the first and second images.
  • the output 436 may be configured as an input for receiving a synchronization signal generated by an image sensor to facilitate synchronization of the motion of the arm 388 with a pre-determined image capture rate of an image sensor.
  • the modulator driver 430 either generates the SYNCH signal internally, or receives the SYNC signal at the input 436. In response to the SYNCH signal, the controller generates current waveforms at the outputs 432 and 434 for driving the respective coils 410 and 412. The current through the respective coils 410 and 412 cause forces to be exerted on the arm 388 to move toward a desired stop 414 or 416.
  • the modulator driver 430 may be implemented as a push-pull controller where one of the electromagnets 394 and 396 provides an attractive force on the magnet 392, while the other of the electromagnets provides a repulsion force on the magnet, thus increasing the force on the arm while moving between stops 416 and 414.
  • Exemplary waveforms of a current drive provided to the coils 410 and 412 to cause the arm 388 to move toward the first electromagnet 394 are shown graphically in Figure 5.
  • the current waveform through the coil 410 is shown at 440 and the current waveform through the coil 412 is shown at 442.
  • the SYNCH signal pulse waveform is shown at 446.
  • a rising edge of the SYNCH signal 446 defines a start time of a first time period 444, in which the current 440 rises rapidly to produce an attractive force on the arm 388.
  • the attractive force overcomes the inertia of the arm 388 and causes the arm to accelerate away from the stop 414 and the second electromagnet 396.
  • the current 442 is initially at zero and once the arm 388 begins to accelerate, the current 442 increases rapidly to provide a decelerating force as the arm approaches the stop 416, thereby damping the motion of the arm to prevent bouncing of the arm when engaging the stop.
  • the arm 388 comes to rest at the stop 416 and the currents 440 and 442 reduce to a small holding current in each of the coils 410 and 412 to hold the arm at the stop 416.
  • a second time period 448 during which the arm 388 is held at the stop 416 provides sufficient time to complete capture of the first image.
  • a subsequent rising edge of the SYNCH signal 446 defines a start time of a third time period 450, in which the current 442 causes an attractive force and the current 440 a repulsion force on the arm 388 to cause the arm to move toward the stop 414.
  • a time period 452 during which the arm 388 is at rest at the stop 414 defines a fourth time period 452, which provides sufficient time to complete capture of the second image.
  • the actuator 500 includes a motor 502 having a rotor shaft 506 extending through the motor.
  • the arm 388 is mounted to the shaft 506 for side-to-side motion as generally shown in Figure 4.
  • the motor 502 is implemented using a pair of magnets 508 and 510 and the shaft 506 supports an actuator coil 516 between the magnets.
  • the actuator coil 516 is coupled to the modulator output 432 for receiving a drive current, which causes a torque to be generated on the shaft 506.
  • the actuator 500 operates in a manner similar to an analogue meter movement and provides movement between stops 414 and 416.
  • the motor portion 502 may be configured such that the shaft 506 is magnetized and the coil is wound around pole pieces (i.e. 508 and 510).
  • the single imaging path is circular in shape and the first portion 110 of the polarizer 108 extends to cover a first semicircular portion of the imaging path, while the second portion 112 extends to cover a second semicircular portion of the imaging path.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 may each extend to cover a sector of the single imaging path of less then a semicircular area as shown in Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9.
  • the polarizer 108 is sized such that the first and second portions 110 and 112 extend outwardly beyond the imaging path 406.
  • a centroid of the area of the single imaging path (indicated by broken line 406) covered by the first portion 110 is shown at 550 and a centroid of the area of the single imaging path covered by the second portion 112 is shown at 552.
  • the centroids 550 and 552 may be viewed as defining a center of perspective for the respective first and second images formed through a lens, such as the lens 102 shown in Figure 1.
  • a distance D between the two centroids 550 and 552 represents the steroptic separation between images, which loosely equates to an "amount of 3D" generated by the apparatus.
  • an overlapping region 558 is formed between the two polarizer portions.
  • Light passing through the overlapping region 558 will pass through both a portion of the polarizer 108 having a -45° polarization orientation and a portion having a +45° polarization orientation and will thus be blocked regardless of polarization orientation.
  • the centroids 550 and 552 are each shifted outwardly and thus the perspective viewpoint is also shifted outwardly providing greater steroptic separation between the first and second images.
  • the movements of the portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 may be performed by an actuator such as a mini stepper motor and the degree of separation of the centroids may be varied while the first and second images are being formed to provide for variable steropsis as disclosed in commonly owned PCT patent application PCT/CA2009/000957, filed on July 10, 2009, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE INFORMATION USING A SINGLE IMAGING PATH", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • a circular polarization embodiment is shown generally at 600.
  • a modulator 602 is disposed in front of the lens element 118 and includes a linear polarizing layer 604 that transmits light having a polarization orientation of -45°.
  • the modulator 602 also includes a liquid crystal layer 606 that is configured to selectively switch between a +90° phase retardation and a -90° phase retardation to produce either right hand circular polarized light or left hand circular polarized light.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 are linear polarizers operable to respectively transmit light having +45° and -45° polarization orientations.
  • the polarizer 108 further includes a first quarter wave plate 608, which is oriented to cause light having a right-hand circular polarization to be converted into linearly polarized light at an orientation of +45°, which is transmitted through the portion 110 of the polarizer 108.
  • the polarizer 108 also includes a second quarter wave plate 610, which is oriented to cause light having a left-hand circular polarization to be converted into linearly polarized light at an orientation of -45°, which is transmitted through the portion 112 of the polarizer 108.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 thus cause the first and second images to be formed at the image plane 114 as described earlier herein.
  • the polarizer portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 08 in Figure 2 may be replaced with filter portions that operate on another property of the light to generate the first and second images.
  • the portions 110 and 112 may be interference filters that transmit specific narrow bands of light wavelengths, such as blue, green, and red light.
  • the filter 110 may be configured to transmit a first plurality of light wavelengths ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ , G i, and A R i as shown at 700 and the filter 112 may be configured to pass a second plurality of light wavelengths ⁇ ⁇ 2 , and AR2 as shown at 702.
  • a spatial modulator such as the modulator shown in Figure 4, may be configured such that the first region 384 transmits the first plurality of wavelengths 700 while second region 386 transmits the second plurality of wavelengths 702. In operation, the spatial modulator alternates to permit the first and second wavelength ranges to be selectively received though the single imaging path.
  • the interference filter portion 110 blocks these wavelengths while the interference filter portion 112 transmits the second plurality of wavelengths, which are imaged to form a first image at the image plane 114.
  • the interference filter portion 112 blocks these wavelengths while the interference filter portion 110 transmits the first plurality of wavelengths, which are imaged to form a second image at the image plane 114. Since the human eye includes receptors that are not very sensitive to slight shifts in wavelength, the images discerned by the left and right eyes will not be significantly different in spectral or color appearance, but have different perspective viewpoints provided by the first and second portions of the single imaging path.
  • the first and second pluralities of wavelengths would be sufficiently different such that the respective transmission bands have an insignificant overlap.
  • wavelength differences in the region of 10 nanometers are virtually indiscernible by the human eye as long as there is not a significant intensity disparity between the wavelengths. Since the receptors in the human eye are not sensitive to such small shifts, the first and second images received by the eyes are not perceived as having a different spectral or color content.
  • a circular polarization input embodiment of the apparatus is shown generally at 800.
  • the modulator 200 is disposed between the lens element 118 and the point 140 in the field of view of lens 102 at an input end of the apparatus 800.
  • the modulator 200 includes the linear polarizing layer 216 that transmits light having a polarization orientation of -45°.
  • a quarter wave plate 217 is arranged between the polarizing layer 216 and the point 140 so that incoming circularly and elliptically polarized light is rendered linearly polarized by transmission through the quarter wave plate 217.
  • the modulator 200 operates as described before and alternately renders the transmitted light +45° polarized, when it is under the control of the control signal PC in its PC1 relaxed state, and -45° polarized, when it is under the control of the control signal PC in its PC2 activated state.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 are linear polarizers operable to respectively transmit light having +45° and -45° polarization orientations.
  • the first and second portions 1 0 and 112 of the polarizer 108 thus cause first and second images to alternately be formed at the image plane 114 as described earlier herein.
  • Light having a first polarization state transmitted through the first portion 110 of the single imaging path of the apparatus 800 provides a first perspective viewpoint within the field of view of the lens 102.
  • Light having a second polarization state transmitted through the second portion 112 of the single imaging path of apparatus 800 provides a second perspective viewpoint within the field of view of the lens 102.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 thus cause the first and second images to be formed at the image plane 114 as described earlier herein.
  • the first image represents objects within the field of view of the lens 102 from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image represents the objects from a second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three-dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • the modulator 200 is disposed between lens 126 and the image plane 114 with the polarizing layer 216 facing image plane 114 at an output end of the apparatus 900.
  • a quarter wave plate 217 is disposed between the polarizing layer 216 and the image plane 114.
  • light rays 150 that pass through the portion 110 of the polarizer 108 have a +45° linear polarization upon emerging from the polarizer, while light rays 142 that pass through the portion 112 of the polarizer have a -45° linear polarization upon emerging from the polarizer.
  • the modulator 200 When the modulator 200 is in the PC1 relaxed state, it changes the polarization of the rays 150 by 90° to +135°, while it changes the polarization of the rays 142 by 90° to +45°.
  • the polarization of +135° is operationally equivalent to -45° in respect of the working of the polarizing layer 216, which transmits only light of polarization parallel to -45°. Therefore, when the rays 150 and 142 impinge on the polarizing layer 216, only the rays 150 are transmitted to the quarter wave plate 217 and the rays 142 are stopped.
  • the quarter wave plate 217 renders the rays 150 circularly polarized.
  • the modulator 200 When the modulator 200 is in its PC2 activated state it does not change the polarization of the rays 150, leaving them at +45° linear polarization, while it leaves the polarization of the rays 142 at -45°.
  • the rays 150 and 142 impinge on polarizing layer 216, only the rays 142 are transmitted to the quarter wave plate 217.
  • the quarter wave plate 217 then renders the rays
  • light rays 150 and 142 alternately form an image at the image plane, representing respectively light traveling through the portion 110 and the portion 112 of polarizer 108.
  • Light having a first polarization state through the first portion 110 of the single imaging path of the apparatus 900 provides a first perspective viewpoint within the field of view of the lens 102.
  • Light having a second polarization state through the second portion 112 of the single imaging path of the apparatus 900 provides a second perspective viewpoint within the field of view of the lens 102.
  • the first and second portions 110 and 112 of the polarizer 108 thus cause the first and second images to be formed at the image plane 114 as described earlier herein.
  • the first image represents objects within the field of view of the lens 102 from the first perspective viewpoint and the second image represents the objects from a second perspective viewpoint, the first and second images together being operable to represent three-dimensional spatial attributes of the objects.
  • the images are formed using circularly polarized light. This may be advantageous for devices such as range finders and certain imaging devices, such as modern SLR cameras, that specifically or preferentially use incoming circularly polarized light. This allows the apparatus 900 to be coupled as an input front-end to such imaging devices and range finders.
  • a further embodiment of the present invention that may be implemented in all of the aforementioned embodiments involves the addition of a pair of variable stops.
  • the apparatus 1000 includes a lens 902 having a pair of variable stops 996 and 998 disposed proximate the polarizer 108 as part of the lens.
  • the variable stops 996 and 998 are disposed in front of the polarizer 108 in the single imaging path.
  • the variable stops 996 and 998 may be disposed at the physical aperture of the lens 902 on the aperture plane 104 or at a location of a conjugate of the physical aperture, and polarizer 108 may be disposed to receive light transmitted through the variable stops.
  • variable stops 996 and 998 may be implemented as irises.
  • the variable stops 996 and 998 may be any arrangement that allows the apertures of stops 996 and 998 to be adjusted, and the apertures may have an oval, rectangular, square, or other shape.
  • the pair of variable stops may be configured to change form from separate stops into one contiguous stop. All the other elements of lens 902 are as described above for the lens 102 shown in Figure 12 and the modulator 200 is disposed in front of the lens 902 as described in connection with Figure 12.
  • the quarter wave plate 217 is disposed in front of the modulator 200, as described earlier herein. ln operation, the variable stops 996 and 998 may be adjusted to change a depth of focus of the apparatus 1000.
  • variable stops 996 and 998 may be adjusted independently of each other, which facilitates independent adjustment of the depth of focus of the apparatus 1000 for the first portion of the single imaging path and for the second portion of the single imaging path.
  • Other embodiments may provide for corresponding adjustments of the stops such that the depths of focus for each of the first and second portions of the imaging path are substantially matched.
  • the medical fraternity has need of the facility for distinguishing during surgery between oxygenated blood and blood that is significantly oxygen-depleted.
  • the two states of the blood present to the trained eye as different tones of red, not only of the blood but also of the tissue infused with the blood.
  • the sRGB color space that is in use in many imaging devices and monitors has limitations at the far red end of the visible spectrum where different tones of red cannot be adequately represented in the sRGB color space. Yet this is the region in which the medical fraternity has interest.
  • the sRGB color space is a standard red, green, and blue color space that was cooperatively created by Hewlett Packard and Microsoft for use on monitors, printers, and the Internet.
  • an image sensor 160 for 3D imaging is disposed with respect to any one of apparatus 100, 600, 800, 900 and 1000 as per Figures 1 , 3, 10, 12, 13 or 14. With reference to Figures 1 , 3, 10, 12, 13 and 14 the image sensor 160 would be disposed in the single imaging path along the central axis 103 at the image plane 114 and would function as an image sensing means for generating digital representations of the first and second images.
  • the image sensor 160 includes a light sensitive array 162 having a plurality of sensor elements or pixels 166 and a color filter array 165 having a corresponding plurality of filter elements 168.
  • the sensor elements 166 have the same size, shape, and alignment as the filter elements 168.
  • the color filter array is often of the Bayer type, comprising an array of unit cells in which each 2x2 unit cell comprises a red filter, a blue filter and two green filters.
  • the unit cell is generally tessellated across the surface of the imaging sensor in two dimensions to cover substantially all pixels on the image sensor.
  • the image sensor 160 has a color filter array 165 having unit cells 172 including four filter elements 168, and four corresponding underlying sensor elements 166.
  • unit cells 172 including four filter elements 168, and four corresponding underlying sensor elements 166.
  • one sensor element is filtered by a green filter
  • one sensor element is filtered by a blue filter
  • the remaining sensor elements are filtered by red filters (indicated as Red1 and Red2 in Figure 15).
  • a first red filter (Red1) in each unit cell may be selected to transmit light, for example, within a first wavelength range to a corresponding sensor element
  • a second red filter (Red2) in the unit cell may be selected to transmit red light within a second wavelength range to a corresponding sensor element.
  • the second wavelength range may be substantially different from the wavelength range of the first red filter.
  • the first wavelength range may be the same as that of a conventional red filter for a commercially available imaging sensor.
  • the second wavelength range may be, by way of example, centred on about 660 nm. This particular wavelength, in this embodiment, may represent a point in the visible spectrum at which the greatest difference in light absorption occurs between oxygenated blood and blood significantly depleted of oxygen. Other wavelength ranges at the red end of the visible spectrum may be selected for the two red filter elements.
  • the second red filter element may be configured for transmitting wavelengths of light that are transmitted to a measurably different extent by oxygenated hemoglobin as compared with unoxygenated hemoglobin.
  • the signals from the various sensor elements 166 are supplied to an image display controller 170 which may include a processing circuit for processing the signals from the sensor elements.
  • the resulting image may be displayed on an image display system 175.
  • FIG. 15 the inclusion of a plurality of red filters within the unit cell 172 of the sensor 160 allows tones of red to be rendered with greater fidelity.
  • unit cells 172 comprising more than four elements, such as but not limited to 4x4 element arrays, may be employed in the imaging sensor 160.
  • greater pluralities of red filters - that is, more than two red filter elements - may be employed and therefore more than two ranges of red color wavelengths may be monitored and received by the sensor 160.
  • a computer program executed by the image display controller 170 for receiving and manipulating 3D image data from the sensor 160 may be configured to generate different false colours for the different tones of red light to thereby accentuate the difference between oxygenated and oxygen depleted blood and to accentuate the difference between tissue supplied with such two states of blood.
  • a red color may be associated with information from sensor elements 166 having red filters of the first wavelength range, while a false color may be associated with information from sensor elements having red filters of the second wavelength range. If more than two red filters are employed, a suitable false color may be associated with each further wavelength range of red image information.
  • a further embodiment relies on the fact that the most useful hemoglobin light absorption spectrum ranges from about 600 nm to about 1000 nm, most of which extends over the near-infrared, outside the range of human vision.
  • Deoxygenated hemoglobin has a so-called isosbestic point at about a wavelength of 800 nm. For light wavelengths below the isosbestic point (i.e. below about 800 nm) the oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood absorbs light more strongly than unoxygenated hemoglobin. For wavelengths above the isobestic point (i.e. above about 800 nm) the absorption behaviour is reversed, and unoxygenated hemoglobin absorbs light more strongly. As a result, the light transmission differentiation between oxygenated and unoxygenated blood that the trained surgeon's eye is so adept at detecting is more accentuated if the near-infrared range is employed along with appropriate sensors.
  • Unfiltered silicon-based imaging sensor arrays are generally sensitive across this entire range. In standard commercial and consumer visible light applications these sensors have to be filtered with suitable infrared filters in order to limit their range to avoid saturating the sensors. The problem arises from the extensive signal in the near infra-red, which does not contribute to color viewing, but can overload the sensor. In the particular case of blood oxygenation, the inherent silicon sensor detection wavelength range is nevertheless well suited for sensing the far-red and near-infrared wavelength range over which the relative oxygenation of blood causes the greatest difference in light absorption.
  • the first to third sensor elements 166 having corresponding blue, green and visible (first) red filter elements 168 of the color filter array 165 may be additionally provided with infrared filters to remove, as with commercial sensors known in the art, any unwanted far-red or near- infrared transmission shoulders in the transmission spectra of the blue, green and red filters.
  • the second red filter (Red2) in each unit cell 172 may be replaced by a near infrared transmission filter element with transmission range extending some distance over the range about 700 nm to about 1000 nm to provide a fourth sensor element. More specifically, the wavelength range may be chosen to extend either only below the isosbestic point or only above the isobestic point.
  • the signal from these fourth sensor elements in the unit cells 172 on the imaging sensor 160 may be used to render 3-dimensional images in a user-selectable false color to accentuate the difference between oxygenated and relative oxygen-depleted blood or tissue.
  • the use of the fourth near-infrared sensor element may be mode- selectable by the user.
  • the apparatus of the invention may function as a visible light 3-dimensional imaging system when the fourth (near infrared) pixel is not actuated for imaging, and may function as an oxygenation-imaging 3-D apparatus when the fourth (near-infrared) pixel is actuated for imaging.
  • the image display system 175 may be used for displaying the first and second images and may be user-selectably configured for generating a false color based on the signal from the sensor elements 166 filtered by at least one of the filter elements 168 in the unit cell 172 other than those transmitting blue or green light.
  • a second red filtered sensor element operating at wavelengths suited to sense the difference between oxygenated and unoxygenated hemoglobin, there is particular merit in rendering the signal from the hemoglobin oxygenation-sensitive pixels in a visible false color.
  • 175 may be configured to allow the user to temporarily display such oxygenation-sensitive information in false colors, and to otherwise employ only signals from sensor pixels sensing standard blue, green and red. This allows, for example, a surgeon to proceed with viewing his work in visible light, based on the usual blue, green and red information, but to temporarily select the signal from the sensor pixels filtered by second "red" pixels in all filter unit cells to obtain oxygenation-sensitive image information in false colors.
  • the embodiments described herein facilitate the generation of 3D image information through a single imaging path and are particularly useful in imaging system where the aperture plane is located so as to preclude use of a thick modulating element at the aperture plane.
  • the described embodiments are also useful in imaging systems that are sensitive to vignetting and would require precise placement of a modulator element proximate the aperture plane.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un appareil de génération d'informations d'images tridimensionnelles. L'appareil comprend une lentille comportant un parcours d'imagerie unique utilisable pour diriger une lumière capturée dans un champ de vision de la lentille jusqu'à un plan de diaphragme de la lentille. L'appareil comprend également un polariseur situé à proximité du plan de diaphragme, le polariseur comprenant une première partie disposée de façon à transmettre la lumière présentant un premier état de polarisation à travers une première partie du parcours d'imagerie unique et une deuxième partie disposée de façon à transmettre la lumière présentant un deuxième état de polarisation à travers une deuxième partie du parcours d'imagerie unique, les première et deuxième parties du parcours d'imagerie unique donnant des premier et deuxième points de vue respectifs en perspective dans le champ de vision de la lentille. L'appareil comprend en outre un modulateur disposé sur le parcours d'imagerie unique, le modulateur étant utilisable pour modifier sélectivement un état de polarisation de la lumière traversant le modulateur de façon à alterner entre la formation d'une première image à travers la première partie du parcours d'imagerie unique et la formation d'une deuxième image à travers la deuxième partie du parcours d'imagerie unique, la première image représentant des objets situés dans le champ de vision à partir du premier point de vue en perspective et la deuxième image représentant les objets vus du deuxième point de vue en perspective, les première et deuxième images étant utilisables ensemble pour représenter des attributs spatiaux tridimensionnels des objets. L'appareil peut être doté d'un capteur d'images comprenant des éléments de filtres colorés configurés pour des performances renforcées dans la gamme du rouge et de l'infrarouge proche.
PCT/CA2011/001391 2010-06-25 2011-12-22 Procédé et appareil de génération d'informations d'images tridimensionnelles Ceased WO2012174633A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

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CN201180073005.1A CN103827730B (zh) 2011-06-21 2011-12-22 用于生成三维图像信息的方法和装置
EP11868356.4A EP2724192A4 (fr) 2011-06-21 2011-12-22 Procédé et appareil de génération d'informations d'images tridimensionnelles
JP2014516140A JP6076970B2 (ja) 2011-06-21 2011-12-22 ３次元画像情報を生成する方法および装置
US14/128,135 US20160360953A1 (en) 2010-06-25 2011-12-22 Method and Apparatus for Generating Three-Dimensional Image Information

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PCT/CA2011/000739 WO2011160212A1 (fr) 2010-06-25 2011-06-21 Procédé et appareil de génération d'informations d'image tridimensionnelle

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US11924395B2 (en) 2018-12-21 2024-03-05 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Device comprising a multi-aperture imaging device for generating a depth map
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CN113491497B (zh) * 2021-07-27 2022-08-12 重庆西山科技股份有限公司 偏振光内窥镜装置

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