A real-time, single-camera, stereoscopic video device

Abstract

This patent application discloses a real-time, single-camera, stereoscopic video imaging device for use with a standard 60 Hz camera and monitor is being developed The device uses a single objective lens to focus disparate views of the object at the focal plane of the lens. Each view is represented by a set of parallel rays emanating from the object at a specific angle. The lens focuses these parallel rays to a single point at the focal plane These views are then shuttered at the focal plane using a Liquid-Crystal Device (LCD) shutter such that one view at a time is passed to the camera. The camera then transmits alternating video fields (individual TV images) to the monitor, such that alternate fields display stereoscopically-related views of the object being imaged. The user views the monitor using off-the-shelf LCD stereoglasses, modified to allow synchronization with the standard field rate of the camera and monitor. The glasses shutter the light alternately to each eye so that the left eye views the left-hand image and the right eye views the right-hand image. The resulting 3-D image is independent of the user's viewing angle or distance from the monitor.