Patent ID: 8687000
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image generating apparatus, comprising: predetermined lines comprising a line on which cameras are arranged and lines on which cameras are not arranged; an interpolating unit configured to generate a plurality of interpolated images on the predetermined lines from images captured by the cameras; a depth generating unit configured to generate a depth map which indicates a depth value, which is a distance between a viewpoint and a point on an object represented by each pixel of a plurality of pre-images on the predetermined lines, the pre-images comprising the images captured by the cameras and the interpolated images; a storage unit configured to store the pre-images from viewpoints on the predetermined lines and depth maps indicating the depth value of each pixel of a corresponding pre-image; an image generating unit configured to generate a first image from a first viewpoint based on the pre-images and depth maps, wherein: the image generating unit includes a viewpoint determination unit configured to select a closest line to a viewpoint of an image to be generated and configured to determine a second viewpoint of a second image on the closest line in order to generate the image of the viewpoint to be generated, the second image having a second pixel caused by the same ray as a first pixel of the first image, when an object is disposed between the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint such that the second viewpoint does not have all the pixel data necessary to generate the first image of the first viewpoint, the interpolating unit is configured to search for pre-images associated with one or more additional viewpoints to provide the pixel data to a pixel value determination unit, and the pre-images are searched using the depth values from the depth map, and when the pixel data cannot be determined using the pre-images and associated depth maps, the pixel value determination unit determines the pixel data by interpolating already determined pixel values around the undetermined pixel data in the first image.