Patent ID: 6384859
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G06K,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A method for calculating depth information, based on frames included in a 2-D image, comprising:a step of selecting two frames with an appropriately large movement between the two frames within the 2-D motion image; a step of calculating depth information, based on the two frames, wherein the calculation of the depth information is discontinued when two frames with an appropriately large movement between the two frames cannot be selected from the 2-D motion image; a step of providing a plurality of representative points in a reference frame; a step of determining a plurality of corresponding points in another frame, the corresponding points determined to correspond to each of the representative points; a step of obtaining a positional relationship between the representative and corresponding points; each of the representative points being classified either as a characteristic or a non-characteristic point; wherein when more that a predetermined number of characteristic points move between the reference frame and the other frame and a total of the movements of the characteristic points exceed a predetermined value, it is judged that a movement between the reference frame and the other frame is appropriately large, and the reference frame and the other frame are selected; and the step of adjusting a position in a second frame of a corresponding point of a representative point within a first frame, the representative point positioned within an image area of the first frame having a geometric characteristic, the position of the corresponding point adjusted to retain the geometric characteristic of the image formed in the second frame.