Patent EA-003495-B1 (EA)
Title: Apparatus and method for photographing three-dimensional image, apparatus and method for displaying three-dimensional image, and apparatus and method for converting three-dimensional image display position
Inventor: HORIMAI HIDEYOSHI
IPC: G02B30/25
Filed: 1999-12-20
Abstract: 1. A three-dimensional image photographing apparatus for acquiring image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space, comprising: a single photographing means for photographing the object to generate two-dimensional image information of the object; and photographing direction control means for sequentially changing a photographing direction of the photographing means comprising deflecting means which is provided between the object and the photographing means and which deflects light by selecting a direction for incident light. 2. A three-dimensional image photographing apparatus for acquiring image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space, comprising: a single photographing means for photographing the object to generate two-dimensional image information of the object; and photographing direction control means for sequentially changing a photographing direction of the photographing means sets a photographing direction that is the same for all pixels of the two-dimensional image information and sequentially changes the photographing direction. 3. A method for photographing a three-dimensional image for acquiring image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space, the method including: a photographing step for photographing the object with a single photographing means to generate two-dimensional image information of the object; and a photographing direction controlling step for sequentially changing a photographing direction at the photographing step, wherein the photographing direction controlling step deflects light by selecting a direction for incident light between the object and the photographing means, thereby changing the photographing direction. 4. A method for photographing a three-dimensional image according to Claim 7, wherein the photographing direction controlling step sets a photographing direction that is the same for all pixels of the two-dimensional image information and sequentially changes the photographing direction. 5. A three-dimensional image photographing apparatus for acquiring image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space, comprising: photographing means for photographing the object to generate two-dimensional image information of the object; photographing direction setting means for setting a photographing direction for the photographing means, capable of setting a different photographing direction for each pixel of the two-dimensional image information; and photographing control means for controlling the photographing direction setting means to acquire two-dimensional image information with a preset resolution in every photographing direction that can be set that is lower than the resolution of the photographing means, and for repeatedly performing a process of generating the two-dimensional image with the said resolution while changing photographing direction for each pixel. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing control means divides a two-dimensional image region into a plurality of sub-regions each having A pixels (A is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and sets each of all the photographing directions that can be set for one pixel in each of the sub-regions to acquire the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution, the low resolution being 1/A of the resolution of the photographing means, and repeats a process of generating the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution A times while changing pixels to which a specific photographing direction is assigned in the sub-regions, to acquire the two-dimensional image information with the same resolution as the resolution of the photographing means. 7. The apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the photographing control means divides all of the photographing directions that can be set into groups each consisting of A photographing directions and repeatedly performs a process of generating the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in the A photographing directions to acquire two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in all of the photographing directions that can be set. 8. The apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the photographing direction setting means has defecting means which is provided between the object and the photographing means and which deflects light by selecting a direction for incident light. 9. A method for photographing a three-dimensional image for acquiring image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space using: photographing means for photographing the object to generate two-dimensional image information of the object; and photographing direction setting means for setting a photographing direction for the photographing means, capable of setting a different photographing direction for each pixel of the two-dimensional image information, the method including: (a) the photographing direction setting means to acquire two-dimensional image information with a preset resolution in every photographing direction that can be set that is lower than the resolution of the photographing means, and (b) a second step for repeatedly performing the first step while changing pixels to which a specific photographing direction is assigned, to acquire two-dimensional image information with the same resolution as the resolution of the photographing means in every photographing direction that can be set. 10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the first step divides a two-dimensional image region into a plurality of sub-regions each having A pixels (A is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and sets each of all the photographing directions that can be set for one pixel in each of the sub-regions to acquire the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution, the low resolution being 1/A of the resolution of the photographing means, and the second step repeats the first step A times while changing pixels to which a specific photographing directions is assigned in the sub-regions to acquire the two-dimensional image information with the same resolution as the resolution of the photographing means. 11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the first step divides all of the photographing directions that can be set into groups each consisting of A photographing directions and repeatedly performs a process of acquiring the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in the A photographing directions to acquire two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in all of the photographing directions that can be set. 12. A three-dimensional image display apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space by projecting a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object in projecting directions that are associated with the respective viewing directions, comprising: projecting means; projecting direction setting means for setting a projecting direction for the projecting means, capable of setting a different projecting direction for each pixel of the two-dimensional image information; and control means for controlling the projecting direction setting means to project two-dimensional image information with a preset resolution in every projecting direction that is lower than the resolution of the projecting means, and for repeatedly performing a process of projecting the two-dimensional image information with the said resolution while changing pixels to which a specific projecting direction is assigned, to display a three-dimensional image with the same resolution as the resolution of the projecting means. 13. The apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the display control means divides a two-dimensional image region into a plurality of sub-regions each having A pixels (A is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and sets each of all the projecting directions that can be set for one pixel in each of the sub-regions to project the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution, the low resolution being 1/A of the resolution of the projecting means, thereby displaying a three-dimensional image with a low resolution, and repeatedly performs a process of projecting the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution A times while changing pixels to which a specific projecting direction is assigned in the sub-regions, to display the three-dimensional image with the same resolution as the resolution of the projecting means. 14. The apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the display control means divides all of the projecting directions that can be set into groups each consisting of A projecting directions, and repeatedly performs a process of projecting the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in the A projecting directions to project the two-dimensional image information with the low resolution in all of the projecting directions that can be set. 15. The apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the projecting direction setting means has deflecting means for deflecting light by selecting a direction for exiting light. 16. A method for displaying a three-dimensional image for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space by projecting a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object obtained by viewing the object in different viewing directions, in projecting directions that are associated with the respective viewing directions, using projecting means for projecting the two-dimensional image information of the object and projecting direction setting means for setting a projecting direction for the projecting means, capable of setting a different photographing direction for each pixel of the two-dimensional image information, the method including: a first step for controlling the projec