WO1988005554A1

WO1988005554A1 - Procedure and construction for producing plastic still and/or motion pictures

Info

Publication number: WO1988005554A1
Application number: PCT/HU1988/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: István Ödön SZÓRÁDY
Original assignee: Infort (Információs Rendszer Technika Kutatási-Fej
Priority date: 1987-01-26
Filing date: 1988-01-22
Publication date: 1988-07-28
Also published as: IL85218A0; HU205809B; NO884244L; JPH01502696A; EP0299031A1; DD269468A5; AU1151088A; FI884251A; FI884251A0; NO884244D0; CN1032244A; DK534588A; BR8804965A; NZ223305A; KR890700849A; DK534588D0; ZA88534B

Abstract

Procedure for producing stereoscopic still and/or motion pictures, by means of which pictures are broken down into parts or image-points, respectively, and a device necessary for implementation of this procedure. The procedure according to the present invention is characterized by transforming the spatial picture of the object (T) first by means of a plate (L2) consisting of many small lenses, having parallel optical axes, and common focal plane, or lens elements, into many small plain or spherical images of different viewpoint, which images are then recorded or transmitted in a given case, or projected, respectively, and re-transformed at last into a stereoscopic picture (T'), again by means of a plate (L2) consisting of many small lenses or lens elements.

Description

PROCEDURE AND CONSTRUCTION FOR PRODUC ING PLASTIC STILLS AND /OR MOTION PICTURES

Technical field

The subject of the invention is a procedure for producing stereoscopic stills and/or motion pictures , by means of which pictures are broken down into parts or image-points, respectively, and a device- necessary for implementation of this procedure .

Background art

Researchers of the field have long taken intere st in producing stereoscopic pictures, i. e . pictures demonstrating objects in three dimensions. Generally, stereoscopic, so-called " stereo" pictures have been, produced by methods based on the binocular eyesight of man There are several standard methods known .

A typical procedure is to mount pictures cut previously into stripes and covered by a set of refractive prisms or semicylinders . These picture s appear to be one , when looked at binocularly from a suitable distance and at proper angles of look-down, and a stereoscopic picture is produced in this way. By this technique , stereoscopic postcards are produced for example or those pictures that are seen to be different when changing the angle of look -down, and that' s why the picture or parts ot it seem to move .

An other group of stereoscopic pictures is in which picture s are visible- stereo scopically by the aid of eye-glasse s with colour or polar filter-.. These consist of two pictures , the one drawn, projected or photographed onto the other, which are seen , however , separately by the two eyas upon the effect of the eye-glassas . There have already been trials with, methods like these to produce and project stereo scopically effective movie films, in which each of the spectators had to wear special eye-glasses. Yet another group is formed by the methods, in which pictures can be seen by a viewer or other optical device, e. g. by the insertion of different rasters or screens. The two eyes see the pictures different by the aid of the refractive or reflecting system and a stereoscopic effect w ill be felt in this way. By the way, the principle of these methods is similar to that of operation of the stereo sound recorders and radiators.

Holograms represent a new trend. They are real three-dimensional pictures produced by laser technique, i. e. by an object-beam ani an interfering reference beam.

As was said above, similar methods have been used in case of stereoscopic motion pictures, too . These are also based on -two-eye stereoscopic vision.

To a group of them belong those methods , that work with a T V- equipment: of films projected from behind and risible from a right distance and at suitable angles , and with a set of refractive prisms or semicylinders put on the screen.

An other group is formed by the procedures, in which films or TV-programs can be seen, by eye-glasses witk colour or polar filter, or by alternately "on-off" eye-glasses that work either mechanically or by liquid crystals. An additional group is formed by those methods , in which the film or TV-program can be seen by a viewer or other optical device , i. e . in which the two eyes see a different picture by the aid of an inserted refractive or reflecting system.

Holograms are applied to motion pictures , too. In this case , the system that works mechanically, is composed of many still holograms as frames. D isclosure of Invention

The aim of the invention is to accomplish a procedure and a matching device , by the aid of which difficulties and shortages of the methods known so far can be eliminated or reduced, and the realization of which does not requirre special means, i. e . it is not expensive.

The dominant idea of the invention, is as follows. As is known, the basic characteristic of stereoscopic pictures is that they offer a different sight, when looked at from different directions. Breaking down the picture into parts up to a proper extent, these parts will also offer a different sight, when looked at from different directions . Continuing of breaking down into parts as small as possible or breaking down the picture into elements , respectively, will result in image-points, again now high now low in key or showing different colours , each, when looked at from different directions.

According to the invention, the break-down of a picture into parts is carried out by producing each of the parts or image-points by a separate small collecting lens. Namely, if a small picture is placed into the focal plane or within that of the condensor behind the lens , the individual parts of the picture will appear differently on the surface of the lens, when looked at from different directions. The smaller the lenses, i. e. the image-points , the farther the picture can be looked in a given case,, and the more convex the lenses, i. e . the smaller the focal distances , the wider the angle at which it can be looked at and the better the stereoscopic effect.

The ideal size of the lens occasionally can be calculated depending on the axis distance of the human eyes , as well as on the distance between the plate containing the image and the object and the viewer. Smaller lens than this isn't worth using because the quality of the picture shouldn't be enhanced.

Instead of lens-system optical grid can be applied when interferogram is produced.

Thus, according to the invention, in order to produce a stereoscopic still, the spatial picture of an object is transformed into many small images of different viewpoint, appearing either two-dimensionally or on a spherical shell. Then they are recorded in this state - or transmitted and projected - and transformed again into a stereoscopic picture . According to the invention, the way of producing a stereoscopic motion picture is to record /e. g. to film or to transmit/ the spatial picture of the moving object after it had been transformed into minute two-dimensional images or interferogram and then, projecting it on a screen, to make it stereoscopic again by means of the small lenses, or optical grid.

According to the invention, stereoscopic stills and motion pictures can be realized practically in different ways. For this, plates of the same principle and with different forms of construction are used. One of them is a plate /film/ made of transparent material covered on both sides by intersecting surfaces of spherical shell wedges . The elements of the image appear on such surfaces on tue one side of the plate. This construction can be used, in the first line, for stereoscopic stills with image-points of a very small size. Another one of them is a plate /film/ made of transparent material, the one side of which is plain with the elementary images on it, while the other side consists of elements of convex lenses , in the focal plane of which - or within that - is the plain side of the plate .

For producing a still, elementary images on the plain side of the plate type described in the latter case, can be recorded directly by means of a photosensitive material /photoemulsion/ applied to the plate, or the plate can be sticked on a plane film or paper picture , or the image can be projected on the plain side of the plate, from behind . When producing a motion picture, projection is the simplest way.

Also, the device /plate/ is designed according to the invention, offers lens system-like constructions with, several plates consisting of lens elements, and put on one another. This construction is workable mainly in producing motion pictures.

Photographing itself /filming, video recording, etc. / can also be performed in different ways.

One possible way is to illuminate the object placed on the otheer side of the plate made according to the invention and coated oh the one side with photosensitive material, or to put the plate /film/ in a lightproof box /case / with a slot on it, and then to expose camera-like . Subsequently, the plate /film/ is to be developed that results in a negative, i. e . "reversed" /also in space/ picture . The next step is to repeat the procedure with a sim ilar plate to obtain a positive picture from the negative one. The other way is to expose one time through the plate functioning as reversing lenses , suitably using an emulsion that lightens upon light, to get a positive picture directly. The "reversing" plate consists of two plates fitted or sticked together by their plain sides.

Also, one can work using a plain surface and a one consisting of elements of concave lenses, or through a plate covered on both sides by surfaces consisting of elements of concave lenses . In this case , fictive image elements are recorded and transmitted, respectively, by a common camera or tele -camera.

Methods suitable for producing motion picture s are essentially based on those described and used in producing stills , with the difference that image elements will not be recorded directly on the surface of the plate, but will be recorded and transmitted, respectively, by a camera or tele- camera.

When using distinct imaging unit placing a condensor lens between the above mentioned imaging unit and the plate being to be exposured is advantageous . This condensor lens fully covers the plate .

Lastly, images appearing on the plain side of a plate , can be recorded - by inserting a plate functioning as reversing lense s at a double focal distance - on a plain photosensitive film /photographic plate or paper/ placed at an additional double focal distance , or by a cam era after intercepting the images on a screen.

The advantages of the procedure and device /construction/ proposed by this invention, as compared to the methods applied at pre sent to producing stereoscopic pict ures , are : in case of stereoscopic stills and motion pictures ba sed on binocular depth perception, - it is simpler, easier and less expensive to produce ,

- carries more information, has a better stereoscopic effect, provides a more perfect illusion /" it makes you feel you could look behind the object" /, - keeps its stereoscopic effect, even when rotated by 90º ,

- keeps its stereoscopic effect, even when moved or moving vertically,

- keeps its stereoscopic effect not only when looked at by two eyes.

i d In contrast to methods working with a set of refractive prisms the advantage can be underlined, that the image produced by the invention, - is not vibrating,

- is visible not only from a given distance and at a given angle ,

- can be copied, blown up or reduced,

- carries more information.

In contrast to systems with usage of eye-glasses , it has the advantage that

- no eye-glasses are needed,

- it has a stereoscopic effect even when moving or moved.

In contrast to systems working with a viewer or other optical aids, it has the advantage that - no optical aids are needed,

- the image can be projected,

- it can be watched by several people at the same time .

As compared with holograms, its advantage is that

- it is simple , rapid and inexpensive to produce , - requires no special skill,

- requires no special laboratory,

- it has a stereoscopic effect not only when moved horizontally,

- living beings and moving objects can also be photographed /filmed by it, not only vibrationless objects of a small size, - landscapes , natural phenomena like fire, firmament, human eye, etc. can also be photographed/filmed by it, because it requires no laser illumination, - it is easy to copy,

- producing colour pictures requires no tricky technical equipment,

- stereoscopic drawings or animated cartoons can also be made by a computer, according to the method of the invention, - stereoscopic image of non- existing objects /e. g. scheme/ can also be produced,

- it can also be projected on a special screen or transmitted by TV - channels,

- it can also be recorded by a conventional camera, film camera or video camera.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention is described hereafter in detail by the aid of the attached figures, on the basis of its construction designs made as a model:

- Fig. 1 shows an image element transformed by a lens, from several directions of the look -down /part-Figs. 1/a, 1/b, 1/c/.

- Fig.2 shows a stereoscopic image-point produced by lenses with focus in the same plane.

- Fig.3 shows the sketch-like cross- section of one of the construction designs of the plate shaped according to the invention. - Fig.4 shows the sketch-like cross-section of an other construction design.

- Fig.5 shows the sketch-like section of an additional construction design.

- Fig. 6 shows the sketch of construction design of a lens system, in section.

- Fig. 7 shows a version of producing a stereoscopic picture.

- Fig. 8 shows a variant of arrangements for producing stereoscopic stills or motion pictures.

- Fig.9 shows an additional variant of arrangements. - Fig. 10 shows the plate constructed with a lens system, in top-vie and in bottom-view /part-Figs. 10/A, 10/B/, side-view /part-Figs. 10/C, 10/D / and in section /part-Figs. 10/E , 10/F/ , respectively, while part- -Figs. 10/G , 10/H and 10/I show a lens element with the corresponding piece of image plane, in top-view and in side-view, respectively.

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention In Fig. 1 image "k" appears in the focal plane "F" of the lens

/condensor/ "1" , i. e . at the focal distance "f" behind the lens "1" . Looking down at a darker spot " S" of this plain image from the directions 1 , 2 , 3, it will fill in the surface of the lens "1" to a different extent, as is shown in part-Figs. 1/a, 1/b and 1/c. In Fig. 2 at the focal distance "f" above the plain image or screen "k" , lens elements 1₁ , 1₂, 1₃ , 1₄ , 1₅, 1₆, etc. are placed that produce image elements A' ₁ , A' ₂ , A' ₃, A' ₄ , A'₅ , etc. when looked at from the directions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. So , the virtual image A' ' of point A will be produced, that appears already as a stereoscopic picture. Fig. 3 shows a plate /film /11 / of a thickness of "v" , made of transparent material and covered by a surface consisting of intersecting spherical wedges of radius r₁, and r₂ , respectively, both on the side of the look-down and on the other. Image elements k₁ , k₂, k₃, etc. appear on such surfaces of one of the two sides . This construction design can be used, in the first line, for stereoscopic stills with image -points of a very small size.

In Fig. 4 a construction design is seen, in which the plate /film /11 / is made again, of transparent material, the one side of which is a plain surface /17/ , while the other "n" - the one of the look -down - consists of convex lens elements /10/ . The focal plane of the latter is the plate 11 itself or, to be more precise , it coincides with side "g" of it.

Fig. 5 shows two lens systems consisting of lens elements /10/, put on one another, the upper plate 1, of which is covered by convex lenses, and turned with this side /covered by lenses / t owards the direction "n" of the look-down, while the plain surface /17 / of the lower plate 1₂, is turned towards the plain image " S" . T his arrangement is suitable mainly for producing motion pictures . Fig. 6 shows another possible construction design of a complex lens system. Primary image elements /1 2/ are produced by means of plate 11 consisting of lens elements 10 and with a plain side 17 on its lower part. These primary image elements will appear on a small spherical surface - either concave or convex -, each. However, these will not be recorded

/when exposed/ or projected /when viewed / right there , but will be transformed into plain image elements 14 , lens system-like by the aid of another plate 13 with a plain side 17 on its lower part, and consisting again of lens elements 10. In this way, the stereoscopic picture will be of a wider "angle of sight" , just like as if plate 11 were assembled of small, w ide- angle systems or of fish-eye optics systems .

In Fig. 7 an arrangement is shown, in which plate 11 /as was shown in Fig. 4// or L ₁ , respectively, is αsed , the plain side 17 of w hich is coated with a photosensitive layer K₁ . Another way of procedure is to place a photosensitive plate , film or paper on the plain side 17 of plate 1 1, instead of the photosensitive layer.

Methods suitable for producing motion pictures as well, are treated hereafter.

Fig. 8 shows a method , in whidi fictive image elements are recorded or transmitted, respectively, by a common camera or tele-camera , through a plate with concave lens elements on the one side and with a plain surface on the other , or through a plate with concave lens elements on its both sides. In the Fig. the plate composed of concave lens elements, is marked w ith L₁, the plate composed of convex lens elements with L₂ , the plane of the fictive image elements with "F" , while the camera is marked with "K" , the projector with "V" , the object with "T" , the stereoscopic image of the object with "T ' " and the side of the look-down with "n" .

In Fig. 9 an arrangement similar to that in Fig. 7 is shown , with the difference that image elements are not recorded directly on the plain surface , in this case , but by a camera, or tele-camera. Marking is the same as in Fig . 8. In addition , the reversing plate is marked with L₃. As clearly follows from the afore-said, a great number of arrangements can be made within the framework of principle of the invention, by varying the individual elements of the concrete procedures specified above as an example . Lastly, considering Fig. 10, its part- Figs. 10 /A and 10/B show a plate /11/ made of transparent material - polystyrene, in this case -, in top-view and in bottom- view. In top-view by Fig. 10/A, it is seen that the upper surface consists of lens elements, i. e . of spherical shells , while the bottom- view by Fig. 10/B , shows that the lower side of the plate is a plain surface /17/. Fig. 10/C shows plate 11 in front- view enlarged, while Fig. 10/D in side-view enlarged. As is seen, there are convex lens elements /10 / on the upper surface. .Fig. 10/E shows E-E section of Fig. 10/B on a large scale, while Fig. 1 0/F shows F-F section of Fig. 10/B on a large scale. Since lens elements 10 on the upper surface of plate 11 are intersecting, that' s why they exhibit a hexagonal, honeycomb -like pattern in top-view. This is shown considerably enlarged in Fig. 10/G . The individual lens elements 10 can be made as separate pieces /1 8/, like those shown in Figs . 10 /B and 10/I, but the whole plate 11 can also be made of a single piece, in form of a stripe or band. In the latter case , choosing, of course, a suitable material and size, one can get a reliable , film-like tool, that is easy to fit together, and its production does not entail any special technical problems.

In case of a still, the above mentioned polystyrene plate will be put on a plain photograph L-hat had been produced by the procedure shown in Fig. 8. In case of stereoscopic motion pictures, the cinematograph will be projected on the plain side of the polystyrene plate. The cinematograph can be produced by the procedure shown in Fig. 8.

Claims

1. Procedure suitable for producing stereoscopic stills and /or motion pictures, in the course of which, tite picture is broken down into parts or image-points, respectively, the procedure characteri zed by that the spatial picture of the object is transformed first by means of a plate consisting of many small lenses, having parallel optical axes, and common focal plane, or lens elements, into many small plain or spherical images of different viewpoint, which images are then recorded or transmitted in a given case, or projected, respectively, and re-transformed at last into a stereoscopic picture, again by means of a plate consisting of many small lenses or lens elements.

2. Procedure as described in claim 1, characteri zed by that the one side of the plate consisting of many small lenses or lens elements, is coated with a photosensitive material, e. g. photoemulsion, and that the object placed at the other side of tite plate is exposed to light, then the plate is developed and, lastly, a positive both spatially, and shading stereoscopic picture is produced from the negative /also three-dimensional/ picture produced in this way, by means of a plate consisting likewise of many small lenses or lens elements..

3. Construction suitable for producing stereoscopic stills and /or motion pictures, which construction consists of an element with photosensitive layer, or a picture recorder and of a projector unit, and which construction is characte rized by that a plate /11/ made of transparent material and covered by intersecting spherical wedges or lens elements /10, 10'/ is placed between the illuminated object /T/ and the element with photosensitive layer or between the picture recorder and the projector and, in a given case, even behind or in front of the appearing and/or recorded image /T'/.

4. Construction as described in claim 3, characte rized by that the plate /11/ is covered on its both, sides by lens elements /10,

10'/ composed of intersecting spherical wedges showing suitably a hexagonal, honeycomb-like pattern in top-view, the focuses of which intersecting spherical wedges or lens elements lie in a common focal plane /F/.

5. Construction as described in claim 3, char acte r i zed in that the one side of the plate /11/ to be exposured is a plain surface /17/, while the other side of it consists of grids or convex lens elements /10/, the focal plane /F/ of which coincides with the plain side /17/ of the plate /11/ or lies outside of the plate /11/.

6. Construction as described in any of tne claims 3-5, ch ar acteri zed by that it has a lens system consisting of two or more plates /11/, each covered by lens elements /10, 10'/, and which plates are put on one another.

7. Construction as described in claim 5, ch ara cte rize d by that the plain side /17/ of the plate /11/ is coated with photosensitive material, e. g. photoemulsion.

8. Construction as described in claim 5, ch ar a cte ri ze d by that it consists of two plates /11/ covered by convex lens elements

/10/ on their one side, and fitted or sticked together by their plain sides /17/.

9. Construction as described in claim 3, ch ar acteri zed by that the one side of the plate /11/ is a plain surface /17/, and the other side of it consists of concave lens elements /10'/.

10. Construction as described in claim 9, ch ar a cte ri zed by that it consists of two plates /11/ covered by concave lens elements /10'/ on their one side, and fitted or sticked together by their plain sides /17/.

11. Construction as described in claim 3, ch ar acteri ze d by that it has a complex lens system composed of a plate with condensor elements /10/ on its upper side and with a plain surface /17/ on the lower side, and of another plate likewise with condensor /convex/ elements /10/ on its upper side and with a plain surface /17/ on the lower side, and that the latter plate is put under the former one, with spacer elements /15, 16/ between the two, if needed in a given case.

12. Construction as described in claim 3, characteri zed by that the plate /11/ is an opticil grid.