Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an image input section through which a two-dimensional image signal is input; an image converting section which receives the image signal output from the image input section and generates and outputs a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing stereopsis; and an image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section. The image converting section extracts a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal, generates at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process in which the characteristic amount is applied, and performs the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
 an image input section through which a two-dimensional image signal is input;   an image converting section which receives the image signal output from the image input section and generates and outputs a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing stereopsis; and   an image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section,   wherein the image converting section is configured to extract a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal and to generate at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process in which the characteristic amount is applied, and performs the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to extract a luminance differential signal of the input image signal, to set the luminance differential signal as the characteristic amount, to generate one of a converted signal obtained by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal and a converted signal obtained by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal as one of the left eye image and the right eye image, and to output a non-converted signal from the input image signal without being processed as the other one of the left eye image and the right eye image.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to extract a luminance differential signal of the input image signal, to set the luminance differential signal as the characteristic amount, to generate a signal obtained by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal and a signal obtained by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal, and to generate a set of the two signals as a set of the left eye image and the right eye image.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to extract a luminance differential signal of the input image signal, to set a signal generated by non-linearly converting the luminance differential signal as the characteristic amount, to generate a signal obtained by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal or a signal obtained by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal, and to generate one of the generated signals as the left eye image or the right eye image.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to switch the process of generating the left eye image or the right eye image by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal and the process of generating the left eye image or the right eye image by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal, according to the comparison result of the distance information of the preset region unit in the input image signal and the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to generate the left eye image as a signal obtained by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal and generate the right eye image as a signal obtained by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal in a case where the relation between the distance of the preset region unit in the input image signal and the predetermined threshold satisfies “distance≦threshold”, and to generate the left eye image as the signal obtained by adding the characteristic amount to the input image signal and generate the right eye image as the signal obtained by subtracting the characteristic amount from the input image signal in a case where the relation satisfies “distance>threshold”. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 ,
 wherein the image converting section switches an addition process and a subtraction process between the input image signal and the characteristic amount according to the distance information of the preset region unit and generates the left eye image and the right eye image of which a perception range is enlarged to anteroposterior regions of a display section. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to generate the left eye image and the right eye image for each frame forming a moving image.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising the image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image generated by the image converting section,
 wherein the image output section is configured to alternately output the left eye image and the right eye image generated by the image converting section at a speed two times faster than an input image frame rate.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to alternately generate only any one of the left eye image and the right eye image for each frame forming a moving image.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to generate the left eye image and the right eye image for each frame forming a moving image and to generate a binocular disparity image alternately including line data forming the generated left eye image and right eye image.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image converting section is configured to generate the left eye image and the right eye image so that an addition signal of the generated left eye image and right eye image is set to be equivalent or approximately equivalent to the input signal.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , further comprising an image display section which displays the images generated by the image converting section. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the image display section is configured to perform a three-dimensional display process using a time-division type in which the left eye image and the right eye image are alternately output.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the image display section is configured to perform display switching so that an output switching timing of the left eye image and the right eye image is synchronized with shutter switching of left and right glasses sections of glasses which an image observer wears, when performing the three-dimensional display process using the time-division type in which the left eye image and the right eye image are alternately output.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the image display section has a configuration in which a polarizing filter which is set so that a polarization direction becomes different for every horizontal line is installed on a front surface of the display section, and is configured to display a binocular disparity image alternately including line data forming the left eye image and the right eye image generated by the image converting section.   
     
     
         17 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
 an image input section through which a two-dimensional image signal is input;   an image converting section which receives the image signal output from the image input section and generates and outputs a left eye image or a right eye image for realizing stereopsis; and   an image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section,   wherein the image converting section is configured to generate the left eye image and the right eye image so that an addition signal of the generated left eye image and right eye image is set to be equivalent or approximately equivalent to the input signal, and performs an image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         18 . An image processing method in an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 inputting a two-dimensional image signal, through an image input section;   receiving the image signal output from the image input section and generating and outputting a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing binocular stereopsis, by an image converting section; and   outputting the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section, through an image output section,   wherein the step performed by the image converting section includes: extracting a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal; generating at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process for performing an emphasis process in which the characteristic amount is applied to the input image signal; and performing the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . A program which allows image processing to be executed in an image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 enabling an image input section to receive an input of a two-dimensional image signal;   enabling an image converting section to receive the image signal output from the image input section and generating and outputting a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing binocular stereopsis; and   enabling an image output section to output the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section,   wherein the step of enabling the image converting section includes: extracting a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal; generating at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process for performing an emphasis process in which the characteristic amount is applied to the input image signal; and performing the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.