Real-time process and technology using image processing to maintain and ensure viewer comfort during capture, live transmission, and post-production of stereoscopic 3d imagery

Abstract

This process and invention may be used for “live” (on-line, recorded, real-time, or transmitted) stereoscopic image generation, post-production, and viewing to ensure the imagery, from the cameras through the systems to the final screens, maintains an acceptable level of viewer comfort and actively causes an action if an image becomes “uncomfortable” to view. The invention will use image-processing hardware and software to monitor stereoscopic 3D image data, and will generate an output response based on qualifying the imagery. The output responses include generating an alarm to alert technical crew members to a “discomfort” condition so they may take corrective action. The alarm may be an audio or visual alert, and warn of the type of discomfort detected. The alarm condition may trigger the automatic control of a video switching device, which would immediately route an appropriate “comfortable” input source to the output. The alarm condition may duplex a single camera or playback signal into an identical stereo pair, which will be 2D, but will be comfortable to view.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising:
 a stereoscopic camera rig comprising a stereoscopic camera;   an image capture processor operably connected to the stereoscopic camera, wherein the image capture processor executes instructions to implement real time image processing of stereoscopic image inputs and further executes decision logic instructions to determine an alarm condition based on the real time image processing;   one or more than one alarm operably connected to the image capture processor and a display image processor;   one or more than one video switch operably connected to the display image processor; and   a display connected to the one or more than one video switch, wherein the stereoscopic image inputs comprise one or more of:
 one or more images from a left camera of the stereoscopic camera; 
 one or more images from a right camera of the stereoscopic camera; 
 focus metadata associated with the rig; 
 iris metadata associated with the rig; 
 zoom metadata associated with the rig; 
 inter-ocular metadata associated with the rig; 
 convergence metadata associated with the rig; 
 one or more screen dimensions associated with the display; 
 one or both of a distance range between a screen of the display and one or more viewers and a distance between the screen of the display and one or more viewers; 
 image horizontal disparity, that can be expressed as a percentage of total image size; 
 fusional range; and 
 one or more alarm thresholds. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises one or more of:
 an encoder operably connected to the image capture processor;   a transmitter operably connected to the encoder;   a receiver operably connected to the transmitter; and   a decoder operably connected to the receiver;   wherein the display image processor is operably connected to the decoder;   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the stereoscopic camera comprises a and lens motor control connected to the rig and a user interface connected to the rig. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the screen dimensions comprise an average of an expected screen size. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the screen dimensions comprise an expected largest screen size. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the alarm thresholds are selected from the group consisting of gross (non-“fusable”) difference, focus disparity, luminance disparity, chrominance disparity, magnification disparity, telecentricity disparity, “broken frame” acceptance levels, vertical content weighting factors and vertical disparity values expressed as number of lines, angle, or percentage of screen height. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more than one alarm outputs a visual alarm. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more than one alarm outputs an audible alarm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more than one video switch causes a switch between displaying normal or alternative video. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more than one video switch comprises a matrix switcher having common banking capability so that stereo pairs are routed simultaneously to the output.