Method and Apparatus for Generating Dynamic Real-Time 3D Environment Projections

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating dynamic real-time environment projections. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for generating a dynamic real-time 3D environment projection includes acquiring a real-time 2D image of an environment, and projecting the real-time 2D image of the environment onto a 3D shape to generate a 3D environment projection. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus that generates a dynamic real-time 3D environment projection includes an image receiver that acquires a real-time 2D image of an environment, and a projector that projects the real-time 2D image of the environment onto a 3D shape to generate a 3D environment projection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 acquiring a real-time two-dimensional (2D) image of an environment; and   projecting the real-time 2D image of the environment onto a 3D shape to generate a real-time three-dimensional (3D) environment projection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of projecting comprises UV-mapping the real-time 2D image of the environment onto the 3D shape. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of projecting comprises processing the real-time 2D image of the environment to generate one or more of six faces of a cube map. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of projecting comprises using the real-time 2D image of the environment as a lookup table to render the environment in a 3D scene. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of acquiring comprises acquiring the real-time 2D image of the environment from one or more image sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the operation of acquiring comprises acquiring the real-time 2D image of the environment to form a 360° field of view. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the real-time 2D image of the environment in a memory. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the 3D environment projection in a memory. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the 3D shape from a plurality of 3D shapes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the 3D shape is selected from a set of 3D shapes comprising a sphere, a box, a tetrahedron, a pyramid, a cone, and a capsule. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing the method on at least one of a handheld device, desktop computer, and laptop computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising displaying the environment projection on a device display. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an image receiver that acquires a real-time two-dimensional (2D) image of an environment; and   a projector that projects the real-time 2D image of the environment onto a three-dimensional (3D) shape to generate a real-time 3D environment projection.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the projector performs UV-mapping to project the real-time 2D image of the environment onto the 3D shape to generate the 3D environment projection. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the image receiver acquires the real-time 2D image of the environment from one or more image sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more image sensors capture the real-time 2D image of the environment in a 360° field of view. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a memory that stores the real-time 2D image of the environment. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the memory stores the 3D environment projection. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the projector selects the 3D shape from a plurality of 3D shapes. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the 3D shape is selected from a set of 3D shapes comprising a sphere, a box, a tetrahedron, a pyramid, a cone, and a capsule. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is located in at least one of a handheld device, desktop computer, and laptop computer. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the projector outputs the 3D environment projection for display on a device display. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the projector processes the real-time 2D image of the environment to generate one or more of six faces of a cube map. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the projector uses the real-time 2D image of the environment as a lookup table to render the environment in a 3D scene.