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`United States Patent
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`Jones, Jr. et a1.
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`[19]
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`[11]
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`' [45]
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`4,429,328
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`Jan. 311, 1984
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`[75]
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`[56]
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`-
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`[54] THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY
`METHODS USING VERTICALLY ALIGNED
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`POINTS OF ORIGIN
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`Inventors: Edwin R. Jones, Jr.; LeConte Cathey,
`both of Columbia A. Porter
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`
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`McLaurin, Chapiri, all of S.C.
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`.
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`[73] _ Ass1gnee: CJM Assoc1ates, Chapin, S.C.
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`[21] APPI- N05 283,902
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`[22] Filed;
`Jul. 16, 1981
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`.3 ..............................................
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`6
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`igél
`fins (31
`35822::13/589/952‘
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`353/7,
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`358/88 89 90 91
`[58] Field of Search
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`358/92; 352/57’ 59’ 60’ 61’ 353/73 8’ 9
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`. References Cited
`
`
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`,
`.
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`32~43, Jan—Feb. 1974.
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`niques,” pp. 594, 673, 753, and 775—782, Hastings
`House, 1969.
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`Stretch,” Venture, Oct. 1980, pp. 78 and 80.
`
`
`
`Primary Examiner—Robert L. Griffin
`Assistant Examiner—Edward L. Coles
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Finnegan, Henderson,
`Farabow Garrett and Dunner
`
`
`
`
`’
`
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`
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`Development of a three-dimensional illusion through
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`sequential dISPI‘i‘ymg 0“ a Vlevag surface “Images.“
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`the suhject as v1ewed alternatively first from one pomt
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`of or1g1n and then, t1me dlsplaced, from another pomt of
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`origin at a rate within a range of 4 to 30 changes be-
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`tween the points of origin per second The effect of the
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`illusion is maximized by having the points of origin
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`vertically aligned with respect to one another and hav-
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`ing the points of origin displaced from one another a
`distance less than normal interoccular distance.
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`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures
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`APPL—1045/ Page 1 of 12
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`APPL-1045 / Page 1 of 12
`Apple v. Corephotonics
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`US. Patent .
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`Jan. 31, 1984
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`Sheet 1. 015
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`4,429,328
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`1
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`mrM/M ‘
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`‘ mm”
`1
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`7:;- q-J
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`aaf,—
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`comm
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`;
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`APPL-1045/ Page 2 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 2 of 12
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`US. Patent
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`Jan. 31, 1984
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`Sheet 2 of5
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`4,429,328
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`APPL-1045/ Page 3 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 3 of 12
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`US. Patent
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`Jan. 31, 1984
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`Sheet 3 of5
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`14,429,328
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`54
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` IO
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`”Ii/[M
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`l2
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`mm
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`70
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`my
`fl/VZ)’
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`”(CW/77
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`74
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`72
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`WM-
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`mama/7
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`g‘ 76
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`‘ WWI?
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`APPL-1045/ Page 4 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 4 of 12
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`US. Patent
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`Jan.31, 1984
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`»
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`Sheet4of5
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`\fi‘
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`w§
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`55::-
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`APPL-1045/ Page 5 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 5 of 12
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`US. Patent
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`Sheet 5 of5
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`4,429,328
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`|26
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`l22
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`I
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`(“8 ”11%| \m I24
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`APPL-1045 / Page 6 of 12
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`

`

`I
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`4,429,328
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`THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY METHODS
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`USING VERTICALLY'ALIGNED POINTS OF
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`. ORIGIN
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`2
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`sional illusion in which a representation of the images to
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`be displayed is recorded on a standard video tape.
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`Another object of the present invention is to provide
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`a display system which exhibits a three-dimensional
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`illusion in which the images to be displayed are either
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`created and/or stored in the memory bank of a com-
`1. Field of the Invention
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`puter of the type employed in video games which are
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`today becoming commercially popular.
`The present invention relates to apparatus and meth-
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`Additional objects and advantages of the invention
`ods pertaining to three-dimensional display systems.
`10
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`2. Description of the Prior Art' “
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`will be set forth in part in the description which follows
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`Stereoscopic films are known. Such films may com-
`and in part will be obvious from the description, or may
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`prise a double row of left and right images, or a single
`be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and
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`row of alternate left and right images which have been
`advantages of the invention may be realized and ob-
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`tained by means of the instrumentalities and combina—
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`photographed from horizontally aligned left and right
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`points of origin. Prior art three-dimensional systems
`tions particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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`typically operate upon the principle that left and right
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`eye images must remain separated'in order to create a
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`steroscopic effect. These “binocular” systems therefore
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`To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance
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`employ red and green colored glasses, mechanical
`with the purposes of the invention as embodied and
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`Viewers, or polarized filters in order to assure that only
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`broadly described herein, a method for producing a
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`the left eye images reach the left eye and the right eye
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`three-dimensional
`illusion of a subject
`is provided
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`images reach the right eye. Although results from such
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`which comprises the step of sequentially displaying on a
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`systems can be spectacular,
`the need for extraneous
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`viewing surface images of the subject as viewed alterna-
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`viewing equipment has led to the commercial demise of
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`25
`tively first from one point of origin and then, time dis-
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`all such systems. Furthermore, none of these system is
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`placed, from another point of origin at a rate within a
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`capable of displaying a three-dimensional illusion using
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`range of 4 to 30 changes between points of origin per
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`simply a standard 24 frame per second movie projector
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`second, with the points of origin being vertically dis-
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`or using a standard home television receiver.
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`placed from one another. Preferably the above—men-
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`The history of prior art three—dimensional systems
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`30
`tioned range is between 6 and 15 changes per second,
`occasionally includes mention of a “monocular” or
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`and most perferably about 8 changes per second.
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`“cyclopean” system, in which alternately left and right
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`-_ The images may be recorded on a single film strip for
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`images were rapidly displayed in an effort to create a
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`display at the rate of 24 images per second. In such a
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`three-dimensional illusion through “fusion” of the the
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`.case, to achieve the preferred 8 changes per second, 3
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`two images. Complicated multi—film projectors were
`35
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`images from the first point of origin are followed by 3
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`utilized to implement such systems, left and right im-
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`images from the second point of origin, and so on. A
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`ages were'taken simultaneously on a single film strip to
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`rate as high as 24 changes per second can be achieved
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`facilitate registration, and speeds of 48 frames per sec-
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`by alternately placing images from the first and second
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`ond were tried, but none of these systems achieved any
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`significant commercial success andnone was deemed
`» points of origin, and rates as slow as 4 changes per
`40
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`second may be achieved by placing 6 images from one
`capable of displaying a three-dimensional illusion using
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`point of origin followed by 6 images from the other
`simply a standard 24 frame per second movie projector
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`point of origin, and displaying the film at the standard
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`or using a standard home television camera. Moreover,
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`film speed of 24 frames per second in a standard, un-
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`even at a reduced rate of display wherein the stero—
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`modified projector.
`scopic effect is increased,
`the inventors have deter-
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`45
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`Most preferably, the points of origin are vertically
`mined that the appearance of jumping between succes-
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`aligned with respect to one another and the points of
`sive images renders an unsatisfactory result.
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`origin are displaced from another a distance less than
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`Each of the prior art systems known to the inventors
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`the standard 65 mm interocular distance of human eyes.
`is believed to have failed primarily because the system
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`The points of origin are perferably displaced from one
`was complicated. To succeed, a three-dimensional sys-
`50
`another at a distance on the order of 10 to 15 mm.
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`tem must be simple. The system must be capable of use
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`The combination of changing points of origin be-
`with a standard 24 frame per second projector and/or
`must be capable of use for a standard home television
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`tween 4 and 30 times per second, preferably between 6
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`receiver—without any modification.
`and 15 times per second, and most perferably about 8
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`Accordingly, an object of the subject invention is to
`times per second, vertically aligning the points of ori-
`55
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`provide a display system which exhibits a three-dimen-
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`normal inter-ocular spacing provides an effective three-
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`second movie projector as a means for display.
`dimensional method capable of being used either with a
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`standard 24 frame per second movie projector or a
`Another object of the subject invention is to provide
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`standard home television viewer without modification.
`a display system which exhibits a three-dimensional
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`illusion using a standard, unmodified home television
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`A still further aspect of the invention contemplates a
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`receiver as a means for display.
`method using two slide projectors for producing three—
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`dimensional
`illusions from slides. This method com-
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
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`a display system which exhibits a three-dimensional
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`prises the steps of: obtaining first and second slides of
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`illusion in which a representation of the images to be
`the subject, the first slide representing a view of the
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`displayed is recorded on a standard single strip of pho-
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`tographic film.
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`representing a View of the subject from another point of
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`A still further object of the subject invention is to
`origin, the points of origin being vertically displaced
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`provide a display system which exhibits a three-dimen—
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`from one another; and alternately displaying the slides
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`APPL-1045/ Page 7 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 7 of 12
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`at a rate within a range of 4 to 30 changes per second
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`between the first and second slides. Perferably the rate
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`of change is between 6 and 15 changes per second, and
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`most perferably about 8 changes per second. It is also
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`perferable that the first slide be displayed from a first
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`projector and the second slide be displayed from a sec-
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`ond projector, with the step of displaying being
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`achieved by alternately activating light sources of the
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`first and second projectors.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`rated in and constitute a part of the specification, illus—
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`trate a preferred embodiment of the invention and,
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`together with the general description of the invention
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`given above and the detailed description of the pre-
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`ferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the
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`principles of the invention.
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system incorporating
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`the features of the subject invention;
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`FIG. 2 illustrates the position of two video cameras in
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`accordance with a preferred embodiment of the inven-
`tion;
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`FIG. 3 illustrates a side View of the camera position
`shown in FIG. 2;
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`FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the camera position
`illustrated in FIG. 2;
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`FIG. 5 illustrates a particular mechanism for achiev-
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`ing the camera position illustrated in FIGS. 2—4;
`30
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`FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the platform illus-
`trated in FIG. 5;
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`FIG. 7 illustrates a bracket shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
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`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a dual video camera
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`system incorporating the features of the subject inven-
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`tion;
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`FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a computer incorporat-
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`ing the features of the subject invention;
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`FIG. 10A~10E diagramatically illustrate images ar-
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`ranged on photographic film in accordance with the
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`teachings of the present invention;
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`FIG. 11 illustrates a lens arrangement for achieving
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`on photographic film the image orientations shown in
`FIGS. IDA—10E;
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`FIG. 12 illustrates the utilization of two projectors to
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`achieve a three-dimensional illusion in accordance with
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`the teachings in the present invention; and
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`FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative projector position-
`ing to that shown in FIG. 12.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`50
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`The subject invention comprises methods and appara-
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`tus for presenting images which are perceived by the
`viewer to be three—dimensional when viewed with the
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`unaided eye. The viewing mechanisms can include
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`slides, photographic film, and/or television. Television
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`can be used to transmit the images produced by the
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`slides or film, or to originate directly three-dimensional
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`images. In addition, the images may be generated by a
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`computer and/or stored in a computer memory and
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`generated by television techniques on a video screen
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`used in connection with display devices such as video
`games.
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`In accordance with the present invention, images of a
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`subject as viewed alternatively first from one point of
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`origin and then, time displaced, from another point of
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`origin at a rate within a range of 4 to 30 changes be-
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`tween points of origin per second are displayed on a
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`viewing mechanism. For example, in FIG. 1 there is
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`illustrated a first video camera 10, a second video cam-
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`era 12, a switching network 14, a control oscillator 16,
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`and a television monitor 18. The output of cameras 10
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`and 12 is selectively coupled by switching network 14
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`to monitor 18, with monitor 18 displaying the image
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`viewed by that camera 10 or 12 which is, at the moment
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`under consideration, connected by switching network
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`14 to the input of monitor 18. The frequency of opera-
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`tion of switching network 14 is governed by theoutput
`of control oscillator 16.
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`As shown in FIG. 1, cameras 10 and 12 are both
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`directed at a subject 20. Camera 10 views subject 20
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`from a point of origin 22 which, for purposes of this
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`invention, is generally and broadly defined as the opti-
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`cal axis of the input lens of camera 10. Camera 12 views
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`subject 20 from another, different, point of origin 24
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`defined by the optical axis of the input lens of camera
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`12. By alternately connecting the outputs of cameras 10
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`and 12 to the input of monitor 18, through the operation
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`of switching network 14, monitor 18 displays images of
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`subject 20 as viewed alternately first from one point of
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`origin 22 and then, time displaced, from another, differ-
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`ent, point of origin 24.
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`The rate of changes appearing at monitor 18 between
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`point of origin 22 and point of origin 24 is governed by
`operation of control oscillator 16. In accordance with
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`the subject invention, this rate of change is within a
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`range of 4 to 30 changes between points of origin per
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`second. Preferably, this rate of change is between 6 and
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`15 changes per second, and most preferably this rate of
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`change is about 8 changes per second. For example,
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`when operating at a rate of 8 changes per second, every
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`0.125 seconds switching network 14 operates to switch
`monitor 18 from one to the other of cameras 10 and 12.
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`Thus, an output control signal from control oscillator
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`16 having a frequency of 8 cycles per second may ide~
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`ally be employed to govern operation of switching
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`network 14. As the rate of change between points of
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`origin approaches 30, a three-dimensional illusion pres-
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`ented on the viewing surface of monitor 18, namely the
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`surface of the cathode ray tube of monitor 18, dimin-
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`ishes. Above a rate of» approximately 30 changes be-
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`tween points of origin per second, the two images be- .
`come fused into one, and the three-dimensional affect is
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`effectively lost. Below 4 changes per second, the two
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`separate images from each point of origin are seen as
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`simply two separate images. The preferred rate of oper-
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`ation is around 8 changes per second, and good results
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`occur between 6 and 15 changes per second.
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`Although a steroscopic effect is achieved by simply
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`operating the system of FIG. 1 at a rate within a range
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`of 4 to 30 changes between points of origin per second,
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`the operation of FIG. 1 is substantially enhanced by
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`vertically displacing the points of origin of cameras 10
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`and 12 with respect to one another. Preferably the verti-
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`cal displacement takes the form of a vertical alignment
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`of one point of origin directly over the other, without
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`any horizontal displacement
`therebetween. Futher-
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`more, although steroscopic effect is increased by maxi-
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`mizing the distance between the points of origin of
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`cameras 10 and 12, more precise registration of the
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`images produced by cameras 10 and 12 is achieved by
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`displacing the points of origin of cameras 10 and 12
`from one another at a distance less than the normal
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`interocular distance of a human being, namely less than
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`approximately 65 millimeters. Most preferably the dis-
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`tance between the points of origin is chosen to be within
`the range of 10 to 15 millimeters.
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`APPL-1045/ Page 8 of 12
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`APPL-1045 / Page 8 of 12
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`

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`The vertical displacement of the points of origin can
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`be achieved in accordance with the arrangement illus-
`trated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 wherein cameras 10 and 12
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`are shown arranged side-by-side with optical axis 22
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`and 24 of cameras 10 and 12, respectively, substantially
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`parallel
`to one another and separated a distance 26
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`which is less than 65 millimeters, and preferably on the
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`order of 10 to 15 millimeters. Camera 10 is aligned to
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`receive optical images reflected from a one hundred
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`percent reflecting mirror 28, while camera 12 is aligned
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`to receive video images through a two—way mirror 30.
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`The surfaces of mirrors 28 and 30 are positioned parallel
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`to one another and at a 45 degree angle to the optical
`axes 22 and 24 of cameras 10 and 12. However, as is best
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`shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, optical axis 22 is located at a
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`distance 32 above optical axis 24. Accordingly,
`the
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`optical axes of cameras 10 and 12 effectively lie in the
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`same vertical plane, but lie in horizontal planes verti-
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`cally separated from one another a distance 32. Prefera-
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`bly this separation distance is less than 65 millimeters
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`and most preferably is within the range of 10 to 15
`millimeters.
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`Although the human eyes, which represent the points
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`of origin of images viewed by a human being, are hori-
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`zontally aligned with respect to one another, the verti-
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`cal alignment of the points of origin as illustratively
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`shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, results in a three-dimen-
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`sional image in which undesirable motional effect of the
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`resulting display is decreased over the motional effect
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`achieved with horizontal orientation of the points of 30
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`origin. For reasons not yet fully understood, motion due
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`to vertical parallax which is observed in a vertical point
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`of origin orientation system is less disturbing than mo-
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`tion due to horizontal parallax observed in a horizontal
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`point of origin orientation system.
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`One simple example of an apparatus for satisfactorily
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`mounting cameras 10 and 12 in a vertical point of origin
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`orientation is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as utilizing a
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`tripod head 34. Tripod head 34 includes first plate 36,
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`second plate 38, and third plate 40. Camera 12 is an-
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`chored directly to first plate 36. Second plate 38 is
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`spring loaded onto first plate 36 and held in position by
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`thumb screws 42. Plate 38 can be moved vertically with
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`respect to plate 36 by operation of thumb screws 42.
`45
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`Plate 33 can also be tilted about an axis along the optical
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`axis of camera 10 and/or about a horizontal axis perpen-
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`dicular to optical axis 26 of camera 10.
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`Third plate 40 is mounted by center located swivel
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`pin 44 to second plate 38 and moves against the opera-
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`tion of spring loaded thumb screws 46. As is more
`clearly shown in FIG. 7, thumb screws 46 each include
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`a right angle bracket 48, a screw 50 and a spring 52. One
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`leg of each bracket 48 is attached to second plate 38, and
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`the second leg of each bracket 48 includes an opening to
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`receive screw 50. Spring 52 is located between the sec-
`ond leg of each bracket 48 and a side wall 54 of third
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`plate 40. Accordingly, the adjustment of screws 50 in
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`brackets 46 provide for controlled motion of plate 40
`about a veritical axis concentric with the axis of swivel
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`60
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`pin 44.
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`The schematic block diagram of FIG. 8 shows one
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`illustrative example of an electronic circuit suitable for
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`use in connection with the subject invention. In FIG. 8
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`the video output of cameras 10 and 12 is coupled to the
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`input of amplifiers 50 and 52, respectively. The output
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`of amplifiers 50 and 52 is coupled to a common output
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`terminal 54. Amplifiers 50 and 52 each have enable
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`terminals 56 and 58, respectively. The Q] output of a
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`6
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`flip-flop 60 is coupled to enableErminal 56 of amplifier
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`50 whereas the inverse output Q1 of flip-flop 69 is cou-
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`pled to enable terminal 58 of amplifier 52. As set forth
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`above,
`the vertical alignment of the video input for
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`cameras 10 and 12 is achieved, for example, by using the
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`apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 2—7, or apparatus opti-
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`cally similar thereto, to provide to camera 10 the image
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`of the subject 20 (FIG. 1) as viewed from one point of
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`origin and for providing to the camera 12 the image of
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`subject 20 as Viewed from another point of origin.
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`Amplifiers 50 and 52, flip-flop 60, and control oscilla-
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`tor 16, provide means for alternately coupling the out-
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`put signal from each of the video cameras 10 and 12 one
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`at a time to output terminal 54 at a rate within a range
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`between 4 and 30 times per second. Output terminal 54
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`may, for example, be coupled to the input of monitor 18
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`(FIG. 1) so that monitor 18 provides a display mecha-
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`nism for converting the output signals from cameras 10
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`and 12 at terminal 54 into a visual display.
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`Although optical elements. such as mirrors are illus-
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`trated as being utilized in the arrangement shown in
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`FIGS. 2—4, it is to be understood that a lens system, a
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`prism system, or any equivalent optical arrangement is
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`to be deemed equivalent to the specific mirror system
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`illustrated. Moreover,
`if the cameras employed are
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`small enough, it is possible that the lenses may be set at
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`the appropriate optical interrelationship with respect to
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`one another, without any intervening apparatus other
`than the lenses of the cameras themselves. The lenses of
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`the cameras themselves are, in such instances, the means
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`for providing the first camera with the image of the
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`subject as viewed from one point of origin and the sec-
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`ond camera with the image of the subject as Viewed
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`from another point of origin.
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`Each camera 10 and 12 is supplied a synchronizing
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`signal, Usually these signals are identical, but special
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`effects can be generated if these signals are adjusted for
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`different times relative to each other. When using equal
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`and normal synchronization pulses of 60 hertz to give a
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`30 hertz total framing rate, since the interlacing of two
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`half frames is required to give a full frame, using every
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`other synchronizing pulse to operate flip-flop 60 would
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`result in whole pictures from cameras 10 and 12 being
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`interlaced alternatively at output terminal 54. The num-
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`ber of synchronizing pulses transmitted between each
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`input pulse to flip-flop 60 thereby determines the rate of
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`change of points of origin available at output terminal
`54.
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`The number of synchronizing pulses transmitted be-
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`tween each input pulse to flip—flop 60 need not be the
`same. This can result in the number of full frames from
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`each camera not being equal. This can also generate
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`special effects. However, typically, an equal number of
`frames from each of cameras 10 and 12 is chosen to be
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`delivered to output terminal 54 between input pulses to
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`flip-flop 60. The pattern followed preferably is N full
`frames from camera 10 then N full frames from camera
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`12. The mixed output is thus a series of video signals for
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`pictures alte