Stereoscopic image processing methods and apparatus are described. Left and right eye images of a stereoscopic frame are examined to determine if one or more difference reduction operations designed to reduce the luminance and/or chrominance differences between the left and right frames is within a range used to trigger a difference reduction operation. A difference reduction operation may involve assigning portions of the left and right frames to different depth regions and/or other region categories. A decision on whether or not to perform a difference reduction operation is then performed on a per regions basis with at the difference between the left and right eye portions of at least one region being reduced when a difference reduction operation is to be performed. The difference reduction process may, and in some embodiments is, performed in a precoder which processes left and right eye images of stereoscopic frames prior to stereoscopic encoding.

Stereoscopic image processing methods and apparatus are described. Left and right eye images of a stereoscopic frame are examined to determine if one or more difference reduction operations designed to reduce the luminance and/or chrominance differences between the left and right frames is within a range used to trigger a difference reduction operation. A difference reduction operation may involve assigning portions of the left and right frames to different depth regions and/or other region categories. A decision on whether or not to perform a difference reduction operation is then performed on a per regions basis with at the difference between the left and right eye portions of at least one region being reduced when a difference reduction operation is to be performed. The difference reduction process may, and in some embodiments is, performed in a precoder which processes left and right eye images of stereoscopic frames prior to stereoscopic encoding.

A method of digital continuous and simultaneous three-dimensional painting and three-dimensional drawing with steps of providing a digital electronic display capable of presenting two pictures for a right eye and a left eye; providing means for creating a continuous 3D virtual canvas by digitally changing a value and sign of horizontal disparity between two images for the right eye and the left eye and their scaling on the digital electronic display corresponding to instant virtual distance between the user and an instant image within the virtual 3D canvas; providing at least one multi-axis input control device allowing digital painting or drawing on the digital electronic display; painting within virtual 3D canvas by providing simultaneous appearance of a similar stroke on the images for the right eye and the left eye on the digital electronic display.

A method of digital continuous and simultaneous three-dimensional painting and three-dimensional drawing with steps of providing a digital electronic display capable of presenting two pictures for a right eye and a left eye; providing means for creating a continuous 3D virtual canvas by digitally changing a value and sign of horizontal disparity between two images for the right eye and the left eye and their scaling on the digital electronic display corresponding to instant virtual distance between the user and an instant image within the virtual 3D canvas; providing at least one multi-axis input control device allowing digital painting or drawing on the digital electronic display; painting within virtual 3D canvas by providing simultaneous appearance of a similar stroke on the images for the right eye and the left eye on the digital electronic display.

An imagery system includes: a camera having a field of view; a light source including a source of structured light, the light source movable relative to the camera; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to determine, at least, estimated locations of points on a surface exposed to the structured light according to image data received from the field of view of the camera. The light source may include at least one fiducial marker, and the at least one processor may be programmed to determine the estimated position of the source of structured light according to the at least one fiducial marker in the image data. Also, the camera may be a stereoscopic camera.

Provided are a plenoptic microscope system having a structure in which a microlens array (MLA) is installed between an object and a microscope optical system and a general microscope camera is used as an image sensor, and an image processing apparatus for performing plenoptic imaging with information acquired from the same. In the plenoptic microscope system, an MLA including at least one microlens having a number of apertures (NA) similar to that of an objective lens of a microscope optical system is positioned at the front end of an incidence part of the microscope optical system and the objective lens is positioned at a focal length of the MLA or on an image plane of the MLA. The plenoptic image processing apparatus generates Plenoptic 1.0 and/or 2.0 images.

Provided are a plenoptic microscope system having a structure in which a microlens array (MLA) is installed between an object and a microscope optical system and a general microscope camera is used as an image sensor, and an image processing apparatus for performing plenoptic imaging with information acquired from the same. In the plenoptic microscope system, an MLA including at least one microlens having a number of apertures (NA) similar to that of an objective lens of a microscope optical system is positioned at the front end of an incidence part of the microscope optical system and the objective lens is positioned at a focal length of the MLA or on an image plane of the MLA. The plenoptic image processing apparatus generates Plenoptic 1.0 and/or 2.0 images.

Light-emitting or light-reflecting displays with enhanced visual and acoustic characteristics, include a display based on light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A LED display or screen with enhanced acoustic characteristics and/or improved visual performance is herewith presented for particular use or application in a studio environment where the quality performance of both image and sound, when being captured by a camera or an audience, is challenged. The use and applications of such display, include systems and methods making use of such display, and more particularly concerning the use and application of such displays in studio environments.

Light-emitting or light-reflecting displays with enhanced visual and acoustic characteristics, include a display based on light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A LED display or screen with enhanced acoustic characteristics and/or improved visual performance is herewith presented for particular use or application in a studio environment where the quality performance of both image and sound, when being captured by a camera or an audience, is challenged. The use and applications of such display, include systems and methods making use of such display, and more particularly concerning the use and application of such displays in studio environments.

Provided in the present invention is a panoramic image acquisition device, which comprises a body, a plurality of cameras, a image extraction processor, and an image combination processor; the cameras being provided on the body at an approximate spacing between the human eyes, for acquiring partial pictures of a plurality of different shooting angles; the image extraction processor being connected to the plurality of cameras, for acquiring, on the basis of the human eyes simulating the orientations of the cameras, left-eye pictures and right-eye pictures of the partial pictures corresponding to the cameras; the image combination processor being connected to the image extraction processor, for combining the left-eye pictures of all the partial pictures into a left-eye panoramic picture and combining the right-eye pictures of all the partial pictures into a right-eye panoramic picture.