US5751927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for producing three dimensional displays on a two dimensional surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-06-19
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2015-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A process is used to produce the visual perception of spatial structure through manipulations of images displayed on an essentially flat screen. The same images are presented simultaneously to both eyes. The images are derived from small discrete shifts in the local apparent viewing angle; these shifts occur perceptually in direction and time, like saccades. The nature of the shifts, the interrelationship of the magnitude of the shifts and the duration between shifts are selected to convey motion parallax sensations to a viewer. The process can be applied to cathode-ray displays, motion pictures, and similar essentially flat displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Wason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/10; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/275; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/10; H04N13/106; H04N13/167; H04N13/189; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/221; H04N13/286; H04N13/324; H04N13/363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of displaying a three dimensional view on a substantially flat viewing surface to enable human perception of three dimensions comprising the steps of: a. providing a database of information about the view to be displayed in which a configuration of the view is recorded with position parameters in three dimensions including sufficient data to portray the view in at least three positions, b. displaying the view on the surface to both eyes of a human viewer with points on the surface making up the displayed view determined as a direction of sight rendering of the view derived from the position parameters recorded in the database, c. using a microprocessor repeatedly to derive from the data sufficient information concerning the displayed view to alter and redisplay points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of displaying a three dimensional view on a substantially flat viewing surface to enable human perception of three dimensions comprising the steps of: a. providing a database of information about the view to be displayed in which a configuration of the view is recorded with position parameters in three dimensions including sufficient data to portray the view in at least three positions, b. displaying the view on the surface to both eyes of a human viewer with points on the surface making up the displayed view determined as a direction of sight rendering of the view derived from the position parameters recorded in the database, c. using a microprocessor repeatedly to derive from the data sufficient information concerning the displayed view to alter and redisplay points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of displaying a three dimensional view made up of features on a two dimensional surface to enable human perception of the threedimensionality of the features comprising the steps of a. rendering an image of the view as points on the surface; and b. creating a display of a perceptible three-dimensional coordinate display space in which the displayed view is rendered by modifying the view as rendered including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of displaying a three dimensional view made up of features on a two dimensional surface to enable human perception of the threedimensionality of the features comprising the steps of a. rendering an image of the view as points on the surface; and b. creating a display of a perceptible three-dimensional coordinate display space in which the displayed view is rendered by modifying the view as rendered including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step a comprises rendering the image as a view of a database selected from the group consisting of a. a computer-aided-design database; b. a scientific visualization database; c. a molecular modelling database; b. a medical imaging database; e. a computer-aided-tomography scan; f. a nuclear magnetic resonance database; g. a dimensionalized relationship of variables; h. a database useful for air traffic control; i. a database useful for military situation displays; j. a videogame; and k. video data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step a comprises generating a view of a data encoded in a RAM, ROM, PROM or EPROM.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step a comprises mapping data through mathematical transformations which provide rotations, translations or scaling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step a comprises compiling a database from data having three dimensional information about features of the view derived from analysis of differences between multiple optically-obtained depictions of a scene to be displayed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the multiple depictions are obtained from multiple aperture locations of video camera means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the multiple depictions are obtained from multiple aperture locations of motion picture camera means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the motion parallax is obtained by small non-cumulative microshears of features of the view.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the motion parallax is obtained by small, non-cumulative micro-rotations of features of the view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rendering step includes rendering an image of the view as seen from a direction of sight and wherein step b includes applying an offset shift to the view whereby features are shifted in position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sight, with the amount of shift being proportional to the distance from a frontmost plane of the view to be displayed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the direction of the shift includes horizontal and vertical components greater than zero.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the database includes x, y and z dimensions and the x and y dimensions are used to define the plane of the surface on which the view is displayed and step b includes applying a static offset shift to the view whereby features are shifted in position in a direction parallel to the x-y plane, with the amount of shift being directly proportional to the z component of the feature displayed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step b includes applying a monocular depth cue to the view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the depth cue comprises perspective in which features further from the viewer along the direction of sight of the view are reduced in size to a greater extent than features closer to the viewer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the depth cue comprises variable intensity such that features of the view further from the viewer along the direction of sight are displayed with less intensity than features closer to the viewer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the depth cue comprises variable contrast such that features further from the viewer along the direction of sight are displayed with less contrast to their environs than features closer to the viewer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the depth cue comprises variable contrast such that features further from the viewer along the direction of sight are displayed with less contrast to their environs than features closer to the viewer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein in step a, a regular array of features is included with the view to be displayed to provide a frame of reference to enhance the viewer's perception of the three dimensions in which the view is situated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step b includes modifying such displayed view repeatedly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein step b includes modifying such displayed view repeatedly at intervals similar to the intervals between eye saccades.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
139 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising c. the database including x, y and z dimensions d. the x and y dimensions being used to define the plane of the surface on which the view is displayed and the z dimension is at least approximately along a direction of sight through the surface e. a plane substantially parallel to the surface being considered as a neutral plane and f. step b further comprising periodically shifting the perceived direction of sight through a point on the neutral plane, so that points on the displayed view representing features closer to the viewer along the z dimension than the neutral plane are shifted in one direction and points further than the neutral plane are shifted in the opposite direction and all such points on the surface are shifted substantially simultaneously.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the view is displayed as situated in a space and said motion parallax is produced by small, non-cumulative shears of the space.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein step a comprises compiling a database from data having three dimensional information about features of the view derived from analysis of differences between multiple optically-obtained depictions of a scene to be displayed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the multiple depictions are obtained from multiple aperture locations of video camera means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the multiple depictions are obtained from multiple aperture locations of motion picture camera means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the view is displayed as situated in a space and said motion parallax is produced by small, non-cumulative rotations of the space.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the shifts of points representing a feature are of magnitude determined by the magnitude of the angle of the change in direction of sight and the distance of the plane of the feature from the neutral plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the shifts of the points on the surface take place in an amount less than the amount which would result in solid features of the view appearing to break up.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the direction of sight varies at intervals similar to the intervals between human eye saccades.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the shifts take place in directions having both x and y non-zero components.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the shifts are between points arrayed in a closed path on the surface so that after a complete traversal of the path by a sequence of shifts the points have no net displacement.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein shifts take place after a period correlated with the magnitude of the last shift.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the shifts from one point on the path to another are in a sequence such that the viewer's visual system cannot predict the sequence.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein at least three points are on the path.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the shifts of points representing a feature are of magnitude determined by the magnitude of the angle of the change in direction of sight and the distance of the plane of the feature from the neutral plane.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the shifts of the points on the surface take place in an amount less than the amount which would result in solid features of the view appearing to break up.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the direction of sight varies at a rate comparable with human saccades.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the shifts take place in directions having both x and y non-zero components.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the shifts are between points arrayed in a closed path on the surface so that after a complete traversal of the path by a sequence of shifts the points have no net displacement.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein shifts take place after a period correlated with the magnitude of the last shift.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the shifts from one point on the path to another are in a sequence such that the viewer's visual system cannot predict the sequence.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 40 wherein at least three points are on the path.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the shifts of points representing a feature are of magnitude determined by the magnitude of the angle of the change in direction of sight and the distance of the plane of the feature from the neutral plane.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the shifts of the points on the surface take place in an amount less than the amount which would result in solid features of the view appearing to break up.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 45 wherein the direction of sight varies at a rate comparable with human saccades.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the shifts take place in directions having both x and y non-zero components.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the shifts are between points arrayed in a closed path on the surface so that after a complete traversal of the path by a sequence of shifts the points have no net displacement.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein shifts take place after a period correlated with the magnitude of the last shift.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 48 wherein the shifts from one point on the path to another are in a sequence such that the viewer's visual system cannot predict the sequence.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 48 wherein at least three points are on the path.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for displaying a three dimensional view on a two dimensional surface to enable human perception of three dimensions comprising: a. a database storage medium storing a database of information about the view to be displayed in which a configuration of the view is recorded with position parameters in three dimensions, including sufficient data to portray the view in at least three positions, b. a two dimensional surface visible to both eyes of a human viewer, c. a display device for displaying on the surface points making up the view determined as a direction of sight rendering of the view derived from the position parameters recorded in the database, d. apparatus operatively interposed between the database and the surface to modify the displayed view including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for displaying a three dimensional view on a two dimensional surface to enable human perception of three dimensions comprising: a. a database storage medium storing a database of information about the view to be displayed in which a configuration of the view is recorded with position parameters in three dimensions, including sufficient data to portray the view in at least three positions, b. a two dimensional surface visible to both eyes of a human viewer, c. a display device for displaying on the surface points making up the view determined as a direction of sight rendering of the view derived from the position parameters recorded in the database, d. apparatus operatively interposed between the database and the surface to modify the displayed view including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for displaying a three dimensional view made up of features comprising a. a two dimensional surface and means for rendering the view as points thereon and b. means for creating a display on said surface of a perceptible three-dimensional coordinate display space in which the displayed view is rendered, including means which modifies the view as rendered including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for displaying a three dimensional view made up of features comprising a. a two dimensional surface and means for rendering the view as points thereon and b. means for creating a display on said surface of a perceptible three-dimensional coordinate display space in which the displayed view is rendered, including means which modifies the view as rendered including altering and redisplaying points of the surface, at a saccade-like rate, corresponding to at least three positions in accordance with variations in the direction of sight in a pattern of discrete changes that are: i) perceptually unpredictable in order, ii) perceptually unpredictable in length of time displayed for each displayed view, iii) less than d max , where d max is the maximal disparity between successive images which maintain human perceptual correspondence, and iv) synchronous over the entire displayed view; whereby motion parallaxes are displayed perceptibly to both eyes of the human viewer, which enables the human viewer to achieve a perception of spatial structure in the view, whether movement of the view is occurring or not.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein said means for rendering comprises a database selected from the group consisting of a. a computer-aided-design database; b. a scientific visualization database; c. a molecular modelling database; d. a medical imaging database; e. a computer-aided-tomography scan; f. a nuclear magnetic resonance database; g. a dimensionalized relationship of variables; h. a database useful for air traffic control; i. a database useful for military situation displays; j. a videogame; and k. video data.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 further comprising a database of data on the view of a data encoded in a RAM, ROM, PROM or EPROM.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the discrete changes are perceptually random in direction.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in timing.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in amplitude.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in amplitude, and the amplitude of a change affects the timing of the following change.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein the discrete changes are perceptually random in direction.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in timing.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in amplitude.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein said discrete changes are perceptually random in amplitude, and the amplitude of a change affects the timing of the following change.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the discrete changes in the variation in the direction of sight have a magnitude and the length of time each view is displayed correlates with the magnitude of a prior discrete change in the direction of sight.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the discrete changes in the variation in the direction of sight have a magnitude and the length of time each view is displayed correlates with the magnitude of a prior discrete change in the direction of sight.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein the discrete changes in said variation in the direction of sight have a magnitude and said length of time each view is displayed correlates with the magnitude of a prior discrete change in the direction of sight.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein the discrete changes in said variation in the direction of sight have a magnitude and said length of time each view is displayed correlates with the magnitude of a prior discrete change in the direction of sight.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface has two dimensions and the pattern of discrete changes includes variations in the direction of sight having components parallel to the two dimensions.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the surface has two dimensions and the pattern of discrete changes includes variations in the direction of sight having components parallel to the two dimensions.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein said surface has two dimensions and said pattern of discrete changes includes variations in said direction of sight having components parallel to said two dimensions.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein said surface has two dimensions and said pattern of discrete changes includes variations in said direction of sight having components parallel to said two dimensions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |