Method and apparatus for capturing three dimensional image

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10162256-B2
Application number	US-201113309189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2011
Priority date	Dec 3, 2010
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for imaging a 3D image includes an opening through which an image passes and a plurality of lens components to obtain the image, and covers up the inside thereof visible through the opening by using a covering member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional image, comprising:
a main body having a front face and one or more apertures disposed on the front face;
a plurality of lens components disposed in the main body, wherein the plurality of lens components transfer light for capturing an image through the one or more apertures and at least one of the plurality of lens components is movable; and
a covering member, that covers a portion of an interior of the main body, which is visible from an exterior of the main body through at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one movable lens component among the one or more apertures, except a portion of the interior of the main body that includes the at least one movable lens component, while allowing the image to be captured through the at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one movable lens component, and that operates according to movement of the at least one of the plurality of lens components,
wherein the covering member comprises first and second pleated members that are retractile in accordance with a movement direction of the at least one of the plurality of lens components, and
wherein the first and second pleated members are connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components, so that when the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, the first pleated member disposed on a side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components toward which the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, is folded, and the second pleated member disposed on an opposing side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components is unfolded.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved in accordance with a position of an object that to be captured in the image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lens components comprises a left lens component and a right lens component, and wherein at least one of the left lens component and the right lens component is movable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein disparity information of the image is adjusted by moving the at least one of the left lens component and the right lens component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that controls the plurality of lens components, wherein the control unit controls movement of the at least one of the plurality of lens components.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the covering member is disposed next to the at least one of the plurality of lens components, between the at least one of the one or more apertures and the at least one of the plurality of lens components, or behind the at least one of the plurality of lens components.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the covering member comprises a plate, wherein at least a portion of the plate has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the at least one of the one or more apertures.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plate is connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components and moves in conjunction with the at least one of the plurality of lens components.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the covering member comprises first and second barriers each having a plurality of boards that overlap in accordance with movement of the at least one of the plurality of lens components.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second barriers are connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components, so that when the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, the plurality of boards of the first barrier disposed on a side of the least one of the plurality of lens components toward which the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, are overlapped, and the plurality of boards of the second barrier disposed on an opposing side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components are overlapped to a lesser degree.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the covering member comprises first and second rolling members, each having one side of a flexible material connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components and the other side of the flexible material rolled on the rolling members.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first and second rolling members are configured, so that when the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, the first rolling member disposed on a side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components toward which the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, rolls up its corresponding flexible material, and the second rolling member disposed on an opposing side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components unwinds its corresponding flexible material.

13. An apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional (3D) image, comprising:
a main body having a front face and one or more apertures disposed on the front face;
a plurality of lens components disposed in the main body, wherein the plurality of lens components transfer light for capturing an image through the one or more apertures and at least one of the plurality of lens components is movable; and
a covering member that covers a portion of an interior of the main body, which is be visible from an exterior of the main body through at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one movable lens component among the one or more apertures, except a portion of the interior that includes the at least one movable lens component, while allowing the image to be captured through the at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one movable lens component the one or more apertures, and that operates independently from movement of the at least one of the plurality of lens components,
wherein the covering member comprises first and second pleated members that are retractile in accordance with a movement direction of the at least one of the plurality of lens components, and
wherein the first and second pleated members are connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components, so that when the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, the first pleated member disposed on a side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components toward which the at least one of the plurality of lens components is moved, is folded, and the second pleated member disposed on an opposing side of the at least one of the plurality of lens components is unfolded.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a control unit that controls the plurality of lens components, wherein the control unit controls the movement of the at least one of the plurality of lens components.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the covering member is disposed behind the at least one of the plurality of lens components, and comprises a covering film formed of a flexible material.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the covering member comprises a slit through which a device connected to the at least one of the plurality of lens components passes.

17. A method for capturing a three-dimensional (3D) image in an apparatus, comprising the steps of:
determining a disparity relating to images obtained through a first lens component and a second lens component at a controller of the apparatus;
calculating a distance that the first lens component is to be moved based on the determined disparity at the controller;
moving the first lens component the calculated distance;
moving a covering member that is connected to the first lens comp

Assignees

• Masahiro Takashima
• Kim Bong Gi
• Kim Tae Kyung
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Masahiro Takashima
• Kim Bong-Gi
• Kim Tae-Kyung

Classifications

• G03B11/043

  Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras · CPC title

• H04N13/239

  using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N2213/001

  Constructional or mechanical details · CPC title

• H04N13/243

  using three or more two-dimensional [2D] image sensors · CPC title

• G03B35/10 Primary

  having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system · CPC title