Parallax scanning through scene object position manipulation

Abstract

One aspect of the invention includes a method of generating virtual autostereoscopic images using a computer. The method may include defining at least one object in a virtual three-dimensional space and defining a virtual point of view. Images may be generated by simulating a parallax scanning motion of the at least one object. The generated images can be displayed and stored.

1 . A method of generating virtual autostereoscopic images using a computer, comprising:
 creating, in a virtual three-dimensional software space, a scene to be imaged by defining at least one object in the virtual space, wherein the at least one object includes a computer-generated image;   defining a virtual point of view, associated with the virtual space;   generating images by simulating, in the virtual three-dimensional space, a parallax scanning motion of the at least one object;   storing the generated images; and   displaying the generated images.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step further includes applying a parallax offset to a position of the at least one object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the parallax offset varies with respect to a distance between the at least one object and a convergence plane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the parallax offset is zero at the convergence plane and has a maximum value at a predetermined threshold distance value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the parallax offset varies linearly between the convergence plane and the threshold distance value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the parallax offset varies according to a nonlinear function between the convergence plane and the threshold distance value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step further includes using a vertex shader to offset a position of the at least one object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including maintaining the virtual point of view at a fixed location. 
     
     
         9 . A method of generating an image, comprising:
 creating, in a virtual three-dimensional software environment, a scene to be imaged:   automatically monitoring at least one scene parameter associated with the scene to be imaged;   determining a parallax scanning parameter based on the at least one scene parameter;   applying the parallax scanning parameter to at least one object in the scene;   generating an image including the at least one object; and   displaying the generated image on a display.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the parallax scanning parameter includes at least one of a parallax angle and a convergence distance. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the scene parameter includes an observer motion speed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the scene parameter includes a distance between an observer and an object in the scene. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the scene parameter includes at least one of a scene field of view and a screen size of a display. 
     
     
         14 . A computer readable memory storing machine readable code, the machine readable code containing instructions for a computer to perform a method comprising:
 creating, in a virtual three-dimensional software space, a scene to be imaged by defining at least one object in the virtual space, wherein the at least one object includes a computer-generated image;   defining a virtual point of view, associated with the virtual space;   generating images by simulating, in the virtual three-dimensional space, a parallax scanning motion of the at least one object;   storing the generated images; and   displaying the generated images.   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14 , wherein the machine readable code contains instructions for the computer to maintain the virtual point of view at a fixed location. 
     
     
         16 . A computer based imaging system, comprising:
 a computer readable memory storing machine readable code containing instructions for creating, in a virtual three-dimensional software space, a scene to be imaged by defining at least one object in the virtual space, wherein the at least one object includes a computer-generated image, defining a virtual point of view, associated with the virtual space, and generating images by simulating a parallax scanning motion of the at least one object;   a processor that executes the instructions stored on the computer readable memory;   a data storage location that stores one or more of the generated images; and   a display that displays the generated images.   
     
     
         17 . The computer based imaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the computer readable memory includes instructions for maintaining the virtual point of view at a fixed location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual point of view is maintained in a fixed location with respect to a scene to be imaged. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14 , wherein the parallax scanning motion is simulated by applying a parallax offset to a position of the at least one object, wherein the parallax offset is zero at the convergence plane and has a maximum value at a predetermined threshold distance value. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable memory of  claim 16 , wherein the parallax scanning motion is simulated by applying a parallax offset to a position of the at least one object, wherein the parallax offset is zero at the convergence plane and has a maximum value at a predetermined threshold distance value. 
     
     
         21 . A method of generating virtual autostereoscopic images using a computer, comprising:
 defining at least one object in a virtual three-dimensional space;   defining a virtual point of view, associated with the virtual space;   generating images by simulating a parallax scanning motion of the at least one object by applying a parallax offset to a position of the at least one object, wherein the parallax offset is zero at the convergence plane and has a maximum value at a predetermined threshold distance value;   storing the generated images; and   displaying the generated images.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the parallax offset varies linearly between the convergence plane and the threshold distance value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the parallax offset varies according to a nonlinear function between the convergence plane and the threshold distance value. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the generating step further includes using a vertex shader to offset a position of the at least one object. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further including maintaining the virtual point of view at a fixed location.