Apparatus and method for producing images for stereoscopic viewing

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic, three-dimensional viewing generated with existing mobile graphical devices, such as cameras, video recorders, PDAs, telephones, and other devices, such as the iPhone™. Two reflectors, which may be mirrors or prisms, are positioned to separate the field of view of a camera lens on the mobile graphical device into a direct field of view and an offset field of view and to record and display the separated fields in a two-paned format on the mobile graphical device. Eye lenses are used to separately view the split images. An integrated housing and cradle receive the mobile graphical device and are coupled to the reflectors and the eye lenses. An area of each pane may be provided to display control icons for three-dimensional viewing, and a control area may be provided out of view on a touch screen for user control.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus adapted to receive and hold an electronic device which includes a camera and a display, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first optical system for forming two images of an object having spaced apart perspectives in a substantially stereoscopic relationship to each other and delivering the two images to the camera in a side-by side relationship; and   b. a second optical system including a pair of lenses, each lens for receiving a portion of image from the display and presenting a respective portion of the image to one of a user's eyes for forming a stereoscopic view.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first optical system comprises two portions. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein a first portion of the optical system comprises free space for providing an unaltered first image to substantially a first half of the camera. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein a second portion of the optical system comprises a pair of mirrors. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein a first mirror is positioned to receive a second image having a spaced apart perspective of the unaltered first image and for providing that second image to a second mirror which is positioned to provide that second image to substantially a second half of the camera. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein the first mirror is positioned at an angle of 49.5 degrees from an axis of the camera and the second mirror is positions at an angle of 39.7 degrees from the axis. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein a second portion of the optical system comprises a prism. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein a first internal face of the prism is positioned to receive a second image having a spaced apart perspective of the unaltered first image and for providing that second image to a second internal face which is positioned to provide that second image to substantially a second half of the camera. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second optical system comprises glasses. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second optical system is formed as binoculars. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second optical system comprises a solar protection film. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the display is a touch screen and the second optical system includes an aperture for allowing access to the user for entering commands on the touch screen. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus comprising:
 a. a housing including a first end and a second end, wherein the housing includes a pair of eye lenses located at the first end;   b. a cradle coupled with the housing at the second end and sized to receive a mobile graphic device, wherein the cradle includes:
 i. an aperture aligned with a camera lens of the mobile graphic device when the mobile graphic device is received in the cradle; and 
 ii. a first fixed reflector coupled with the cradle and positioned to divide the aperture into two portions such that light directly enters through a first portion of the aperture; and 
 iii. a second fixed reflector coupled with the cradle and set apart from the first reflector such that light indirectly enters through a second portion of the aperture by reflecting initially off the second fixed reflector and subsequently off the first fixed reflector. 
   
     
     
         34 . An apparatus comprising:
 a. a housing including a first end and a second end, wherein the housing includes a pair of eye lenses located at the first end; and   b. a cradle coupled with the housing at the second end and sized to receive a mobile graphic device, wherein the cradle includes:
 i. an aperture aligned with a camera lens of the mobile graphic device when the mobile graphic device is received in the cradle; 
 ii. a first fixed reflector coupled with the cradle and positioned to divide a field of view of the camera lens into two portions, wherein a first portion of the field of view is an unimpeded direct view of a subject of the field of view; and 
 iii. a second fixed reflector coupled with the cradle and set apart from the first reflector, wherein a second portion of the field of view is an offset view of the first portion as reflected off the second fixed reflector and subsequently off the first fixed reflector. 
   
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to a method, the method comprising:
 a. receiving a live image taken through a camera lens, wherein a first portion of the live image is of an unimpeded direct view of a subject of a field of view of the camera lens and a second portion of the live image is of an offset view of the first portion;   b. dividing a display into a first pane and a second pane with a pane divider between the first pane and a second pane; and   c. displaying the first portion of the live image in the first pane and the second portion of the live image in the second pane.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 35  further comprising forming a GUI portion on the display. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 36  wherein a user can control an image on the display. 
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to a method, the method comprising:
 a. storing an image in a memory, wherein a first portion of the image is of an unimpeded direct view of a subject of a field of view of the camera lens and a second portion of the image is of an offset view of the first portion;   b. dividing a display into a first pane and a second pane with a pane divider between the first pane and a second pane; and   c. displaying the first portion of the image in the first pane and the second portion of the image in the second pane.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 38  further comprising forming a GUI portion on the display. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 39   41 ,  42  wherein a user can control an image on the display. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 38  further comprising controlling the image based upon movement of a user's head in concert with the computing device. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions according to  claim 38  further comprising controlling a GUI by aiming a headset that holds the computing device at a virtual object.