Stereoscopic visualization system

Abstract

Apparatus for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the apparatus comprising: a stereoscopic video system comprising: first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, first and second images of a scene; a display system for displaying the first image to the first eye of the viewer and the second image to the second eye of the viewer; and parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax between the first and second images. A method for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the method comprising: providing a stereoscopic video system comprising: first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, first and second images of a scene; a display system for displaying the first image to the first eye of the viewer and the second image to the second eye of the viewer; and parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax between the first and second images; and operating the stereoscopic video system so as to provide a stereoscopic image to the user wherein parallax has been adjusted.

1 . Apparatus for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the apparatus comprising:
 an endoscope; and   a stereoscopic video camera optically connected to the endoscope, wherein the stereoscopic video camera comprises:
 first and second optical channels for acquiring, respectively, first and second images of a scene from the endoscope; 
 first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images from the first and second optical channels, the first and second image sensors being positioned along an axis; and 
 parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax of a stereoscopic image acquired by the first and second image sensors and presented on a display. 
   
     
     
         2 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second image sensors defines a plane, and further wherein the planes of the first and second image sensors are aligned along the axis. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second image sensors defines a plane, and further wherein at least one of the planes of the first and second image sensors is disposed at an acute angle to the axis. 
     
     
         10 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises mapping means for mapping the first and second images acquired by the first and second image sensors to a display according to a pre-determined positional relationship, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to modify the manner in which the mapping means maps the first and second images to the display. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to cause a lateral shift in at least one of the first and second images when the mapping means maps the first and second images to the display. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to cause the mapping means to present only a portion of the first and second images acquired by the first and second image sensors to the display. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the first and second optical channels comprise first and second focal points, respectively, wherein the apparatus comprises focusing means for adjusting the dispositions of the first and second focal points, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to operate in conjunction with the focusing means. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the first and second optical channels comprise first and second focal points, respectively, wherein the apparatus comprises focusing means for adjusting the dispositions of the first and second focal points, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to operate independently of the focusing means. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to determine parallax values existing within a region of interest in the first and second images, and then adjust parallax in accordance with a selected criteria. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to limit parallax within the region of interest to a maximum negative value. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to limit parallax within the region of interest to a maximum positive value. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to adjust parallax to zero for a selected portion of the display. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the selected portion of the display is the central portion of the display. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to adjust parallax such that the relationship between the focal distance of the apparatus and the vergence distance of the display remains within a selected range. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according  claim 21  wherein the selected criteria takes into account at least one of the distance of the viewer from the display, and the size of the display, and the stereo base of the optical system. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to adjust parallax to zero for a selected portion of the display if the relationship between the focal distance of the apparatus and the vergence distance of the display remains within a selected range, otherwise the parallax adjusting means is configured to adjust parallax such that the relationship between the focal distance of the apparatus and the vergence distance of the display remains within a selected range. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the selected criteria is established in advance of viewing. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the selected criteria is established by the viewer at the time of viewing. 
     
     
         31 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . Apparatus for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the apparatus comprising:
 a stereoscopic video camera comprising:
 first and second optical channels for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images of a scene; 
 first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images from the first and second optical channels, the first and second image sensors being positioned along an axis; and 
 parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax of a stereoscopic image acquired by the first and second image sensors and presented on a display; 
 wherein the apparatus further comprises mapping means for mapping the first and second images acquired by the first and second image sensors to a display according to a pre-determined positional relationship, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to modify the manner in which the mapping means maps the first and second images to the display. 
   
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to cause a lateral shift in at least one of the first and second images when the mapping means maps the first and second images to the display. 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 35  further comprising an endoscope, the endoscope being optically connected to the stereoscopic video camera. 
     
     
         38 . A method for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the method comprising:
 providing an endoscope, and a stereoscopic video camera optically connected to the endoscope, wherein the stereoscopic video camera comprises:
 first and second optical channels for acquiring, respectively, first and second images of a scene from the endoscope; 
 first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images from the first and second optical channels, the first and second image sensors being positioned along an axis; and 
 parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax of a stereoscopic image acquired by the first and second image sensors and presented on a display; and 
   operating the endoscope and the stereoscopic video camera so as to provide a stereoscopic image to the user wherein parallax has been adjusted.   
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein the first and second optical channels comprise first and second focal points, respectively, wherein the apparatus comprises focusing means for adjusting the dispositions of the first and second focal points, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to operate in conjunction with the focusing means. 
     
     
         40 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method for presenting a stereoscopic image to a viewer, the method comprising:
 providing a stereoscopic video camera comprising:
 first and second optical channels for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images of a scene; 
 first and second image sensors for acquiring, respectively, the first and second images from the first and second optical channels, the first and second image sensors being positioned along an axis; and 
 parallax adjusting means for adjusting the parallax of a stereoscopic image acquired by the first and second image sensors and presented on a display; 
 wherein the apparatus further comprises mapping means for mapping the first and second images acquired by the first and second image sensors to a display according to a pre-determined positional relationship, and further wherein the parallax adjusting means is configured to modify the manner in which the mapping means maps the first and second images to the display; and 
   operating the endoscope and the stereoscopic video camera so as to provide a stereoscopic image to the user wherein parallax has been adjusted.   
     
     
         43 .- 44 . (canceled)