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USO05594841A
United States Patent [191

[11]

Patent Number:

Schutz

[45]

Date of Patent:

[54]

5,594,841
Jan. 14, 1997

Brelinski, M. Dolphins Song NVision Gra?x, Inc. Dallas

Texas (1993).
Meilach, Dona Z. Giving Lifelike Dimension to Computer
Graphics with 3~D Stereo Systems. Computer Pictures
llz44~46 (1993).

STEREOGRAM AND METHOD OF

CONSTRUCTING THE SAME

[76] Inventor: Stephen A. Schutz, 7910 Ivanhoe,

Suite 436, LaJolla, Calif. 92037

Slinker et al. The Generation And Animation of Random

Dot And Ramdon Live Autostereograrns, Journal of imag

[21] Appl. No.: 175,054

[22] Filed:

ing Science And Technology, vol. 36, No. 3, May/Jun. 1992,

Dec. 27, 1993

pp. 260-267.

[51]

Int. Cl.6 ................................................... .. G06T 15/00

[52]
[58]

US. Cl. ......................... .. 395/119; 351/203; 359/462

Field of Search ........................... .. 395/119; 351/203;

Primary ExaminerMark K. Zimmerman

Attorney, Agent, or FirmCampbell & Flores

[57]

359/462

[56]

A bare eyed stereogram based on continuous tone, non

random dot art and a process for making the stereogram. A

References Cited

computer implemented process for making the stereogram

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,135,502

1/1979

5,204,944

4/1993 Wolberg et a1.

5,371,627

ABSTRACT

uses a computer system having a central processing unit,

memory, storage, a user interface, an edit program and

Peck ..................................... .. 128/765

display means. The art is input to the system in the form of

repeating bands of picture elements in a stereogram base.

12/1994 Baccei et a1. ......................... .. 359/462

The picture elements have assigned information, and depth

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

information as well. Below a threshold value, new informa

Tyler, C. W. et al., The Autostereogram. The Society of

tion is assigned by the method of smear. At or above the

Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). vol.

threshold value, information is provided by a number of

techniques which import the information values of picture

1256: 182197 Feb. (1990).

Games Look, Ma, No Glasses, Apr. 12l5 (1992).
3d Pixelgram by digi-rule, mini-series Seal with a Kiss!
l993Digi-Rule, Inc. Calgery, Canada, 1 page (1993).

elements outside the stereogram base. Preferably some of

the information is color information and the external color
information values are altered to blend with colors in the

Melanie Carr Childern Round the World/East 3D Art, N.

surrounding base. A process for making a stereogram with

wide repeating bands that can be viewed at a distance is

E. Thing Enterprises, Southern Stock, Uniphoto Press Inter

national (1993).

shown. A stepping procedure for creating stereograms and a

method of superimposing multiple stereograms is shown.

Baccei, Tom and Smith, Cheryl N. E. Thing Fabulous 1993

3D Calendar N. E. Thing Enterprises, Cambridge, MA

14 Claims, 25 Drawing Sheets

(1991).
I BEGIN PROCEDURE
4-7
I

INITIALIZE VARIABLES THAT ARE

INTERNAL TO THE PROCDURE

CURTNCR=O
CNTR=O
STARTDF=1XR11
49
I

LOOP FOR EAC H VALUE OF X

FROM X=IXR1 TO IXD-I

[MISCELLANEOUS BOOKKEEPING DETAILS]

54

DEPTH SUMMATION PROCEDURE TO

DETERMINE WHETHER X IS LOCATED
WITH A GAP. IF NOT. THEN
CURINCR=O. IF X IS LOCATED
WITHIN A GAP THEN CURINCR > 0
AND THE VALUE OF CURINCR REPRESENTS
THE NUMBER OF PIXELS REMAINING IN THE GAP.

(NOTE THAT CURINCR VARIES WITH X)

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

g
.

m3 (

Sheet 1 of 25

5,594,841

US. Patent

'Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 2 of 25

5,594,841

2%
2"?

F
[(b)
I

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 3 of 25

5,594,841

55

(a)v3
i
:55

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 4 of 25

5,594,841

F863

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 7 of 25

5,594,841

25
i.

ml

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 8 0f 25

5,594,841

5FI0G).

U.S. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 9 of 25

5,594,841

BEGIN PROCEDURE

71

\ XR=IXR1. PIYL=0, INC=O,

ICURINCR=O,
CNTR=0, STARTDF=
XR1-1

73\_\FOR X=IXR1 TO1 1xo-1

INC=(IFCN (X)-IFCN (x-1))

XR=XR~INC
CURINCR=CURINCR~INC

7s

75

YES

\
CURINCR=0

NO

1 79

77

YES

\
PIXL=1

:1

81

NO

83

\PIXL%=O.
YES
CURINCR%=0.
XSTART7=
xauoz=o
NO,

FIG. 6A

US. Patent

Jan. 14,1997

99

PIXL 70

Sheet 11 of 25

5,594,841

101

103

YES

YES

AND S|ZE1 >=

START =0

XSTART =x

PARAMA1
NO

12:7

XSTART <>
AND PIXL >
CURINCR

1!

XEND =x

NO
1
4

109

XSTART <> 0

AND XEND <>o

YES

AND XEND _

513251?
1x121

111 \

__

FOR XB-XSTART TO XEND

NO

111\IFN$ (xaz) =IFN$ (START%-1)

112

NEXT X8

11 v
A

113

XSTART <> 0
AND XEND <>o

NO
F

AND XEND -

START <=
PARAMAH
1x121

YES

FIG. 6C

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 12 of 25

FOR XF =XSTART TO
115
XEND
/

1
D1 =XF-START ,___/

119

(Iy MOD2)=0

YES

AND (:21) :SD OR D

_\

IFN (X9:

IFN (XSTART-1)

XSTART =1

123

DCIHFERKNTAL

IFN (XF)=
IFN (START-1)
V

D2 = XEND-XFJ125

127

Iy MOD2)=O AND YES

02=o OR 02=2)

[129
IFN (XF)=

IFN (XEND-H XR)

FIG. 6D

5,594,841

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 13 of 25

[133

(Iy MOD2)
<>O AND

IFN (XF)=
IF'N (XEND+1XR)

(02=1 OR D1=3)
AND XEND+1
< IXD-Z

NO

NEXT XF

135

NEXT x J137
END OF PROCEDURE

FIG. 6E

5,594,841

U.S. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 14 0f 25

5,594,841

BEGIN PROCEDURE

+7\

INITIALIZE VARIABLES THAT ARE

INTERNAL TO THE PROCDURE
XR=IXR1
CURINCR=O
CNTR=O
STARTDF=IXR1 I

49\

LOOP FOR EACH VALUE OF X

FROM X=IXR1 TO IXD-1

53

\
I
MISCELLANEOUS BOOKKEEPING

DETAILS

54

v
DEPTH SUMMATION PROCEDURE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER X IS LOCATED
WITH A GAP. IF NOT, THEN
CURINCR=O. IF X IS LOCATED
WITHIN A GAP THEN CURINCR > 0

AND THE VALUE OF CURINCR REPRESENTS

THE NUMBER OF PIXELS REMAINING IN THE GAP.

(NOTE THAT CURINCR VARIES WITH X)

I
FIG. 7A

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 15 of 25

5,594,841

THIS IS THE METHOD

OF SMEAR

63\IFN(X)=IDFN(STARTDF
CNTR=CNTR+1+ CNTR+1)
THIS IS THE METHOD OF SPLICED
COMMISSURE

65\

BOOKKEEPING PROCEDURE FOR KEEPING

TRACK OF THE BEGINNING AND END
OF THE GAP

6 \-APPLICATION OF BLEND TO PIXELS

AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF GAP
IN ORDER TO SOFTEN THE TRANSITION

69\IEND LOOP xl:

Y

[END OF PROCEDURE]

FIG. 7B

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 16 of 25

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US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 17 0f 25

5,594,841

_______

______ __v_

157

T
t

FIG. 8C
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A

01

t1 {

t2{
t3{

D2

D3

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FIG. 80

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 18 0f 25

5,594,841

US. Patent

Jan. 14, 1997

Sheet 19 0f 25

5,594,841

53