Study on elemental image generation algorithms for integral imaging 3D display systems

Abstract

In recent years, demands of three dimensional (3D) displays have increased due to its attractive application. Nowadays, Integral Imaging (II) is one of the most promising and fascinating research topic since it can fulfill all requirements of a true 3D display. In this thesis, different algorithms of elemental image generation for 3D integral imaging display systems is studied and analyzed. Integral imaging is an attractive autostereoscopic 3D display techniques that produces full color, full parallax, continues true 3D images without any eyeglass or supplementary devices. Despite tremendous benefits it has some drawbacks like-insufficient resolution, small viewing angle, shallow image depth. A numerous researches have been conducted to solve the problems. Elemental image generation algorithms play an important role for integral imaging 3D display systems. We studied and analyzed several elemental image generation algorithms to identify and suggest the effective algorithm for efficient 3D integral imaging display systems. The experimental data for the analysis are presented in this thesis. At first, we studied about direct pickup method of integral imaging 3D display system. In this method, the object information are captured through a array of small lenses called elemental lenses and each lens produce an elemental image by tracing the ray emanating from the object specific lenslet of the lens array. As a result, an array of elemental images can be directly captured by a CCD camera. This method causes noise with the captured elemental image. Secondly, we studied computer generated elemental image (CGEI) method which allows to reduce the noises that causes in direct pickup method. Several algorithms for CGEI method have been studied and analyzed. CGEI method can only generate elemental images from synthesized 3D object points from a 2D image which are not real depths of a 3D object. Thirdly, we studied about elemental image generation method using real depth and color information of a real object which can overcome the limitation of CGEI method. Hence, viewing angle is a problem of this method. Lastly, we studied the Directional Elemental Image Generation and Resizing (DEIGR) algorithm and multi-directional projection schemes that could be a breakthrough of integral image display.