Stereoscopic image capturing device and stereoscopic image capturing method

{
  "publication_number": "US2014184753A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Stereoscopic image capturing device and stereoscopic image capturing method",
  "abstract": "A camera unit that captures and generates a plurality of images of a subject and a setting unit that sets different image capturing positions of the camera unit are provided. The setting unit sets the different image capturing positions so that the distance between an n−th image capturing position and an n+1th image capturing position and the distance between an m−th image capturing position and an m+1th image capturing position among the different image capturing positions differ from each other, where n and m are different natural numbers.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A stereoscopic image capturing device generating a plurality of images of a subject that are captured at different image capturing positions to allow a stereoscopic view of the subject, the device comprising: a camera unit configured to capture and generate the plurality of images of the subject; and a setting unit configured to set the different image capturing positions of the camera unit, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the different image capturing positions, with a distance between an n−th image capturing position and an n+1th image capturing position and a distance between an m−th image capturing position and an m+1th image capturing position among the different image capturing positions differing from each other, where n and m are different natural numbers. 2. The stereoscopic image capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the different image capturing positions, with distances between all adjacent ones of the different image capturing positions differing from each other. 3. The stereoscopic image capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the different image capturing positions, with distances between all pairs obtainable from the different image capturing positions set by the setting unit differing from each other. 4. The stereoscopic image capturing device according to claim 1, wherein, when L(a) denotes a distance between an a−th image capturing position and an a+1th image capturing position that are set by the setting unit, the setting unit is configured to set the different image capturing positions, with a predetermined reference position being present between the a−th image capturing position and the a+1th image capturing position and L(a+1) being greater than L(a), where a is a natural number. 5. The stereoscopic image capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit configured to move the camera unit to each of the different image capturing positions set by the setting unit. 6. The stereoscopic image capturing device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the camera units arranged respectively at the different image capturing positions set by the setting unit. 7. A stereoscopic image capturing method for generating a plurality of images of a subject that are captured at different image capturing positions to allow a stereoscopic view of the subject, the method comprising: capturing and generating the plurality of images of the subject; and setting the different image capturing positions at which the plurality of images of the subject are captured in the capturing and generating, wherein, in the setting, the different image capturing positions are set, with a distance between an n−th image capturing position and an n+1th image capturing position and a distance between an m−th image capturing position and an m+1th image capturing position among the different image capturing positions differing from each other, where n and m are different natural numbers."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "H04N 13/282",
    "G03B 17/561",
    "G03B 35/02",
    "H04N 13/0282",
    "H04N 13/211",
    "H04N 13/243"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "PANASONIC CORP"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-03-04",
  "publication_date": "2014-07-03",
  "priority_date": "2011-09-22",
  "application_number": "US-201414197100-A",
  "family_id": "47914103",
  "citations": [
    "US2003179308A1",
    "US2003210461A1",
    "US2010295925A1",
    "US2011025829A1",
    "US2012113232A1"
  ]
}