Sony Develops High Frame Rate Single Lens 3D Camera Technology

October 1, 2009

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Sony today announced the development of a single lens 3D camera technology capable of recording natural and smooth 3D images of even fast-moving subject matter such as sports, at 240fps (frames per second).

This technology combines a newly developed optical system for single lens 3D camera which captures the left and right images simultaneously, together with existing high frame rate (HFR) recording technology to realize 240fps 3D filming. Sony will demonstrate a prototype model incorporating this technology at "CEATEC JAPAN 2009", to be held at Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba city, Japan, from October 6th.

In existing half mirror 3D camera systems with separate lenses for the left and right eyes, the parallax range is adjustable, enabling the depth of the 3D images to be modified. However, when operating the zoom and focus functions of such systems, the sensitivity of the human eye, in particular to differences in the size and rotational movement of dual images, as well as any vertical misalignment or difference in image quality has meant that complex technology has been required to ensure that each camera lens is closely coordinated, and there are no discrepancies in the optical axis, image size, and focus. The introduction of a single lens system resolves any issues that may occur as a result of having different optical characteristics for each eye.

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Optical system for single lens 3D camera

Furthermore, by using mirrors in place of shutters, incoming light can now be simultaneously separated into left and right images and recorded as it reaches the parallel light area (the area where diverging light from the point of focus on the subject matter becomes parallel) of the relay lens. The separated left and right images are then processed and recorded with the respective left and right image sensors. As there is no difference in time between when the left and right eye images are captured, it is possible for natural and smooth 3D images to be captured, even of scenes involving rapid movement.

Optical tests have shown that a frame rate 240fps represents the limit of human visual perception, and beyond that it becomes difficult to detect differences in terms of blur and "jerkiness" of moving images (where images that were continuous are now seen as a series of distinct snapshots). By developing a 240fps frame rate CMOS image sensor with properties close to the human eye, which is capable of capture natural images of even fast moving subject matter, Sony has succeeded in enhancing the quality of 3D video images.

The combination of Sony's new single lens 3D system and its 240fps high frame rate technology has realized a single lens 3D camera system, based on universal properties of the human eye, which enables natural and smooth 3D images with no accommodation-vergence conflict to be recorded.

Technological Features:

1. New single lens optical system

- Captures left and right images simultaneously to deliver natural and smooth 3D images with no accommodation-vergence conflict.
- Eliminates the need for lens synchronization, ensuring easily accurate control of 3D zoom and focus functions.
- When polarized glasses are not used, viewers with still be able to see natural 2D images, as the disparity of the images for left and right eyes are within the range that human eyes can recognize as a blur.

2. 240fps image capture to realize high quality motion images

- Realizes high quality capture of 3D content including fast-moving subject matter such as sports.

Source: Sony

• YawningDog - Oct 01, 2009
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  I read the whole thing (and thought about it) and still don't see how you can get a 3D image from one lens position. 3D perception results from merging two images separated by a few inches. I don't get it. They're splitting one image into two and calling it 3D. I'm going to have to see it to believe it.
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• Nartoon - Oct 02, 2009
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  I'm with YawningDog. There is a single image that is divided in two, how is that a 3D image? Maybe this is a 'faked' 3D when processed?
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• Dhanne - Oct 02, 2009
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  Just look at the long dashed line to see that there are actually two parts inside the camera. The mirrors on parellel lights area divide the image in half - just like if you have two cameras on side by side. In the end you'll get two videos that have slightly different from each other thus showing the videos in 3DTV let's you see it like 3D. Or this is how I understand the image above. Correct me if I'm wrong.
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• YawningDog - Oct 03, 2009
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  The key in what you say is "slightly different". I fail to see how that slight difference in field position could result in what our eyes call 3D. We have become accustomed to about 2.5" separation. It may all be done with mirrors but I detect a whiff of smoke in Sony's announcement.
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