Field of the invention The present invention relates to a 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera, more particularly to an apparatus and method for generating 3 dimensional image enable to generate 3D image within the minimum time by photographing an image of an object 3 dimensionally at a super-high speed.

Background of the invention Use of electronic commerce, virtual museums, digital encyclopedias and electronic catalogs using of digital media such as internet, CD-ROM, and the like is rapidly increasing. In those cases, in order to make visual approach to objects more effectively through virtual reality, it is necessary to offer 3 dimensional images as well as 2-dimensional images such as picture for providing satisfactory 3 dimensional sense through binocular vision as if there are real objects in front of consumer's eyes and making it possible that consumer can select freely posture for watching or the direction of watching.

As stated, use of 3D contents increases gradually in order to achieve various purposes for offering education effect, practical information about goods, etc. However, a general method for offering conventional 3D contents is that after taking pictures of a photographic objecte. g. , sculpture, product for sale, etc. ) manually at numerous angles, an operator creates one 3D image by composition of photographed pictures or that an operator takes moving picture and offers moving picture file.

5 A method of generating one 3D image by composition of numerous photographed pictures has merit to be able to offer images corresponding to consumer's demand (e. g. , spectator, purchasers, etc. ), but it has demerit that a number of pictures has to be taken for generating 3D image, that it takes a lot of time to photograph an object, and that a process for generating 3D image is complicated. In result, it increases the cost 10 of generating 3D image. Furthermore, it can often happen to restart photographing job from the beginning in case that centers of all pictures taken are not identical at the time of photographing a photographic object many times. There is another drawback that operating errors caused by the difference between the optic angle and camera lens'angle can occur.

15 In comparison, a method for offering moving picture file by taking moving pictures has merit that time for generating an electronic file can be shortened and that it is easy to create electronic file, because an object is photographed continuously by using excellent photographing devices and then one electronic file can be offered. But it has problem that consumers cannot freely get images from the angle they want. Moreover, 20 there is limitation on advertising numerous products or materials since Web Server for offering file is not able to operate properly (for example,'down', etc. ) due to too large size of established moving picture file.

That is, a method for offering 3D contents based on conventional technologies has numerous problems such as creating cost, operating time, operating cost, consumer's 5 dissatisfaction, etc.

In order to overcome the defects, we disclosed the apparatus able to generate 3D contents promptly and easily In Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0069622.

Referring to Fig. l, the device, comprising a X-axis adjustment part and Y-axis adjustment part that is able to move a camera part to a wanted position after an 10 photographic object is put on its turntable able to rotate, make it possible to photograph images of the object and (to) generate 3D image by composition of the photographed images.

However, it has a problem that precision control instrument is needed and it takes time to move the camera as well as that the instrumental composition for making 15 the camera move to a wanted-position and at a wanted-angle is complicate.

Detailed description of the Invention In order to overcome the problems associated with the conventional technologies is it an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for 20 generating 3 dimensional image able to photograph a plurality of images simultaneously at different angles without moving the camera.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for generating 3 dimensional image able to improve both reliability and durability and further to reduce a unit cost by having a much simpler structure.

5 To achieve aforementioned objects, according to the one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera comprising : a base plate; 10 a turntable mounted on the central part of the base plate to be able to rotate; an actuator for driving the turn table; plural camera parts arranged on the vertical plane with an equal distance from the central point of the turntable on the upper part of the base plate; an image photographing control part that generates a movement control signal, 15 transmits it to the camera part, and receives a digital image photographed by the camera part; a 3 dimensional image generating part that generates a 3 dimensional image by using the digital image; and a storage part that stores the digital image and the 3 dimensional image.

20 That is, according to the present invention, the process for photographing each image and transforming it into 3D image is applied in the prior art disclosed in Korea Patent Application No. 2003-0069622 by us, but a plurality of images are simultaneously photographed by means of fixing a plurality of cameras to specific positions in advance.

Thus, as well as It is not necessary to have additional instruments for moving 5 the camera to a wanted position, it is possible to perform the photographing job more promptly due to sharp cuts in time needed to move the camera.

With respect to the position of each of cameras, basically, a pair of cameras is arranged to confront each other at the height equal to the turntable's.

Also, a camera is located at the vertically upward position from the central 10 point of the turntable, and another pair of cameras may be additionally arranged in an equal interval between them.

Through the aforementioned cameras'position, it is possible to simultaneously photograph the images of the front view, the back view, the ground view and the view from an angle of 45 °of an object.

15 Here, it is possible to photograph images from various angles by rotating the turntable. If necessary, it is possible to increase the number of cameras mounted. In this case, all the cameras should be arranged with an equal distance from the central point of the turntable in order to have an identical image magnification.

The cameras can be mounted on the upper part of the turntable in any method.

20 For example, after a beam is set up to be curved with a half circle vertically on the base plate, cameras are mounted on the beam.

By setting up a plurality of beams in order to shorten the shooting time, it is also possible to photograph images from more various angles.

On the other hand, because the camera, that is arranged at the same height as 5 the turntable's, cannot face the front of an object accurately according to the size of the object that is put on the turntable, it is favorable that the turntable is mounted to move upward or downward from the surface of the base plate.

Also, by arranging plural turntables on the base plate, it is possible to photograph images of plural objects simultaneously.

10 Here, considering the distance from each camera, it is favorable that the plural turntables are arranged around the circumference. Also, it is favorable that the plural cameras are arranged at an equal distance from the central point of the circumference around which the plural turntables are arranged.

15 Brief description of the drawings Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating the conventional apparatus for creating 3 dimensional image.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

20 Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 Embodiment Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2, a base plate (100) is a circular-shaped plate but the shape is not limited to the circular plate. For example, it can be a square.

10 A turntable (110) mounted on the central part of the base plate (l 00) to be able to rotate is positioned and rotated by an actuator, which is not illustrated in Fig. 2, like a motor mounted on the back side of the turntable (l 10).

The actuator, which rotates the turn-table (110) but is not illustrated in Fig. 2, is mounted to move upward or downward from the base plate so that the distance between 15 the back of the turntable (110) and the surface of the base plate (100) can be changed by the actuator's moving upward or downward.

A beam (120) curved with a half circle is set up on the base plate (100).

The beam (120) is set up so that the central point of the circle which the beam (120) forms can be accorded with the central point of the turntable (110), plural 20 cameras are mounted inner side of the beam (120). The horizontal cameras (130, 130') in the lowest position are arranged at the same height of an object in order to photograph the image of the front view and back view thereof, the vertical camera (132) in the uppermost position is equipped in order to photograph the image of the plane view.

Thus, the vertical camera (132) is located at vertically upward position from the 5 central point of the turntable.

Then, each of the inclinational cameras (134, 134') is installed between the horizontal camera and the vertical camera to photograph the image of the product at an angle of 45 ° from the object.

Totally five cameras are mounted in Fig. 2, but It is possible to increase the 10 number of cameras in order to generate more precise 3D image.

Hereinafter, the process of photographing 3D image through the embodiment is explained.

Here, the process of transmitting each image photographed, merging it, and storing it can be the same as explained in the prior invention we disclosed, so it will be 15 omitted, and only the instrumental operation system of the embodiment will be described.

Firstly, after putting an object to be photograph on the turntable, photographing is performed by five cameras by means of operating a control device.

Here, in case the height of the horizontal camera and the height of the object 20 are not correct according to the size of the object, the turntable is caused to be at an appropriate height by moving the turntable upward or downward.

After photographing is finished in all the cameras, additional images are caused to photograph by rotating the turntable by an appropriate angle. This process may be repeated to obtain all necessary images and then 3D image is generated by combining 5 each image.

Here, another embodiment can be considered in which a plurality of beams is set up with a radial shape on the base plate. In this case, it is possible to photograph the wanted-image more promptly since it is not necessary to rotate the turntable.

Also, another embodiment can be considered in which plural turntables (110') 10 are arranged on the base plate. In this case, it has the merit to be able to gain images more efficiently since it is possible to photograph images of plural objects simultaneously.

Industrial Applicability 15 According to the present invention, it provides a 3 dimensional image generator with a fixed camera which has the merit to be able to gain 3D image more promptly and efficiently with sharp cuts in time photographing a plurality of images simultaneously using the fixed camera.

According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to have additional 20 instruments for moving the camera, the instrumental structure is simple. In the result,

the maintenance cost as well as creation cost can be minimized, and the life cycle of the device may be prolonged.

Also, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate more precise 3D image since the position of the camera is fixed in order to prevent the plurality of images from disaccording with each other by incorrect operation.