Dense disparity map estimation respecting image discontinuities:: A PDE and scale-space based approach

We present an energy based approach to estimate a dense disparity map from a set of two weakly calibrated stereoscopic images while preserving its discontinuities resulting from image boundaries. We first derive a simplified expression for the disparity that allows us to estimate it from a stereo pair of images using an energy minimization approach. We assume that the epipolar geometry is known, and we include this information in the energy model. Discontinuities are preserved by means of a regularization term based on the Nagel-Enkelmann operator, We investigate the associated Euter-Lagrange equation of the energy functional, and we approach the solution of the underlying partial differential equation (PDE) using a gradient descent method. The resulting parabolic problem has a unique solution. In order to reduce the risk, to be trapped within some irrelevant local minima during the iterations, we use a focusing strategy based on a linear scale-space. Experimental results on both synthetic and real images are presented to illustrate the capabilities of this PDE and scale-space based method. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).