Camera Aspect Ratio Conversion with Corner-Weighted Warping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aspect ratio conversion techniques in image and video processing result in perceivable reductions in image quality, such as cropping, linear scaling, or padding, which either reduce the field of view or introduce distortion.
Innovation Solution
A camera system applies a transformation that includes linear scaling and non-linear warping to convert between aspect ratios, preserving the field of view and limiting distortion, primarily by concentrating distortion in the image corners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cropping is used to convert aspect ratio, then the field of view is reduced, but the image quality is improved by removing distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transformation operations to different regions of the image. Linear scaling is applied to the central region to maintain proper aspect ratio, while peripheral regions are selectively cropped only when they contain distortion. This local differentiation allows the image to maintain quality in important areas while minimizing field of view loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying uniform cropping across the entire image, the patent applies partial cropping only to specific peripheral regions that contain distorted content. This partial action approach maintains the full field of view in undistorted regions while removing distortion artifacts only where necessary.
2Area of stationary object
If linear scaling is used to convert aspect ratio, then the full field of view is maintained, but perceivable distortion is introduced into the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies linear scaling only to the central region of the image where the main subject is located, while applying different or no scaling to peripheral regions. This localized approach allows the central content to maintain proper proportions while peripheral areas are handled differently to avoid introducing unwanted distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The image is segmented into central and peripheral regions, with different transformation operations applied to each. The central region undergoes linear scaling to maintain aspect ratio, while peripheral regions are either cropped or left unchanged, avoiding the introduction of distortion in these areas.
3Manufacturing precision
If padding is used to convert aspect ratio, then the full field of view is maintained without distortion, but unused display space is created around the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the distorted peripheral regions from the image, rather than adding padding around the image. By taking out the problematic areas and resizing the remaining undistorted content, the solution eliminates both distortion and unused display space, achieving full screen utilization with quality content.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system captures an image in a source aspect ratio and applies a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the input image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio. The output image has the same field of view as the input image, maintains image resolution, and limits distortion to levels that do not substantially affect the viewing experience. In one embodiment, the output image is non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image.