Digital Camera Image Processing Device for Wide-Range Panoramic Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital cameras and mobile phones with imaging functions face limitations in achieving wide-range imaging due to hardware constraints, requiring lens replacement or switching, which complicates operability and increases costs, while still failing to deliver desired wide-range images effectively.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device that acquires and combines multiple panoramic images taken in specific directions to generate a wide-range image without the need for lens replacement, using a digital camera with an imaging lens, lens driving section, CCD, image processing section, and CPU to control the capture and composition of images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conversion lens for wide-range imaging is attached or lenses are switched depending on the intended imaging operation, then wide-range imaging capability is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide-range imaging capabilityVSAvoidlens switching mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the imaging process into multiple panoramic images captured in different directions, then combines them to create a wide-range image. This eliminates the need for physical lens segmentation or switching while achieving wide-range coverage through computational processing of multiple standard images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical lens switching or attachment system with a digital image processing system. Instead of physically changing lenses to achieve wide-range imaging, the system captures multiple standard panoramic images and combines them computationally, substituting mechanical complexity with software-based solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide-range imaging capabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by having the system automatically capture multiple panoramic images in different directions and combine them to generate wide-range images without requiring user intervention for lens switching or attachment. The process is automated through the image processing device, eliminating complex user operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple lenses are provided and switched depending on imaging operation, then imaging versatility is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging versatilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the standard imaging lens perform multiple functions: capturing standard images and capturing panoramic images in different directions. This single lens replaces the need for multiple specialized lenses, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining imaging versatility through computational combination of images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9007429B2Image processing device capable of generating wide-range image

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

The CPU of a digital camera according to the present invention acquires a plurality of panoramic images, and generates a wide-range image by combining the acquired panoramic images.