Camera Position Determination Using Vanishing Point Orthocenter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to accurately determine the camera position relative to objects in a photograph when the optical axis does not pass through the center of the image, which is crucial for applications like modeling and mapping.
Innovation Solution
A method using a computing device to display an image and receive vanishing point data from the user, where the positions of three vanishing points are used to calculate the orthocenter of a vanishing point triangle, determining the camera's position and distance along the optical axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the optical axis of the camera does not pass through the center of the photograph, then the camera can capture objects from off-center positions, but existing methods fail to accurately determine the camera position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the determination of camera position into multiple independent vanishing points (first, second, and third vanishing points) corresponding to different sets of parallel lines in the scene. Each vanishing point provides independent geometric constraints, and their collective information is used to calculate the camera position through the orthocenter of the vanishing point triangle, enabling accurate position determination even when the optical axis does not pass through the image center.
2Ease of operation
If the center of the image is not on the optical axis of the camera, then the photograph captures a different perspective, but the camera position cannot be determined using traditional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vanishing points as intermediary geometric elements that mediate between the image content and the camera position. By identifying vanishing points from parallel lines in the scene and constructing the orthocenter of the vanishing point triangle, the method creates an intermediary calculation pathway that bridges the gap between off-center imaging and accurate camera position determination.
Data Source
AI summary
An image depicting an object has a center that is not on an optical axis of a camera used to capture the image. The image is on an image plane, and the object is in an object space. A method implemented for automatically determining the position of the camera relative to the object includes displaying the image via a user interface, receiving vanishing point information from the user interface, such that the vanishing point data indicates a respective location on the image plane of each of a first vanishing point, a second vanishing point, and a third vanishing point, and automatically determining the position of the camera based on the first vanishing point, the second vanishing point, and the third vanishing point.