Digital Camera Real-Time Panoramic Image Stitching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for obtaining panoramic images are either too expensive due to specialized lenses or require computer software and equipment, making them inaccessible to many users.
Innovation Solution
A digital camera captures a series of image frames as the user pans through a scene and combines them in real-time, eliminating the need for specialized lenses or computer systems, using image sensor capabilities and a camera processor to generate panoramic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a specialized panoramic lens structure is used, then panoramic image capture capability is improved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The panoramic image capture is achieved by dividing the scene into multiple sequential image frames captured by panning the camera, rather than using a complex panoramic lens. The camera captures a series of individual frames that are later stitched together to form the complete panoramic image, replacing expensive specialized optics with a simpler sequential capture approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical complexity of panoramic lens structures with a computational approach. Instead of using specialized lens mechanics to achieve panoramic views, the system uses digital image processing and software algorithms to stitch multiple standard camera frames into a panoramic image, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a specialized camera with rotating lens mechanism is used, then panoramic image capture capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating lens mechanism is replaced by segmenting the panoramic capture into multiple discrete image frames taken at different angles. The camera remains stationary in each position, capturing individual frames that are then computationally assembled into the final panoramic image, eliminating the need for mechanical rotation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical rotating lens system with a computational image stitching process. Instead of physically rotating the lens or camera mechanism, the system captures multiple frames and uses software algorithms to align and combine them into a panoramic view, replacing mechanical motion with digital processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple photographs are captured and combined using computer software, then panoramic image is generated, but requirement for computer system and specialized software increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the image capture and image stitching functions into a single integrated camera system. The camera captures multiple frames and performs the stitching operation internally using its onboard processor, combining what were previously separate operations (capture on camera, stitching on computer) into one unified process that eliminates the need for external computer systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system performs the panoramic stitching operation itself using its own computational resources, rather than requiring external computer software. The onboard processor automatically aligns, merges, and processes the captured frames to generate the final panoramic image, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating dependency on external specialized software.
4Productivity
If image frames are captured sequentially during panning, then panoramic image is obtained, but real-time combining capability must be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The camera performs preliminary processing operations on each captured frame immediately upon acquisition, preparing the images for stitching before the complete sequence is captured. This preliminary action includes initial alignment calculations and preprocessing that reduce the computational burden for the final stitching operation, enabling real-time or near-real-time panoramic image generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating a panoramic image that enables a user to obtain panoramic photographs with a digital camera without the aid of a computer system or specialized lenses. A digital camera according to the present techniques captures a series of image frames as a user pans the digital camera through a panoramic image scene and combines the captured image frames while the image frames are being captured.