Dual Camera Panorama Composition Using Image Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable devices equipped with dual cameras cannot automatically combine images from both cameras to create composite panorama images, requiring manual post-processing and sequential image capture.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with dual image sensors that buffers and composites images from both sensors to generate panorama images, allowing for simultaneous photography and automatic composition in various formats, such as Picture-in-Picture, parallel, or sequential, using a controller to manage image capture and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual cameras are used to capture images simultaneously, then image capture capability is improved, but automatic image composition capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically composites images from dual cameras without requiring manual user intervention. The controller autonomously captures images from both cameras, processes them, and generates composite panorama images or PIP format images, making the system self-sufficient in the composition task.
Solution Approach 2:
A controller acts as an intermediary between the dual cameras and the final output. It coordinates the simultaneous capture from both cameras, manages the image buffering, and executes the compositing algorithm to produce the final composite image, thereby enabling automated composition.
2Device complexity
If images are captured sequentially with manual post-processing, then device complexity is reduced, but image composition efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capture and composition functions into a single integrated process. Both cameras capture images simultaneously, and the controller combines them in real-time during the capture phase, eliminating the need for separate post-processing steps and thereby improving composition efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Extent of automation
If manual image arrangement is required, then processing automation is reduced, but user control over composition is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic image composition without requiring manual user arrangement. The controller autonomously determines how to composite the images from both cameras, whether in panorama format or PIP format, thereby maximizing processing automation while maintaining ease of operation through automatic execution.
4Extent of automation
If composite panorama images are generated automatically, then image composition capability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images from both cameras simultaneously at the outset. The controller buffers and pre-processes these images during the capture phase, so that when composition is needed, the work is already partially done, reducing the actual composition time and minimizing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition process occurs continuously during and immediately after capture rather than as a separate batch operation. The controller maintains continuous processing of the captured images, ensuring that the useful action of image composition flows without interruption, thereby reducing total processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for photography using an electronic device. The method and apparatus include a preview display operation of displaying a first image output from a first image sensor as a main image, and displaying a second image photographed by a second image sensor as a sub-image. A panorama photography operation of buffering the main image is executed when a panorama photography operation is requested. The sub-image is captured from a preset frame. When the panorama photographing operation is terminated, a composition panorama is generated from a panorama image of the main image, and compositing with the captured sub-image.