Image Corrector Spherical Projection Wide-Angle Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capturing technologies fail to effectively correct wide-angle distortion and align images with the viewer's line of sight, leading to unnatural image presentation.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that maps pixels from a first plane onto a curved surface, such as a spherical surface, and then onto a second plane, to correct wide-angle distortion and align images with the viewer's perspective, using a video camera with an image processor that includes a panorama image correcting unit and a clipping processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle lens is used to capture a broad field of view, then the area of the captured image is increased, but wide-angle distortion occurs causing unnatural image presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical projection to map the captured image onto a spherical surface, then unfolds it to correct wide-angle distortion. This curvature-based approach transforms the distorted wide-angle image into a naturally presented image while preserving the broad field of view area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate spherical dimension between the captured image plane and the final display plane. By projecting onto a sphere and then unfolding, it creates a two-step dimensional transformation that resolves the distortion problem while maintaining the expanded field of view.
2Shape
If the camera is physically moved to align with the viewer's line of sight, then the image alignment with viewer perspective is improved, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical camera movement system with an image processing system. Instead of physically moving the camera to align with the viewer's line of sight, it uses spherical projection and unfolding algorithms to achieve the same alignment effect in the image data, eliminating complex mechanical mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the camera's view through spherical projection, then transforms this copied image data to match the viewer's perspective. This allows alignment without physical movement by working with image copies rather than the original captured scene.
3Shape
If image processing is applied to correct distortion, then the natural appearance of the image is improved, but the processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs spherical projection and unfolding operations as preliminary processing steps during image capture or in real-time, rather than as post-processing corrections. This allows the distortion correction to be integrated into the imaging pipeline, reducing perceived processing time and enabling natural appearance without noticeable delay.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes an image corrector and an output circuit. The image corrector inputs image data. The image corrector processes the image data input by the image corrector. The image corrector arranges an input image indicated by the image data input by the image corrector on a first plane. The image corrector maps each pixel included in a part or whole of a region of the input image arranged on the first plane onto a curved surface. The image corrector maps each point mapped on the curved surface onto a second plane so as to generate new image data. The output circuit outputs the image data processed by the image corrector.