Line Scanner Image Stitching via Adaptive Overlap Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Film reel scanners face challenges in seamlessly combining images from multiple line scan cameras with overlapping fields of view, often resulting in visible seams or artifacts due to direct image combination without accounting for overlapping areas.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that involves receiving data streams from line scan sensors, calculating difference measures at various overlap positions, selecting a blending position with the smallest difference, and blending the data streams using feathering weights, where pixels closer to one sensor receive greater weight, transitioning smoothly between weights across the overlap area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple line scan cameras are used to scan film reels, then scanning coverage and productivity are improved, but visible seams and artifacts appear in the composite image due to direct combination without accounting for overlapping areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning task into multiple segments captured by separate line scan cameras, each covering a portion of the film reel. The segmented images are then processed individually to identify overlapping regions, which are subsequently blended using feathering weights to eliminate visible seams and artifacts in the final composite image.
2Manufacturing precision
If overlapping fields of view are used between line scan cameras, then seamless blending is enabled, but image processing complexity increases due to calculating difference measures and adjusting feathering weights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating difference measures between overlapping regions of adjacent line scan cameras and determining optimal feathering weights before final image composition. This preliminary processing establishes blending parameters that simplify the final composite image generation while ensuring seamless transitions between overlapping fields of view.
Data Source
AI summary
Image stitching from multiple line scanners may be provided by selecting, at a plurality of times while progressing a film roll from a supply reel to a take-up reel, overlap areas on the film roll between first and second field of views of a first and second line scan sensors that read first and second data streams from the film roll; calculating, at each time, a difference measure between the first and second data streams in a current overlap area for a current time; adjusting, based on the difference measure, a size or a position of the overlap area for use at a subsequent time as the film roll progresses such that the current overlap area has a first number of pixels and a subsequent overlap area has a second number of pixels; and blending the first and second data streams at the current time at the current overlap area.