Multi-Camera Imaging Coverage Visualization and Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to easily install and calibrate multiple imaging apparatuses to capture video images from various viewpoints, as existing methods struggle to accurately determine the installation positions and optical axis directions, leading to difficulties in checking the imaging range and identifying areas where multiple viewpoints can capture images effectively.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a storage unit for position information, an obtaining unit for azimuths and angles, a setting unit for imaging areas, and a notification unit to distinguish between comprehensively imaged and non-imaged areas, facilitating the installation and calibration of imaging apparatuses through a smart device application that registers and displays installation positions and angles, allowing users to visualize and set imaging areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple imaging apparatuses are installed to capture video images from various viewpoints, then the coverage of imaging areas is improved, but the difficulty of installation and calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging apparatus automatically performs calibration by utilizing its own captured images. The apparatus captures images of calibration markers, automatically calculates its position and orientation based on the captured images, and adjusts its parameters without requiring external calibration equipment or complex manual procedures. This self-calibration mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining easy operation while achieving accurate multi-viewpoint coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses virtual models and simulated images to represent the physical imaging apparatuses and their fields of view. By creating virtual copies of the apparatuses and their imaging areas, the system allows users to visually plan and verify the coverage of multiple apparatuses before actual installation, simplifying the installation process while ensuring adequate coverage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the exact installation positions and optical axis directions are set before use, then the imaging precision is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by capturing images of calibration markers before actual imaging operations. This preliminary action establishes the position and orientation parameters of each imaging apparatus in advance, ensuring imaging precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation. The calibration data is stored and used for subsequent imaging tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical calibration systems with image-based calibration. Instead of using precise mechanical measurement tools and manual adjustment mechanisms, the system uses captured images and computer vision algorithms to determine apparatus positions and orientations, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining high precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a plurality of imaging apparatuses are used cooperatively, then the comprehensive imaging capability is improved, but the difficulty of checking imaging ranges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the imaging ranges of multiple apparatuses into a unified virtual model. By combining the field of view information from all imaging apparatuses into a single comprehensive view, users can easily verify the overall coverage and identify gaps in imaging ranges without manually checking each apparatus individually, thus resolving the contradiction between comprehensive capability and verification difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual three-dimensional space to represent and visualize the imaging ranges of multiple apparatuses. This dimensional transformation allows users to intuitively understand the coverage areas and overlaps of multiple apparatuses through graphical displays, making it easy to verify comprehensive imaging capability without complex manual measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging coverages of a plurality of imaging apparatuses are calculated based on position information about a position of each of the plurality of imaging apparatuses, azimuth and angle information about the plurality of imaging apparatuses, and imaging area information about the plurality of imaging apparatuses. A notification of an area capable of comprehensive imaging and an area not capable of comprehensive imaging is made based on the imaging coverages.