Multi-Sensor Camera System Real-Time Panoramic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital cameras, especially those in smartphones, have a limited angle-of-view, leading to images that are cut off on the sides and lack context, making it difficult to create panoramic images in real-time due to the time-consuming process of image stitching from multiple sensors.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with multiple identical cameras aligned on a single platform, each with a lens and image sensor, using a controller to read and process image data from active areas to create a substantially registered panoramic image in real-time, with a display capable of showing the image at a frame rate of at least 10 frames per second.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional image stitching methods are used to create panoramic images from multiple sensors, then the panoramic image can be created, but the process is time-consuming and cannot be done in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-aligning multiple image sensors to a common optical axis and pre-defining their fields of view during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for time-consuming post-capture alignment and stitching computations, enabling real-time panoramic image creation directly from the captured data streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the panoramic viewing field into multiple distinct fields of view, each captured by a separate image sensor. Each sensor is positioned to capture a specific angular segment of the panorama, with overlapping regions for seamless integration. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple image streams simultaneously, dramatically reducing processing time compared to traditional sequential stitching methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple image sensors are used to expand the angle-of-view, then the panoramic coverage is improved, but the alignment precision between sensors becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of image sensors relative to the optical axis, with sensors placed at specific angular offsets rather than symmetric arrangements. This asymmetric configuration, combined with individually adjustable mounting mechanisms, allows for easier fine-tuning of alignment during assembly while maintaining precise angular relationships, thereby improving both panoramic coverage and alignment precision.
3Measurement precision
If the active area of image sensors is reduced to minimize alignment errors, then the registration accuracy is improved, but the amount of captured image data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different regions of the sensor array. The central regions of each sensor's field of view are optimized for high-precision registration with tighter alignment tolerances, while peripheral regions can tolerate greater angular deviations. This allows the system to maintain high registration accuracy for critical areas while capturing broader panoramic coverage overall, maximizing both precision and data quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system contains 3 or more identical cameras fixedly attached to a common platform and positioned in a manner with images of a pair of 2 cameras having overlap and defining an area of an image sensor that generates no overlap image data, called an active image sensor area. Image data generated by active image sensor areas being combined to an extended image space. Displaying a real-time panoramic video image based on the extended image space. Image data of a camera is undistorted by image calibration with a trained neural network. Determining active areas of image sensors with a convolutional neural network and reinforcement learning. Deriving an image window in the extended image space as an e-gimbal. Incorporating the cameras system in a portable and mobile housing.