Panorama Composing Using Wide Angle Distance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panoramic image capture methods face challenges in accurately calculating moving distances between images, leading to misalignments and increased memory costs, as well as undesirable camera movement, which affects the quality and cost-effectiveness of panoramic image composition.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus and processing method that detects moving distances based on images with a wide field angle, stores images with a narrower field angle to reduce memory requirements, and displays a wide field angle during shooting to minimize camera movement, enabling accurate panoramic image composition with reduced memory usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If moving distances are calculated from images with a narrow slit-like angle of view, then the memory area to temporarily store images is reduced, but the accuracy of moving distance calculation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing into two distinct parts: (1) using narrow angle images for memory-efficient storage and (2) using wide angle images for accurate moving distance calculation. The system stores only the necessary portion of wide angle images (the part corresponding to the narrow angle field of view) to achieve both memory efficiency and calculation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by processing wide angle images to extract only the relevant portion that corresponds to the narrow angle field of view. This intermediary step allows the system to use wide angle images for accurate measurement while storing data in a compact format suitable for memory-efficient storage.
2Measurement precision
If moving distances are calculated from images with a wide angle of view, then the accuracy of moving distance calculation is improved, but the memory area to temporarily store images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary portion of the wide angle image that corresponds to the narrow angle field of view. By taking out only the relevant part rather than storing the entire wide angle image, the system reduces memory requirements while maintaining the accuracy needed for moving distance calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing and storing only the portion of the wide angle image that is actually needed for the narrow angle field of view. This partial processing approach avoids the excessive storage requirement of saving complete wide angle images while still enabling accurate measurement.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-eyed camera system is used to capture panoramic images, then the cost is reduced, but the complexity of calculating moving distances between sequentially captured images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of field of view by alternating between narrow angle and wide angle imaging modes. This parameter change simplifies the moving distance calculation by providing clear reference points (the narrow angle images) while still capturing comprehensive scenes (the wide angle images), thereby reducing the overall complexity of the calculation system.
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that converts an image entering through a lens system into a captured image; a display unit that displays an image with a first field angle obtained from the captured image that is currently being shot; a moving distance detecting unit that detects a moving distance between images with the first field angle based on a plurality of images with the first angle sequentially captured; a partial image storing unit that stores an image with a second field angle that is less than the first field angle; and a panorama composing unit that composes a panoramic image based on a plurality of images with the second field angle stored in the partial image storing unit and the moving distances between the images with the first field angle that are respectively associated with the plurality of images with the second field angle.