Panoramic 3D Camera Arrangement with Pyramid Mirror
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capturing panoramic or semi-panoramic 3D scenes with high quality is challenging due to the conflict between achieving parallax-free stitching and creating sufficient stereo impression, as existing solutions are impractical for dynamic scenes and result in parallax errors when trying to avoid them.
Innovation Solution
A camera arrangement using a pyramid or clipped-pyramid shaped mirror with camera pairs whose virtual pivot points are offset along a baseline from the axis, ensuring the distance between camera pairs is within 10% of the baseline length, allowing for equal parallax across fields of view and enabling seamless stitching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If camera focal points are arranged on a common circle with optical axes perpendicular to the arc (star-like approach), then the system is simpler to implement, but parallax errors occur in the overlap area when stitching close objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera system into multiple camera pairs, each associated with a specific mirror plane surface. Each camera pair captures a specific field of view, and the results are stitched together to form the complete panorama. This segmentation allows each camera to be positioned optimally for its specific view while maintaining overall system coherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual pivot points as intermediaries between the physical camera positions and the final stitched image. By calculating virtual pivot points that are offset along baselines from the mirror axis, the system creates a mathematical intermediary that resolves the parallax error without requiring complex physical adjustments to camera positions.
2Manufacturing precision
If camera focal points coincide at a common point (optimal multi-camera arrangement), then parallax-free stitching is achieved, but the physical dimensions and complexity of the camera system become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual pivot points as copies of the physical camera positions. Instead of physically positioning cameras at complex coordinates to achieve optimal focal point coincidence, the system creates virtual representations that mathematically satisfy the optimal arrangement conditions. This copying approach maintains stitching precision while simplifying the physical hardware requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of focal point position from physical coordinates to virtual coordinates offset along baselines. By parameterizing the focal point positions in terms of baseline offsets rather than absolute positions, the system achieves optimal stitching geometry without requiring the physical cameras to be positioned at impractical distances or angles.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture panoramic 3D scenes, then high resolution and immersive viewing are achieved, but the system becomes complex and difficult to calibrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the camera system to serve multiple functions simultaneously. Each camera pair is configured to capture both the current field of view and to provide overlap with adjacent views, enabling both high-resolution imaging and seamless stitching. The mirror-based geometry provides universal applicability for various panoramic configurations without requiring custom calibration for each specific arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for high-quality panoramic or semi-panoramic 3D scene capture by maintaining consistent parallax, reducing irregularities at transitions between camera views, and achieving optimal approximation of concentric mosaics, especially for infinitesimally small opening angles.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror having a mirror surface composed of mirror plane surfaces, arranged like sides of a pyramid or clipped-pyramid with a polygonal base and an axis; a plurality of camera pairs each of which is associated with a respective one of the mirror plane surfaces and directed towards the respective associated mirror plane surface, so that the plurality of camera pairs look into substantially radial directions via the respective associated mirror plane surface
Data Source
AI summary
A provision of high quality panoramic or semi-panoramic 3D scenes is achieved at reasonable efforts by arranging the plurality of camera pairs, each of which is associated with a respective one of mirror plane surfaces of a pyramid or clipped-pyramid shaped mirror in that same is directed towards the respective associated mirror plane surface, such that for each camera pair the virtual positions of pivot points of the cameras of the respective camera pair are offset from each other along a straight baseline which, in turn, is offset from the axis of the mirror, and a distance between virtual points of a left-hand channel camera of a first camera pair associated with a first mirror plane surface and a right-hand channel camera of a second camera pair associated with a second mirror plane surface positioned neighboring the first mirror plane surface, deviates from a length of the baselines of the camera pairs by less than 10% of the length of the baselines.