Panoramic Image Alignment via Vector Parallelism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer-grade digital cameras lack precise orientation control, leading to variable image overlap and tilting issues when capturing panoramic views, making it difficult to produce seamless panoramic prints without complicated adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves capturing images with defined overlap regions, identifying matching points, and adjusting vectors to ensure parallelism and equal length, allowing for precise alignment and magnification correction to overlay images seamlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If consumer-grade digital cameras are used to capture panoramic views, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to variable image overlap and tilting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of overlap regions between adjacent images before final printing. It identifies corresponding points and calculates transformation parameters (rotation, translation, scaling) in advance to correct misalignment issues. This preliminary processing enables consumer cameras to produce panoramic prints with precision comparable to professional equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If professional mounting systems with precise orientation control are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical orientation control systems with computational image processing. Instead of requiring precise mechanical mounting and rotation mechanisms, the invention uses software to analyze overlap regions, identify corresponding points, and calculate transformation parameters digitally. This substitution of mechanical precision with computational analysis significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple sheets of receiver material are used to produce large panoramic prints, then area of stationary object is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to scaling and alignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the panoramic image into multiple sections corresponding to individual sheets of receiver material. It analyzes overlap regions between adjacent sections to determine precise transformation parameters for each segment. This segmentation approach allows large-area panoramic prints to be produced with consistent precision across multiple sheets, eliminating scaling and alignment issues that would otherwise deteriorate manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a panoramic image includes capturing a first image (30) defining a first overlap region (115) capturing a second image (40), and defining a second overlap region (215). Two points (150, 151) in the first overlap region are identified and a first vector (175) overlap region connecting the two points is defined. Two points (250, 251) in the second overlap region which correspond to the two points in the first overlap region are identified and a second vector (275) the two points is defined. If points in the first vector match points in the second vector, determine if the first and second vectors are parallel. If the vectors are not parallel, rotate the second vector image until the second vector is parallel to the first vector.