Panoramic Stitch Line Alignment for HDR Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to generate enhanced panoramic visual content with optimal exposure settings, leading to suboptimal dynamic range and image quality in panoramic views.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple image sensors with different exposure settings based on the luminance of the scene within each field of view, allowing for the capture of enhanced panoramic visual content by aligning the stitch line with the mid-line of the panoramic field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single exposure setting is used for panoramic capture, then the device complexity is reduced, but the dynamic range and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The panoramic capture process is segmented into multiple exposure captures (underexposed, normally exposed, overexposed) that are later combined. This segmentation allows each exposure to target specific luminance ranges, resolving the contradiction by maintaining simple device operation while achieving high image quality through multi-exposure HDR stitching.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure parameters (exposure time, gain) are changed across multiple captures to create underexposed, normally exposed, and overexposed images. This parameter variation allows the system to capture different luminance ranges and combine them into a high dynamic range panoramic image, improving image quality without increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If different exposure settings are applied to multiple image sensors, then the dynamic range is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is segmented into multiple image sensors, each capturing a specific field of view with optimized exposure settings. This segmentation enables parallel capture of different luminance ranges, improving dynamic range while keeping each sensor's operation simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Each image sensor is assigned a specific field of view and exposure setting optimized for its local luminance characteristics. The first sensor captures the bright sky with shorter exposure, while the second sensor captures the darker ground with longer exposure, achieving local optimization that collectively improves overall dynamic range.
3Area of moving object
If the stitch line is positioned in the peripheral portion, then the panoramic field of view is achieved, but the image quality at the stitch line deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stitch line is repositioned from the peripheral horizontal dimension to the central vertical dimension of the panoramic image. This dimensional repositioning places the stitch line in the mid-line where multiple sensors overlap, improving alignment precision and visual quality while maintaining the wide panoramic field of view.
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 approach results in enhanced panoramic visual content with increased dynamic range, preserving highlights and capturing more detail in both bright and dark areas of the scene.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical element configured to guide light within a first field of view to the first image sensor, a second optical element configured to guide light within a second field of view to the second image sensor
Implementation Method 2
The first image sensor may generate a first visual output signal conveying first visual information based on light that becomes incident thereon. The second image sensor may generate a second visual output signal conveying second visual information based on light that becomes incident thereon
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture device may capture two hemispherical views of a scene. The two hemispherical view of the scene may be stitched along a stitch line. The image capture device may be rotated to align the stitch line with a mid-line of a panoramic field of view of the scene. Separate exposure settings may be used to capture the two hemispherical views of the scene, with the exposure settings increasing the dynamic range of the scene depicted within the panoramic field of view of the scene. The panoramic field of view of the scene may be punched out as panoramic visual content.