Rotatable Camera Module for Automatic Panorama Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing panoramic images on portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, require manual operation and result in inconsistent image stitching due to device position changes during image capture.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable camera module with a motor and sensors, controlled by an application, that automatically rotates to capture images at various angles and stitches them together to create a panoramic image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual rotation method is used to capture panoramic images, then user can control the device movement, but the operation complexity increases and image stitching quality deteriorates due to position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to automatically detect and track device orientation and position during image capture, eliminating the need for manual rotation control. The processor automatically adjusts stitching parameters based on sensor data, making the system self-correcting and improving stitching quality without increasing user burden
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors device orientation through sensors and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the stitching process. The sensor data provides real-time information about device position and rotation, allowing the processor to compensate for movements and maintain accurate image alignment throughout the panoramic capture process
2Ease of operation
If automatic rotation is implemented to simplify operation, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing multi-functional components in mobile devices - the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer are standard sensors already present for other purposes (motion detection, navigation). By repurposing these existing sensors for panoramic stabilization, the system achieves automatic rotation control without adding dedicated hardware, thus maintaining ease of operation while minimizing complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses software processing and sensor fusion algorithms as intermediaries to translate raw sensor data into actionable stitching parameters. This intermediary layer allows the existing hardware components to work together in coordination, achieving automatic rotation control through software coordination rather than requiring complex mechanical rotation mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus to create a panoramic image via a rotating camera of a portable electronic device are provided. The method includes rotating the camera of the portable electronic device with respect to the portable electronic device. The method further includes recording a plurality of images at a plurality of corresponding angles between the camera and a direction of the portable electronic device. The method further includes stitching the plurality of images together based on the plurality of angles and creating a panoramic image from the plurality of images.