Seam Finding for 360-Degree VR Image Stitching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stitching software for 360-degree virtual reality applications is not capable of high-speed or real-time seam finding, which hampers the efficient rendering of immersive images and videos.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for seam finding between adjacent images captured by multiple cameras, involving the computation of multiple seam paths, cost evaluation, and selection of the seam with the lowest cost based on predefined criteria, utilizing a computing device in communication with image capturing devices to determine overlap areas and perform parallel seam computations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional stitching software is used to find seams, then the stitching process can be completed, but the speed is insufficient for real-time or high-speed applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image stitching process into distinct computational stages: determining overlap areas, computing multiple candidate seam paths, evaluating costs for each path, and selecting the optimal seam. This segmentation allows for optimized processing of each stage and enables parallel computation where applicable, thereby improving overall speed and real-time performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple seam paths are computed and evaluated, then the quality of seam selection is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of multiple candidate seam paths before final selection. By pre-computing and evaluating costs for multiple potential seams, the system identifies the optimal path in advance, ensuring high-quality stitching results while allowing for optimized resource allocation during the selection phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of candidate seam paths computed and the evaluation criteria based on application requirements. This dynamic approach allows balancing between computational complexity and seam selection accuracy, enabling the system to adapt to different performance and quality requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of seam finding includes determining an overlap area between a first image and a second image. The first image is captured by a first image capturing device and the second image is captured by a second image capturing device. A plurality of seam paths for stitching the first image with the second image is computed and a cost is computed for each seam path. A seam is selected to stitch the first image to the second image based upon the cost for the seam path for that seam being less than a cost for all other computed seam paths, that seam is maintained as the selected seam for stitching based upon a predefined criteria.