3D Image Fusion via Spherical Coordinate Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for fusing two-dimensional images or videos onto three-dimensional images, such as spherical images, result in discontinuous regions on the fused boundaries, making seamless image fusion impossible.

Innovation Solution

A three-dimensional image fusion method and device that projects a two-dimensional image onto a planar surface in a spherical coordinate system, determines mapping points for feature points, and performs spatial coordinate conversion to fuse the image seamlessly onto the spherical image, eliminating discontinuous regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional two dimensional image fusion methods are applied to three dimensional spherical images, then the fusion process is simple, but discontinuous regions appear on the fused boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefusion process simplicityVSAvoidfusion boundary continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional image fusion to three-dimensional spherical coordinate system fusion. By projecting the two-dimensional image onto a spherical surface and performing coordinate transformations, the method achieves seamless fusion on curved surfaces while maintaining operational simplicity through automated coordinate mapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spherical coordinate systems and intermediate projection surfaces as mediators between the two-dimensional input image and the three-dimensional spherical output. This intermediate representation enables continuous fusion boundaries by mapping image points through spherical coordinates before final placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If feature point mapping is performed on spherical surfaces, then seamless fusion is achieved, but coordinate conversion complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefusion boundary continuityVSAvoidcoordinate conversion process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the coordinate parameter system from Cartesian (x, y, z) to spherical coordinates (r, θ, φ) to enable seamless mapping on spherical surfaces. By transforming the coordinate parameters and applying appropriate projection formulas, the method achieves continuous fusion boundaries while managing computational complexity through systematic parameter transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10438334B2Three dimensional image fusion method and device and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

Three dimensional image fusion method and device are disclosed. The method includes steps of obtaining a spherical image and a two dimensional image; projecting the two dimensional image onto a planar surface predetermined in a spherical coordinate system where the spherical image is located, so as to acquire a projected image having a predetermined number of feature points on the spherical surface corresponding to the spherical image; determining multiple mapping points on the spherical surface which correspond to the predetermined number of feature points, letting the predetermined number of feature points superpose on the multiple mapping points, respectively, and carrying out spatial coordinate conversion, so as to attain a converted image; and mapping multiple points except the predetermined number of feature points in the converted image onto the spherical image based on a predetermined mapping relationship, so as to fuse the two dimensional image onto the spherical image.