Spherical Image to Cartesian Floor Plan Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating Cartesian coordinates from spherical image data fail to accurately represent physical spaces, as they lack information about the orientation and distance of elements within the image, making it difficult to create precise floor plans from immersive virtual tours.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that transform spherical image data into Cartesian coordinates by identifying planes with specific orientations and distances, using yaw and pitch angles to calculate the intersection points, allowing for the accurate representation of room elements in a two-dimensional format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spherical format is used to provide immersive environment, then user immersion and interactivity are improved, but physical space information and measurement precision are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms data from a spherical coordinate system to a Cartesian coordinate system, adding dimensional context that preserves physical space relationships. By mapping spherical coordinates (theta, phi, radius) to Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) and then to 2D planar coordinates, the system maintains both immersive viewing capabilities and accurate spatial measurement capabilities simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the coordinate system parameters from spherical (angular theta and phi) to Cartesian (x, y, z) and finally to 2D planar coordinates. This parameter transformation allows the system to preserve distance and orientation information while maintaining the immersive spherical viewing experience, resolving the contradiction between immersion and measurement precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If spherical coordinates are used for all points, then equal distance from centre is maintained, but orientation and distance information of surfaces is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spherical space by identifying specific planes (floor, ceiling, walls) with distinct orientations and distances from the camera. Each plane is processed separately with its own coordinate transformation, allowing the system to maintain the spherical structure while extracting detailed orientation and distance information from each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediate Cartesian coordinate system as a mediator between the spherical coordinate system and the final 2D representation. This intermediate step preserves the equal-distance property of spherical coordinates while capturing orientation and distance information that would otherwise be lost, enabling accurate floor plan generation.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual drafting is used to create floor plans, then precision can be achieved, but time consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating floor plans from spherical image data through coordinate transformation. The processor automatically identifies planes, calculates intersections, and produces 2D representations without human intervention, achieving both precision and efficiency simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical process of manual drafting with an automated computational system. By substituting human manual measurement and drawing with algorithmic coordinate transformation from spherical to Cartesian to 2D coordinates, the system achieves comparable or superior precision while dramatically reducing time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided for transforming data provided in a spherical format. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, the spherical format comprising a notional sphere that has a centre corresponding to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera. A first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A selected point in said spherical format is obtained, which is defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre of the sphere. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and is at the first distance from the centre. A location in a Cartesian coordinate system is calculated where the plane intersects with the line, wherein two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system are parallel to the first plane. Thereby, the position of the point on the first surface is identified. This location, and other locations corresponding to to other selected points, may be used to transform data in the spherical image for display.