Aligning Spherical and Planar Images via Projection Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
When spherical images and planar images are displayed together, positional shifts occur due to differences in their projections, leading to an unnatural alignment.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that transforms and aligns images by extracting feature points, determining corresponding areas, and calculating location information to align the images accurately, ensuring proper positioning even when they are captured in different projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spherical images and planar images are displayed together without projection transformation, then the display process is simple, but positional shifts occur between images due to different projections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing projection transformation of the spherical image to match the planar image projection before displaying them together. The image processing apparatus transforms the spherical image from its original projection to the planar projection used by the planar image, and stores transformed image data with corresponding position information. This preliminary transformation prevents positional shifts during display, resolving the contradiction between display simplicity and alignment precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If projection transformation is performed to align spherical and planar images, then image alignment precision is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a projection transformation process that converts the spherical image to the planar image's projection system. The image processing apparatus acts as an intermediary device that performs the transformation and stores the transformed data with position information. This intermediary transformation layer enables precise alignment while keeping the overall system manageable by handling the complexity in a dedicated processing step.
3Measurement precision
If feature points are extracted and corresponding areas are determined to align images, then image alignment accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing feature point extraction and corresponding area determination during the image processing stage, before the images are displayed. The image processing apparatus extracts feature points from both the spherical and planar images, determines corresponding areas, and uses this information to guide the projection transformation. By completing these time-consuming operations in advance, the actual display process remains fast while achieving high alignment accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus: obtains a first image in a first projection, a second image in a second projection, and location information indicating locations of a plurality of points in the first image that are respectively associated with a plurality of points in the second image; generates, as an image to be superimposed on the first image, a superimposed image based on the second image, the superimposed image having the plurality of points in the second image at respective locations as indicated by the location information; and superimposes the superimposed image on the first image.