Stereo Panoramic Image Seam Position Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for generating stereo panoramic images often result in binocular rivalry due to inconsistent seam positions between left and right eye images, leading to discomfort during stereo viewing, as they do not adequately consider disparity variations when stitching images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires and processes images from multiple viewpoints, estimates disparities, and adjusts seam positions based on disparity amounts to synchronize seam positions between left and right eye images, ensuring consistent viewing experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If seam positions are decided in advance without considering disparity variations, then stitching process is simplified, but binocular rivalry occurs due to inconsistent seam positions between left and right eye images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating disparity amounts for all candidate seam positions in advance, storing them in a disparity map before actual stitching. This preparation allows the stitching process to simply reference pre-computed disparity values, maintaining simplicity while ensuring accurate seam position selection that prevents binocular rivalry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by evaluating candidate seam positions based on disparity amounts and selecting the position with the minimum disparity value. This feedback mechanism ensures that seam positions are optimized to minimize differences between left and right eye images, thereby suppressing binocular rivalry while maintaining stitching quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If disparity consideration is added to evaluation function, then seam positions are closer between left and right images, but binocular rivalry may still occur due to other evaluation function terms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing the evaluation function specifically on disparity amounts at candidate seam positions, rather than using multiple competing evaluation criteria. This localized approach ensures that seam position selection is determined primarily by disparity minimization, guaranteeing consistent seam positions between stereo images and reliable suppression of binocular rivalry.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple images from different viewpoints are stitched, then panoramic coverage is increased, but seam position consistency between stereo images becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing a disparity map that stores disparity amounts for multiple candidate seam positions across the panoramic image. This additional dimensional structure allows the system to evaluate and select optimal seam positions that maintain consistency between left and right eye panoramic images, even when stitching multiple images from different viewpoints to achieve wide coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
Based on a disparity amount of an object image in a left-eye viewpoint and a right-eye viewpoint and a seam position decided for one of the left-eye viewpoint and the right-eye viewpoint, a seam position of the other viewpoint is decided, and a panoramic image for left eye and a panoramic image for right eye are generated by using the decided seam position.