Stitched Image Storage for Re-stitching Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image stitching techniques produce undesirable artifacts, are limited by device capabilities, and cannot be re-stitched to improve quality on more capable machines, while also facing challenges in storage and projection changes.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves storing stitching information and original overlap source data alongside the stitched image, allowing for flexible re-stitching to improve stitch quality on more capable devices, and enabling conversion between different image projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional stitching algorithms are used on mobile devices, then quick stitching is achieved, but stitching quality deteriorates with artifacts around stitch lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing overlap region data during the initial stitching process. This allows the mobile device to quickly generate a basic stitched image while preserving the raw overlap data for later high-quality processing on more capable devices, effectively decoupling the speed requirement from the quality requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the stitching process into two distinct phases: initial quick stitching on mobile devices using stored overlap data, and subsequent high-quality re-stitching on powerful devices. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently for its specific requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If stitched images are fixed to particular quality, then device capabilities are matched, but adaptability to different devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the overlap region data and stores it alongside the stitched image. This copied data can be used by different devices according to their capabilities, allowing the same source data to be adapted to various device requirements without losing the original information.
Solution Approach 2:
The stored overlap region data serves multiple functions: it enables quick initial stitching on mobile devices, allows high-quality re-stitching on powerful devices, and supports multiple projection formats. This universal data structure resolves the contradiction by being adaptable to different device capabilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If post-stitch data is stored with original source images, then stitching can be improved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential overlap region data from the original source images and stores it separately. This extracted data is sufficient for high-quality re-stitching while occupying significantly less storage space than the complete source images, thus resolving the storage quality contradiction.
4Productivity
If images are stitched according to a particular projection, then stitching is completed, but projection flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary stitching in a standard projection format while preserving the original overlap data. This allows efficient initial processing while maintaining the flexibility to convert to different projections later, as the stored overlap data can be re-projected as needed without re-capturing images.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus and methods for stitching images, or re-stitching previously stitched images. Specifically, the disclosed systems in one implementation save stitching information and/or original overlap source data during an original stitching process. During subsequent retrieval, rendering, and/or display of the stitched images, the originally stitched image can be flexibly augmented, and/or re-stitched to improve the original stitch quality. Practical applications of the disclosed solutions enable, among other things, a user to create and stitch a wide field of view (FOV) panorama from multiple source images on a device with limited processing capability (such as a mobile phone or other capture device). Moreover, post-processing stitching allows for the user to convert from one image projection to another without fidelity loss (or with an acceptable level of loss).