Vertex Processing for Panoramic Image Stitching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panoramic imaging systems face mismatch image defects due to shifted camera centers, which affect the quality of 360-degree panoramic images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system with a vertex processing device that includes a coefficient interpolation unit and a coordinate modifying unit, which generates interpolated warping coefficients and modifies texture coordinates to minimize mismatch defects by adjusting the vertex list based on region errors and warping coefficients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cameras are placed at shifted centers in the image capture module, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but mismatch image defects occur and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing correspondence data between vertices in the vertex list and pixels in overlap regions during the offline phase. This pre-computed correspondence information is then used during real-time panoramic image generation to correctly map and stitch images from cameras with shifted centers, eliminating mismatch defects without requiring precise mechanical alignment of the cameras.
2Productivity
If conventional stitching processes are used without vertex list adjustment, then the processing speed is maintained, but image quality deteriorates due to mismatch defects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary computation offline to generate the vertex list with pre-calculated correspondence data between vertices and pixels in overlap regions. This pre-computation enables real-time processing at high speed while ensuring high image quality, as the complex calculations are done beforehand and only simple lookups and mappings are needed during panoramic image generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of processing by working with vertex lists and correspondence data between 3D vertices and 2D pixels. This additional layer of abstraction enables the system to handle camera misalignment by adjusting vertex coordinates based on pre-computed correspondence information, thereby resolving mismatch defects while maintaining real-time processing capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise camera center alignment is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved and mismatch defects are eliminated, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical alignment system with a computational solution. Instead of requiring precise physical alignment of camera centers through mechanical adjustments, the system uses software-based vertex list management and correspondence data to correct for misalignment. This substitution of mechanical precision with computational correction simplifies the physical device while achieving the same imaging quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertex processing device applied in an image processing system having an image capture module is disclosed. The image capture module generates camera images. The vertex processing device comprises a coefficient interpolation unit and a coordinate modifying unit. The coefficient interpolation unit generates an interpolated warping coefficient for each camera image with respect to each vertex from a vertex list based on n number of warping coefficients and its original texture coordinates in each camera image. The coordinate modifying unit calculates modified texture coordinates in each camera image for each vertex according to the interpolated warping coefficient and its original texture coordinates in each camera image. The vertex list comprises vertices with data structures that define vertex mapping between the camera images and a panoramic image. The n number of warping coefficients correspond to n number of overlap regions in the panoramic image.