Method for simultaneously compositing a panoramic image and determining camera focal length
US6256058A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N5/2624
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a computerized image processing system, a camera acquires a set of images of a scene while rotating the camera about an axis passing through an optical center of the camera. The images of the set overlap each other. An initial estimate of the focal length of the camera is made. The initial focal length can be any reasonable focal length. Using the initial estimate of the focal length, the set of images are composited in a memory to determine an estimated initial composited length. A next best estimate of the focal length is derived from the initial estimated composited length. The set of images are recomposed using the next best focal length estimate. This process is iterated until the absolute difference between the successive estimates of the focal length is less than a predetermined threshold to calibrate the camera. In addition, the process of compositing the set of images can use a weighted interpolation scheme to reduce the blurring effects caused by noise and digitization effects and incorrect focal length.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.