Panoramic camera and image processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019166309-A1
Application number	US-201715836939-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2017
Priority date	Nov 24, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing method applied to a panoramic camera includes a camera casing, at least two first lenses mounted to the casing, a second lens mounted to the casing, and at least one processor received in the casing. The processor obtains a first image captured by several first lenses and a second image captured by a single second lens. The first images are seamed together to form a panoramic image, and the second image is placed on the panoramic image to form a combined image. A size of the second image is less than a size of the panoramic image, and the position of the second image on the panoramic image can be dynamically altered to indicate the standpoint and field of view of the viewer from a particular vantage point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A panoramic camera comprising:
a casing; at least two first lenses mounted to the casing; a second lens mounted to the casing; and at least one processor received in the casing, the processor configured to obtain a first image captured by each first lens and a second image captured by the second lens, seam the first images to form a panoramic image, and superimpose the second image on the panoramic image to form a combined image, wherein a size of the second image is less than a size of the panoramic image.

2 . The panoramic camera of claim 1 , wherein before forming the combined image, the processor is further configured to adjust the size of the second image, and a location of the second image relative to the panoramic image.

3 . The stereoscopic video device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication interface and a controller, wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to receive remote commands from a mobile terminal, the controller is electrically connected to the wireless communication interface, the controller is configured to obtain the remote commands from the wireless communication interface, analyze the remote commands, and control the panoramic camera to perform operations accordingly.

4 . The panoramic camera of claim 3 , wherein the remote commands comprise a first remote command for controlling the casing to rotate, and the controller is further configured to control the casing to rotate in response to the first remote command, to change a field of view of the second lens.

5 . The panoramic camera of claim 3 , wherein the remote commands comprise a second remote command for controlling the second lens to adjust focal length, and the controller is further configured to control the second lens to adjust the focal length in response to the second remote command.

6 . The panoramic camera of claim 3 , wherein the remote commands comprise a third remote command for controlling the second lens to turn on or turn off, and the controller is further configured to control the second lens to turn on or turn off in response to the third remote command.

7 . An image processing method comprising:
obtaining a plurality of first images and a second image; seaming the plurality of first images to form a panoramic image; and superimposing the second image on the panoramic image to form a combined image, wherein a size of the second image is less than a size of the panoramic image.

8 . The image processing method of claim 7 , further comprising:
outputting the combined image.

9 . The image processing method of claim 7 , wherein before forming the form combined image, the image processing method further comprises:
adjusting the size of the second image, and a location of the second image relative to the panoramic image.

10 . The image processing method of claim 7 , wherein the step of superimposing the second image on the panoramic image to form a combined image further comprises:
obtaining a visual field within the panoramic image along a viewing direction of eyes of a user; and superimposing the second image on a fixed location of the visual field to form the combined image, thereby causing the second image to move together with the visual field.

11 . The image processing method of claim 7 , wherein the step of superimposing the second image on the panoramic image to form a combined image further comprises:
obtaining a visual field within the panoramic image along a viewing direction of eyes of a user; and superimposing the second image on a fixed location of the panoramic image to form the combined image, thereby preventing the second image from moving together with the visual field.

Assignees

• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ho Chi-Hsun
• Lee Hsueh-Wen
• Wang Hui-Wen
• Hsin Yi-Te
• Kuo Chun-Yen

Classifications

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/698 Primary

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N5/2624 Primary

  for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title