Digital 3D/360 degree camera system
OwnerLeonard P. Steuart, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The digital 3D/360° camera system is an omnidirectional stereoscopic device for capturing image data that may be used to create a 3-dimensional model for presenting a 3D image, a 3D movie, or 3D animation. The device uses multiple digital cameras, arranged with overlapping fields of view, to capture image data covering an entire 360° scene. The data collected by one, or several, digital 3D/360° camera systems can be used to create a 3D model of a 360° scene by using triangulation of the image data within the overlapping fields of view.
Claims16
A method for exporting digital images in a digital camera system comprising a plurality of digital cameras, the method comprising:
- storing digital image data and embedded metadata in an electronic file;
- generating, based on a calibration process that exposes pixels of the plurality of digital cameras to distinct coordinate points, a pixel vector map, wherein the pixel vector map includes a collection of data that identifies a geometry of each of the plurality digital cameras in the digital camera system;
- storing, based on the generated pixel vector map, pixel vector map data in the electronic file, wherein the file includes pixel vector map data describing the digital camera system;
- and
- exporting the file via a communication interface to an external device, wherein the exporting includes delivering the image data and the pixel vector map data for processing, and wherein the exporting is based on a request received by the digital camera system from an external processing system and a determination that no more images are to be captured.
A digital camera system, comprising:
- a camera housing;
- a plurality of digital cameras having overlapping fields of view rigidly mounted to the housing;
- and
- a controller in communication with the plurality of digital cameras, the controller configured to:
- store digital image data and embedded metadata in an electronic file;
- generate, based on a calibration process that exposes pixels of the plurality of digital cameras to distinct coordinate points, a pixel vector map, wherein the pixel vector map includes a collection of data that identifies a geometry of each of the plurality digital cameras in the digital camera system;
- store, based on the generated pixel vector map, pixel vector map data in the electronic file, wherein the file includes pixel vector map data describing the digital camera system;
- and
- export the file via a communication interface to an external device, wherein the exporting includes delivering the image data and the pixel vector map data for processing, and wherein the exporting is based on a request received by the digital camera system from an external processing system and a determination that no more images are to be captured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.