Image capturing device and panoramic image creation method

A panoramic image creation method executed by an image capturing device for capturing an image at an angle of view of 360 degrees in a horizontal direction, the image capturing device including a plurality of lenses having an optical axis in the horizontal direction, and an upper hood to shield incidence of light on the plurality of lenses from directly above, the upper hood limiting an incident angle of light to an angle greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 67 degrees, the incident angle being defined by a direction in which light from above is incident on each of the plurality of lenses at a maximum angle and the optical axis of the plurality of lenses, the panoramic image creation method comprising:

• generating an image that covers an angle greater than 180 degrees in the horizontal direction using a plurality of imaging elements each corresponding to one of the plurality of lenses, the plurality of imaging elements including a first imaging element and a second imaging element;
• performing pattern matching on an edge portion of a first image generated by the second imaging element using an edge portion of a second image generated by the first imaging element to identify stitching portions of the first image and the second image having a highest similarity;
• and
• stitching the first image and the second image in the stitching portions to create a panoramic image that covers 360 degrees in the horizontal direction,
• wherein the upper hood has a shape, as viewed from above, such that the incident angle in a lens end direction is smaller than the incident angle in an optical axis direction, and
• a ratio of the incident angle in the lens end direction to the incident angle in the optical axis direction is less than or equal to 2.

An image capturing device for capturing an image at an angle of view of 360 degrees in a horizontal direction, the image capturing device comprising:

• a plurality of lenses having an optical axis in the horizontal direction;
• and
• an upper hood to shield incidence of light on the plurality of lenses from above, wherein
• the upper hood limits an incident angle of light to an angle greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than or equal to 67 degrees, the incident angle being defined by a direction in which light from above is incident on each of the plurality of lenses at a maximum angle and the optical axis of the plurality of lenses,
• the upper hood includes an upper hood protrusion along an outer edge of the upper hood, and
• the upper hood has a side surface with a stepped shape from the upper hood protrusion to the plurality of lenses.

A meeting device used for conducting a remote conference, the meeting device comprising:

• an imaging device having an optical axis directed in opposite directions with respect to a horizontal direction, the imaging device having at least two lenses, each lens of the at least two lenses having an angle of view of 180 degrees or more and capable of imaging at an angle of view of 360 degrees in the horizontal direction;
• a protrusion portion disposed above the at least two lenses and projecting outward from a position of upper surfaces of the at least two lenses;
• and
• a body portion disposed under the imaging device and having a microphone and a speaker,
• wherein
• the protrusion portion has a circular shape when viewed from above, and
• the imaging device has at least two recesses in a circumferential direction of the protrusion portion in the horizontal direction, and
• the at least two lenses are disposed in corresponding recesses of the at least two recesses, respectively, and
• wherein the protrusion portion has a shape, as viewed from above, such that an incident angle of light in a lens end direction is smaller than the incident angle in an optical axis direction, and
• a ratio of the incident angle in the lens end direction to the incident angle in the optical axis direction is less than or equal to 2.