Generating gigapixel images

A system for generating a gigapixel image, comprising:

• a general purpose computing device;
• a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules to,
• input a plurality of captured images in raw pixel data format, wherein,
• each captured image depicts a different portion of a panoramic scene,
• captured images that depict adjacent portions of the panoramic scene overlap each other by a common prescribed amount, and
• the raw pixel data format comprises linear data values,
• de-mosaic the captured images,
• de-vignette the de-mosaiced images,
• compute white balance for the panoramic scene,
• convert the pixel data for the de-vignetted images from linear data values to radiance data values,
• analyze the converted images for the existence of multi-scale oriented patches (MOPS) features,
• generate true poses for the converted images using identified MOPS features,
• down-sample the converted images,
• use the down-sampled converted images and the true poses for the converted images to create a low resolution proxy composite of the panoramic scene,
• use the proxy composite to,
• adjust exposure of the converted images, resulting in a set of adjusted exposure parameters for the converted images, and
• select seams between the converted images and compute a full resolution labeling for each converted image of which pixels, residing in portions of the image that overlap other images, to use in creating the gigapixel image, and
• generate a seamless, tiled, high dynamic range, full resolution, composite gigapixel image that depicts the entire panoramic scene from,
• the converted images,
• the true poses for the converted images,
• the set of adjusted exposure parameters for the converted images,
• the full resolution labeling for each converted image,
• a prescribed output mapping for a desired field of view perspective, and
• a prescribed tile size.

A system for capturing a set of images depicting a panoramic scene, comprising:

• a programmable motorized head;
• a digital camera movably attached to the motorized head;
• a long telephoto lens rigidly attached to the camera;
• and
• wherein,
• the panoramic scene has a field of view comprising one of an perspective projection, a cylindrical projection, or a spherical projection,
• the camera's aperture is set to a prescribed value which is based on the lens' modulation transfer function and a desired depth of field,
• the camera's shutter speed is set by the camera's auto-exposure,
• the head is programmed to control the camera's position, wherein,
• the head pans the camera about a vertical axis in prescribed increments and simultaneously tilts the camera about a horizontal axis in prescribed increments in order to individually capture the set of images,
• the range of both panning and tilting is up to 360 degrees,
• each image depicts a different portion of the panoramic scene,
• the images are captured in vertical scan-line order at a plurality of exposures, and
• particular images that depict adjacent portions of the panoramic scene overlap each other by a common amount which is prescribed based on the pan and tilt positioning tolerances of the head.