US 2016/0104285 A1Published application

Calibrating Panoramic Imaging System In Multiple Dimensions

AssigneeIEC Infrared Systems, LLC

InventorsRichard Pettegrew, John Paximadis

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Abstract

Example apparatus and methods produce image correction data for a lens or sensor based on individual images acquired under different operating parameters. Example apparatus and methods then produce strip correction data based on a strip of images pieced together from the individual images. Example apparatus and methods then produce panoramic image correction data based on a panoramic image pieced together from two or more strips of images. The strip of images is produced without using a hemispherical mirror and thus accounts more accurately for issues associated with making a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional spherical volume. Images are acquired using different imaging parameters (e.g., focal length, pan position, tilt position) under different imaging conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, pan rate, tilt rate) to account for aberrations that may appear or be exacerbated under operating conditions. Example apparatus and methods then correct images using the correction data.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A panoramic view imaging system, comprising:

a first image acquisition assembly comprising a first lens and a first sensor that produce a first image from light in a visible spectrum, where the first image acquisition assembly produces first images at a rate of at least sixty images per second;
a rotational position controller that pans the first image acquisition assembly through a range of horizontal imaging positions;
an elevation position controller that tilts the first image acquisition assembly through a range of vertical imaging positions;
a zoom controller that changes the focal length of the first image acquisition assembly;
an image processor that produces a panoramic image from a plurality of images produced by the first image acquisition assembly, where the panoramic image has a field of view greater in both a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension than a single image acquired by the first image acquisition assembly, and where the panoramic image is produced without using a hemispherical mirror;
and
a calibration processor that calibrates the panoramic view imaging system by:
calibrating the first lens with a pre-characterized sensor;
calibrating the first sensor with a pre-characterized lens;
calibrating the first lens and the first sensor arranged together in the first image acquisition assembly;
or
calibrating the first image acquisition assembly mounted in the panoramic view imaging system,
where calibrating the panoramic view imaging system facilitates mitigating an effect of an aberration in the first lens or an aberration in the first sensor.

10 more elements

An apparatus for calibrating a panoramic imaging system, comprising:

a processor;
a memory;
a set of logics;
and
a hardware interface that connects the processor, the memory, and the set of logics;
the set of logics comprising:
a first logic that produces image correction data for a lens associated with the panoramic imaging system or a sensor associated with the lens and the panoramic imaging system, where the image correction data is based on an error identified in an individual image acquired by the lens or sensor, where the individual image was acquired with a plurality of pre-determined operating parameters;
a second logic that produces strip correction data for the lens or sensor, where the strip correction data is based on an error identified in a strip of images pieced together from a plurality of individual images acquired by the lens or sensor;
a third logic that produces panoramic image correction data for the lens or sensor, where the panoramic image correction data is based on an error identified in a panoramic image pieced together from two or more strips of images processed by the second logic;
and
a fourth logic that stores, in the memory, the image correction data, the strip correction data, the panoramic image correction data, or a combined correction value computed from the image correction data, the strip correction data, and the panoramic image data, and data that relates the pre-determined operating parameters to the image correction data, the strip correction data, the panoramic image correction data, or the combined correction value,
where the pre-determined operating parameters include horizontal position, vertical position, target grid co-ordinates, roll, pitch, yaw, field of view, focal length, depth of field, light intensity, angle of light, volume of field, volume of light, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, pan rate, tilt rate, change in pan rate, or change in tilt rate.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/865,483Filed 25 Sep 2015
Priority: 10 Oct 2014
Published: 14 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification32 codes

H04N 23/698
Control of cameras or camera modules: for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
G01C 3/08
Use of electric means to obtain final indication: use of electric radiation detectors
G01S 7/4808
Of systems according to group G01S17/00: evaluating distance, position or velocity data
G01S 17/42
Systems determining position data of a target: simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates