US 2016/0105608 A1Published application

Panoramic View Imaging System

AssigneeIEC Infrared Systems, LLC

InventorsRichard Pettegrew, John Paximadis

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Abstract

Example apparatus and methods acquire individual images under a variety of different operating parameters. Example apparatus and methods then piece together strips of images from the individual images. Example apparatus and methods then produce a panoramic image from the strips of images. A strip of frames 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). Example apparatus and methods correct images using correction data that is related to the operating parameters.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A panoramic view imaging system (PVIS), comprising:

a visual light frame acquisition assembly comprising a lens and a sensor that produces a frame from light in a visible spectrum;
a rotational position controller that pans the visual light frame acquisition assembly through a range of horizontal imaging positions;
a rotational position encoder that produces data describing a rotational position at which light for the frame is acquired;
an elevation position controller that tilts the visual light frame acquisition assembly through a range of vertical imaging positions;
an elevation position encoder that produces data describing an elevation position at which light for the frame is acquired;
a zoom controller that changes the focal length of the visual light frame acquisition assembly;
and
an image processor that produces a panoramic image from a plurality of frames produced by the visual light frame acquisition assembly under varying operating parameters, where the panoramic image has a field of view greater in both a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension than a single frame acquired by the visual light frame acquisition assembly, and where the panoramic image is produced without using a hemispherical mirror or fisheye lens,
where the image processor produces a strip of frames from two or more frames acquired by the visual light frame acquisition assembly, where producing the strip of frames includes:
producing an initial positioning of the two or more frames based, at least in part, on information from the rotational position encoder or the elevation position encoder,
producing a refined positioning of the two or more frames based, at least in part, on pattern matching of an item visible in overlapping portions of the two or more frames, and
where the image processor produces the panoramic image from two or more strips of frames, where producing the panoramic image includes:
producing an initial position of the two or more strips of frames based, at least in part, on information from the rotational position encoder or the elevation position encoder, and
producing a refined positioning of the two or more strips of frames based, at least in part, on pattern matching of an item visible in the overlapping portions of the two or more strips of frames.

11 more elements

A panoramic imaging camera, comprising:

a first camera comprising a lens and a sensor that produces frames from electromagnetic radiation in a first spectrum;
a second camera comprising a lens and a sensor that produces frames from electromagnetic radiation in a second, different spectrum;
a positioning apparatus configured to pan and tilt the panoramic imaging camera and to provide data about a pan and tilt orientation associated with the panoramic imaging camera when a frame is acquired by the first camera or second camera;
a processor;
a memory;
a set of logics;
and
a hardware interface that connects the processor, the memory, the first camera, the second camera, and the set of logics;
the set of logics comprising:
a first logic that produces an individual frame from electromagnetic radiation acquired by the first camera or by the second camera;
a second logic that produces a strip of frames pieced together from a plurality of individual frames produced by the first logic;
and
a third logic that produces a panoramic image pieced together from two or more strips of frames produced by the second logic.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/865,621Filed 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