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US 8,077,213 B2Granted
Methods for capturing a sequence of images and related devices
AssigneeSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
InventorJohan Gulliksson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sequence of images is captured by an imaging device and stored in a digital format. After having captured and stored at least one image, a user is guided to move the device so that an image that can be stitched to the stored image can be captured. Positional information indicating the current orientation of the device is provided; positional information indicating the orientation of the device at the time of capturing each captured image is stored; and the current positional information and the positional information stored for the stored image is utilized for guiding the user to move the device to an orientation where an image that can be stitched to the stored image can be captured.
Claims26
A method of capturing a sequence of images by an imaging device and storing said images in a digital format, the method comprising:
- guiding, after having captured and stored at least one image, a user to move the imaging device so that an image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured;
- providing current positional information indicating a current orientation and position of the imaging device;
- storing, for each captured and stored image, positional information indicating an orientation and position of the imaging device at a time of capturing a corresponding image;
- utilizing the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to guide the user to move the imaging device to an orientation such that the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured;
- automatically controlling a current zoom factor to adjust a zoom setting of a lens of the imaging device based on a comparison of the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image;
- and
- automatically capturing the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image in response to automatically controlling the current zoom factor,
- wherein automatically controlling the current zoom factor further comprises:
- automatically controlling the current zoom factor based on the current positional information, a stored zoom factor stored at the time of capturing said at least one captured and stored image, and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to compensate for a difference in distance between the imaging device and a subject of the image to be stitched relative to that of said at least one captured and stored image, and
- wherein the difference in distance between the imaging device and a subject of the image to be stitched relative to that of said at least one captured and stored image is determined using a distance meter.
7 more elements
An imaging device for capturing a sequence of images, said device comprising:
- storing means for storing images in a digital format;
- and
- guiding means for guiding a user, when at least one image has been captured and stored, to move the imaging device so that an image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured;
- means for providing current positional information indicating a current orientation and position of the imaging device;
- means for storing, for each captured and stored image, positional information indicating an orientation and position of the imaging device at a time of capturing a corresponding image;
- means for utilizing the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to guide the user to move the imaging device to an orientation such that the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image can be captured;
- means for automatically controlling a current zoom factor to adjust a zoom setting of a lens of the imaging device based on a comparison of the current positional information and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image;
- and
- means for automatically capturing the image that is configured to be stitched to said at least one captured and stored image in response to automatically controlling the current zoom factor,
- wherein the device includes a distance meter that determines a difference in distance between the imaging device and a subject of the image to he stitched relative to that of said at least one captured and stored image, and
- wherein the device is further configured to automatically control the current zoom factor based on the current positional information, a stored zoom factor stored at the time of capturing said at least one captured and stored image, and the stored positional information for said at least one captured and stored image to compensate for the difference in distance between the imaging device and the subject of the image to be stitched relative to that of said at least captured and stored one image.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.