Photography – Plural image recording
Utility Patent
1999-07-26
2001-01-02
Lee, Eddie C. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Plural image recording
C396S429000, C396S281000, C396S661000
Utility Patent
active
06169858
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of photographic image capture, and in particular to the capture of panoramic images.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Full 360 degree panoramic images are a means of producing visual content for a wide variety of applications, including virtual reality. There are a large number of methods to produce such images and the capability has been available for many years. The images have typically been acquired by expensive and specialized camera systems like the RoundShot 35 or 35S by Seitz. With the widespread use and availability of digital imaging techniques, the requirement for specialized cameras has been reduced and panoramic images can be composed from a collection of standard images. Instead of a camera which captures a panoramic image directly as a single image, a collection of standard images are captured and recorded and they are later digitally combined into a panoramic image. The distinguishing feature of the collection of standard images is that each image is one of a series of images each recorded with the camera pointing in a different horizontal direction.
The collection of images does have some constraints, such as the successive images need to have overlapping fields of view and should be parallel to the ground plane. Another, but less critical feature is for the camera to be rotated about the rear nodal point of the camera. This is known to give the best results (see S. Ray,
Applied Photographic Optics, Lenses and Optical Systems for Photography, film, video and Electronic Imaging
, The Bath Press, Avon, England, 1994, p. 42, and 460-462). However, for images recorded at infinity this restriction can be relaxed. In order to have all these conditions met, there are customized products available to assist the photographer. Included among these is the Interactive Imaging Solutions Kit from Eastman Kodak Company. This kit comes with a camera mount having calibrated click stops every 22.5 degrees and a fitting for a Kodak DC-260 digital camera to assure the rotation axis is at the rear nodal point of the camera. The camera mount is attached to a tripod to assure the images are all parallel to the ground plane.
With the images either scanned or originally captured in digital form, the merging of these images is typically done through a class of algorithms commonly referred to as image stitchers. Examples of such stitchers are QuickTime VR from Apple Computer (also see U.S. Pat. 5,396,583, entitled “Cylindrical to planar image mapping using scanline coherence”, issued Mar. 7, 1995 in the name of S. E. Chen and G. S. P. Miller), and PhotoVista from Live Picture. The merged and stitched result is a digital panoramic image.
However, it is desirable to be able to capture panoramic images using a standard, inexpensive consumer camera. One of the difficulties confronting a photographer is that successive images used to build the panoramic image require sufficient overlap for the “stitching” algorithm to work properly. In general, more images with a higher portion of overlap are desirable. However, in order to be efficient and reduce cost to the photographer, a minimum number of shots are desirable. For a hand-held system, the photographer has to remember the orientation of the previous shot and then rotate himself and the camera a number of degrees for the successive shot. Knowing the proper angle can be difficult if not aided by some external device. In general, a minimum of 12 images with a typical field of view is required to get an acceptable result, with 16 images being preferred. In this case, the angular differences between successive images should be as regular as possible.
What is needed is an inexpensive positioning aid for a photographer attempting to create a panoramic image. The aid would provide the photographer with a reference to capture an adequate number of images, each with adequate overlap with neighboring images for an acceptable result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a panoramic image capture aid is formed in a photographic camera to assist a photographer in recording a series of film images that can be combined to form a panoramic image. The capture aid includes a viewing window on the camera, a first stripe indicator coupled to a film advance mechanism for moving with each film advance, and a second stripe indicator coupled to a compass for indicating the direction the camera is pointing. The first and second stripe indicators are supported in the camera relative to the viewing window such that their stripes intersect in the viewing window when the camera is properly positioned for the next image in the series of images.
By combining a film frame indicator and a compass to establish the positioning information, the invention makes for an inexpensive positioning aid for a photographer attempting to create a panoramic image. The aid provides the photographer a reference to capture an adequate number of images, each with adequate overlap with neighboring images for an acceptable result.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3240140 (1966-03-01), Hearon et al.
patent: 3620148 (1971-11-01), Rocco et al.
patent: 5259584 (1993-11-01), Wainwright
patent: 5396583 (1995-03-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5950018 (1999-09-01), Keller
“Super 220 VR”—QuickTime VR from Apple Computer no date.
“Interactive Imaging System” from Eastern Kodak Company, http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/hub/interactiveI.../interactiveImaging Index.shtm no date.
“Applied Photographic Optics: Lenses and optical systems for photography, film video and electronic imaging”, by Sidney F. Ray, 2ndedition, The Bath Proess, Avon, England, 1994, p. 42, and 460-462. no date.
“Roundshot 35/35S” by Seitz, http://www.roundshot/ch/produkte/35e.html no date.
Eastman Kodak Company
Lee Eddie C.
Woods David M.
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