Apparatus and method for capturing images

• US 10,009,541 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jayaram, Sankar, Buchholtz, Brett, DeChenne, Charles, Harrison, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Haque, Md
• Application Number:
  US14/521,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for capturing images including a base, and image capture adjustment mechanism, a first camera, and a second camera. The base is constructed and arranged to support an alignable array of cameras. The image capture adjustment mechanism is disposed relative to the base for adjusting an image capture line of sight for a camera relative to the base. The first camera is carried by the base, operably coupled with the image capture adjustment mechanism, and has an image capture device. The first camera has a line of sight defining a first field of view adjustable with the image capture adjustment mechanism relative to the base. The second camera is carried by the base and has an image capture device. The second camera has a line of sight defining a second field of view extending beyond a range of the field of view for the first camera in order to produce a field of view that is greater than the field of view provided by the first camera. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing images, comprising:

an array of stereoscopic pairs of video capture devices including a first stereoscopic image capture device positioned to capture a first sequence of stereoscopic images from a first field of view; and

a second stereoscopic image capture device having an image capture alignment mechanism configured to adjust alignment of the second stereoscopic image capture device to capture a second stereoscopic sequence of images from a second field of view at least in part contiguous and aligned at an image segment level with the first field of view so as to align an image segment in the first field of view;

a securing mechanism configured to lock the positioned first image capture device relative to the positioned second image capture device; and

image processing logic to join together the first stereoscopic sequence of images and the second stereoscopic sequence of images with seaming and warping techniques to produce a field of view that is greater than the first field of view and the second field of view.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base configured to support the first stereoscopic image capture device and the second stereoscopic image capture device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first stereoscopic image capture device and the second stereoscopic image capture device each comprise a charge coupled device and the image capture alignment mechanism of the second stereoscopic image capture device is configured to align capture of an image on the charge coupled device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture alignment mechanism is configured to adjust position of the second stereoscopic image capture device relative to the first stereoscopic image capture device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture alignment mechanism comprises an image capture adjustment mechanism configured to physically adjust positioning of the second stereoscopic image capture device relative to the first stereoscopic image capture device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second stereoscopic image capture device is provided by a camera having a charge coupled device and the image capture alignment mechanism comprises an image capture adjustment mechanism configured to physically adjust a position of the camera relative to the first stereoscopic image capture device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first stereoscopic image capture device is provided by another camera having a charge coupled device and a second image capture adjustment mechanism is provided and configured to physically adjust position of the camera relative to the second image capture device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises at least one articulating support surface configured to support the second stereoscopic image capture device and a coupling surface fixable and releasable to enable articulation of the support surface relative to a degree of freedom and fix the support surface about the degree of freedom, respectively.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the degree of freedom comprises one of translation and rotation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the degree of freedom results from one of pitch, yaw and roll of the support surface when released by the coupling surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seaming and warping techniques include cropping of the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images and warping the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images along a straight line.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seaming and warping techniques include processing each scan line or group of scan lines in the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images using pattern recognition techniques to determine a non-linear scan line merging/warping.

2. A method for capturing images, comprising:

providing an array of stereoscopic pairs of video capture devices including a first stereoscopic camera to capture a first sequence of images from a first field of view; and

a second stereoscopic camera having an image capture alignment mechanism configured to adjust alignment of a second field of view of a second sequence of images captured by an image capture mechanism of the second stereoscopic camera at least in part contiguous with the first field of view for the first camera to align an image segment in the first field of view in adjoining relation with an image segment in the second field of view;

securing the image capture alignment mechanism of the second camera in fixed positional relation relative to the first camera to retain alignment of the image segment in the first field of view in adjoining relation with the image segment in the second field of view;

joining together the first sequence of images and the second sequence of images with seaming and warping techniques to produce a field of view that is greater than the first field of view and the second field of view.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the image capture alignment mechanism of the second camera comprises an image capture adjustment mechanism, and securing comprises rendering the image capture adjustment mechanism immovable.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising a securing mechanism associated with the image capture alignment mechanism, and securing comprises fixing position of the securing mechanism after the image capture mechanism of the second camera is aligned.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, prior to securing, releasing position of the securing mechanism to enable articulation of the image capture alignment mechanism.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein the seaming and warping techniques include cropping of the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images and warping the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images along a straight line.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein the seaming and warping techniques include processing each scan line or group of scan lines in the first and second stereoscopic sequence of images using pattern recognition techniques to determine a non-linear scan line merging/warping.