Image displaying apparatus

• US 20010022858A1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Takeshi, Komiya, Yasuhiro, Iba, Yoichi, Wang, Kangda, Nagasaki, Tatsuo, Sawaki, Ryoichi
• Application Number:
  US09/740,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/274
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19505 Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19515 in two directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19584 Combination of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3876 Recombination of partial images to recreate the original image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/048 having several pick-up sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/15 Image signal generation with circuitry for avoiding or correcting image misregistration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, in which an object image focused by a lens is split into a plurality of images by means of a light splitting section. These images are converted into image data items by a plurality of imaging devices which are arranged with their imaging area overlapping in part. The image data items are stored temporarily in an image storing section. A displacement detecting section detects displacement coefficients (rotation angle R and parallel displacement S) from the image signals representing the mutual overlap region of two images which are to be combined and which are represented by two image data items read from the image storing section. The position of any specified pixel of the image displayed is identified by the pixel signal generated by the corresponding pixel of any imaging device. An interpolation section performs interpolation on the pixel values of the imaging device, thereby correcting the values of the other pixels of the image displayed and ultimately generating interpolated image signals. The interpolated image signals are combined with the image signals produced by the imaging device, whereby a display section displays a high-resolution image.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus for displaying a continuous image by using a plurality of image signals which correspond to a plurality of images having an overlapping area, comprising:

a plurality of displaying means for displaying the images corresponding to the plurality of image signals;

interpolation arithmetic means for correcting a geometric displacement between the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means; and

brightness correcting means for correcting brightness of the overlapping area of the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means,

wherein when displaying the images, said plurality of displaying means use the plurality of image signals which are subjected to displacement correction of said interpolation arithmetic means and brightness correction of said brightness correcting means.

2. The image displaying apparatus according to

claim 1

, which further comprises image picking-up means for picking up the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means, and wherein the interpolation arithmetic means detects a positional relationship between the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means based on the images picked-up by said image picking-up means, and corrects the displacement between the images obtained by said plurality of displaying means by using a correction coefficient calculated from the positional relationship.

3. The image displaying apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the image picking-up means picks up the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means by partially using an optical system of said plurality of displaying means.

4. The image displaying apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the image picking-up means is a camera specific for use in detection of displacement, which is provided separate from the image displaying apparatus.

5. The image displaying apparatus according to

claim 2

, which further comprises (i) a frame memory for storing a total image signal as total image data, which corresponds to a total image required to be displayed by said plurality of displaying means, and (ii) a plurality of image memories for storing image signals as image data which respectively correspond to the images to be displayed by said plurality of displaying means, and

wherein divided image signals are stored as divided image data in said plurality of image memories, after the divided image signals are read out from the frame memory storing the total image signal, on the basis of a positional relationship between the images displayed by said plurality of displaying means, the positional relationship being determined based on the images picked-up by said image picking-up means.