IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR INTERPOLATING AND GENERATING IMAGES FROM AN ARBITRARY VIEW POINT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of generating an interpolated image at a user viewpoint position different from first and second viewpoint positions on the basis of first and second images obtained at the first and second viewpoint positions, comprising:
- the first correcting step of correcting the first and second images about the first and second viewpoint positions, respectively, such that optical axes of cameras which respectively sensed the first and second images coincide with a first direction substantially coinciding with a direction of a base line connecting the first and second viewpoint positions;
the first coordinate interpolation step of calculating coordinates of a corresponding point of an interpolated image having the first direction as a line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position by performing nonlinear proportional distribution for coordinates of a first corresponding point in the first image with respect to a predetermined feature point and coordinates of a second corresponding point in the second image with respect to the feature point; and
the second rotation step of rotating the interpolated image from the first direction to the line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position, and outputting the image after correction as an interpolated image.
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Abstract
There is provided a method of generating an interpolated image without any constraint even in a wide moving range. When two real images have an inclusive relationship, the two images are rotated to make their optical axes coincide with each other. Nonlinear interpolation processing is performed for the two images after the rotations, and the interpolated image is rotated in the line of sight direction of a user.
114 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A method of generating an interpolated image at a user viewpoint position different from first and second viewpoint positions on the basis of first and second images obtained at the first and second viewpoint positions, comprising:
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the first correcting step of correcting the first and second images about the first and second viewpoint positions, respectively, such that optical axes of cameras which respectively sensed the first and second images coincide with a first direction substantially coinciding with a direction of a base line connecting the first and second viewpoint positions;
the first coordinate interpolation step of calculating coordinates of a corresponding point of an interpolated image having the first direction as a line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position by performing nonlinear proportional distribution for coordinates of a first corresponding point in the first image with respect to a predetermined feature point and coordinates of a second corresponding point in the second image with respect to the feature point; and
the second rotation step of rotating the interpolated image from the first direction to the line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position, and outputting the image after correction as an interpolated image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 34)
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10. A method of generating an interpolated image at a user viewpoint position different from first, second, and third viewpoint positions on the basis of first, second, and third images respectively obtained at the first, second, and third viewpoint positions, comprising:
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the determination step of determining whether any two of the first to third images have an inclusive relationship;
internal ratio calculation step of obtaining first and second internal ratios on the basis of a relationship between the user viewpoint position and the first to third viewpoint positions;
the first coordinate interpolation step of performing nonlinear proportional distribution processing for two arbitrary images having viewpoint positions having an inclusive relationship to interpolate/generate a temporary virtual image having a base line direction as a line of sight direction at an internal dividing point position between the two viewpoint positions;
the second coordinate interpolation step of performing linear proportional distribution processing for two arbitrary images having viewpoint positions having no inclusive relationship to interpolate/generate a temporary virtual image having a line of sight direction perpendicular to the base line direction at an internal dividing point position between the two viewpoint positions;
the first image interpolation step of generating a temporary virtual image at an internal dividing point position corresponding to the first internal ratio by performing one of first morphing processing and second morphing processing for the first and second images by using the first internal ratio depending on whether the first and second images have an inclusive relationship;
the second image interpolation step of generating an interpolated image at the user viewpoint position corresponding to the second internal ratio by performing one of the first morphing processing and second morphing processing for the temporary virtual image and third image by using the second internal ratio depending on whether the temporary virtual image and third image have an inclusive relationship; and
the rotation step of rotating the interpolated image, obtained in the second image interpolation step, in a line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position, and outputting the image after rotation as an interpolated image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An image processing apparatus comprising:
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an image database storing a plurality of images together with pieces of viewpoint position information corresponding thereto in advance;
means for detecting both a line of sight direction and viewpoint position of a user;
means for searching said image database for the first to third images including corresponding points in the line of sight direction of the user;
determination means for determining whether any two of the first to third images have an inclusive relationship;
internal ratio calculation means for obtaining first and second internal ratios on the basis of a relationship between the user viewpoint position and the first to third viewpoint positions;
first coordinate interpolation means for performing nonlinear proportional distribution processing for two arbitrary images having viewpoint positions having an inclusive relationship to interpolate/generate a temporary virtual image having a base line direction as a line of sight direction at an internal dividing point position between the two viewpoint positions;
second coordinate interpolation means for performing linear proportional distribution processing for two arbitrary images having viewpoint positions having no inclusive relationship to interpolate/generate a temporary virtual image having a line of sight direction perpendicular to the base line direction at an internal dividing point position between the two viewpoint positions;
first image interpolation means for generating a temporary virtual image at an internal dividing point position corresponding to the first internal ratio by performing one of first morphing processing and second morphing processing for the first and second images by using the first internal ratio depending on whether the first and second images have an inclusive relationship;
second image interpolation means for generating an interpolated image at the user viewpoint position corresponding to the second internal ratio by performing one of the first morphing processing and second morphing processing for the temporary virtual image and third image by using the second internal ratio depending on whether the temporary virtual image and third image have an inclusive relationship; and
rotation means for rotating the interpolated image, obtained in the second image interpolation step, in a line of sight direction at the user viewpoint position, and outputting the image after rotation as an interpolated image. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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35. An image processing apparatus for generating a morphed image by processing first and second images respectively obtained by sensing an object at first and second viewpoint positions, comprising:
segmentation means for segmenting the first image into a plurality of first partial images in accordance with a plurality of depths from the first viewpoint position, and also segmenting the second image into a plurality of second partial images in accordance with a plurality of depths from the second viewpoint position.
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49. An image processing method of generating a morphed image by processing first and second images respectively obtained by sensing an object at first and second viewpoint positions to obtain a morphed image comprising:
the segmentation step of segmenting the first image into a plurality of first partial images in accordance with a plurality of depths from the first viewpoint position, and also segmenting the second image into a plurality of second partial images in accordance with a plurality of depths from the second viewpoint position.
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64. An image processing apparatus for interpolating a plurality of images sensed at a plurality of different positions to generate an image at a viewpoint position different from the plurality of positions comprising:
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discrimination means for discriminating presence/absence of an inclusive relationship, in which one image is included in the other image, between the plurality of images; and
image processing means for interpolating the plurality of images on the basis of a discrimination result obtained by said discrimination means, wherein said image processing means is designed to use different interpolation methods depending on whether said discrimination means discriminates the presence or absence of an inclusive relationship between the plurality of images. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71)
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68. An image processing method of interpolating a plurality of images sensed at a plurality of different positions to generate an image at a viewpoint position different from the plurality of positions, comprising:
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the discrimination step of discriminating presence/absence of an inclusive relationship, in which one image is included in the other image, between the plurality of images; and
the image processing step of interpolating the plurality of images on the basis of a discrimination result obtained in the discrimination step, wherein the image processing step comprises using different interpolation methods depending on whether the presence or absence of an inclusive relationship between the plurality of images is discriminated in the discrimination step.
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Specification