Environmental imaging apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Image capturing apparatus comprising a plurality of image capture devices at spaced-apart intervals along a plurality of routes, selection apparatus for selecting a navigation path comprising at least a portion of one or more of said routes, and an image processor for sequentially combining one or more image frames from each of a plurality of said image capture devices located along said selected navigation path to produce an image sequence which, when viewed at a suitable rate, simulates motion along said selected navigation path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Image capturing apparatus comprises plural image capture devices at spaced-apart intervals along plural routes. A selector selects a navigation path including at least a portion of one or more of the routes. An image processor sequentially combines one or more image frames from each of a plurality of the image capture devices to produce an image sequence which, when viewed at a suitable rate, simulates motion along said selected navigation path. A method for producing an image sequence which, when viewed at a suitable rate, simulates motion along a selected navigation path is also provided.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. Image capturing apparatus comprising a plurality of image capture devices at spaced-apart intervals along a plurality of routes, selection apparatus for selecting a navigation path comprising at least a portion of one or more of said routes, and an image processor for sequentially combining one or more image frames from each of a plurality of said image capture devices located along said selected navigation path to produce an image sequence which, when viewed at a suitable rate, simulates motion along said selected navigation path.
- 2. Navigation apparatus comprising a plurality of cameras at spaced-apart intervals along a network of routes, at least one of said routes branching from, joining to or crossing one of the other routes in said network such that said network includes one or more junctions, selection apparatus for selecting a navigation path within said network, said navigation path comprising a plurality of routes, said selection apparatus being arranged to enable a user to select one of a plurality of possible routes at said one or more junctions, image processing apparatus for sequentially combining one or more image frames from each of a plurality of said cameras located along a selected navigation path to produce an image sequence, and a display for displaying said image sequence to simulate substantially continuous motion along the selected navigation path.
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14. Route planning apparatus comprising image processing apparatus for receiving image frames from a plurality of cameras located at spaced-apart intervals along one or more routes, and selection apparatus for selecting one of said routes or a portion of one of said routes on which a user intends to travel, the image processing apparatus being arranged to combine image frames from cameras located along the selected route or portion of a route to produce an image sequence, the apparatus further comprising a display for displaying said image sequence such that conditions on said route or said portion of a route can be determined prior to said user travelling thereon.
- 21. A method for producing an image sequence which, when viewed at a suitable rate, simulates motion along a selected navigation path, the method comprising the steps of capturing a plurality of images at spaced-apart intervals along a plurality of routes, selecting a navigation path including at least a portion of one or more of said routes, and sequentially combining one or more of the captured image frames located along said navigation path to produce said image sequence.
Specification