PRODUCING PANORAMIC DIGITAL IMAGES BY DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. Method of producing a panoramic digital image, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) mounting the digital camera on a stand;
(c) rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to capture the series of overlapping digital images;
(d) storing the series of overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image in a predetermined location in the memory means; and
(e) automatically stitching the series of stored overlapping digital images together to produce the panoramic digital image.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panoramic digital image is produced by providing a digital camera having a memory and which is operable in a first mode for producing individual still digital images, and in a second mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image. The digital camera is mounted on a stand, rotated on the stand through a series of predetermined positions, and operated in the second mode to capture the series of overlapping digital images. The series of overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image is stored in a predetermined location in the memory, and processed to stitch such images together to produce the panoramic digital image.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. Method of producing a panoramic digital image, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) mounting the digital camera on a stand;
(c) rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to capture the series of overlapping digital images;
(d) storing the series of overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image in a predetermined location in the memory means; and
(e) automatically stitching the series of stored overlapping digital images together to produce the panoramic digital image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Digital camera system for capturing a panoramic digital image, comprising:
-
(a) a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) a stand for mounting the digital camera;
(c) means for rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to produce the series of overlapping digital images; and
(d) means for storing the series of overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image in a predetermined location in the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. Method of producing a panoramic digital image, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image, and fixing the white balance and exposure parameters of the digital camera in the panoramic mode when capturing the digital images in the series of overlapping digital images;
(b) mounting the digital camera on a tripod;
(c) rotating the digital camera on the tripod through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to capture the series of overlapping white balanced and exposure fixed digital images;
(d) storing the series of overlapping white balance and exposure fixed digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image in a predetermined location in the memory means; and
(e) automatically stitching the series of stored overlapping white balanced and exposure fixed digital images together to produce the panoramic digital image. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. Digital camera system for capturing a panoramic digital image, comprising:
-
(a) a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image, and means for fixing the white balance and exposure parameters of the digital camera in the panoramic mode when capturing the digital images in the series of overlapping digital images;
(b) a stand for mounting the digital camera;
(c) means for rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to produce the series of overlapping white balanced and exposure fixed digital images; and
(d) means for storing the series of white balance and exposure fixed overlapping digital images corresponding to the panoramic digital image in a predetermined location in the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. Method of producing panoramic digital images, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a digital camera having memory means and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) mounting the digital camera on a stand;
(c) rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to produce series of overlapping digital images;
(d) selecting storage locations corresponding to a folder for each series of overlapping digital images and storing each series of overlapping digital images in the selected storage locations in the memory means; and
(e) selecting a desired folder corresponding to a desired panoramic digital image and automatically stitching the series of stored overlapping digital images in the desired folder together to produce the panoramic digital image.
-
-
21. Method of producing panoramic digital images, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a digital camera having a removable memory card and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) mounting the digital camera on a stand;
(c) rotating the digital camera on the stand through a series of predetermined positions and operating the digital camera in the panoramic mode to produce series of overlapping digital images;
(d) selecting storage locations corresponding to a folder for each series of overlapping digital images and storing each series of overlapping digital images in the selected storage locations in the removable memory card;
(e) removing the memory card from the digital camera and inserting it into a host computer; and
(f) selecting on the host computer, a desired folder corresponding to a desired panoramic digital image and stitching the series of stored overlapping digital together to produce the panoramic digital image.
-
-
22. System for capturing and producing a panoramic digital image, comprising:
-
(a) a digital camera having a removable memory card and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image;
(b) a stand for mounting the digital camera and including means for rotating the digital camera through a series of predetermined positions when the digital camera is operating in the panoramic mode to produce a series of overlapping digital images;
(d) means for selecting a storage location corresponding to a folder for the series of overlapping digital images and for storing the series of overlapping digital images in the selected storage location in the removable memory card; and
(e) a host computer having an interface for receiving the removable memory card and including means for processing the series of stored digital images in a desired folder and for stitching such images together to produce the panoramic digital image. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
-
24. System for capturing and producing a panoramic digital image, comprising:
-
(a) a digital camera having a removable memory card and being operable in a panoramic mode for capturing a series of overlapping digital images to be used in constructing the panoramic digital image, and means for fixing the white balance and exposure parameters of the digital camera in the panoramic mode after the capture of the first image in the series to be used when capturing subsequent digital images in the series of overlapping digital images;
(b) a stand for mounting the digital camera and including means for rotating the digital camera through a series of predetermined positions when the digital camera is operating in the panoramic mode to produce a series of overlapping digital images;
(d) means for selecting a storage location corresponding to a folder for the series of overlapping digital images and for storing the series of overlapping digital images in the selected storage location in the removable memory card; and
(e) a host computer having an interface for receiving the removable memory card and including means for automatically stitching the series of stored white balance and exposure fixed digital images in a desired folder together to produce the panoramic digital image.
-
-
25. A digital camera, comprising:
-
(a) an image sensor for capturing an image and for producing an analog signal representative of the captured image;
(b) a lens for controlling light focused on the image sensor;
(c) an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the analog signal from the image sensor to produce a digital image;
(d) first memory means for storing a plurality of digital images;
(e) a user interface for selecting between first and second operating modes;
(f) second memory means for storing the first and second operating modes, and white balance and exposure parameters;
(g) processing means for adjusting the white balance of the digital image and for controlling exposure of the image sensor in response to the white balance and exposure parameters, and wherein the processing means determines and utilizes new white balance and exposure parameters for each image in the first operating mode, and utilizes the same stored white balance and exposure parameter values for a plurality of images in the second operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A digital camera, comprising:
-
(a) an image sensor for providing an image signal;
(b) an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the image signal from the image sensor to provide a digital image;
(c) a memory for storing the digital image;
(d) a display for displaying the stored digital image;
(e) a non-volatile memory for storing a series of instructions for the operation of the digital camera; and
(f) a user operated control having a first mode and a second mode, wherein the stored image is displayed in the first mode, and the series of instructions is displayed on the display in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (34)
-
Specification