Method of generating image and device

• US 20060029256A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Takashi, Iwaki, Hidekazu, Kosaka, Akio
• Application Number:
  US11/192,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/249 for illuminating the field of view of a sensor or camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/006 Geometric correction correction of chromatic aberrations adapted to be used in an image pickup device containing an electronic image sensor H04N23/10; detecting, correcting, reducing or removing artefacts resulting only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4" H04N25/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems

Abstract

A device for generating a viewpoint conversion image based on image data supplied from one or a plurality of imaging units arranged in a vehicle comprises a supplementary light source for illuminating an area to be imaged by the imaging units, and a control unit for selecting the casting directions of the supplementary light source in accordance with the viewpoint conversion image to be generated.

Claims

1. A method of generating an image, comprising:

switching directions in which supplementary light necessary for imaging is cast, in accordance with switching of viewpoints; and

converting captured images acquired by the imaging by one or a plurality of imaging units, and generating an image from a viewpoint which is different from the viewpoints of the imaging units.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the supplementary light is at least one of visible light, infrared light and spatially modulated light.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the supplementary light is cast on areas included in at least some of the captured images to be used for generating the image from the different viewpoint, and the supplementary light is not cast on areas outside the areas included in the captured images.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the imaging unit is arranged in a vehicle.

5. A device for generating an image, comprising:

a supplementary light source for illuminating an area to be imaged by one or a plurality of imaging units;

a control unit for switching directions in which supplementary light necessary for imaging by the imaging units is cast, in accordance with switching of viewpoints; and

a viewpoint conversion image generation unit for converting captured images acquired by the imaging, and generating an image from a viewpoint which is different from the viewpoints of the imaging units.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the supplementary light source is provided to the imaging unit.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the supplementary light source is provided being independent from the imaging unit and corresponding to the image from the different viewpoint.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the supplementary light source illuminates the area to be imaged by at least one of visible light, infrared light and spatially modulated light.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the imaging unit is arranged in a vehicle.

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the supplementary light source is arranged in an object in which the imaging unit is arranged, together with the imaging unit.