Apparatus and method for taking panoramic photograph
First Claim
1. An apparatus for taking a panoramic photograph, the apparatus comprising:
- a camera module having a lens for capturing an image for the panoramic photograph;
a memory unit for storing the image captured by the camera module;
a display unit for visually exhibiting the image stored in the memory unit and offering a preview image when a capture mode is enabled;
an angular velocity sensor for outputting an angular velocity utilizing a perceived rotation of the lens;
a rotation angle calculator for receiving the angular velocity from the angular velocity sensor and calculating a corresponding rotation angle; and
a control unit for receiving the rotation angle from the rotation angle calculator and deciding a capturable section of the panoramic photograph.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for taking a panoramic photograph are provided. While a lens of the apparatus is rotated, an angular velocity sensor such as a gyroscope outputs an angular velocity and calculates therefrom a rotation angle of the lens. Accordingly, a user can capture sequential image segments for the panoramic photograph at suitable rotation angles. Since unintended rotations due to a user'"'"'s hand trembling as well as user'"'"'s intended rotations can be detected, it may be easy to align overlapped portions of adjacent images and thereby to obtain suitable images for panoramic photograph combination. Also, a user can be informed of a capturable section and a rotating direction by using the calculated angular velocity, so the apparatus may promote a user'"'"'s convenience and without the need for a burdensome tripod.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for taking a panoramic photograph, the apparatus comprising:
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a camera module having a lens for capturing an image for the panoramic photograph;
a memory unit for storing the image captured by the camera module;
a display unit for visually exhibiting the image stored in the memory unit and offering a preview image when a capture mode is enabled;
an angular velocity sensor for outputting an angular velocity utilizing a perceived rotation of the lens;
a rotation angle calculator for receiving the angular velocity from the angular velocity sensor and calculating a corresponding rotation angle; and
a control unit for receiving the rotation angle from the rotation angle calculator and deciding a capturable section of the panoramic photograph. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for taking a panoramic photograph, the method comprising steps of:
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(a) capturing a first image of the panoramic photograph by operating a camera module having a lens and then storing the captured first image;
(b) calculating a first rotation angle of the lens from a first angular velocity according to a rotation of the lens;
(c) deciding whether the first rotation angle is within a capturable section having lowest and highest values;
(d) notifying a stop of the rotation of the lens when the first rotation angle is within the capturable section;
(e) calculating a second rotation angle of the lens from a second angular velocity according to a further rotation of the lens;
(f) deciding whether an absolute value of the second rotation angle is within a specific threshold value; and
(g) capturing a second image of the panoramic photograph by operating the camera module when the absolute value of the second rotation angle is within the specific threshold value and then storing the captured second image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for taking a panoramic photograph, the method comprising steps of:
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(a) capturing a first image of the panoramic photograph by operating a camera module having a lens and then storing the captured first image;
(b) rotating the lens;
(c) calculating a rotation angle of the lens from an angular velocity according to rotation of the lens;
(d) deciding whether the rotation angle is within a capturable section having lowest and highest values;
(e) stopping the rotation of the lens when the rotation angle is within the capturable section; and
(f) capturing a second image of the panoramic photograph by operating the camera module and then storing the captured second image. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification