CAMERA, DISTORTION CORRECTION DEVICE AND DISTORTION CORRECTION METHOD

• US 20130265468A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Morimura, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/240.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/12 Panospheric to cylindrical image transformations
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/61 the noise originating only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4"

Abstract

An electronic zoom and distortion correction processing unit (104) performs electronic zooming and distortion correction of a distorted image by re-mapping the pixels of the distorted image. In accordance with a specified electronic zoom factor (S1), a re-mapping control unit (110) controls re-mapping by the electronic zoom and distortion correction processing unit (104) such that the correction factor (S4) of the distortion correction processing is changed in addition to the electronic zoom factor of the electronic zoom processing. By this means, the correction factor (S4) is changed in accordance with the specified electronic zoom factor (S1), and distorted images can be appropriately corrected while preventing denaturing of the images.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a lens that forms an image of a subject;

an imaging sensor that acquires a captured image signal by converting an optical image formed by the lens into an electrical signal; and

an electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section that performs an electronic zooming process and a distortion correction process on the captured image signal, wherein

the electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section changes not only an electronic zoom magnification ratio of the electronic zooming process but also a correction factor of the distortion correction process in accordance with a designated electronic zoom magnification ratio.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section further changes the correction factor of the distortion correction process in accordance with an angle of view of the lens.

3. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a zoom-angle-of-view calculation section that calculates an electronic zoom angle of view based on the designated electronic zoom magnification ratio and an angle of view of the lens, wherein

the electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section changes the correction factor of the distortion correction process in accordance with the electronic zoom angle of view calculated by the zoom-angle-of-view calculation section.

4. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a correction status superimposition section that superimposes a distortion correction status based on the correction factor on the image on which the electronic zooming process and the distortion correction process have been performed.

5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the correction factor is controlled independently in horizontal and vertical directions.

6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the correction factor of distortion correction of a vertical straight line is 100%, and the correction factor of distortion correction of a horizontal straight line is changed in accordance with the electronic zoom magnification ratio.

7. A distortion correction apparatus comprising:

an electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section that performs an electronic zooming process and a distortion correction process on a distorted image by remapping pixels of the distorted image; and

a remapping control section that controls the remapping performed by the electronic zoom and distortion correction processing section in a way that changes not only an electronic zoom magnification ratio of the electronic zooming process but also a correction factor of the distortion correction process in accordance with a designated electronic zoom magnification ratio.

8. A distortion correction method comprising:

performing an electronic zooming process and a distortion correction process on a distorted image by remapping pixels of the distorted image; and

controlling the remapping performed in the electronic zoom and distortion correction process in a way that changes not only an electronic zoom magnification ratio of the electronic zooming process but also a correction factor of the distortion correction process in accordance with a designated electronic zoom magnification ratio.