ANNULAR VIEW FOR PANORAMA IMAGE

• US 20150296141A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Lei, Ling, Fan, Zou, Xuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,888,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A device (300) for displaying panoramic images includes an image sensor (315), a panoramic display module (345) and a display (325). The display (110, 200) displays an annular panorama view (120, 210). The annular view (120, 210) may be an incomplete annulus for illustrating a missing view angle (126) from an incomplete panoramic image. The display (200) further includes a window (220) and a high resolution display portion (240). The window (220) bounds a portion (230) of the annular view (210). The high resolution display portion (240) displays a high resolution image corresponding to the portion (230) of the annular view (210). The window (220) is movable around the annular view (210). A size of the window (220) or the high resolution display portion (240) is adjustable. A method for generating a panoramic image is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for displaying panoramic images comprising:

an image sensor configured to capture a panoramic image of a scene of interest;

a panoramic display module configured to read the captured panoramic image and form an annular display output of the panoramic image; and

a display configured to display the output of the panoramic image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display an incomplete annulus to illustrate a view angle missing from an incomplete panoramic image.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display further comprises:

a window configured to bound a portion of the annular configuration; and

a high resolution display portion configured to display a rectangular image, wherein the rectangular image corresponds to the portion of the annular configuration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the window is movable around the annular configuration.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein a size of the window or the high resolution display portion is adjustable.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the rectangular image is updated to correspond to the portion of the annular configuration bound by the window.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen, an LCD screen, or an LED screen.

8. A method for generating a panoramic image of a scene, the method comprising:

receiving image data representing a plurality of images of a scene of interest from an image sensor;

combining the plurality of images into a panoramic view of the scene of interest;

generating an annular graphical representation of the panoramic view; and

displaying the annular graphical representation on a display.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the annular view further comprises displaying an incomplete annulus with a missing portion, the missing portion corresponding to a view angle missing from the panoramic image.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the annular view further comprises:

displaying a window over a portion of the annular view; and

displaying a high-resolution rectangular image corresponding to the portion of the annular view.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the high-resolution rectangular image or the window as a user moves the window around the annulus.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the high-resolution rectangular image as a user adjusts a size of the window.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving image data representing the missing portion of the annular view;

combining the image data representing the missing portion with the annular view; and

displaying a complete annulus of the panoramic image.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an processor to perform the method of:

receiving image data representing a plurality of images;

combining the plurality of images into a panorama;

generating an annular view of the panorama; and

displaying the annular view to a user on a display.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein displaying the annular view further comprises displaying an incomplete annulus with a missing portion, the missing portion corresponding to a view angle missing from the panoramic image.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein displaying the annular view further comprises:

displaying a window over a portion of the annular view; and

displaying a high-resolution rectangular image corresponding to the portion of the annular view.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising updating the high-resolution rectangular image as a user moves the window around the annulus.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising updating the high-resolution rectangular image as a user adjusts a size of the window.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving image data representing the missing portion of the annular view;

stitching the missing portion into the annular view; and

displaying a complete annulus of the panoramic image.

20. An apparatus for generating and displaying panoramic images comprising:

means for capturing a plurality of images;

means for combining the plurality of images into a panorama; and

means for displaying the panorama as an annular view,

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the annular view comprises an incomplete annulus with a missing portion, the missing portion corresponding to a view angle missing from the panoramic image.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for capturing a plurality of images comprises a digital imaging device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the digital imaging device is incorporated into a mobile computing device.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for assisting a user in capturing an image or images to fill in the missing portion of the panoramic image.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for displaying the panorama comprises touch screen technology or a flat panel display.