Apparatus and method for capturing images

• US 8,896,671 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: 3D-4U Inc.
• Inventors: Jayaram, Sankar, Buchholtz, Brett, DeChenne, Charles, Harrison, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAQUE, MD NAZMUL
• Application Number:
  US13/071,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 348 48- 51
• US Class Current: 348/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for capturing images including a base, and image capture adjustment mechanism, a first camera, and a second camera. The base is constructed and arranged to support an alignable array of cameras. The image capture adjustment mechanism is disposed relative to the base for adjusting an image capture line of sight for a camera relative to the base. The first camera is carried by the base, operably coupled with the image capture adjustment mechanism, and has an image capture device. The first camera has a line of sight defining a first field of view adjustable with the image capture adjustment mechanism relative to the base. The second camera is carried by the base and has an image capture device. The second camera has a line of sight defining a second field of view extending beyond a range of the field of view for the first camera in order to produce a field of view that is greater than the field of view provided by the first camera. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing images, comprising:

a base;

a first camera carried by the base and having an image capture device configured to capture a first field of view for the first camera; and

a second camera carried by the base and having an image capture device configured to capture a second field of view for the second camera contiguous with and extending beyond a range of the field of view for the first camera;

an image capture adjustment mechanism disposed relative to the base operative to physically adjust orientation of the first camera relative to the second camera to align an image segment in the field of view from the first camera with an adjacent image segment in the adjacent field of view from the second camera; and

a securing mechanism configured to fix position of the first camera relative to the second camera after the first camera has been adjusted with the image capture adjustment mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism comprises a first image capture adjustment mechanism, and further comprising a second image capture adjustment mechanism disposed relative to the base for adjusting an image capture line of sight for the second camera relative to the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism comprises a camera mounting platform affixed to the first camera and an articulating support structure operatively coupled between the camera mounting platform and the base and configured to adjustably position the camera mounting platform and the first camera relative to the base to axially and angularly align the field of view of the first camera relative to the field of view of the second camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable support base for the image capture device of the first camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable camera lens support base.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable mirror interposed between the image capture device and a lens of the camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third camera stereoscopically paired adjacent the first camera and a fourth camera stereoscopically paired adjacent the second camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second image capture adjustment mechanism communicating with the third camera, and a third image capture adjustment mechanism communicating with the fourth camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the first, second and third image capture adjustment mechanisms comprises a camera mounting platform and an articulating support structure configured to adjustably position a respective one of the camera mounting platforms relative to the base to axially and angularly align the field of view of a respective one of the cameras relative to a field of view of another of the cameras.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the camera mounting platform comprises a first support plate affixed to the camera, the base comprises a second support plate and the articulating support structure comprises the first support plate having a first seat, the second support plate having an opposed, second seat, a spherical ball bearing interposed between the first seat and the second seat, and a plurality of threaded fasteners extending between the first support plate and the second support plate, distributed about the ball bearing and adjustable to tilt the first support plate relative to the second support plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a unitary base plate and the articulating support structure comprises a plurality of individual, articulating support structures each interposed between the base plate and a respective one of the cameras.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first camera and the second camera each comprise a video camera configured to capture a sequential array of images over time.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture adjustment mechanism is mounted between the base and the first digital camera.

14. An apparatus for capturing images, comprising:

a base;

a first camera carried by the base and having an image capture device, the first camera having a first field of view;

a second camera, carried by the base and having an image capture device, the second camera having a second field of view contiguous with and adjacent to the field of view for the first camera;

an image capture adjustment mechanism associated with the base and operatively coupled with the first camera to physically adjust position of the first camera relative to the second camera to align the field of view for the first camera relative to the field of view for the second camera by rendering collinear an image segment in the field of view for the first camera with an image segment in the adjacent field of view for the second camera; and

a securing mechanism configured to render immovable the first camera relative to the second camera after position of the first camera has been adjusted with the image capture adjustment mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first camera comprises a left camera and the second camera comprises a right camera of a stereoscopic pair of left and right cameras.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the stereoscopic pair of left and right cameras is a first stereoscopic pair, and further comprising a third camera and a fourth camera comprising a left camera and a right camera of a second stereoscopic pair of left and right cameras provided adjacent the first stereoscopic pair of left and right cameras.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an image capture adjustment mechanism is provided between the base and each of a respective one of the left and right cameras in the first stereoscopic pair and the second stereoscopic pair.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the image capture adjustment mechanisms comprises an articulating frame operatively coupled between one of the cameras and the base.

19. A method for capturing images, comprising:

providing a first camera and a second camera carried by a base to have a line of sight defining a respective field of view, the second camera having a field of view at least in part adjacent to the field of view for the first camera, the first camera carried by the base for adjustable positioning of the field of view relative to the field of view for the second camera;

axially aligning the first camera relative to the second camera to render collinear an image segment within a field of view for the first camera relative to a corresponding image segment within the field of view for the second camera;

angularly aligning the first camera relative to the second camera to render the image segment within the field of view for the first camera angularly aligned relative to the image segment in the field of view for the second camera; and

after axially and angularly aligning the first camera relative to the second camera, affixing the first camera relative to the second camera to secure alignment of the first camera relative to the second camera.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing adjacent pairs of stereoscopic left and right cameras, wherein the first camera comprises one of the left and right cameras of the first pair and the second camera comprises one of the left and right cameras of the second pair, wherein axially aligning comprises axially aligning the one of the left and right cameras of the first pair and the second pair, and angularly aligning comprises angularly aligning the one of the left and right cameras of the first pair and the second pair.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising axially aligning another of the left and right cameras of the first pair and the second camera.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising angularly aligning another of the left and right cameras of the first pair and the second pair.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising axially aligning the left camera and the right camera within the first pair and angularly aligning the left camera and the right camera within the first pair.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing at least three pairs of stereoscopic left and right cameras, axially and angularly aligning left cameras within adjacent pairs of stereoscopic cameras, and axially and angularly aligning right cameras within adjacent pairs of stereoscopic cameras.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein axially aligning comprises aligning a scan line from a captured image from each adjacent camera in horizontal alignment, and angular alignment comprises angularly aligning the scan line from a captured image from each adjacent camera in angular alignment, by adjusting pitch and roll of one camera relative to the other camera.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the first camera and the second camera each comprise a digital video camera, and further comprising, after axially aligning and angularly aligning the first camera and the second camera, simultaneously capturing images over time with the first camera and the second camera.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first camera and the second camera each comprise an image capture device, and further comprising, after axially aligning and angularly aligning the first camera and the second camera, simultaneously capturing optical images with the first camera and the second camera.