Auto-alignment of image sensors in a multi-camera system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for synchronizing a pair of image sensors, the method comprising:
- capturing an image with each image sensor at a substantially same time, the image sensors having a rolling shutter direction and an overlapping field of view;
identifying, by one or more processors, a pixel shift between the captured images based on captured image data representative of the overlapping field of view; and
calibrating, based on the identified pixel shift, at least one image sensor to synchronize subsequent image capture by the image sensors by adjusting a read window of the at least one image sensor in the rolling shutter direction, the read window comprising a portion of the image sensor configured to capture light incident upon the portion to produce captured image data during an image capture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pair of cameras having an overlapping field of view is aligned based on images captured by image sensors of the pair of cameras. A pixel shift is identified between the images. Based on the identified pixel shift, a calibration is applied to one or both of the pair of cameras. To determine the pixel shift, the camera applies correlation methods including edge matching. Calibrating the pair of cameras may include adjusting a read window on an image sensor. The pixel shift can also be used to determine a time lag, which can be used to synchronize subsequent image captures.
104 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for synchronizing a pair of image sensors, the method comprising:
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capturing an image with each image sensor at a substantially same time, the image sensors having a rolling shutter direction and an overlapping field of view; identifying, by one or more processors, a pixel shift between the captured images based on captured image data representative of the overlapping field of view; and calibrating, based on the identified pixel shift, at least one image sensor to synchronize subsequent image capture by the image sensors by adjusting a read window of the at least one image sensor in the rolling shutter direction, the read window comprising a portion of the image sensor configured to capture light incident upon the portion to produce captured image data during an image capture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising a pair of cameras, each camera having an image sensor, the system further comprising at least one processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for synchronizing the image sensors, the instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising instructions for:
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capturing an image with each image sensor at a substantially same time, the image sensors having a rolling shutter direction and an overlapping field of view; identifying, by one or more processors, a pixel shift between the captured images based on captured image data representative of the overlapping field of view; and calibrating, based on the identified pixel shift, at least one image sensor to synchronize subsequent image capture by the image sensors by adjusting a read window of the at least one image sensor in the rolling shutter direction, the read window comprising a portion of the image sensor configured to capture light incident upon the portion to produce captured image data during an image capture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 18, 19)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for synchronizing a pair of image sensors, the instructions executable by at least one processor, the instructions comprising instructions for:
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capturing an image with each image sensor at a substantially same time, the image sensors having a rolling shutter direction and an overlapping field of view; identifying, by one or more processors, a pixel shift between the captured images based on captured image data representative of the overlapping field of view; and calibrating, based on the identified pixel shift, at least one image sensor to synchronize subsequent image capture by the image sensors by adjusting a read window of the at least one image sensor in the rolling shutter direction, the read window comprising a portion of the image sensor configured to capture light incident upon the portion to produce captured image data during an image capture. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 20)
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Specification