US2013163854A1PendingUtilityA1

Image processing method and associated apparatus

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Assignee: CHENG CHIA-MINGPriority: Dec 23, 2011Filed: Dec 23, 2011Published: Jun 27, 2013
Est. expiryDec 23, 2031(~5.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Chia-Ming Cheng
H04N 13/296H04N 5/2627H04N 13/261H04N 13/221G06T 15/205G06T 3/18
51
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Claims

Abstract

An image processing method includes: receiving a plurality of images, the images being captured under different view points; and performing image alignment for the plurality of images by warping the plurality of images, where the plurality of images are warped according to a set of parameters, and the set of parameters are obtained by finding a solution constrained to predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters. In particular, the step of performing the image alignment further includes: automatically performing the image alignment to reproduce a three-dimensional (3D) visual effect, where the plurality of images is captured by utilizing a camera module, and the camera module is not calibrated with regard to the view points. For example, the 3D visual effect can be a multi-angle view (MAV) visual effect. In another example, the 3D visual effect can be a 3D panorama visual effect. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing method, comprising:
 receiving image data of a plurality of images, the images being captured under different view points; and   performing image alignment for the plurality of images by warping the plurality of images according to the image data, wherein the plurality of images are warped according to a set of parameters, and the set of parameters are obtained by finding a solution constrained to predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters by:   (1) capturing a base image;   (2) capturing multiple reference images;   (3) recording one set of physical camera parameters corresponding to each reference image;   (4) warping the base image to match each reference image according to the recorded set of physical camera parameters; and   (5) determining the predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters by finding whether difference(s) between warped base images and the reference images is distinguishable under human vision.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing method of  claim 1 , wherein the image alignment includes vertical alignment and horizontal alignment. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing method of  claim 3 , wherein the horizontal alignment is performed after the vertical alignment is performed. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing method of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal alignment is performed under disparity analysis, wherein the disparity analysis is utilized for analyzing warped images of the vertical alignment. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of performing the image alignment further comprises:
 automatically performing the image alignment to reproduce a three-dimensional (3D) visual effect.   
     
     
         7 . The image processing method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating 3D images to reproduce the 3D visual effect, where the 3D images comprise emulated images that are not generated by utilizing any camera.   
     
     
         8 . The image processing method of  claim 6 , wherein the 3D visual effect comprises a multi-angle view (MAV) visual effect. 
     
     
         9 . The image processing method of  claim 6 , wherein the 3D visual effect comprises a 3D panorama visual effect. 
     
     
         10 . The image processing method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of images is captured by utilizing a camera module; and the camera module is not calibrated with regard to the view points. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for performing image processing, the apparatus comprising at least one portion of an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 a storage arranged to temporarily store information; and   a processing circuit arranged to control operations of the electronic device, to receive image data of a plurality of images, the images being captured under different view points, to temporarily store the image data into the storage, and to perform image alignment for the plurality of images by warping the plurality of images according to the image data, wherein the plurality of images are warped according to a set of parameters, and the set of parameters are obtained by finding a solution constrained to predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit determines the predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters by:
 (1) capturing a base image;   (2) capturing multiple reference images;   (3) recording one set of physical camera parameters corresponding to each reference image;   (4) warping the base image to match each reference image according to the recorded set of physical camera parameters; and   (5) determining the predetermined ranges of physical camera parameters by finding whether difference(s) between warped base images and the reference images is distinguishable under human vision.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the image alignment includes vertical alignment and horizontal alignment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the horizontal alignment is performed after the vertical alignment is performed. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the horizontal alignment is performed under disparity analysis, wherein the disparity analysis is utilized for analyzing warped images of the vertical alignment. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit automatically performs the image alignment to reproduce a three-dimensional (3D) visual effect. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processing circuit generates 3D images to reproduce the 3D visual effect, wherein the 3D images comprise emulated images that are not generated by utilizing any camera. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the 3D visual effect comprises a multi-angle view (MAV) visual effect. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the 3D visual effect comprises a 3D panorama visual effect. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of images is captured by utilizing a camera module; and the camera module is not calibrated with regard to the view points.

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