Virtual reality camera

Abstract

A method and apparatus for creating and rendering multiple-view images. A camera includes an image sensor to receive images, sampling logic to digitize the images and a processor programmed to combine the images based upon a spatial relationship between the images.

1. A hand-held camera comprising:
 a camera housing; 
 a camera lens mounted on said camera housing; 
 image acquisition circuitry located within said camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said camera lens at various orientations of said camera housing; 
 at least one user input panel for receiving a user request to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; and 
 image processing circuitry located within said camera housing; responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection, for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of a view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, by determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view, and by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on the spatial relationships. 
 
     
     
       2. The hand-held camera of  claim 1  wherein said image processing circuitry determines spatial relationships between the images based on at least one feature in images that at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       3. The hand-held camera of  claim 1  wherein said image processing circuitry determines spatial relationships between the images based on cross-correlations of images that at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       4. The hand-held camera of  claim 1  wherein said image processing circuitry determines spatial relationships between the images based on the orientations of said camera housing during image acquisition. 
     
     
       5. The hand-held cameral camera of  claim 4  further comprising a sensor for detecting the orientations of said camera housing. 
     
     
       6. The hand-held camera of  claim 5  wherein said image acquisition circuitry uses orientation information from said sensor to automatically determine fields of view for which to acquire images thereof. 
     
     
       7. The hand-held camera of  claim 1  wherein the camera is a video camera and wherein sampling logic digitizes the images at a predetermined rate. 
     
     
       8. A hand-held camera comprising:
 a camera housing; 
 a camera lens mounted on said camera housing; 
 a display mounted on said camera housing; 
 image acquisition circuitry located within said cameral camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said camera lens at various orientations of said camera housing; 
 image processing circuitry located within said camera housing for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, by determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view, and by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on spatial relationships; 
 at least one user input panel to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image view mode, and to receive a user request to display a spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image on said display; and 
 view control circuitry, located within said camera housing and responsive to the panoramic image view mode, to display a spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image on said display, wherein said view control circuitry selects the spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image based upon the user request. 
 
     
     
       9. The hand-held camera of  claim 8  wherein said view control circuitry selects the spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image to be displayed on said display based upon an orientation of said housing. 
     
     
       10. The hand-held camera of  claim 9  further comprising a sensor for detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       11. The hand-held camera of  claim 8  further comprising a sensor for detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       12. The hand-held camera of  claim 8  wherein said user input panel receives user requests to pan about a panoramic image. 
     
     
       13. The hand-held camera of  claim 12  wherein said user input panel comprises left, right, up and down buttons. 
     
     
       14. The hand-held camera of  claim 12  further comprising a sensor for detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       15. The hand-held camera of  claim 8  wherein said user input panel receives user requests to zoom in and out of a panoramic image. 
     
     
       16. The hand-held camera of  claim 15  wherein said user input panel comprises zoom in and zoom out buttons. 
     
     
       17. The hand-held camera of  claim 15  further comprising a sensor for detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       18. A method for providing cylindrical panoramic images comprising:
 selecting a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; 
 acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera; and 
 when the panoramic image capture mode is selected, at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, comprising:
 determining spatial relationships between the image of fields of view; and 
 mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on the spatial relationships. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein said determining is based on at least one feature in images that at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18  wherein said determining is based on cross-correlations of images that at least partially overlap. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18  wherein said determining is based on the orientations of the cameral camera during image acquisitions. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  further comprising detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  further comprising automatically determining fields of view for which to acquire images thereof, based on detected orientation information. 
     
     
       24. A method for providing cylindrical panoramic images comprising:
 acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera; 
 at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a fields of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, comprising:
 determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view; and 
 mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on the spatial relationships; 
 
 selecting a panoramic or non-panoramic image view mode; 
 when the panoramic image view mode is selected, receiving a user request to display a spatial region of a cylindrical panoramic image; and 
 displaying the spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  further comprising selecting the spatial region of the cylindrical panoramic image to be displayed based upon an orientation of the camera. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  further comprising detecting the orientation of said camera housing. 
     
     
       27. A hand-held camera comprising:
 a camera housing; 
 a camera lens mounted on said camera housing; 
 image acquisition circuitry located within said camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said camera lens at various orientations of said camera housing; 
 at least one user input panel for receiving a user request to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; and 
 image processing circuitry located within said camera housing, responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection, for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, by determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view, and by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a spherical surface, based on the spatial relationships. 
 
     
     
       28. The hand-held camera of  claim 27  herein wherein the camera is a video camera and wherein sampling logic digitizes the images at a predetermined rate. 
     
     
       29. A hand-held camera comprising:
 a careen camera housing; 
 a camera lens mounted on said camera housing; 
 image acquisition circuitry located within said camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said camera lens at various orientations of said camera housing; 
 at least one user input panel for receiving a user request to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; and 
 image processing circuitry located within said camera housing, responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection, for at least partially combining each successively acquired images of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on spatial relationships between the images of fields of view. 
 
     
     
       30. The hand-held camera of  claim 29  wherein the camera is a video camera and wherein sampling logic digitizes the images at a predetermined rate. 
     
     
       31. A hand-held camera comprising:
 a camera housing; 
 a camera lens mounted on said camera housing; 
 image acquisition circuitry located within said camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said camera lens at various orientations of said camera housing; 
 at least one user input panel for receiving a user request to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; and 
 image processing circuitry located within said camera housing, responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection, for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, by napping mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a spherical surface, based on spatial relationships between the images of fields of view. 
 
     
     
       32. The hand-held camera of  claim 31  wherein the camera is a video camera and wherein sampling logic digitizes the images at a predetermined rate. 
     
     
       33. A method for providing spherical panoramic images comprising:
 selecting a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode;   acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera; and   when the panoramic image capture mode is selected, at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, comprising:   determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view; and   mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a spherical surface, based on the spatial relationships.   
     
     
       34. A method for providing cylindrical panoramic images comprising:
 selecting a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode;   acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera; and   when the panoramic image capture mode is selected, at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, comprising mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on spatial relationships between the images of fields of view.   
     
     
       35. A method for providing spherical panoramic images comprising:
 selecting a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode;   acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera; and   when the panoramic image capture mode is selected, at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with previously acquired image of fields of view, on an image by image basis in real time, comprising mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a spherical surface, based on spatial relationships between the images of fields of view.   
     
     
       36. A camera comprising
 a housing;   a lens mounted on said housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within said housing for acquiring images of fields of view via said lens at various orientations of said housing;   at least one input panel for receiving a request to select a panoramic or non-panoramic image capture mode; and   image processing circuitry located within said housing and responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection, for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of a view with previously acquired images of fields of view, on an image-by-image basis in real time, by determining spatial relationships between the images of fields of view, and by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a smooth surface, based on the spatial relationships.    
     
     
       37. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within the housing for acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the housing;   at least one input panel for receiving a selection of a panoramic or a non-panoramic image capture mode; and   image processing circuitry located within the housing, responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of a view with at least one previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view, by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship.    
     
     
       38. A camera according to claim 37, wherein the image processing circuitry is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on at least one feature in the images that at least partially overlap.  
     
     
       39. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the image processing circuitry is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on a cross-correlation of images that at least partially overlap.  
     
     
       40. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the image processing circuitry is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on an orientation of the housing during image acquisition.  
     
     
       41. The camera according to claim 40, further comprising a sensor capable of detecting an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       42. The camera according to claim 41, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting at least one of a pitch, yaw and roll orientation of the housing based at least in part on a fixed reference.  
     
     
       43. The camera according to claim 41, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting an orientation of the housing based at least in part on a gravitational field of the earth.  
     
     
       44. The camera according to claim 41, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting an orientation of the housing based at least in part on a magnetic field of the earth.  
     
     
       45. The camera according to claim 41, wherein the sensor is capable of generating orientation information corresponding to a detected orientation of the housing, and
 wherein the image acquisition circuitry is capable of using orientation information to automatically determine fields of view for which to acquire images thereof.    
     
     
       46. The camera according to claim 37, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and
 wherein the camera comprises sampling logic capable of digitizing the images.    
     
     
       47. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   a display mounted on the housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within the housing capable of successively acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the camera housing;   image processing circuitry located within the housing capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface to form a panoramic image based at least in part on spatial relationships;   at least one input panel capable of receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection, and capable of receiving a request to display a selected spatial region of the panoramic image on the display; and   view-control circuitry, located within the housing, capable of displaying the selected spatial region of the panoramic image on the display in response to the panoramic-image view mode selection.    
     
     
       48. The camera according to claim 47, wherein the view control circuitry is capable of enabling a selection of the spatial region of the panoramic image to be displayed on the display based at least in part on an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       49. The camera according to claim 48, wherein the input panel is capable of receiving a request to pan about a panoramic image.  
     
     
       50. The camera according to claim 49, wherein the input panel comprises left, right, up and down buttons.  
     
     
       51. The camera according to claim 49, wherein the input panel is capable of receiving requests to zoom in and out of a panoramic image.  
     
     
       52. The camera according to claim 51, wherein the input panel comprises zoom in and zoom out buttons.  
     
     
       53. The camera according to claim 47, further comprising a sensor capable of detecting an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       54. The camera according to claim 53, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting at least one of a pitch, yaw and roll orientation of the housing based at least in part on a fixed reference.  
     
     
       55. The camera according to claim 53, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting the orientation of the housing based at least in part on a gravitational field of the earth.  
     
     
       56. The camera according to claim 53, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting the orientation of the housing based at least in part on a magnetic field of the earth.  
     
     
       57. The camera according to claim 53, wherein the sensor is capable of generating orientation information corresponding to detected orientations of the housing, and
 wherein the image acquisition circuitry is capable of using the orientation information to automatically determine fields of view for which to acquire images thereof.    
     
     
       58. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within the housing capable of acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the camera housing;   at least one input panel capable of receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   image processing circuitry located within the housing, responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection, capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by determining at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view, and by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a smooth surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship.    
     
     
       59. The camera of claim 58, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and wherein the camera further comprises sampling logic capable of digitizing the images.  
     
     
       60. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within the housing capable of acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the housing;   at least one input panel capable of receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   image processing circuitry located within the housing, responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection, capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view.    
     
     
       61. The camera of claim 60, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and wherein the camera further comprises sampling logic capable of digitizing the images.  
     
     
       62. A camera, comprising:
 a camera housing;   a camera lens mounted on the housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within the camera housing for acquiring images of fields of view via the camera lens at various orientations of the camera housing;   at least one input panel capable of receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   image processing circuitry located within the camera housing, responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view.    
     
     
       63. The camera of claim 62, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and
 wherein the camera further comprises sampling logic capable of digitizing the images.    
     
     
       64. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   means for acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the housing, the means for acquiring the image being located within the housing;   means for receiving a selection of a panoramic or a non-panoramic image capture mode; and   means for processing images located within the housing, the means for processing images responsive to the panoramic image capture mode selection for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of a view with at least one previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view, and for mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship.    
     
     
       65. A camera according to claim 64, wherein the means for processing images is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on at least one feature in the images that at least partially overlap.  
     
     
       66. The camera according to claim 64, wherein the means for processing images is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on a cross-correlation of images that at least partially overlap.  
     
     
       67. The camera according to claim 64, wherein the means for processing images is capable of determining at least one spatial relationship between the images based at least partially on an orientation of the housing during image acquisition.  
     
     
       68. The camera according to claim 67, further comprising means for detecting an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       69. The camera according to claim 68, wherein the means for detecting is further capable of detecting at least one of a pitch, yaw and roll orientation of the housing based at least in part on a fixed reference.  
     
     
       70. The camera according to claim 68, wherein the means for detecting is further capable of detecting an orientation of the housing based at least in part on a gravitational field of the earth.  
     
     
       71. The camera according to claim 68, wherein the means for detecting is further capable of detecting an orientation of the housing based at least in part on a magnetic field of the earth.  
     
     
       72. The camera according to claim 68, wherein the means for detecting is further capable of generating orientation information corresponding to a detected orientation of the housing, and
 wherein the means for processing images is further capable of using orientation information to automatically determine fields of view for which to acquire images thereof.    
     
     
       73. The camera according to claim 64, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and
 wherein the camera comprises means for digitizing the images.    
     
     
       74. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   a display mounted on the housing;   means for acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the housing, the means for acquiring images being located within the housing and being capable of successively acquiring images;   image processing circuitry located within the housing capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface to form a panoramic image based at least in part on spatial relationships;   means for receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection, and capable of receiving a request to display a selected spatial region of the panoramic image on the display; and   means for controlling a display, located within the housing, by displaying the selected spatial region of the panoramic image on the display in response to the panoramic-image view mode selection.    
     
     
       75. The camera according to claim 74, wherein the means for controlling a display is further capable of enabling a selection of the spatial region of the panoramic image to be displayed on the display based at least in part on an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       76. The camera according to claim 75, wherein the means for receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection is further capable of receiving a request to pan about a panoramic image.  
     
     
       77. The camera according to claim 76, wherein the means for receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection comprises left, right, up and down buttons.  
     
     
       78. The camera according to claim 76, wherein the means for receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection is further capable of receiving requests to zoom in and out of a panoramic image.  
     
     
       79. The camera according to claim 78, wherein the means for receiving a panoramic-image view mode selection comprises zoom in and zoom out buttons.  
     
     
       80. The camera according to claim 74, further comprising means for detecting an orientation of the housing.  
     
     
       81. The camera according to claim 80, wherein the means for detecting an orientation is further capable of detecting at least one of a pitch, yaw and roll orientation of the housing based at least in part on a fixed reference.  
     
     
       82. The camera according to claim 80, wherein the means for detecting an orientation is further capable of detecting the orientation of the housing based at least in part on a gravitational field of the earth.  
     
     
       83. The camera according to claim 80, wherein the means for detecting an orientation is further capable of detecting the orientation of the housing based at least in part on a magnetic field of the earth.  
     
     
       84. The camera according to claim 80, wherein the means for detecting an orientation is further capable of generating orientation information corresponding to detected orientations of the housing, and
 wherein the means for acquiring images of fields of view is further capable of using the orientation information to automatically determine fields of view for which to acquire images thereof.    
     
     
       85. A camera, comprising:
 means for acquiring images of fields of view at various orientations of a camera;   means for at least partially combining each successively acquired image of fields of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time, comprising:
 means for determining at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view; and 
 means for mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a smooth surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship; 
 means for receiving a request to display a selected spatial region of a panoramic image; and 
 means for displaying the selected spatial region of the panoramic image.  
   
     
     
       86. The camera of claim 85, wherein the means for displaying comprises means for displaying the selected spatial region of the panoramic image based at least in part on an orientation of the camera.  
     
     
       87. The camera of claim 86, further comprising means for detecting an orientation of the camera.  
     
     
       88. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on the housing;   means for acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the camera housing, the means for acquiring being located within the housing;   means for receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   means for processing images located within the housing, the means for processing images being responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection, being capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of a field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by determining at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view, and for mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a smooth surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship.    
     
     
       89. The camera of claim 88, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and wherein the camera further comprises means for digitizing the images.  
     
     
       90. A camera, comprising:
 a housing;   a lens mounted on housing;   means for acquiring images of fields of view via the lens at various orientations of the housing, the means for acquiring being located within the housing;   means for receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   means for processing images located within the housing, the means for processing images being responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection and being capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired image of field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view.    
     
     
       91. The camera of claim 90, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and
 wherein the camera further comprises means for digitizing the images.    
     
     
       92. A camera, comprising:
 a camera housing;   a camera lens mounted on the housing;   means for acquiring images of fields of view via the camera lens at various orientations of the camera housing, the means for acquiring images being located within the camera housing;   means for receiving a panoramic-image capture mode selection; and   means for processing images located within the camera housing, the means for processing images being responsive to the panoramic-image capture mode selection and being capable of at least partially combining each successively acquired image of a field of view with a previously acquired field of view on an image-by-image basis in real time by mapping the images of fields of view onto regions of a surface based at least in part on at least one spatial relationship between the images of fields of view.    
     
     
       93. The camera of claim 92, wherein the camera comprises a video camera, and wherein the camera further comprises means for digitizing the images.  
     
     
       94. A camera comprising:
 a camera housing;   a camera lens mounted on said housing;   image acquisition circuitry located within said camera housing to acquire images via said camera lens at at least two orientations of said camera housing;   means for selecting a panoramic image capture mode;   image processing circuitry located within said camera housing, responsive to the selection of the panoramic image capture mode, to at least partially combine at least one successively acquired image with at least one previously acquired image by mapping the images onto regions of a cylindrical surface wherein the mapping is based, at least in part, on one or more spatial relationships between the images as determined on an image-by-image basis in real time; and   a sensing element adapted to determine when a next image in said panoramic image capture mode is to be acquired based in response to detection of at least an orientation of said camera.    
     
     
       95. The camera of claim 94, wherein said orientation of the camera includes at least one orientation selected from the group consisting of a pitch, roll and yaw, all of said camera.  
     
     
       96. The camera of claim 94, wherein said sensing element includes means for generating a signal to indicate that said next image is to be acquired.  
     
     
       97. The camera of claim 96, wherein said signal includes at least one of an audio signal or a visible signal.  
     
     
       98. The camera of claim 94 wherein said sensing element determining is further adapted to determine when said next image is to be acquired based at least in part on an angle of view of the camera and a distance between the camera and a subject in successive images.  
     
     
       99. The camera of claim 94, further including means for collecting image information for each acquired image and for associating said image information for each acquired image with that image, said image information including a spatial location of an acquired image at least relative to spatial locations of other acquired images.  
     
     
       100. The camera of claim 99, wherein the collecting means is further adapted to generate a data structure associated with acquired images of a panorama, the data structure including a data member for each acquired image in the panorama, and each data member identifying at least one neighboring image to the acquired image represented by the data member and said data member including information representing camera orientation.  
     
     
       101. The camera of claim 100, wherein the data member further includes a spatial location of said image in said panorama relative to other images acquired for said panorama.  
     
     
       102. The camera of claim 101, wherein said spatial location of said image is represented by at least an angular and positional proximity to at least one of said other acquired images.  
     
     
       103. A method for providing cylindrical panoramic images comprising:
 sensing selection of a panoramic image capture mode;   acquiring images at various orientations of a camera;   responsive to said selection of said panoramic image capture mode, at least partially combining at least one successively acquired image with one or more previously acquired images, on an image-by-image basis in real time, comprising:
 determining spatial relationships between the images; and 
 mapping the images onto regions of a cylindrical surface, based on the spatial relationships; and 
   sensing an orientation of said camera to determine when a next image in said panoramic image capture mode is to be acquired based at least in part on a camera orientation.    
     
     
       104. The method of claim 103, wherein said orientation of the camera includes at least one orientation selected from the group consisting of a pitch, roll and yaw, all of said camera.  
     
     
       105. The method of claim 103, further comprising generating a signal to indicate that said next image is to be acquired.  
     
     
       106. The method of claim 105, wherein said signal includes at least one of an audio signal or a visible signal.  
     
     
       107. The method of claim 103 wherein said sensing to determine is further based at least in part on an angle of view of the camera and a distance between the camera and a subject in successive images.  
     
     
       108. The method of claim 103, further comprising collecting image information for each acquired image, and associating said image information for each acquired image with that image, said image information including a spatial location of an acquired image at least relative to spatial locations of other acquired images.  
     
     
       109. The method of claim 108, further comprising generating a data structure associated with acquired images of a panorama, the data structure including a data member for each acquired image in the panorama, and each data member identifying at least one neighboring image to the acquired image represented by the data member and said data member including information representing camera orientation.  
     
     
       110. The method of claim 108, wherein the data member further includes a spatial location of said image in said panorama relative to other images acquired for said panorama.  
     
     
       111. The method of claim 110, wherein said spatial location of said image is represented by at least an angular and positional proximity to at least one of said other acquired images.