Method for Producing a Panoramic Image on the Basis of a Video Sequence and Implementation Apparatus

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A method for producing a panoramic image based on a video sequence, the method comprising:

merging a target image of a video sequence with a panoramic pan comprising images of the video sequence;

evaluating a luminance difference between the target image and a last image in the panoramic pan;

determining a size of a merging zone of the target image and the last image in the panoramic pan as a function of the evaluated luminance difference;

correcting a luminance of pixels situated in the merging zone.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein, if the evaluated luminance difference is lower than a first threshold, the size of the merging zone is fixed at a first value.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein, if the evaluated luminance difference is higher than a second threshold, the size of the merging zone is fixed at a second value that is higher than the first value.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein, if the evaluated luminance difference is between the first and second thresholds, the size of the merging zone varies linearly with the evaluated luminance difference.

15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

estimating the displacement between the target image and the last image in the panoramic pan; and

selecting the target image if the estimated displacement is greater than a displacement threshold.

16 . A camera-equipped apparatus comprising:

a processing circuit configured to execute the functionality of:

a merging function configured to merge a target image of a video sequence with a panoramic pan comprising images of the video sequence;

an evaluation function configured to evaluate a luminance difference between the target image and the last image in the panoramic pan;

a determination function configured to determine a size of a merging zone of the target image and the last image in the panoramic pan as a function of the evaluated luminance difference;

a correction function configured to correct a luminance of pixels situated in the merging zone.

17 . The camera-equipped apparatus of claim 16 wherein the determination function comprises a first comparison function, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to execute the functionality of the first comparison function to compare the evaluated luminance difference to a first threshold.

18 . The camera-equipped apparatus of claim 17 wherein the determination function comprises a second comparison function, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to execute the functionality of the second comparison function to compare the evaluated luminance difference to a second threshold.

19 . The camera-equipped apparatus of claim 18 wherein the determination function further comprises a linear variation function, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to execute the functionality of the linear variation function to linearly vary a size of the merging zone in accordance with the evaluated luminance difference if the evaluated luminance difference lies between the first and second thresholds.

20 . The camera-equipped apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an estimating function, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to execute the functionality of the estimating function to estimate the displacement between the target image and the last image in the panoramic pan.

21 . The camera-equipped apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a selection function, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to select the target image if the estimated displacement is greater than a displacement threshold.