IP Library Granted Patent US 10,078,899
Granted Patent B2
US 10,078,899 · App. 14/882,870 · Granted Sep 18, 2018

Camera system and image registration method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,078,899
App. No.
14/882,870
Granted
Sep 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a camera system and an image registration method for registering images taken by multiple cameras moving in the same manner. The image registration method includes: acquiring multiple sets of images of a reference subject, wherein each of the multiple sets of images comprises images taken by the multiple cameras facing a same direction and images of different sets are taken with the multiple cameras facing different directions; performing image registration using the multiple sets of images; and rendering a result image showing a result of the image registration.

Claims (34)

1. An image registration method performed by a processor to register images taken by multiple cameras moving in a synchronized manner at same relative positions each other, the image registration method comprising:

acquiring multiple sets of images of a reference subject, wherein

an n-th camera takes an n-th set of images,

each set of the multiple sets of images has more than one image, and

in each set of the multiple sets of images, directions of the camera taking the images in the set are different each other;

generating reference images respectively corresponding to the multiple sets of images by synthesizing images of each of the multiple sets of images;

comparing a first field of view of a first camera with a second field of view of a second camera;

performing image registration according to a first registration algorithm when a difference between the first field of view and the second field of view is greater than a reference value;

performing image registration according to a second registration algorithm when the difference between the first field of view and the second field of view is less than or equal to the reference value; and

rendering a result image showing a result of the image registration,

wherein the first registration algorithm estimates a conversion model by matching corresponding feature points between first and second reference images, and

wherein the second registration algorithm estimates the conversion model by matching corresponding feature points between the multiple sets of images without using the first and second reference images.

2. The image registration method of claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple sets of images shows a different wavelength characteristic of the reference subject.

3. The image registration method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the reference images comprises:

generating feature point images by masking regions outside the reference subject in the multiple sets of images; and

synthesizing the feature point images for each of the multiple sets of images.

4. The image registration method of claim 1 , wherein a center coordinate of the reference subject in each reference image is used as a coordinate of a feature point of the reference image.

5. A camera system comprising:

multiple cameras configured to move in a synchronized manner at same relative positions each other; and

a controller configured to:

acquire multiple sets of images of a reference subject, wherein

an n-th camera takes an n-th set of images,

each set of the multiple sets of images has more than one image, and

in each set of the multiple sets of images, directions of the camera taking the images in the set are different each other,

generate reference images respectively corresponding to the multiple sets of images by synthesizing images of each of the multiple sets of images,

compare a first field of view of a first camera with a second field of view of a second camera,

perform image registration according to a first registration algorithm when a difference between the first field of view and the second field of view is greater than a reference value, and

perform image registration according to a second registration algorithm when the difference between the first field of view and the second field of view is less than or equal to the reference value, and

perform rendering of a result image showing a result of the image registration,

wherein the first registration algorithm estimates a conversion model by matching corresponding feature points between first and second reference images, and

wherein the second registration algorithm estimates the conversion model by matching corresponding feature points between the multiple sets of images without using the first and second reference images.

6. The camera system of claim 5 , wherein a center coordinate of the reference subject in each reference image is used as a coordinate of a feature point of the reference image.

7. The camera system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate feature point images by masking regions outside the reference subject in the multiple sets of images, and synthesize images for each of the multiple sets of images.

8. The camera system of claim 5 , wherein each of the multiple sets of images shows a different wavelength characteristic of the reference subject.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 10, 2023
From: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA VISION CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064549/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: HANWHA AEROSPACE CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049013/0723 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER 10/853,669. IN ADDITION PLEASE SEE EXHIBIT A PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046927 FRAME 0019. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
To: HANWHA AEROSPACE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048496/0596 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD
To: HANWHA AEROSPACE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046927/0019 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2015
From: OH, JAEYOON
To: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036791/0452 →