Panoramic 3D camera
A three-dimensional imaging system for generating a 3D panoramic video/image is disclosed. The three-dimensional imaging system includes a plurality of stereoscopic pairs of compound cameras which are separated by a predefined distance d. The imaging system is configured to operate in a first mode to generate panoramic images simultaneously using the compound cameras. Spatial distortion and temporal distortion are calculated for each column in a region of overlap of the field of view of the panoramic images generated. The column for which the spatial and temporal distortion is minimum is marked as a seam location. The marked seam location is changed based on location of a motion in the column for which the calculated spatial and temporal distortion is minimum.
1. A three-dimensional imaging system comprising:
a plurality of stereoscopic pairs of compound imagers each having an overlapping panoramic field of view, wherein
each of the pair of compound imagers are separated by a predefined distance d, and wherein the imaging system is configured to:
operate in a first mode to generate plurality of panoramic images simultaneously by each of the compound imagers;
calculate a spatial distortion and a temporal distortion for each column in a region of overlap corresponding to the overlapping panoramic field of view of the panoramic images;
mark the column for which the calculated spatial distortion and the temporal distortion is minimum as a seam location; and
changing the marked seam location based on detection of a motion in the column for which the calculated spatial distortion and the temporal distortion is minimum.
2. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein each compound imager comprises a camera array assembly.
3. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 2 , wherein the camera array assembly further comprises a plurality of camera sensors arranged along a convex axis.
4. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of cameras are arranged such that field of view of each of the plurality of cameras sensors overlap with field of view of at least one of the adjacent camera sensors.
5. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein the panoramic images are generated by stitching images simultaneously captured by each of the compound imagers.
6. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 , is further configured to operate in a second mode in which a 3D panoramic image is generated by stitching the panoramic images captured by each stereoscopic pair of compound imagers.
7. The three-dimensional imaging system according to claim 1 , is further configured to operate in a third mode in which a 3D panoramic image with 360° field of view is generated by stitching the 3D panoramic images captured by each of the stereoscopic pair of compound imagers.
8. A method of generating three-dimensional (3D) image comprising:
arranging a plurality of stereoscopic pairs of compound imagers each having an overlapping panoramic field of view, wherein the pair of compound imagers are separated by a predefined distance d;
operating in a first mode to generate plurality of panoramic images simultaneously by each of the compound imagers;
calculating a spatial distortion and a temporal distortion for each column in a region of overlap corresponding to the overlapping panoramic field of view of the panoramic images;
marking the column for which the calculated spatial distortion and the temporal distortion is minimum as a seam location; and
changing the marked seam location based on detection of a motion in the column for which the calculated spatial distortion and the temporal distortion is minimum.