Method and system for displaying a panoramic view to an operator
A method for displaying to an operator a rectangular image having a wide field of view of a scene, includes forming a virtual cylinder from the rectangular image, as if it was first printed on a transparent sheet such that it is visible from both sides of the sheet, and then rolled to form the cylinder. A perspective view of the cylinder is provided, vertically dividing the cylinder into two halves. One of the cylinder halves is vertically shifted until there is no overlap between the two halves. The ellipse which is formed between the two halves following the shifting step is defined as an orientation plane.
1. A method for displaying to an operator a rectangular image having a wide field of view of a scene, comprising the steps of:
a. forming a virtual cylinder from the rectangular image, as if the image was first printed on a transparent sheet such that the image is visible from both sides of the sheet, and then rolled to form said cylinder;
b. creating a perspective view of said cylinder, vertically dividing the cylinder into two halves;
c. vertically shifting one of the cylinder halves until a point at which there is no overlap between the two halves, and at which an ellipse is formed between the two shifted halves; and
d. defining the ellipse formed between said two halves following said shifting of step (c) as an orientation plane.
2. Method according to claim 1 , further providing a radial pointer on said orientation plane for each marked object of interest within the scene, said radial pointer being a line starting at the center of said ellipse, and ending at the edge of said ellipse.
3. Method according to claim 2 , wherein each radial pointer refers to the azimuth of the respective object of interest.
4. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the point of intersection between each radial pointer and the ellipse is positioned vertically below or above the respective object of interest.
5. Method according to claim 4 , further comprising a vertical marker starting at said point of intersection, and ending at the respective object of interest.
6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein the length of each vertical marker is proportional to the elevation of the respective object of interest.
7. Method according to claim 2 , further comprising providing a range marker on said radial pointer indicating the range from the origin to the respective object of interest.
8. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the marking of one or more objects of interest is performed either by an operator or by a system.
9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein when the rectangular image covers less than 360°, the virtual cylinder is respectively partial.
10. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual cylinder is replaced by a prismatic body having a top base, said base serving as the orientation plane.