Patent ID: 6549681
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A panoramic image synthesizing system which synthesizes a plurality of images to create a one panoramic image on the basis of matching points representing the relations of the plurality of images where parts of their image areas overlap other images, said system comprising:in a first synthesizing modepoint designation means for designating points in the overlapping areas: operation means for cutting out a predetermined-sized partial image based on the points designated by said point designation means, and performing an image superimposing operation to manually superimpose the cut-out image on the other image; and first synthesizing means for extracting the matching points corresponding to the points designated by said point designation means in a predetermined first searching area based on the position where the images are superimposed by said operation means, and synthesizing the plurality of images on the basis of the extracted matching points to create the one panoramic image, and in a second synthesizing modedetermining means for searching a second searching area and determining a synthesizing position of the plurality of images, without performing the manual image superimposing operation; and second synthesizing means for synthesizing the plurality of images on the basis of the determination by said determining means, wherein said first searching area is narrower than said second searching area.