A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING PANORAMIC IMAGES, AND A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONSULTING PANORAMIC IMAGES

Abstract: A method for producing panorama images whereby a shot is made from a desired shooting position with the help of a camera with a fish eye optic whereafter the obtained image is scanned and then the digital images are transformed into a panoramic image with the help of a computer and software. The digital image is scanned by dividing the image up into narrow radial segments. Each radial segment, in the radial direction, is then divided up into a number of parts of equal height whereafter each segment part obtained is depicted on a point of a straight line, whereby the grey tint of each segment part is corrected for the modified surface on which it is depicted. The invention also concerns an apparatus which comprises a camera provided with a fish eye optic. The image area is provided with a CCD-matric on which the image obtained is projected, whereby an image in digital form is immediately obtained.

Description: A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING PANORAMIC IMAGES, AND A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONSULTING PANORAMIC IMAGES It is a problem that people often have to go to a certain place in order to view the surroundings. To take one or more photographs of a certain object is often not enough, because it appears, that when these photos are consulted at another place, for instance at the office, that certain information and details can not be satisfactorily seen. Similar problems can occur with, for example, estate agents, where buyers are eager for information about certain objects offered for sale. The estate agent often has a view of the object to be sold but not of the direct surroundings. Council officials also need to view objects so that, for instance, tree felling licenses can be issued, building applications checked, or that the eventual suitability of a building initiative in an existing situation can be controlled and assessed, or that a town planner's designs, and the suitability of these designs in existing situations can be assessed. The production of panoramic images whereby the whole surroundings from one point can be observed is known. For this purpose a number of photos can be taken, with a photographic camera, which can then be put together to form a panoramic image. This method is however very time consu¬ ming and requires a large shooting storage in the case where a certain area requires more than the usual number of shots in order to be produced and recorded. It is also very diffi¬ cult to quickly and accurately find a desired image from such a file. According to a first object of the invention, a system is provided whereby a large number of panoramic images can be made in a short time, in simple manner can be recorded and then very quickly, at a desired moment, consulted. Such object can be met with a method according to the invention, by which a shot of the surroundings is made from a desired shooting position with the help of a camera with a fish eye optic, and whereafter the obtained image is scanned with the aid of scanning means, after which the obtained images, in digital form, are transformed into a panoramic image with the help of a computer and software. The registering of complete surroundings in a single image, with the help of a fish eye optic is already known. However the images obtained thus, are very difficult to be interpreted in the correct manner by the human eye. Because the images obtained give a very distorted image with respects to that as seen by the human eye, it is very diffi¬ cult to interpret these images in order to obtain the desired information. With this method according to the invention, images are achieved, obtained with a fish eye optic, which are firstly transformed in such a manner that they approach an image which can be interpreted by the human eye. By recording these images in digital form in a computer, a certain desired image can be consulted very quickly from a large number of recorded images. According to another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for transforming fish eye images into panoramic images, comprising the following steps: - centering a scanning means onto the center of an obtained fish eye image; and - .rotatingly scanning the fish eye image by a rotating scanning array of aligned light sensitive elements such that the fish eye image is divided into successive radial parts which are transformed into successive parts of a panoramic image. A apparatus is preferably employed for the produc- tion of digital fish eye images according to the invention, whereby the apparatus comprises a camera provided with a fish eye optic and the image area is provided with a CCD- matrix on which the obtained image is projected, whereby an image in digital form is immediately obtained. It is possi--* ble, with such a apparatus, to immediately transform the images obtained with the fish eye optic into digital forms, whereby the step of firstly obtaining a photographic depiction, with the help of a fish eye optic, can be omitted. In general there is an increased need to be able to visually observe the surroundings and/or details of certain objects quickly, without having to be at the location where the object is. For instance in estate agency, there is a need to have images, et the office, of certain objects that are for sale, or for hire, to show to the buyers or hirers, whereby the images not only show the object but can also give a good impression of the objects neighbourhood. The police, fire brigade, advertising bureaus, public service industries, and council services, etc. also need to have visual information of the neighbourhood of a certain place, at the office. For cases concerning, for example , town planning, building and housing inspection, property tax, land management and so forth, extra information is frequently needed, which at the moment is obtained by visiting the place concerned. It can be of great importance for the police or fire brigade to posess information concerning the neighbourhood of certain objects and thus to be able to consult this information, before any possible action needs to be taken at these places concerned. According to another aspect of the present invention a method and system is provided whereby it is possible with the help of this system and a computer and software, to record information and thereafter to be able to call up the desired information quickly. The object of the invention is achieved by recording a large number of panoramic images, in digital form in a computer, taken from successive shooting positions, whereby the shooting positions are chosen in such a way, that there exists a connection between them. For example, the shooting positions are chosen such that parts of the images, taken from two successive shooting positions, partly overlap each other or that the only images concerned are panoramic images of, for example, objects to be sold by an estate agent. Further features, advantages and details will be clarified in the following description in which reference is made to the annexed drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows a schematic assembly of a camera for the production of digital images according to the invention; fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a digital camera system; fig. 3 shows a fish eye photo after it has been registered in digital form; fig. 4 shows a part of a fish eye photo after it has been transformed into a panoramic image according to the invention. fig. 5 shows a fish eye image of the surroundings of a shooting position; fig. 6 shows a map, according to the invention , together with an image of part of two successive panoramic images. fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the system and method according to the present invention; fig. 8A-D show respective diagrams in the processing of the pictures of the system of fig. 10; and fig. 9A and 9B show respective images obtained with the system of fig. 10. The schematic representation reproduced in fig. l of a CCD-camera, according to the invention, consists of a fish eye optic 1, a field lens 2, an imaging objective 3 and an image area 4 on which a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) chip 5, of for example 2.048 x 2.048 pixels, is placed. Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a digital camera system, consisting of fish eye optic 6 that comprises a fish eye lens 1, a field lens 2, an imaging objective 3, and an image area 4 on which CCD-sensors of one or more CCD-chips 5, are placed. The whole system can be, for instance, secu- red on a platform that is in turn secured onto a car, the ' platform being given the number 7 in the block diagram. The signals can then be processed and checked, immediately or afterwards, with the help of electronics. This is indicated by the number 8. Following this, the obtained shots can be recorded in a computer 9. Moving recordings in the field can be made with a moving recording vehicle, provided with a camera system so as shown in fig. 2. The driving speed and number of images to be taken can be determined from before- hand in order to obtain the desired accuracy in the images, so that the desired details are clear enough. Fig. 5 shows a fish eye shot 21, which has been digitally registered and then recorded in a computer. This is the panoramic image before it has been converted into a panoramic image which is able to be interpreted by the human eye. In fig. 6, a transformed image 22 is shown of the image 21, as observed in fig. 5, whilst at the same time a second image 23 is shown of a preceding panoramic image. A part of map 24 is also observed , on which the different points from where the shots were taken are given by a few dots 25. This lay out consists of a part of a map of a developed area, whereby the different points from which shots have been made are not only at the front of the development, but also at the baal, i.e. in the gardens of diverse buildings. The method is also very suitable to be used in buildings. One can think of mansions or large buildings in need of renovation. The method is also very useful in order to make a record of the changes occurring in, for instance, the nature. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention (fig. 7) a mobile recording system 40 is mounted on top of a relatively low vehicle, such as an automobile of the type Mini, so that the angle gamma (T) of 30° under the horizontal provides fora recording as close as possible to the vehicle. The mobile recording system 40 comprises a camera housing for black-and-white rolling film having a width of 70 mm, a stabilized platform on which the camera housing is mounted and a computer including interface electronics and control software, mounted inside the vehicle. If a street S with buildings B (fig. 8A) is to be surveyed, for instance six fish eye recordings are made from the respective positions, which recordings are embodied on a tape of film 50 (8B) which the respective recordings are numbered 51, 51' and 51". The recordings 51, 51', 51" are scanned by a rotating CCD-scanner 52 (fig. 6) of which the pivot 53 is accurately positioned in the center of a recording 51. For the purpose of image viewing, viz. not for the purpose of geodetic measurements, an image frame of approximately 1.9 megabyte is sufficient, which amount of information can still be reduced further by image compressing techniques. From the scanner 52 two dimensional images 59 (fig. 8D) are obtained, which images are stored on tapes e.g. cassettes 54, 55 of the DAT-format. For geodatic image measurements an information amount of 88 megabyte is considered to be sufficient. For the purpose of image viewing however such information density can be reduced with at least one order of magnitude. The cassettes 54, 55 are stored and used together with a further cassette 56 on which an overview image including known reference points is recorded. With aid of the cassettes 54, 55, 56, a DAT recorder 57 (fig. 9A, 9B) and a personal computer 58 the images of a number of cassettes, (more than images from the one street as shown) , can be integrated and linked to a map, together with position data, such as the address and/or code for an object or building which is included in the image, see fig. 9C. If someone wishes to obtain information from the system, he can request a map on a screen (fig. 10) and subsequently point to a building or a position, e.g. by a mouse, such that images 61, 62 and/or 63 are shown on the map.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method for producing panoramic images, cha- racterized in that, a surroundings shot is made from a desired shooting position with the help of a camera with a fish eye optic and that following this the obtained image is scanned with scanning means and that then the obtained image, in digital form, is transformed into a panoramic image with the aid of a computer and software. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is provided for transforming fish eye images into panoramic images, comprising the following steps: - centering a scanning means onto the center of an obtained fish eye image; and - rotatingly scanning the fish eye image by a rotating scanning array of aligned light sensitive elements such that the fish eye image is divided into successive radial parts which are transformed into successive parts of a panoramic image. 3. A apparatus for the production of digital fish eye images characterized in that the apparatus comprises a camera provided with a fish eye optic and that the image area is provided with a CCD-matrix on which the obtained image is projected, whereby an image in digital form is immediately obtained. 4. A method for assembling a file of object ima¬ ges, for instance parts of cities, parts of streets, the inside of a mansion, from which the desired images can be quickly consulted, characterized in that a large number of panoramic images, taken from successive shooting positions, are recorded in a computer in digital form, whereby the shooting positions are chosen in such a way that a connecti¬ on exists between the shooting positions, for example that the shooting positions are chosen in such a way that the images, taken from successive shooting positions partly overlap each other, or that the only images concerned are panoramic of, for instance, objects to be sold by an estate agent. 5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that a layout is stored together with the panoramic images in the computer, on which those points are indicated from which the panoramic shots are taken, and on which images or shots are stored together. 6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, characteri¬ zed in that, apart from the usual desired administrative information such as place, date and time, more administrati¬ ve information is added to each obtained and stored in a digital form image, such as orientation or the direction in which, for example, compass directions are observed and/or the administrative information of objects, such as house numbers, street names and so forth, which are observed from the shooting position, and that this administrative informa¬ tion gives access to the desired image. 7. A method according to claims 4, 5 or 6 charac¬ terized in that a part of the panoramic image is, for exam- pie, displayed as a quadrant. 8. A system or method for assembling a file of images in such a way that an image can be simply consulted from a file, characterized in that a large number of panora¬ mic images are stored in digital form in a computer, as well as a lay out, on which the points are indicated, from which panoramic images are made and that administrative informati¬ on such as house numbers, street names, and place coordina¬ tes give access to a desired image and whereby the panoramic images can be divided up into arbitrary parts, for example a quadrant, dependant on the desired viewing direction from a particular shooting position. 9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the fish eye image is a photographic image on the center of which a pivoting image device is centered. 10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the panoramic image has an information density of approximately 1.9 megabyte, or in the order of magnitude of 8.8 megabyte or less.

Inventors: POELSTRA THEO JOGCHUM, POELSTRA, THEO, JOGCHUM
Applicants: GEERIS HOLDING NEDERLAND, POELSTRA THEO JOGCHUM, GEERIS HOLDING NEDERLAND B.V., POELSTRA, THEO, JOGCHUM
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: G01C11, G06F17, G06T1, G06T3, H04N1, H04N5, H04N7