Abstract:
A viewing angle switching method capable of conveniently adjusting region of interest (ROI) and user-friendly displaying image can be applied to a related camera. The viewing angle switching method includes setting at least one first region of interest and one second region of interest within a monitoring image, displaying the first region of interest on a monitoring screen, analyzing direction information of a switching command, and determining whether to rotate the second region of interest by a predetermined angle and to display the rotated second region of interest in accordance with the direction information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a viewing angle switching method and a related camera, and more particularly, to a viewing angle switching method and a related camera capable of conveniently adjusting the region of interest within an image. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The conventional fisheye monitoring apparatus is disposed on the ceiling, the wall or the floor. A fisheye lens of the monitoring apparatus is utilized to capture a panorama image containing all characteristic information inside the monitoring area. However, a vision field of the fisheye lens is approximate to 180 degrees wide, a central region of the fisheye image is clear for observation, but a side region of the fisheye image is uncomfortable to identify detailed characteristics. The user has to swing the head around to match with the side region of the fisheye image. Further, the conventional fisheye monitoring apparatus with high quality cannot deliver the video smoothly because of low frame rate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a viewing angle switching method and a related camera capable of conveniently adjusting the region of interest within an image for solving above drawbacks. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the claimed invention, a viewing angle switching method capable of conveniently adjusting a region of interest includes setting a first region of interest and a second region of interest within a monitoring image, displaying the first region of interest on a monitoring screen, analyzing direction information of a switching command, and determining whether to rotate the second region of interest by a predetermined angle and display the rotated second region of interest in accordance with the direction information. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the claimed invention, a camera capable of conveniently adjusting a region of interest includes an image capturing unit adapted to capture a monitoring image, and a processing controller electrically connected to the image capturing unit. The processing controller is adapted to set a first region of interest and a second region of interest within the monitoring image, to display the first region of interest on a monitoring screen, to analyze direction information of a switching command, and to determine whether to rotate the second region of interest by a predetermined angle and display the rotated second region of interest in accordance with the direction information. 
         [0008]    The viewing angle switching method of the present invention removes parts of the original capturing image I 1  to form the rectangular monitoring image I 2  for increasing frame rate of the camera  10 . The monitoring image I 2  is elongated, the viewing angle switching method can divide the monitoring image I 2  into several regions of interest R 1 , R 2 , R 3  partly overlapped with each other, and the monitoring screen  16  may display one of the regions of interest alone, display several regions of interest arranged side by side, or display the regions of interest adjacent to the monitoring image I 2 . While the monitoring screen  16  is utilized to mainly display the specific region of interest (such as the first region of interest R 1 ), the viewing angle switching method can determine whether to switch those regions of interest according to the direction information and quantity of the switching command, and further determine which one from the regions of interest is selected and displayed, so as to provide comfortable observation by rotating the region of interest in compliance with human practical tendency. Further, the viewing angle switching method can shrink or enlarge the predefined region from the region of interest according to utilization demand for observing detailed characteristic of the fisheye panorama image. The viewing angle switching method and the related camera of the present invention provides diverse and humanistic image showing selection, and the user can arbitrarily display and switch the specific region of interest within the monitoring image on the monitoring screen. 
         [0009]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  respectively are diagrams of images captured by the camera in different operation modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a viewing angle switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a monitoring image and the regions of interest arranged side by side according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a monitoring screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively are diagrams of the regions of interest in different operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a camera  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  respectively are diagrams of images captured by the camera  10  in different operation modes according to the embodiment of the present invention. The camera  10  includes an image capturing unit  12  and a processing controller  14  electrically connected with each other. The image capturing unit  12  is adapted to capture the image, and the processing controller  14  transforms the image into a conformed format by image processing procedure. The camera  10  of the present invention can conveniently adjust position of a region of interest (ROI) within the captured image. Generally, the camera  10  sets the region of interest having a specific shape (such as the rectangular form) within the captured image. The rectangular region of interest not only generates the rectangular view range matched with the monitoring screen  16 , but also provides preferred FPS (frames per second) for smooth video delivering. 
         [0017]    The camera  10  of the present invention preferably can be a fisheye monitor disposed on the floor or the ceiling inside monitor environment. The camera  10  acquires an original capturing image I 1  in the beginning, such like the fisheye panorama image I 1  shown in  FIG. 2 , and removes a part of the original capturing image I 1  to form a monitoring image I 2 , such like the rectangular image I 2  shown in  FIG. 3 . The camera  10  sets the region of interest within the monitoring image I 2 , the monitoring screen  16  may merely display the region of interest for detailed observation, or simultaneously display the monitoring image I 2  and the region of interest for comparative observation. Because dimensions of the region of interest is smaller than dimensions of the monitoring image I 2 , the camera  10  may freely adjust position of the region of interest within the monitoring image I 2  according to a switching command input by the user, to avoid missing accidental situation in the monitor environment. 
         [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a viewing angle switching method according to the embodiment of the present invention. The viewing angle switching method illustrated in  FIG. 4  is suitable for the camera  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and is used to conveniently adjust position of the region of interest within the captured image, so that the user can observe the region of interest by comfortable posture accordingly. First, step  400  is executed that the processing controller  14  acquires and cuts the original capturing image I 1  (which is captured by the image capturing unit  12 ) to form the monitoring image I 2 . For example, a rectangular region with specific dimensions (such like a first rectangular region with a first specific dimensions) may be removed from a top of the original capturing image I 1 , and another rectangular region with individual specific dimensions (such like a second rectangular region with a second specific dimensions) may be removed from a bottom of the original capturing image I 1 , which means parts of the original capturing image I 1  above the line L 1  and below the line L 2  shown in  FIG. 2  are taken away. Location of the lines L 1  and L 2  are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, distance of the lines L 1  and L 2  relative to edges of the original capturing image I 1  can be different or equivalent to each other, which depend on design demand. 
         [0019]    Then, step  402  is executed that the processing controller  14  sets at least two regions of interest within the monitoring image I 2 , such as the first region of interest R 1  and the second region of interest R 2  shown in  FIG. 3 ; additionally, the third region of interest R 3  or more regions of interest may be available in accordance with actual demand. In this embodiment, the first region of interest R 1  is located on a middle of the monitoring image I 2 , the second region of interest R 2  is located on a right side of the monitoring image I 2 , and the third region of interest R 3  is located on a left side of the monitoring image I 2 . The regions of interest can be, but not limited to, partly overlapped with each other. Later, step  404  is executed to display the first region of interest R 1  on the monitoring screen  16  for an initial frame. While the camera  10  receives the switching command input by the user, step  406  is executed to analyze direction information and quantity of the switching command. Step  408  is executed to keep the current region of interest since the foresaid quantity is smaller than a threshold, touch of the switching command is represented as an accident or a noise, so the region of interest displayed on the monitoring screen  16  is unchangeable. Step  410  is executed to display the following region of interest since the foresaid quantity is equal to or greater than the threshold, and one of the second region of interest R 2  and the third region of interest R 3  is selected to display on the monitoring screen  16  in accordance with the direction information. 
         [0020]    The user can input the direction information via any input device, such as the mouse or the touch screen. As the direction information is oriented toward right (such like dragging the mouse to left; however the mouse may be dragged to the right by specific demand), the second region of interest R 2  is purposed to display on the monitoring screen  16 , step  412  is executed that the processing controller  14  rotates the second region of interest R 2  to a predetermined angle at a counterclockwise direction and then displays the rotated second region of interest R 2  on the monitoring screen  16 . As the direction information is oriented toward the left (such like dragging the mouse to the right; however the mouse may be dragged to the left by the specific demand), the third region of interest R 3  is purposed to display on the monitoring screen  16 , step  414  is executed that the processing controller  14  rotates the third region of interest R 3  to the predetermined angle at a clockwise direction and then displays the rotated third region of interest R 3  on the monitoring screen  16 . Rotary directions of the second region of interest R 2  and the third region of interest R 3  are designed according to location of the side region of interest relative to the middle region of interest, which are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. Generally, the predetermined angle can be adjusted in accordance with a shape of the monitoring image I 2  and/or relation between the original capturing image I 1  and the monitoring image I 2 , and is defined as, but not limited to, ninety degrees. In steps  412  and  414 , the rotated second region of interest R 2  (or the rotated third region of interest R 3 ) is used to replace the previous region of interest (such like the first region of interest R 1 ) and can be displayed on the monitoring screen  16 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotate second region of interest R 2  and/or the rotated third region of interest R 3  can be displayed on the monitoring screen  16  adjacent to the previous region of interest (such like the first region of interest R 1 ) and/or the monitoring image I 2 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram of the monitoring image I 2  and the regions of interest arranged side by side according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a diagram of the monitoring screen  16  according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first region of interest R 1  is cited as an instance that the single region of interest is displayed on the monitoring screen  16 . While the user intends to observe a specific range of the first region of interest R 1 , the input interface (such like the mouse, the keyboard or the touch pad) is utilized to select a specific region Rs within the first region of interest R 1 , a scaling ratio of the specific region Rs is adjusted according to the scaling control command (such as turning number of the mouse roller, clicking parameters of the keyboard) of the input interface, and the specific region Rs can be enlarged to be identical with a size of the monitoring screen  16 , so that the user can clearly identify image characteristics inside the predefined region Rs. 
         [0022]    Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  respectively are diagrams of the regions of interest in different operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the monitoring screen  16  displays the first region of interest R 1  in the beginning, the second region of interest R 2  is counterclockwise rotated to ninety degrees from orientation shown in  FIG. 3  (which means the dotted region shown in  FIG. 7 ) while receiving the switching command for left shift, and the rotated second region of interest R 2  is displayed on the monitoring screen  16 ; in the event of receiving the switching command for right shift, the monitoring screen  16  is recovered to display the first region of interest R 1 . While the switching command for right shift is received, the third region of interest R 3  is clockwise rotated to ninety degrees from orientation shown in  FIG. 3  (which means the dotted region shown in  FIG. 7 ) and then is displayed on the monitoring screen  16 ; in the event of receiving the switching command for left shift, the monitoring screen  16  is recovered to display the first region of interest R 1 . 
         [0023]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the monitoring screen  16  displays the first region of interest R 1  in the beginning. While receiving the switching command for left shift, the second region of interest R 2  is counterclockwise rotated to ninety degrees from orientation shown in  FIG. 3  (which means the dotted region shown in  FIG. 8 ) and is accordingly displayed on the monitoring screen  16 . Afterwards, the monitoring screen  16  can be recovered to display the initial first region of interest R 1  while receiving the switching command for right shift; in the event of receiving the switching command for left shift, the monitoring screen  16  turns the first region of interest R 1  upside down to generate and display the overturned first region of interest R 1 ′. The first region of interest R 1 ′ displayed on the monitoring screen  16  can be replaced by the second region of interest R 2  or the third region of interest R 3 , the related flow process is mentioned as above and a detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. 
         [0024]    In conclusion, the viewing angle switching method of the present invention removes parts of the original capturing image I 1  to form the rectangular monitoring image I 2  for increasing frame rate of the camera  10 . The monitoring image I 2  is elongated, the viewing angle switching method can divide the monitoring image I 2  into several regions of interest R 1 , R 2 , R 3  partly overlapped with each other, and the monitoring screen  16  may display one of the regions of interest alone, display several regions of interest arranged side by side, or display the regions of interest adjacent to the monitoring image I 2 . While the monitoring screen  16  is utilized to mainly display the specific region of interest (such as the first region of interest R 1 ), the viewing angle switching method can determine whether to switch those regions of interest according to the direction information and quantity of the switching command, and further determine which one from the regions of interest is selected and displayed, so as to provide comfortable observation by rotating the region of interest in compliance with human practical tendency. Further, the viewing angle switching method can shrink or enlarge the predefined region from the region of interest according to utilization demand for observing detailed characteristic of the fisheye panorama image. Comparing to the prior art, the viewing angle switching method and the related camera of the present invention provides diverse and humanistic image showing selection, and the user can arbitrarily display and switch the specific region of interest within the monitoring image on the monitoring screen. 
         [0025]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.