Patent ID: 7313289

Claim:
An image processing method for correcting image distortions, comprising the steps of: inputting a plurality of partially overlapping images of a tangible object on an object plane, the plurality of partially overlapping images sharing a common location of the tangible object and being created by capturing the tangible object on the tangible object plane from different directions to the tangible object plane; determining a feature point of one of the plurality of partially overlapping images corresponding to the common location of the tangible object, and determining a matched point of one of the other partially overlapping images corresponding to the feature point so that a direction of the tangible object plane is calculated based on the feature point and the matched point, the tangible object plane being defined by a spatial orientation of the tangible object; selecting one of the plurality of partially overlapping images as a standard image whose image distortions are to be corrected, the selection being based on one of (1) a direction of a straight-line pattern contained in each image, (2) the feature point and the matched point determined in the determining step, and (3) a calculated direction of the object plane for each of the partially overlapping images; and generating a distortion-corrected image on a projection plane by projecting the standard image onto the projection plane based on the direction of the tangible object plane such that image distortions in the standard image are eliminated.