Patents by Inventor Benjamin Kuo

Benjamin Kuo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8049786
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for improving image stitching accuracy and a device for implementing the same, which apply to the multi-camera system for wide-angle image generation. Lens distortion causes mismatches of the features in the overlapping region of the images captured by the multi-camera system. As a result, the mismatches on the stitched wide-angle image are visible. The method and device for improving image stitching accuracy correct the lens distortion before stitching the images captured by the multi-camera system, so that the features in the overlapping region are matched and a seamless wide-angle image is generated by the stitching engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Taiwan Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo, Tatsumi Mitsushita
  • Patent number: 7978931
    Abstract: The invention discloses an optimized video stitching method, comprising: inputting predefined pattern images; proceeding with a transformation which combines planar and cylindrical transformation; proceeding with a merging calculation which combines linear difference merging and alpha blending calculation; and proceeding with a horizontal stitching processing by putting the processed images horizontally together into one seamless wide-angle image. The optimized video stitching method according to the invention further comprises a camera position calibration flow comprising: finding a planar matrix by using predefined pattern images; proceeding with a planar transformation of image; proceeding with an image registration by using a block matching method to find out the stitching points on the planar surface; and proceeding with a cylindrical transformation by transforming the stitching points from the planar surface to cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Tatsumi Mitsushita, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo
  • Publication number: 20070236595
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for improving image stitching accuracy and a device for implementing the same, which apply to the multi-camera system for wide-angle image generation. Lens distortion causes mismatches of the features in the overlapping region of the images captured by the multi-camera system. As a result, the mismatches on the stitched wide-angle image are visible. The method and device for improving image stitching accuracy correct the lens distortion before stitching the images captured by the multi-camera system, so that the features in the overlapping region are matched and a seamless wide-angle image is generated by the stitching engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo, Tatsumi Mitsushita
  • Publication number: 20070211955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a extracting and correcting method for a wide-angle image which can be a still image or a video stream. The method is able to display the extracted image without distortion. The correction method of the present invention is performed to map sections of the image to a plane with respect to their respective viewing angles. The present invention is adapted to progressively move the view angle and repeat the steps of extracting and correcting, thereby producing the panning effect without distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Tatsumi Mitsushita, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo
  • Publication number: 20070211934
    Abstract: The invention discloses an optimized video stitching method, comprising: inputting predefined pattern images; proceeding with a transformation which combines planar and cylindrical transformation; proceeding with a merging calculation which combines linear difference merging and alpha blending calculation; and proceeding with a horizontal stitching processing by putting the processed images horizontally together into one seamless wide-angle image. The optimized video stitching method according to the invention further comprises a camera position calibration flow comprising: finding a planar matrix by using predefined pattern images; proceeding with a planar transformation of image; proceeding with an image registration by using a block matching method to find out the stitching points on the planar surface; and proceeding with a cylindrical transformation by transforming the stitching points from the planar surface to cylindrical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Tatsumi Mitsushita, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo
  • Publication number: 20070081091
    Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify stitching algorithm which generates horizontal panoramic image. The image pickup device of the present invention comprises a plurality of lenses and positioning means. Said positioning means positions each lens so that the FOV (Field Of View) intersection points of all lenses are aligned in vertical direction. Accordingly, the horizontal parallax does not exist in the image picked up by the camera system and the stitching point remains the same for the objects at different distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Pan, Tatsumi Mitsushita, Christine Lin, Benjamin Kuo