Importance

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Abstract

A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single scene from which 'panning' and 'zooming' within the scene are performed. In one embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from each camera are warped and blended such that the combined image is seamless with respect to each of the component images. Warping of the digital images is performed via pre-calculated non-dynamic equations that are calculated based on a registration of the camera array. The process of registering each camera in the arrays is performed either manually, by selecting corresponding points or sets of points in two or more images, or automatically, by presenting a source object (laser light source, for example) into a scene being captured by the camera array and registering positions of the source object as it appears in each of the images. The warping equations are calculated based on the registration data and each scene captured by the camera array is warped and combined using the same equations determined therefrom. A scene captured by the camera array is zoomed, or selectively steered to an area of interest. This zooming- or steering, being done in the digital domain is performed nearly instantaneously when compared to cameras with mechanical zoom and steering functions.

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First Claim