Signal processing circuit and imaging apparatus

Abstract

Stitching (projective transformation and warping) is performed on direct-transformation region images on the basis of camera initial condition information (information on directions of camera modules) stored in an EEPROM. Stitching is performed on overlapping-region images under the determined composition condition. Stitching is performed on buffer region images by the use of a value (e.g., moderate value) determined on the basis of a projective transformation condition of the direct-transformation region images and a projective transformation condition of the overlapping-region images. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a signal processing circuit used in an imaging apparatus such as a camera.

1 . A signal processing circuit, comprising:
 an image segmentation unit that segments each of a plurality of photographic images, which are acquired by a plurality of camera modules such that each of the plurality of photographic images includes an overlapping region in a photographic range of each of the plurality of camera modules, into an image of the overlapping region, an image of a direct-transformation region that is a non-overlapping region, and an image of a buffer region provided between the overlapping region and the direct-transformation region; and   a stitching unit that stitches the images of the overlapping regions, stitches the images of the direct-transformation regions, and stitches the images of the buffer regions, the images of the overlapping regions, the images of the direct-transformation regions, and the images of the buffer regions being segmented by the image segmentation unit.   
     
     
         2 . The signal processing circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stitching unit
 stitches the images of the direct-transformation regions on the basis of camera initial condition information that is information indicating initial conditions of the plurality of camera modules, 
 stitches the images of the overlapping regions on the basis of a composition condition estimated by the use of the images of the overlapping regions, and
 stitches the images of the buffer regions on the basis of the camera initial condition and the composition condition. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The signal processing circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the stitching unit stitches the images of the buffer regions on the basis of a value, the value being determined by the use of the camera initial condition and the composition condition.   
     
     
         4 . The signal processing circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the images of the buffer regions are divided in several stages in an X-, Y-direction.   
     
     
         5 . The signal processing circuit according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a composition-condition estimation unit that estimates the composition condition by the use of the images of the overlapping regions.   
     
     
         6 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of camera modules; and   a signal processing circuit including
 an image segmentation unit that segments a plurality of photographic images, which are acquired by a plurality of camera modules such that each of the plurality of photographic images includes an overlapping region in a photographic range of each of the plurality of camera modules, into an image of the overlapping region, an image of a direct-transformation region that is a non-overlapping region, and an image of a buffer region provided between the overlapping region and the direct-transformation region, and 
 a stitching unit that stitches the images of the overlapping regions, stitches the images of the direct-transformation regions, and stitches the images of the buffer regions, the images of the overlapping regions, the images of the direct-transformation regions, and the images of the buffer regions being segmented by the image segmentation unit.