Imaging system, imaging apparatus, and system

Abstract

An imaging system includes an imaging unit, a detecting unit, a recording unit, a correcting unit, and a video generating unit. The imaging unit captures images of a plurality frames. The detecting unit detects a tilt of the imaging unit with respect to a reference direction. The recording unit records time-series data of the tilt detected by the detecting unit. The correcting unit applies tilt correction to an image of each of the frames captured by the imaging unit, based on the time-series data of the tilt recorded by the recording unit and additional information unique to the imaging unit. The video generating unit generates video data based on the image of each of the frames corrected by the correcting unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging system, comprising:
 circuitry configured to perform:   capturing images of a plurality frames;   detecting a tilt of the circuitry configured to perform the capturing with respect to a reference direction in synchronization with a captured image of each frame;   recording time-series data of the tilt corresponding to the captured image of each frame detected by the detecting;   applying tilt correction to an image of each of the corresponding frames captured by the capturing, based on the time-series data of the tilt corresponding to the captured image of each frame recorded by the recording; and   generating video data based on the image of each of the frames corrected by the correcting.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform:
 compressing the images of the frames captured by the imaging into data in a video format;   outputting the image data in the video format compressed by the compressing and the time-series data of the tilt recorded by the recording;   reading the image data in the video format and the time-series data of the tilt that are output by the outputting; and   restoring the image of each of the frames from the image data in the video format read by the reading,   wherein the correcting applies the tilt correction to the image of each of the frames restored by the restoring, based on the time-series data of the tilt read by the reading.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform:
 outputting the images of the frames captured by the imaging and the time-series data of the tilt recorded by the recording; and   reading the images of the frames and the time-series data of the tilt that are output by the outputting,   wherein the applying applies the tilt correction to the image of each of the frames read by the reading, based on the time-series data of the tilt read by the reading.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry configured to perform the imaging, the detecting, the recording, and the outputting are included in an imaging apparatus, and the circuitry configured to perform the reading, the correcting, and the generating are included in an image processing apparatus that is separate from the imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the circuitry configured to perform the imaging comprises a first wide-angle imaging optical system and a second wide-angle imaging optical system,   the images of the frames captured by the imaging include a first partial image captured by the first wide-angle imaging optical system and a second partial image captured by the second wide-angle imaging optical system,   the circuitry configured to perform the correcting comprises circuitry configured to perform:
 modifying, according to the tilt, conversion data that is prepared for converting the first partial image and the second partial image into data in a spherical coordinate system; and 
 convert, using omnidirectional image generating using the conversion data modified by the modifying, the first partial image and the second partial image into data in the spherical coordinate system, and generate omnidirectional images, and 
   the video data is video data of the omnidirectional images.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in performing the tilt correction, the applying tilt correction loads, into a memory, images of some of the frames that are based on a starting frame of the frames constituting an entirety of the video data. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reference direction is a vertical direction, and   the applying tilt correction applies the tilt correction so that a zenith direction of the image of each of the frames which have been corrected coincides with a vertical line.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes an acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         9 . An imaging apparatus that captures an image, the imaging apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to perform:   capturing images of a plurality frames;   detecting a tilt of the circuitry configured to perform the capturing with respect to a reference direction in synchronization with captured image of each frame;   recording time-series data of the tilt corresponding to the captured image of each frame detected by the detecting;   first outputting an image of each of the frames captured by the capturing; and   second outputting to output the time-series data of the tilt corresponding to the captured image of each frame recorded by the recording,   wherein the image of each of the frames output by the first outputting is corrected in tilt based on the time-series data of the tilt corresponding to the captured image of each frame output by the second outputting.   
     
     
         10 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
 circuitry configured to image a subject and output a plurality of images thereof;   circuitry configured to detect a tilt when the subject is imaged;   circuitry configured to generate a video from the images; and   circuitry configured to output information on the tilt and the video, the information on the tilt being used for applying tilt correction to the video,   wherein the circuitry configured to output outputs the images constituting the video and the information on the tilt when each of the images is captured so as to be associated with each other.   
     
     
         11 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 10 , comprising a plurality of the imaging units, wherein:
 the circuitry conjured to generate generates videos of a plurality of images output from the circuitry configured to image, and   the circuitry configured to output outputs the videos.