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SamsungGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 6/10

Samsung patents camera system that stitches images to see around obstacles

Samsung has been granted a patent for an electronic device that uses two cameras with different field of views to capture a complete image of an object. When one camera sees an obstacle blocking part of the target, the processor calculates where to point the second, wider-angle camera to capture the hidden section. The system then combines these specific areas into a single, unobstructed view of the target object.

Why it mattersThis technique could improve how devices like phones or robots perceive their surroundings by allowing them to 'see' around physical blockages without needing to physically move the device.

In the filing’s own words

An electronic apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus comprises: a first camera having a first image capturing angle; a second camera having a second image capturing angle larger than the first image capturing angle; and a processor which when a portion of a target object is identified and an obstacle object overlapping the other portion of the target object is identified from at least one of a first captured image acquired from the first camera and a second captured image acquired from the second camera, acquires location information of the identified obstacle object, identifies a region of interest in the second captured image on the basis of the acquired location information of the obstacle object, and identifies the other portion of the target object on the basis of the region of interest in the second captured image.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a first camera having a first angle of view; a second camera having a second angle of view greater than the first angle of view; memory storing instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic apparatus to: acquire a first captured image through the first camera, identify a first portion of a target object and an obstacle object overlapping a second portion of the target object in the first captured image, identify location information and size information of the obstacle object based on the first captured image, determine an image capturing location of the second camera based on the identified location information and size information of the obstacle object, control the second camera to acquire a second captured image in the determined image capturing location, identify a region of interest of the second captured image based on the location information of the obstacle object, identify the second portion of the target object based on the region of interest of the second captured image, generate a combined image including an entire image of the target object by combining a region of the first captured image including the target object and the obstacle object with the region of interest of the second captured image, and identify the target object based on the combined image, and wherein the region of interest includes a portion of the target object occluded by the obstacle object.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Electronic apparatus and controlling method thereof
Patent number
US12731417B2
Application number
18118445
Filed
Mar 7, 2023
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
13

Classified under

G06V 20/64 Physics & computingG05D 1/0238 Physics & computingG05D 1/0246 Physics & computingG06T 3/4038 Physics & computingG06V 10/25 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.