Alignment optimization in image display systems employing multi-camera image acquisition

Abstract

The present invention relates to projection systems where one or more projectors are utilized to project a video, a still image, or combinations thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of calibrating and operating such systems. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating an image display system is provided. According to the method, one or more image sensors acquire respective overlapping portions I, Iof a projected image. Screen position coordinates for image fiducials in the first and second portions I, Iof the projected image are identified and used to establish first and second sets of distance metrics D, Dfor the first and second portions of the projected image. A global point set is constructed from the first and second sets of distance metrics D, D. Global points within a region where the first and second portions I, Iof the projected image overlap are derived from only one of the first and second sets of distance metrics D, D. In this manner, a first subset Gof the global point set will comprise fiducial positions derived from only one of the first and second sets of distance metrics D, Dand a second subset Gof the global point set will comprise fiducial positions derived from the other of the first and second sets of distance metrics D, D. Alignment of the first and second subsets G, Gof the global point set is optimized by adjusting fiducial positions in the global point set in a manner that at least partially accounts for differences between local positional data derived from the first and second sets of distance metrics D, Dand global positional data of the fiducial positions in the global point set. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.