An electronic control apparatus including a time synchronizing unit configured to collect GrandMaster (GM) clock time information and to perform time synchronization based on the GM clock time information, a comparison unit configured to receive video frames captured from a camera among multi-channel cameras, to compare time information of the video frames with the GM clock time information, and to thereby generate and output delay time information for the video frames to be delayed compared to the GM clock time information; and an image synchronizing unit configured to perform image synchronization between the multi-channel cameras by adjusting an image output time of the camera based on the delay time information.

Multiple image capture devices may individually generate time information and capture images. Individual image captures devices may receive time information of other image capture device(s). Individual image capture devices may transmit its time information to other image capture device(s) independent of reception of the time information of other image capture device(s). Individual image capture devices may generate time synchronization information for the captured images based on its time information and the received time information of other image capture device(s). Images captured by different image capture devices may be time-synchronized based on at least one of generated time-synchronization information.

A method implemented on a computing device including at least one processor and a storage for synchronizing video transmission with physical layer. The method includes determining a first time point corresponding to a frame header of a video frame, determining a second time point corresponding to a frame header of a physical layer frame based at least in part on the first time point, and starting transmitting the video frame at the second time point.

A system for producing a continuous image from separate image sources. The system may include an image-capture unit including two or more image-capture devices arranged in an outward-facing arrangement. The image-capture devices may have overlapping fields-of-view, and a processing device may combine images captured by the individual image-capture devices into a single, continuous image. The system may also include a control device that may control each of the individual image-capture devices. The control device may also synchronize image-capture of the individual image-capture devices.

An apparatus and method are provided for viewing panoramic images and videos through the selection of a particular viewing angle and window (zoom) within that panorama while allowing the viewer to simultaneously implement temporal transport control, allowing the video to be in a state of pause, play, fast forward, fast rewind, slow forward, slow rewind, or frame-by-frame. This capability may be used on video that is residing in memory on the viewer's viewing system, in a hard disk local to the viewer or in a shared location, or on a live buffered feed of video. A second capability of this apparatus and method relates to the use of a plurality of panoramic video or images from multiple synchronized cameras. In those cases, all panoramic video feeds are synchronized so that as a viewer pauses, rewinds, forwards a video in one panorama, all panoramas are time synchronized and go through the same states as the panorama being viewed. When the user selects a different panorama for viewing from a different camera, this panorama comes up in the same state as the panorama previously being viewed.

A first image sensor device is operable to produce first orientation information indicating an orientation of the first image sensor device at a time of capturing a first image of an object. A second image sensor device is operable to produce second orientation information indicating an orientation of the second image sensor device at a time of capturing a second image of the object. The image capturing system further includes measurement hardware to measure a distance between the first image sensor device and the second image sensor device at times of capturing the first image and the second image. According to one configuration, a combination of the first orientation information, the second orientation information, and the distance between the first image sensor device and the second image sensor device is used to derive a 3-D stereo view of the object using the first image and the second image.

A method of capturing free viewpoint content at a location includes recording video on each of a plurality of portable video recording devices at the location; each portable video recording device detecting a wireless synchronisation signal transmitted at the location; and each portable video recording device periodically adding a timestamp to its respective recorded video; where the timestamp is responsive to the detected wireless synchronisation signal, thereby enabling synchronisation of a plurality of recorded videos responsive to the timestamps.

A head-mounted display (HMD) is configured to capture images and/or video of a local area. The HMD includes an imaging assembly and a controller. The imaging assembly includes a plurality of cameras positioned at different locations on the HMD and oriented to capture images of different portions of a local area surrounding the HMD. The controller generates imaging instructions for each camera using image information. The imaging instructions cause respective midpoints of exposure times for each camera to occur at a same time value for each of the captured images. The cameras capture images of the local area in accordance with the imaging instructions. The controller determines a location of the HMD in the local area using the captured images and updates a model that represents a mapping function of the depth and exposure settings of the local area.

Provided is an image sensor configured to function as a synchronous master that controls synchronous imaging performed by a plurality of image sensors. In a case where a stop request is acquired, the image sensor stops imaging operation on the basis of the stop request, and does not transmit, to a different image sensor functioning as a synchronous slave that performs imaging under control by the synchronous master, a synchronous slave synchronous signal for controlling imaging timing of an image sensor functioning as the synchronous slave on the basis of the stop request.

Multiple image capture devices may individually generate time information and capture images. Individual image captures devices may receive time information of other image capture device(s). Individual image capture devices may transmit its time information to other image capture device(s) independent of reception of the time information of other image capture device(s). Individual image capture devices may generate time synchronization information for the captured images based on its time information and the received time information of other image capture device(s). Images captured by different image capture devices may be time-synchronized based on at least one of generated time-synchronization information.