US 8031223

I will search the USPTO database for the patent and provide the requested summary. I will also search the CAFC dockets for 2026 for any cases involving patent 8031223.

US Patent 8031223 Summary

Title: Virtual reality camera

Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. (Current Assignee), Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Original Assignee)

Inventors: Patrick Teo

Filing Date: August 31, 2006

Issue Date: October 4, 2011

Abstract: A camera is disclosed that includes a camera lens, acquisition circuitry receiving images via the camera lens for acquiring a first field of view in a first orientation and a second field of view in a second orientation. It also includes a viewfinder displaying the second field of view when the camera lens is in the second orientation and displaying at least a portion of the first field of view at least partially composited with the second field of view.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a camera system. It comprises a camera lens, acquisition circuitry that captures a first field of view (FOV) in a first orientation and a second FOV in a second orientation, and a viewfinder. The viewfinder is unique because it displays the current (second) FOV and, at the same time, also displays at least a part of the previously captured (first) FOV, partially composited with the current view. This compositing helps a user align the camera for subsequent shots.
• Claim 13: This claim outlines a camera apparatus. It includes a camera lens, acquisition circuitry to capture a first frame in a first orientation and a second frame in a second orientation, and combining circuitry. The combining circuitry is responsible for at least partially combining these first and second frames to create a panoramic image. This means the camera itself handles part of the "stitching" process.
• Claim 18: This claim describes a camera with interactive viewing capabilities for panoramic images. It includes a camera lens, a memory for storing data of a panoramic image, a display for showing at least a portion of this panoramic image, and display control circuitry. This circuitry allows a user to select and view different portions of the panoramic image on the display.
• Claim 25: This claim describes a method for combining a first frame and a second frame. The method involves several steps: first, determining horizontal and vertical offsets to spatially align the frames (this is done by comparing color differences at various trial offsets). Second, it determines brightness and contrast parameters to chromatically align the frames. Finally, it generates a panoramic image by compositing portions of the second frame onto the first frame, using the determined offsets and color parameters.

CAFC 2026 Dockets Search

A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 8031223 did not yield any explicit results directly listing cases involving this specific patent number for the year 2026. The Federal Circuit website provides general information on searching case records and filings, but direct programmatic search for patent numbers within their docket system is not supported by the available tools. While the USPTO provides updated guidance and news, it does not directly host CAFC docket information. Therefore, I cannot definitively state whether there are CAFC cases related to this patent in 2026 without manual, interactive search of the CAFC's case management system.