METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CALIBRATING GRAVITY-SENSITIVE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE AND FOR PICKING UP IMAGE USING IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for calibrating an image capturing device with regard to image distortion relatively easily with a high degree of reliability, as well as a method and a device for picking up an image using the calibrated image capturing device. SOLUTION: The method and a device for calibrating an image capturing device, for example, which is sensitive to gravity because it has been incorporated in a projecting support structure, or in other words, a device which brings about image distortion because the given mechanical deformation affects the image geometry in the support structure are provided. Also a method and a device for picking up an image by using the calibrated image capturing device are provided. Such an image capturing device can be used especially in an X-ray system, or a system equipped with a C-arm, for example. The calibration is essentially carried out through the formation of a look-up table and its storage, which relates the calibration data required to calibrate the distortion caused by the support structure to a plurality of position data regarding the support structure. During the image pickup process, the gravity direction toward the support structure is measured, based on which the position data is calculated. From the look-up table, the calibration data in relation to such position data is read out to be used for calibrating the captured image. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO