vis.py

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.patches import Ellipse


def plot_cov_ellipse(pos, cov, nstd=2, ax=None, c='k', alpha=1.0, zorder=1):
    """
    Plots an `nstd` sigma error ellipse based on the specified covariance
    matrix (`cov`). Additional keyword arguments are passed on to the
    ellipse patch artist.

    Parameters
    ----------
        cov : The 2x2 covariance matrix to base the ellipse on
        pos : The location of the center of the ellipse. Expects a 2-element
            sequence of [x0, y0].
        nstd : The radius of the ellipse in numbers of standard deviations.
            Defaults to 2 standard deviations.
        ax : The axis that the ellipse will be plotted on. Defaults to the
            current axis.
        Additional keyword arguments are pass on to the ellipse patch.
    """
    def eigsorted(cov):
        vals, vecs = np.linalg.eigh(cov)
        order = vals.argsort()[::-1]
        return vals[order], vecs[:, order]

    if ax is None:
        ax = plt.gca()

    vals, vecs = eigsorted(cov)
    theta = np.degrees(np.arctan2(*vecs[:, 0][::-1]))

    # Width and height are "full" widths, not radius
    width, height = 2 * nstd * np.sqrt(vals)
    ellip = Ellipse(xy=pos,
                    width=width,
                    height=height,
                    angle=theta,
                    facecolor='none',
                    edgecolor=c,
                    linewidth=2,
                    zorder=zorder,
                    alpha=alpha)

    ax.add_artist(ellip)
    return ellip