Method and apparatus for imaging
First Claim
1. An apparatus for imaging comprising:
- a sensor subsystem,wherein the sensor subsystem comprises;
an imaging module,wherein the imaging module comprises;
at least two first imagers,wherein each first imager of the at least two first imagers images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ
°
field of view about a reference point in a plane,wherein θ
is at least 180, andwherein the at least two first imagers images the θ
°
field of view, andwherein the imaging module captures images imaged by the at least two first imagers to create captured images;
a communication subsystem,wherein the communication subsystem comprises;
a network relay,wherein the imaging module transfers the captured images to the network relay; and
a back end subsystem,wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end subsystem,wherein the back end subsystem is remote with respect to the imaging module,wherein the at least two first imagers comprise;
n first imagers, where n is an integer greater than 1, andwherein m first imagers of the n first imagers are powered at any one time, where m is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for imaging. Specific embodiments can incorporate an imaging module having at least one first imager, where each first imager images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ° field of view about a reference point, such that the at least one first imager images the θ° field of view. In a specific embodiment θ is at least 90°. The imaging module can also incorporate at least one second imager, where each second imager images a corresponding at least one second portion of the θ° field of view about the reference point, and one or more of the at least one first imager has a different magnification than one or more of the at least one second imager. Embodiments can allow imaging of a θ° field of view about a reference point with imagers having at least two different magnifications.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for imaging comprising:
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a sensor subsystem, wherein the sensor subsystem comprises; an imaging module, wherein the imaging module comprises; at least two first imagers, wherein each first imager of the at least two first imagers images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ
°
field of view about a reference point in a plane,wherein θ
is at least 180, andwherein the at least two first imagers images the θ
°
field of view, andwherein the imaging module captures images imaged by the at least two first imagers to create captured images; a communication subsystem, wherein the communication subsystem comprises; a network relay, wherein the imaging module transfers the captured images to the network relay; and a back end subsystem, wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end subsystem, wherein the back end subsystem is remote with respect to the imaging module, wherein the at least two first imagers comprise; n first imagers, where n is an integer greater than 1, and wherein m first imagers of the n first imagers are powered at any one time, where m is an integer greater than 1 or equal to 1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18)
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13. A method of remotely imaging, comprising:
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providing an apparatus for imaging, wherein the apparatus for imaging comprises; a sensor subsystem, wherein the sensor subsystem comprises; an imaging module, wherein the imaging module comprises; at least two first imagers, wherein each first imager of the at least two first imagers images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ
°
field of view about a reference point in a plane,wherein θ
°
is at least 180, andwherein the at least two first imagers image the θ
°
field of view, andwherein the imaging module captures images imaged by the at least two first imagers to create captured images; a communication subsystem, wherein the communication subsystem comprises; a network relay, wherein the imaging module transfers the captured images to the network relay; and a back end subsystem, wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end subsystem; positioning the imaging module with respect to a field of view to be imaged; positioning the back end subsystem remote with respect to the imaging module; and sending a command from the back end subsystem to the imaging module, wherein upon the imaging module receiving the command, the imaging module images at least a portion of the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 19, 20)
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16. A method of imaging, comprising:
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providing an apparatus for imaging, wherein the apparatus for imaging comprises; an imaging module, wherein the imaging module comprises; at least two first imagers, wherein each first imager of the at least two first imagers images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ
°
field of view about a reference point in a plane,wherein θ
°
is at least 180°
, andwherein the at least two first imagers image the θ
°
field of view;at least one second imager, wherein each second imager of the at least one second imager images a corresponding at least one second portion of the θ
°
field of view about the reference point in the plane, andwherein one or more first imagers of the at least two first imagers has a different magnification than one or more second imagers of the at least one second imager, and wherein the imaging module captures images imaged by the at least two first imagers and images imaged by the at least one second imager to create captured images; positioning the imaging module with respect to a field of view to be imaged; and imaging at least a portion of the field of view via the imaging module.
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Specification