Imaging system, method, and applications
First Claim
1. A method for forming a panoramic image, comprising:
- providing a panoramic imaging system having a plurality of discrete imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, each of the discrete imaging systems characterized by a field of view; and
constraining a plurality of chief rays that strike along an edge of the field of view of every one of the discrete imaging systems to be substantially parallel to another plurality of chief rays that strike along an adjacent edge of the field of view of an immediately adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the chief rays that strike along the edge of the field of view of the discrete imaging systems appear to converge to a common NP point when viewed from object space and the field of view of each of the plurality of discrete imaging systems conjoins with but does not overlap the field of view of the immediately adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems.
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Abstract
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for forming a panoramic image, comprising:
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providing a panoramic imaging system having a plurality of discrete imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, each of the discrete imaging systems characterized by a field of view; and constraining a plurality of chief rays that strike along an edge of the field of view of every one of the discrete imaging systems to be substantially parallel to another plurality of chief rays that strike along an adjacent edge of the field of view of an immediately adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the chief rays that strike along the edge of the field of view of the discrete imaging systems appear to converge to a common NP point when viewed from object space and the field of view of each of the plurality of discrete imaging systems conjoins with but does not overlap the field of view of the immediately adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multicamera panoramic imaging system, comprising:
a plurality of discrete, imaging systems characterized by a field of view and disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein the field of view of each of the discrete imaging systems is conjoined with but does not overlap the field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, each of the discrete imaging systems comprising a front lens configured to constrain a plurality of chief rays that strike along an edge of the field of view of every one of the discrete imaging systems to be substantially parallel to another plurality of chief rays that strike along an adjacent edge of the field of view of an immediately adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the chief rays that strike along the edge of the field of view of each of the discrete imaging systems appear to converge to a common NP point when viewed from object space. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification