Imaging system, method, and applications
First Claim
1. A multicamera panoramic imaging system, comprising:
- a plurality of discrete imaging systems configured in a side-by-side array that forms a three-dimensional geometric shape having a center;
each of the discrete imaging systems having a first lens element with a plurality of edges each configured in the side-by-side array to abut an adjacent edge of the first lens element in an adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems to form a plurality of common edges between the first lens elements in the discrete imaging systems, each of the edges defining a plurality of edge surface angles at points along the edges with respect to the center of the three-dimensional geometric shape; and
each of the discrete imaging systems configured to constrain a plurality of chief rays that are incident along the edges of the first lens element to have an angle of incidence equal to the edge surface angles defined by the plurality of edges, such that the chief rays incident the common edges between adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems are substantially parallel and provide combined fields of view along the common edges to form images with minimal or no parallax.
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Accused Products
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
18 Claims
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1. A multicamera panoramic imaging system, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete imaging systems configured in a side-by-side array that forms a three-dimensional geometric shape having a center; each of the discrete imaging systems having a first lens element with a plurality of edges each configured in the side-by-side array to abut an adjacent edge of the first lens element in an adjacent one of the discrete imaging systems to form a plurality of common edges between the first lens elements in the discrete imaging systems, each of the edges defining a plurality of edge surface angles at points along the edges with respect to the center of the three-dimensional geometric shape; and each of the discrete imaging systems configured to constrain a plurality of chief rays that are incident along the edges of the first lens element to have an angle of incidence equal to the edge surface angles defined by the plurality of edges, such that the chief rays incident the common edges between adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems are substantially parallel and provide combined fields of view along the common edges to form images with minimal or no parallax. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multicamera imaging system, comprising:
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a first discrete imaging system and a second discrete imaging system arranged in a side-by-side configuration and each having a first lens element with a plurality of edges, a first edge in the first discrete imaging system positioned to abut a second edge in the second discrete imaging system to form a common edge; and the first discrete imaging system is configured to constrain a first plurality of chief rays that are incident along the common edge, and the second discrete imaging system is configured to constrain a second plurality of chief rays that are incident along the common edge to be substantially parallel to the first plurality of chief rays, such that the first and second discrete imaging systems provide combined fields of view along the common edge to form images with minimal or no parallax. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification