Panoramic imaging arrangement

• US 20020034020A1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Be Here Corporation
• Inventors: Carbo, Jorge E. Jr., Furlani, John L., Parris, James E., Wallerstein, Edward P., Driscoll, Edward C. Jr., Bacho, Edward V., Lomax, Willard C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,388,820 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/725
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/12 Panospheric to cylindrical image transformations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

According to one aspect the invention, a panoramic imaging arrangement is provided which includes at least a first lens block including a convex reflective surface and a transparent component. The convex reflective surface has a substantially vertically extending axis of revolution and is capable of receiving light from a 360° surrounding panoramic scene, and reflecting the light for further manipulation. The transparent component covers the convex reflective surface. The convex reflective surface is thereby protected from environmental conditions which may otherwise result in damage to the convex reflective surface.

Claims

1. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

at least one lens having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the lens having a convex spherical reflective surface capable of receiving light from a substantially 360°

surrounding panoramic scene and reflecting the light received from the panoramic scene.

2. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising apparatus positioned to receive light reflected by the convex spherical reflective surface and capable of correcting at least one aberration of the light.

3. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus corrects astigmatism of the light.

4. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus does color correction of the light.

5. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus focuses the light.

6. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 5 wherein, after focusing the light, an image is created wherein f-theta is less than 1.

7. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 wherein f-theta is more than 0.5.

8. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 that includes a digital image connector capable of reading the image and adjusting f-theta closer to 1.

9. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus creates a flattened image plane when the light is focused.

10. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the convex spherical reflective surface is capable of receiving light for an unbroken included angle of at least 80°

, in a vertical plane, whereafter the light from the entire included angle is received by the manipulation apparatus.

11. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 10 wherein the included angle extends from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon.

12. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a transparent component covering the convex reflective surface, the transparent component having a spherical outer surface through which the light from the panoramic scene passes before reaching the reflective surface.

14. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 13 wherein the lens has a spherical surface altering the direction of the light.

15. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 14 wherein the lens has a reflective surface which reflects the light.

16. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 15 wherein the reflective surface is convex.

17. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 16 wherein the reflective surface is spherical.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 that includes a system of lenses, positioned below the lower lens block to receive the light after passing through the lower lens block.

13. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

at least one lens having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the lens being capable of receiving light from substantially a 360°

panoramic scene surrounding the lens for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°

, in a vertical plane, extending from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon, and altering the direction of the light received from the panoramic scene; and

a light manipulation apparatus positioned and capable of receiving light from the lens for the entire included angle.

18. Apparatus for capturing a panoramic scene, the apparatus comprising:

a vertically extending support structure;

a lower lens block secured to an upper end of the support structure;

an upper lens block secured to the lower lens block in a position above the lower lens block, the upper lens block having convex, outer surface having a vertically extending axis of revolution;

a convex reflective surface on the upper lens block wherein light from a substantially 360°

surrounding panoramic scene passes through the convex outer surface of the upper lens block into the upper lens block, the light is then reflected off the convex reflective surface, and the light then passes through the upper lens block and then through the lower lens block.

20. A method of mounting a panoramic lens arrangement which includes a first lens block including a convex reflective surface having a vertically extending axis of revolution, a transparent component covering the reflective surface, and a second lens block located on the first lens block, the method comprising:

securing the second lens block to a support structure in a position so that light from a substantially 360°

surrounding panoramic scene passes through the transparent component, whereafter the light is reflected by the convex reflective surface, whereafter the light passes through the second lens block.

21. A method of capturing a panoramic scene, comprising:

reflecting light, received from a 360°

surrounding panoramic scene from a convex spherical reflective surface; and

correcting at least one characteristic of the light reflected from the convex spherical reflective surface, the characteristic being selected of the group consisting of;

astigmatism;

color;

f-theta; and

image plane flatness.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the convex spherical reflective surface receives light for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°

, in a vertical plane, whereafter the light from the entire included angle is corrected.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the included angle extends from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon.

24. A method of capturing a panoramic scene, comprising:

receiving light from a 360 surrounding panoramic scene for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°

, in a vertical plane, extending from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon;

altering the direction of the light received from the panoramic scene; and

correcting at least one characteristic the light after altering its direction, the characteristic being selected from the group consisting of;

astigmatism;

color;

f-theta; and

image plane flatness.