Panoramic imaging arrangement
First Claim
1. A partial panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:
- a first transparent component and a second transparent component attached to said first transparent component at a refractive interface, said refractive interface, about an axis of revolution, and having a first curvature in a plane of said axis of revolution;
said first transparent component comprising;
a first refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having a first profile with a second curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;
a first reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a second profile with a third curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution, said first reflective surface having an inner radial boundary and an outer radial boundary; and
a third refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having said third curvature, congruent with a portion of said second profile and extending to said inner radial boundary;
said second transparent component comprising a second reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a fourth profile with a fourth curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;
whereby light, from a greater than 90°
surrounding partial panoramic scene, is refracted at the first refractive surface as it enters the first transparent component, is reflected at said first reflective surface towards the refractive interface where the light is refracted into said second transparent component toward said second reflective surface that reflects the light back to the refractive interface where the light is refracted towards said third refractive surface where the light is refracted as it exits the first transparent component.
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Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panoramic imaging arrangement comprising a first and second transparent component both rotationally symmetric about an axis of revolution. The first transparent component has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a reflective portion and a refractive portion both about the axis of revolution. The refractive portion extends radially from the axis of revolution to the start of the reflective portion. The second transparent component is attached to the first transparent component at a refractive interface that extends into the upper surface. The second transparent component includes a distal reflective surface. Light from a portion of a surrounding panoramic scene is refracted by a portion of the upper surface, is reflected by the reflective portion of the lower surface through the refractive interface to the distal reflective surface. Once reflected from the distal reflective surface, the light again passes through the refractive interface and exits the first transparent component through the refractive portion of the lower surface.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A partial panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:
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a first transparent component and a second transparent component attached to said first transparent component at a refractive interface, said refractive interface, about an axis of revolution, and having a first curvature in a plane of said axis of revolution;
said first transparent component comprising;
a first refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having a first profile with a second curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;
a first reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a second profile with a third curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution, said first reflective surface having an inner radial boundary and an outer radial boundary; and
a third refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having said third curvature, congruent with a portion of said second profile and extending to said inner radial boundary;
said second transparent component comprising a second reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a fourth profile with a fourth curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;
whereby light, from a greater than 90°
surrounding partial panoramic scene, is refracted at the first refractive surface as it enters the first transparent component, is reflected at said first reflective surface towards the refractive interface where the light is refracted into said second transparent component toward said second reflective surface that reflects the light back to the refractive interface where the light is refracted towards said third refractive surface where the light is refracted as it exits the first transparent component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A partial panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:
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a first transparent component about an axis of revolution, the first transparent component having an upper surface and a lower surface;
said lower surface including a first reflective portion and a refractive portion both said portions about said axis of revolution, said refractive portion radially inward from said first reflective portion, wherein light from a greater than 90°
surrounding partial panoramic scene, is refracted by a portion of said upper surface; and
a second transparent component attached to said first transparent component at a refractive interface, said refractive interface, about said axis of revolution and extending into said upper surface, the second transparent component also having a distal reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification