Optical system for recording or projecting a panoramic image
First Claim
1. An optical system for recording a panoramic image, comprising:
- a camera having a camera lens,a first member including a transparent section thereof,a second member spaced from said first member in an axial direction, said second member having a reflecting surface facing said first member,a third member connecting said first and second members together, anda fourth member having a reflecting surface spaced from said second member in said axial direction, said reflecting surface of said fourth member being oriented with respect to said reflecting surface of said second member such that light rays are reflected therebetween, said reflecting surface of said second member being oriented with respect to said transparent section such that said light rays are also reflected therebetween, the reflecting surface of the fourth member having a curvature closely matching the curvature of the camera lens.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system for recording or projecting a panoramic image which includes a flat transparent member, a mirror, a stem and a spherical body. The mirror is spaced from the transparent member in an axial direction, the mirror member having a reflecting surface facing the transparent member. The stem extends between and connects the transparent member and the mirror together. The spherical body has a reflecting surface spaced from the mirror in the axial direction. The reflecting surface of the spherical body is oriented with respect to the reflecting surface of the mirror such that light rays are reflected therebetween, the reflecting surface of the mirror being oriented with respect to the transparent member such that the light rays are also reflected therebetween. The optical system can be used for recording or projecting a panoramic image. The camera lens has a curvature closely matching the curvature of the reflecting surface of the spherical body. Film recorded by the camera can be used in a projector to project a distortion free 360° panoramic image on a cylindrical screen.
52 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical system for recording a panoramic image, comprising:
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a camera having a camera lens, a first member including a transparent section thereof, a second member spaced from said first member in an axial direction, said second member having a reflecting surface facing said first member, a third member connecting said first and second members together, and a fourth member having a reflecting surface spaced from said second member in said axial direction, said reflecting surface of said fourth member being oriented with respect to said reflecting surface of said second member such that light rays are reflected therebetween, said reflecting surface of said second member being oriented with respect to said transparent section such that said light rays are also reflected therebetween, the reflecting surface of the fourth member having a curvature closely matching the curvature of the camera lens. - 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. An optical system for recording a panoramic image, comprising:
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a first member including a transparent section, a second member spaced from said first member in an axial direction, said second member having a reflecting surface facing said first member, a third member connecting said first and second members together, a fourth member having a reflecting surface spaced from said second member in said axial direction, said reflecting surface of said fourth member being oriented with respect to said reflecting surface of said second member such that light rays are reflected therebetween, said reflecting surface of said second member being oriented with respect to said transparent section such that said light rays are passed therebetween, and a camera having a camera lens oriented for receiving the light rays passed through said transparent section of said first member, light rays carrying the panoramic image striking the fourth member in an annular zone on the reflecting surface of the fourth member, the zone having a curvature closely matching a curvature of the camera lens. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification