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Low-profile horizon-sampling light sensor

  • US 5,612,533 A
  • Filed: 12/27/1994
  • Issued: 03/18/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An omnidirectional light sensor for producing a plurality of electrical signals each representative of an image portion of a panoramic picture of associated scenery surrounding said sensor at a given elevation, said sensor comprising:

  • a disk-like housing including a top section and a bottom section;

    a plurality of successive spaced apart individual radially directed capsules each having a frontmost opening along a circumferential edge of said disk, said capsules being formed between and within opposing portions of said top and bottom sections of said disk;

    a plurality of photosensors each located radially inward in said plurality of capsules, respectively, for converting light waves from the scenery into electrical signals, the signals from each photosensor representing a bin of pixels of an associated image portion;

    a plurality of lenses located in the frontmost openings of each one of said plurality of capsules respectively, for focusing light rays entering an associated said capsule;

    a plurality of light ray directing means located in each one of said plurality of capsules, respectively, between an associated lens and photosensor, for directing focused light waves from the associated lens onto a light sensitive portion of the associated photosensor.

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