Spherical viewing/projection apparatus
First Claim
1. A spherical viewing apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of image gathering devices having a common virtual optical center;
a pyramid shaped element having a plurality of reflective side facets facing in different directions so as to reflect images from different directions to the plurality of image gathering devices, each of the plurality of facets reflecting an image to an image gathering device belonging to the plurality of image gathering devices; and
an image gathering device having an optical center located at the common virtual optical center and having a field of view toward a base of the pyramid shaped element.
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Abstract
A nearly spherical view is provided using five cameras. Four cameras provide a 360 degree view of an area using a four sided pyramid shaped element. The four sides of the pyramid shaped element are reflective and reflect images from four different directions. Each camera is positioned to receive a reflected image from one of the reflective sides of the pyramid. The four cameras are arranged so that they share a common virtual optical center. A fifth camera with a wide angle lens is positioned with the camera'"'"'s optical center positioned at the common virtual optical center. The fifth camera has a view in the direction of the pyramid'"'"'s base to provide a nearly spherical view when combined with the 360 degree view of the other cameras.
106 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A spherical viewing apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of image gathering devices having a common virtual optical center; a pyramid shaped element having a plurality of reflective side facets facing in different directions so as to reflect images from different directions to the plurality of image gathering devices, each of the plurality of facets reflecting an image to an image gathering device belonging to the plurality of image gathering devices; and an image gathering device having an optical center located at the common virtual optical center and having a field of view toward a base of the pyramid shaped element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A spherical projection apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of image producing devices having a common virtual optical center; a pyramid shaped element having a plurality of reflective side facets facing in different directions so as to reflect images from the plurality of image producing devices in different directions, each of the plurality of facets reflecting an image from one of the plurality of image producing devices; and an image producing device having an optical center located at the common virtual optical center and producing an image toward a base of pyramid shaped element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification