Omni directional vision photograph device

• US 6,157,018 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Ishiguro
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Ishiguro, Osamu Nishihara
• Inventors: Nishihara, Osamu, Ishiguro, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ham, Seungsook
• Assistant Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US09/106,794
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/208.6, 250/216, 250/239, 348/36, 348/37, 348/38, 348/39, 348/143
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• 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: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors

Abstract

An omnidirectional vision sensor, which consists of a rotationally symmetrical convex mirror and a camera arranged opposite to the mirror, with clear and high quality image without having any disturbance due to the internal reflection of the light raised on the inner surface of the cylinder. The rays of light which internally reflect inside the cylinder pass through the production line of the rotational axis of the convex mirror, and thus these rays are eliminated before they reach the inner surface of the transparent cylinder. A tapered object on the vertex of the convex mirror is used to completely eliminate inner reflected rays of light.

Claims

1. An omnidirectional vision sensor comprising a rotationally symmetrical convex mirror having a vertex and a center axis, a camera positioned opposite to said vertex of said convex mirror, a transparent cylinder having a center axis and connecting said camera and said mirror, and a tapered object which is connected to said vertex of said convex mirror and placed along said center axis of said convex mirror, wherein said center axis of said cylinder and said center axis of said convex mirror substantially coincide with each other.

2. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline.

3. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said camera has an optical center axis, said tapered object has a center axis, and wherein said optical center axis, said center axis of said mirror and said center axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other.

4. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said tapered object is conically shaped, and has a base on said convex mirror.

5. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said tapered object has a surface having an anti-reflective finish.

6. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and wherein said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said central axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and wherein said tapered object is conically shaped and has a base on said convex mirror.

7. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and wherein said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said central axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and wherein said tapered object has a surface having an anti-reflective finish.

8. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and wherein said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said central axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and wherein said tapered object is conically shaped having a base on said convex mirror, and having a surface having an anti-reflective finish.

9. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 1, wherein said transparent cylinder has a first end and a second end, and is fixed at said first end to the outer periphery of said convex mirror and is fixed at said second end to said camera via a joint, said joint having a central hole for the passage of light rays.

10. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 9, wherein said transparent cylinder has a window and said camera has a first principal point, and wherein said tapered object is shaped conically and is the same size as or smaller than a cone defined by a base circle "x" which is a projection of said window on the surface of said convex mirror and by a vertex "y" positioned at said first principal point of said camera.

11. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 9, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said center axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and said tapered object is conically shaped having a base on said convex mirror.

12. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 11, wherein said transparent cylinder has a window and said camera has a first principal point, and wherein said tapered object is shaped conically and is the same size as or smaller than a cone defined by a base circle "x" which is a projection of said window on the surface of said convex mirror and by a vertex "y" positioned at said first principal point of said camera.

13. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 9, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said center axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and said tapered object has a surface having an anti-reflective finish.

14. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 13, wherein said transparent cylinder has a window and said camera has a first principal point, and wherein said tapered object is shaped conically and is the same size as or smaller than a cone defined by a base circle "x" which is a projection of said window on the surface of said convex mirror and by a vertex "y" positioned at said first principal point of said camera.

15. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 9, wherein said convex mirror has a straight or curved ridgeline, said camera has an optical axis, and said tapered object has a center axis, and said center axis of said mirror, said optical axis of said camera, and said center axis of said tapered object substantially coincide with each other, and said tapered object is conically shaped having a base on said convex mirror, and has a surface having an anti-reflective finish.

16. The omnidirectional vision sensor of claim 15, wherein said transparent cylinder has a window and said camera has a first principal point, and wherein said tapered object is shaped conically and is the same size as or smaller than a cone defined by a base circle "x" which is a projection of said window on the surface of said convex mirror and by a vertex "y" positioned at said first principal point of said camera.