Panoramic imaging arrangement

• US 6,373,642 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1998
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Be Here Corporation
• Inventors: Carbo, Jorge E. Jr., Wallerstein, Edward P., Driscoll, Edward C. Jr., Furlani, John L., Bacho, Edward V., Lomax, Willard C., Parris, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US09/137,660
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 359/725, 359/726-727, 359/364, 359/458, 359/402-403, 359/618, 348/36, 348/38-39
• US Class Current: 359/725
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• 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: G06T 3/12 Panospheric to cylindrical image transformations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

According to one aspect the invention, a panoramic imaging arrangement is provided which includes at least a first lens block including a convex reflective surface and a transparent component. The convex reflective surface has a substantially vertically extending axis of revolution and is capable of receiving light from a 360° surrounding panoramic scene, and reflecting the light for further manipulation. The transparent component covers the convex reflective surface. The convex reflective surface is thereby protected from environmental conditions which may otherwise result in damage to the convex reflective surface.

Claims

1. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

at least a first lens block including;

a convex reflective surface having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the convex reflective surface being capable of receiving light from a 360°

surrounding panoramic scene and reflecting the light for further manipulation; and

a transparent refractive lens, having a convex outer surface, covering the convex reflective surface, the convex outer surface and the convex reflective surface bulging along the axis of revolution in substantially the same direction; and

a manipulation apparatus positioned to receive light reflected by the convex reflective surface and capable of correcting at least one aberration of the light and wherein the manipulation apparatus focuses the light to create an image wherein f-theta is less than 1.

2. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the convex reflective surface is substantially spherical.

3. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the transparent refractive lens has a spherical outer surface through which the light from the panoramic scene passes before reaching the convex reflective surface.

4. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a second lens block, secured to the first lens block, wherein the light reflected by the convex reflective surface passes through the transparent refractive lens, whereafter the light passes through the second lens block.

5. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 4 wherein the second lens block does not obscure light from reaching the first lens block.

6. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 4 wherein the convex reflective surface is capable of receiving light for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°

, in a vertical plane, from the panoramic scene, and reflecting the light so as to pass through the second lens block.

7. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 wherein the included angle extends from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon.

8. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 7 wherein the angle below the horizon is at least 30°

below the horizon.

9. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 7 wherein the angle above the horizon is at least 30°

above the horizon.

10. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the manipulation apparatus corrects astigmatism of the light.

11. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the manipulation apparatus does color correction of the light.

12. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein the manipulation apparatus creates a flattened image plane.

13. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein f-theta is more than 0.5.

14. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a digital image connector configured to read the image and to adjust f-theta closer to 1.

15. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

at least a first lens block including;

a convex reflective surface having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the convex reflective surface being capable of receiving light from a 360°

surrounding panoramic scene and reflecting the light for further manipulation; and

a transparent refractive lens, having a convex outer surface, covering the convex reflective surface; and

a second lens block, secured to the first lens block with an optical cement located between the first and second lens blocks, wherein the light reflected by the convex reflective surface passes through the transparent refractive lens, whereafter the light passes through the second lens block.

16. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 15 wherein the second lens block does not obscure light from reaching the first lens block.

17. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a manipulation apparatus positioned to receive light reflected by the convex reflective surface and capable of correcting at least one aberration of the light.

18. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 17 wherein the manipulation apparatus corrects astigmatism of the light.

19. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 17 wherein the manipulation apparatus does color correction of the light.

20. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 17 wherein the manipulation apparatus focuses the light.

21. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 wherein the manipulation apparatus creates a flattened image plane.

22. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 wherein, after focusing the light, an image is created wherein f-theta is less than 1.

23. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 22 wherein f-theta is more than 0.5.

24. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 22 further comprising a digital image connector configured to read the image and to adjust f-theta closer to 1.