Panoramic imaging arrangement

• US 6,597,520 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Be Here Corporation
• Inventors: Furlan, John L. W., Wallerstein, Edward P., Driscoll, Edward C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abutayeh, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US10/119,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 359/725, 359/726, 359/727, 359/730, 359/731
• US Class Current: 359/725
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panoramic imaging arrangement comprising a first and second transparent component both rotationally symmetric about an axis of revolution. The first transparent component has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a reflective portion and a refractive portion both about the axis of revolution. The refractive portion extends radially from the axis of revolution to the start of the reflective portion. The second transparent component is attached to the first transparent component at a refractive interface that extends into the upper surface. The second transparent component includes a distal reflective surface. Light from a portion of a surrounding panoramic scene is refracted by a portion of the upper surface, is reflected by the reflective portion of the lower surface through the refractive interface to the distal reflective surface. Once reflected from the distal reflective surface, the light again passes through the refractive interface and exits the first transparent component through the refractive portion of the lower surface.

Claims

1. A partial panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

a first transparent component and

a second transparent component attached to said first transparent component at a refractive interface, said refractive interface, about an axis of revolution, and having a first curvature in a plane of said axis of revolution;

said first transparent component comprising;

a first refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having a first profile with a second curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;

a first reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a second profile with a third curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution, said first reflective surface having an inner radial boundary and an outer radial boundary; and

a third refractive surface, about said axis of revolution, having said third curvature, congruent with a portion of said second profile and extending to said inner radial boundary;

said second transparent component comprising a second reflective surface, about said axis of revolution, having a fourth profile with a fourth curvature in said plane of said axis of revolution;

whereby light, from a greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene, is refracted at the first refractive surface as it enters the first transparent component, is reflected at said first reflective surface towards the refractive interface where the light is refracted into said second transparent component toward said second reflective surface that reflects the light back to the refractive interface where the light is refracted towards said third refractive surface where the light is refracted as it exits the first transparent component.

2. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene is substantially 360°

.

3. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein said greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene said light exiting the first transparent component can be focused as a portion of an annular image.

4. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first curvature has a convex radius of approximately 15 units, said second curvature has a convex radius of approximately 13 units, said third curvature has a concave radius of approximately 6 units, and said fourth curvature has a convex radius of approximately 309 units.

5. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 4 wherein the radius of said first curvature is approximately 15.4 millimeters.

6. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

a third transparent component in contact with said third refractive surface;

a fourth transparent component in contact with the third transparent component; and

a system of lenses in optical communication with the fourth transparent component.

7. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 wherein the transparent components and the system of lenses provide color correction to said light.

8. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 having a field-of-view of at least 30°

.

9. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 8 wherein said field-of-view extends through a horizon line.

10. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 8 having a maximum clear aperture of less than about eight times the diameter of the image.

11. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 mounted on an image sensor device.

12. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is an integrated circuit.

13. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is a video camera.

14. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is part of a visual or video conferencing device.

15. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is a digital camera.

16. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is attached to a moving object.

17. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 16, wherein the moving object is a helmet.

18. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 16, wherein the moving object is a vehicle.

19. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 11, wherein said image sensor device is incorporated with an object for which surveillance is desired.

20. A partial panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:

a first transparent component about an axis of revolution, the first transparent component having an upper surface and a lower surface;

said lower surface including a first reflective portion and a refractive portion both said portions about said axis of revolution, said refractive portion radially inward from said first reflective portion, wherein light from a greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene, is refracted by a portion of said upper surface; and

a second transparent component attached to said first transparent component at a refractive interface, said refractive interface, about said axis of revolution and extending into said upper surface, the second transparent component also having a distal reflective surface.

21. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 wherein said greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene is substantially 360°

.

22. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 21 wherein said greater than 90°

surrounding partial panoramic scene said light exiting the first transparent component can be focused as an annular image.

23. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 21 having a maximum clear aperture of less than about eight times the diameter of the image.

24. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 further comprising:

a third transparent component in contact with said refractive portion;

a fourth transparent component in contact with the third transparent component; and

a system of lenses in optical communication with the fourth transparent component.

25. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 24 wherein the transparent components and the system of lenses provide color correction to said light.

26. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 24 having a field-of-view of at least 30°

.

27. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 26 wherein said field-of-view extends through an horizon line.

28. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 further comprising:

a third transparent component in optical communication with said refractive portion; and

a system of lenses in optical communication with the third transparent component.

29. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 28 wherein the transparent components and the system of lenses provide color correction to said light.

30. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 28 having a field-of-view of at least 30°

.

31. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 30 wherein said field-of-view extends through an horizon line.

32. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 20 mounted on an image sensor device.

33. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is an integrated circuit.

34. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is a video camera.

35. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is part of a visual or video conferencing device.

36. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is a digital camera.

37. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is attached to a moving object.

38. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 37, wherein the moving object is a helmet.

39. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 37, wherein the moving object is a vehicle.

40. The partial panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 32, wherein said image sensor device is incorporated with an object for which surveillance is desired.