Image inverting device

• US 6,654,063 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loyal Port Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Loyal Port Company Limited
• Inventors: Tadatsu, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe, Aung S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tillery, Rashawn N.
• Application Number:
  US09/365,181
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/205, 348/203, 348/199, 348/335, 348/340, 348/36, 348/37
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/04 using prisms only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/642 Optical derotators, i.e. systems for compensating for image rotation, e.g. using rotating prisms, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

An image inverting device includes an objective mirror which reflects an image light, incident on a rotation axis from a side of the rotation axis, in the direction of the rotation axis, and an inverting unit on which the image light reflected by the objective mirror is incident. The inverting unit is formed of an assembly of an odd number of reflecting mirrors or an optical block having an odd number of reflecting surfaces. The inverting unit reflects the image light such that the light rotates around the rotation axis due to rotation of the unit, and emits the image light in the direction of the rotation axis. A rotation drive device is attached to rotate the objective mirror and the inverting unit respectively around the rotation axis in the same direction such that their respective angular velocities are in a ratio of 2:1.

Claims

1. An image inverting device comprising:

an objective mirror which reflects an image light, incident on a rotation axis from a side of the rotation axis, in a direction of said rotation axis,

an inverting unit on which the image light reflected by said objective mirror is incident, said inverting unit being formed of an assembly of an odd number of reflecting mirrors or an optical block having an odd number of reflecting surfaces, said inverting unit reflecting said image light such that the light rotates around said rotation axis due to rotation of said unit, and emitting said image light in the direction of said rotation axis, and

rotation drive means for rotating said objective mirror and said inverting unit respectively around said rotation axis in a same direction such that their respective angular velocities are in a ratio of 2;

1.

2. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said objective mirror comprises a combination of a pentaprism provided on a tip side of said inverting unit and a rotary mirror, which are rotated with a fixed relationship to one another for accomplishing a three dimensional viewing system.

3. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotation drive means comprises a motor for driving said objective mirror, and a planetary gear mechanism for transmitting a torque of said motor to said inverting unit which is rotated at one half of the angular velocity of said objective mirror due to a differential motion of said planetary gear mechanism.

4. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotation drive means comprises a motor for driving said inverting unit, and a planetary gear mechanism for transmitting a torque of said motor to said objective mirror which is rotated at twice the rate of said inverting unit due to a differential motion of said planetary gear mechanism.

5. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotation drive means comprises a geared motor, and a first and second gear trains for driving said objective mirror and said inverting unit, a gear ratio of said first and second gear trains being such that said objective mirror rotates in the same direction as said inverting unit at twice its rate of rotation.

6. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

image receiving means disposed so that its optical axis coincides with the rotation axis of said inverting unit for receiving the image light emitted by said inverting unit.

7. An image inverting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said image receiving means is a television camera or a video camera.

8. An image inverting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said image receiving means comprises a focusing lens for focusing the image light emerging from said inverting unit to an image, and linear image receiving means disposed at a focal point of said focusing lens, and extending in a perpendicular direction to a direction in which said image moves when said objective mirror rotates.

9. An image inverting device as defined in claim 8, wherein reading from said linear image receiving means takes place in synchronism with rotation of said objective mirror.

10. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said inverting device is connected to a television camera fitted on a ceiling, and said inverting device is inserted through an aperture in the ceiling and is covered by a transparent dome.

11. An image inverting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said inverting device is connected to a television camera, an optical axis of which is vertical and attached to a pole, and said inverting device is housed in a transparent sleeve.