Panoramic viewing system with a composite field of view
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of producing a composite image with a plurality of sensors each having an individual field of view, comprising the steps of:
- for at least one of the plurality of sensors, redirecting at least a portion of its individual field of view with a reflective area; and
merging images corresponding to the individual fields of view to produce the composite image having a corresponding field of view, wherein each one of at least two fields of view corresponding to images that are merged has a portion, where the images are merged, that has viewing directions that are substantially similar to the viewing directions of the other portion, and wherein the viewing directions within each one of such two portions appear to originate substantially from a point that is offset from the point for the other one of such two portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cameras are positioned so that at least a portion of the field of view of at least one camera is redirected by a reflective surface. Images from these cameras are merged to produce a composite image while disregarding at least a portion of a camera'"'"'s field of view such that there is at least one blind region in the composite field of view. Advantageously, such blind regions can be made to encompass edges of mirror surfaces that would otherwise produce image artifacts in the composite image; this can be accomplished without introducing gaps in the angular span of the composite field of view. Data representative of the composite image is stored in a memory from which it may be retrieved selectively using a control means to display a portion of the composite image. The image and control data may be transmitted over a communication network to facilitate remote control and display.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of producing a composite image with a plurality of sensors each having an individual field of view, comprising the steps of:
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for at least one of the plurality of sensors, redirecting at least a portion of its individual field of view with a reflective area; and
merging images corresponding to the individual fields of view to produce the composite image having a corresponding field of view, wherein each one of at least two fields of view corresponding to images that are merged has a portion, where the images are merged, that has viewing directions that are substantially similar to the viewing directions of the other portion, and wherein the viewing directions within each one of such two portions appear to originate substantially from a point that is offset from the point for the other one of such two portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A viewing apparatus having a composite field of view, comprising:
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at least two image sensors, each having an individual field of view;
at least one reflective area that redirects at least part of the individual field of view associated with one of the image sensors, the individual fields of view of at least two image sensors being merged to produce the composite field of view, at least portions of each of the two individual merged fields of view having substantially similar viewing directions where they are merged, and the merged fields of view creating in the composite field of view at least one blind region that encompasses at least a portion of an edge of the reflective area and that lies between portions of two individual fields of view; and
a memory for storing data representative of said composite field of view electronically. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A viewing apparatus having a composite field of view, comprising:
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at least two image sensors, each having an individual field of view;
at least one reflective area that redirects at least part of the individual field of view associated with one of the image sensors, the individual fields of view of at least two image sensors being merged to produce the composite field of view, at least portions of each of the two merged individual fields of view having substantially similar viewing directions where they are merged, and the merged fields of view creating in the composite field of view at least one blind region that encompasses at least a portion of an edge of the reflective area and that lies between portions of two individual fields of view;
a memory for storing data representative of said composite field of view electronically; and
control means for selectively retrieving said data from said memory in response to user signals produced in response to a user'"'"'s input. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A viewing apparatus having a composite field of view, comprising:
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at least two image sensors, each having an individual field of view;
at least one reflective area that redirects at least part of the individual field of view associated with one of the image sensors,the individual fields of view of at least two images sensors being merged to produce the composite field of view, at least portions of each of the two merged individual fields of view having substantially similar viewing directions where they are merged, and the merged fields of view creating in the composite field of view at least one blind region that encompasses at least a portion of an edge of the reflective area and that lies between portions of two individual fields of view;
a memory for storing data representative of said composite field of view electronically;
control means for selectively retrieving said data from said memory in response to user signals produced in response to a users input; and
communication network interface means for transmitting said data retrieved from said memory over a communications network and for receiving said user signals over said communications network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A composite image produce with a plurality of sensors each having an individual field of view, by following the method of:
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for at least one of the plurality of sensors, redirecting at least a portion of its individual field of view with a reflective area; and
merging images corresponding to the individual fields of view to produce the composite image having a corresponding field of view, wherein each one of at least two fields of view corresponding to images that are merged has a portion, where the images are merged, that has viewing directions that are substantially similar to the viewing directions of the other portion, and wherein the viewing directions within each one of such two portions appear to originate substantially from a point that is offset from the point for the other one of such two portions. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification