Panoramic mirror and system for producing enhanced panoramic images

• US 6,856,472 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 360ai Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: EyeSee360, Inc.
• Inventors: Herman, Herman, Singh, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JORDAN MARC
• Application Number:
  US10/080,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20020159166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 359/725, 359726-728, 359/364, 359402-403, 359/618, 348 36- 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 13/08 Anamorphotic objectives
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/06 involving anamorphosis G03B37/02, G03B37/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/12 Panospheric to cylindrical image transformations

Abstract

The present invention relates to providing enhanced panoramic images with an improved panoramic mirror. A panoramic mirror is provided with a controlled vertical field of view. The controlled vertical field of view improves the resolution of a viewable panoramic image by eliminating portions of unwanted images from the viewable panoramic image.

Claims

1. A panoramic photographic apparatus comprising:

a mirror; and

means for mounting the mirror on an axis;

wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle C with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis substantially at a point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, the first angle C being at least about 0.5°

, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis a shape described by the equation;

$\frac{d<br><br>r}{d<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)}=r<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cot <br><br>\left(k<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\tan <br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)+\frac{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}}{2}\right)$

where θ

is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α

is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−

1−

α

)/2.

2. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle C ranges from about 0.5°

to about 20°

.

3. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle C ranges from about to about 10°

.

4. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle C ranges from about 2°

to about 8°

.

5. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first angle C is about 5°

.

6. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.

7. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50°

to about 100°

.

8. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein α

ranges from about 3 to about 15.

9. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the mirror on an axis comprises:

a cylinder;

wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to a lens of a camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.

10. A panoramic photographic apparatus comprising:

a rod positioned on an axis; and

a mirror mounted at a first end of the rod;

wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle E with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis at a point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, the first angle E being described by the equation;

E=(atan(r_R/r_camera)+α

·

atan(r_R/r_camera)+A )/2

where r_R is the radius of the r_camera is the distance the mirror is placed from a camera, α

is a constant defining the gain, and A is at least about 0.5°

.

11. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle E ranges from about 5°

to about 30°

.

12. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle E ranges from about 10°

to about 20°

.

13. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle E ranges from about 12°

to about 16°

.

14. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle E is about 14°

.

15. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.

16. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50°

to about 100°

.

17. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis:

an equi-angular shape, a compensated equi-angular shape, a parabolic shape, a hyperbolic shape, or a spherical shape.

18. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the mirror has a compensated equi-angular shape described by the equation:

$\frac{d<br><br>r}{d<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)}=r<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cot <br><br>\left(k<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\tan <br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)+\frac{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}}{2}\right)$

where θ

is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α

is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−

1−

α

)/2.

19. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 18, wherein α

ranges from about 3 to about 15.

20. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the mirror is supported by the rod.

21. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rod reduces unwanted reflections in the mirror.

22. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rod is substantially cylindrical in shape.

23. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images comprising:

a mirror;

means for mounting the mirror on an axis;

wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle C with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis substantially at a point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, the first angle C being at least about 0.5°

, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis a shape described by the equation;

$\frac{d<br><br>r}{d<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)}=r<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cot <br><br>\left(k<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\tan <br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)+\frac{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}}{2}\right)$

where θ

is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α

is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−

1−

α

)/2; and

a camera with a lens;

wherein the camera is positioned so that the lens is substantially aligned with the axis.

24. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23, wherein the first angle C ranges from about 0.5°

to about 20°

.

25. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23, wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.

26. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 25, wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50°

to about 100°

.

27. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23, wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:

a cylinder;

wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to the lens of the camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.

28. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 27, wherein the cylinder has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.

29. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 27, wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.

30. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23, wherein the system produces a high-resolution viewable panoramic image.

31. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23, wherein the system further comprises an additional mirror positioned adjacent the mirror and an additional camera positioned for cooperation with the additional mirror.

32. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images comprising:

a mirror;

a rod positioned on an axis;

means for mounting the mirror on the axis;

wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle E with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis at a point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, the first angle E being described by the equation;

E(atan (r_R/r_camera)+α

·

atan(r_R/r_camera)+A)/2

where r_R is the radius of the rod, r_camera is the distance the mirror is placed from a camera, α

is a constant defining the gain, and A is at least about 0.5°

; and

a camera with a lens;

wherein the camera is positioned so that the lens is substantially aligned with the axis.

33. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the first angle E ranges from about 5°

to about 30°

.

34. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.

35. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 34, wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50°

to about 100°

.

36. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis:

an equi-angular shape, a compensated equi-angular shape, a parabolic shape, a hyperbolic shape, or a spherical shape.

37. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 36, wherein the mirror has a compensated equi-angular shape described by the equation:

$\frac{d<br><br>r}{d<br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)}=r<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\cot <br><br>\left(k<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\tan <br><br>\left(\mathrm{\theta <br><br>}+\frac{A}{\mathrm{\alpha <br><br>}}\right)+\frac{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}}{2}\right)$

where θ

is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α

is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−

1−

α

)/2.

38. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises the rod and the mirror is mounted at a first end of the rod and a second end of the rod is attached to the camera.

39. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38, wherein the rod has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.

40. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38, wherein the rod has a diameter of from about 0.05 cm to about 15 cm.

41. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38, wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.

42. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38, wherein the mounting rod has a diameter D_R, the mirror has a diameter D_M, and the ratio of D_R:

D_M is greater than 1;

4.

43. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:

a primary stage,

wherein the primary stage is attached to a camera; and

a secondary stage,

wherein the secondary stage is affixed to the primary stage.

44. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43, wherein the secondary stage comprises:

the rod;

wherein the mirror is mounted at a first end of the rod and a second end of the rod is attached to the primary stage.

45. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43, wherein the primary stage has a length of from about 1 cm to about 8 cm.

46. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44, wherein the rod has a length of from about 2 cm to about 6 cm.

47. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44, wherein the rod has a diameter of from about 0.05 cm to about 15 cm.

48. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43, wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.

49. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44, wherein the rod has a diameter D_R, the mirror has a diameter D_M, and the ratio of D_R:

D_M is greater than 1;

4.

50. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:

a cylinder;

wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to the lens of the camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.

51. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 50, wherein the cylinder has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.

52. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 50, wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.

53. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32, wherein the system produces a high-resolution viewable panoramic image.