System and method for panoramic imaging
First Claim
1. A system for processing images, the system comprising:
- a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene;
a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis;
an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape;
a first camera for capturing the image reflected by the mirror;
at least one secondary camera for capturing a portion of the scene;
means for mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image; and
means for cooperatively displaying the viewable image and the portion of the scene captured by the at least one secondary camera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for processing panoramic photographic images. The system includes a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene, a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis, a first camera for capturing the image reflected by the mirror, at least one secondary camera for capturing a portion of the scene, means for mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image, and means for cooperatively displaying the viewable image and the portion of the scene captured by the at least one of the secondary cameras. The mirror may include a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis: an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape. The secondary camera may also capture a portion of the image reflected by the mirror. Alternatively, the system may include a single camera including an active-pixel image sensor for capturing at least a portion of the image reflected by the mirror. Methods for processing images in accordance with the system are also provided.
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Citations
97 Claims
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1. A system for processing images, the system comprising:
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a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis;
an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape;a first camera for capturing the image reflected by the mirror; at least one secondary camera for capturing a portion of the scene; means for mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image; and means for cooperatively displaying the viewable image and the portion of the scene captured by the at least one secondary camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for processing images, the system comprising:
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a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis; a first camera for capturing the image reflected by the mirror; at least one secondary camera for capturing a portion of the image reflected by the mirror; means for moveably positioning the at least one secondary camera at a plurality of locations adjacent to the mirror or the first camera; means for mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image; and means for cooperatively displaying the viewable image and the portion of the image captured by the at least one secondary camera. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for processing images, the system comprising:
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a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis;
an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape;a camera including an active-pixel image sensor for capturing at least a portion of the image reflected by the mirror; and means for mapping pixel data of the at least a portion of the image captured by the camera into a viewable image. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of processing images, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis;
an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape;capturing the image reflected by the mirror with a first camera; capturing a portion of the scene with at least one secondary camera; mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image; and displaying cooperatively the viewable image and the portion of the scene captured by the at least one secondary camera. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for processing images, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; mounting the mirror on an axis; capturing the image reflected by the mirror with a first camera; moveably positioning at least one secondary camera at a plurality of locations adjacent to the mirror or the first camera; capturing a portion of the image reflected by the mirror with the at least one secondary camera; mapping pixel data of the image captured by the first camera into a viewable image; and displaying cooperatively the viewable image and the portion of the image captured by the at least one secondary camera. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A method for processing images, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis;
an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape;capturing at least a portion of the image reflected by the mirror with a camera including an active-pixel image sensor; and mapping pixel data of the at least a portion of the image captured by the camera into a viewable image. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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Specification