Multi-directional viewing and imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of directing electromagnetic radiation from at least one of a plurality of fields of view to a view point, the method comprising:
- providing a casing having a plurality of openings each having a shade to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view;
selectively opening one or more shades to pass electromagnetic radiation from a field of view through a corresponding opening;
directing electromagnetic radiation passing through each selected opening onto a first reflective surface; and
directing electromagnetic radiation reflected off of the first reflective surface to the view point, wherein the view point comprises a transparent portion of the first reflective surface.
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Abstract
A solution for directing electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, from multiple fields of view in differing directions to a single view point is provided. The radiation received from one or more fields of view is directed onto a first reflective surface, the radiation reflected off of the first reflective surface is then directed to a view point that comprises a transparent portion of the first reflective surface. In this manner, the invention enables the viewing and/or imaging of the radiation from any location in the full panorama at a single location.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of directing electromagnetic radiation from at least one of a plurality of fields of view to a view point, the method comprising:
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providing a casing having a plurality of openings each having a shade to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view; selectively opening one or more shades to pass electromagnetic radiation from a field of view through a corresponding opening; directing electromagnetic radiation passing through each selected opening onto a first reflective surface; and directing electromagnetic radiation reflected off of the first reflective surface to the view point, wherein the view point comprises a transparent portion of the first reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for directing electromagnetic radiation from at least one of a plurality of fields of view to a view point, the system comprising:
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a casing having a plurality of openings each having a shade to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view; means for selectively opening one or more shades to pass electromagnetic radiation from a field of view through a corresponding opening; means for directing electromagnetic radiation passing through each selected opening onto a concave reflective surface; and a convex reflective surface for directing electromagnetic radiation reflected off of the concave reflective surface to the view point, wherein the view point comprises a transparent portion of the concave reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of generating an image, the method comprising:
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providing a casing having a plurality of openings each having a shade to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings corresponds to a plurality of fields of view; selecting at least one of a plurality of fields of view to image; selectively opening one or more shades of the plurality of openings that correspond to the selected at least one of a plurality of fields of view to image to pass electromagnetic radiation therethrough; directing electromagnetic radiation passing through each selected orpening onto a first reflective surface; directing electromagnetic radiation reflected off of the first reflective surface to a view point, wherein the view point comprises a transparent portion of the first reflective surface; and generating the image based on the electromagnetic radiation received from each of the selected at least one of a plurality of fields of view. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A panoramic imaging system comprising:
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a casing having a plurality of openings each having a shade to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of openings corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view; means for selecting at least one of a plurality of fields of view to image; means for selectively opening one or more shades to pass electromagnetic radiation from the selected fields of view through a corresponding opening; means for directing electromagnetic radiation passing through each selected opening onto a first reflective surface; a second reflective surface for directing electromagnetic radiation reflected reflected off of the first reflective surface to a view point, wherein the view point comprises a transparent portion of the first reflective surface; and means for generating an image based on the electromagnetic radiation received from each of the selected at least one of a plurality of fields of view. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification