Panoramic camera
First Claim
1. A camera for acquiring a 360 degree panoramic image, the camera comprising:
- a generally cylindrical housing, said housing allowing light to pass through ita top cover, said top cover disposed at a first end of said housing;
a photochromic reflector, said photochromic reflector disposed with said housing, below said top cover; and
an image capture element, said image capture element disposed at a second end of said housing, wherein the photochromic reflector is a hemispherical photochromic reflector, and wherein the photochromic reflector is comprised of an acrylic half-ball, the acrylic half-ball having a mirror coating disposed thereon, anda photochromic coating disposed on the mirror coating, and further comprising;
a plurality of sensor modules disposed around the exterior of the camera; and
a plurality of light sources disposed around the exterior of the camera, wherein each light source corresponds to a sensor module, and each light source is configured to illuminate the photochromic reflector upon activation of the corresponding sensor module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved camera for the acquisition of panoramic images is disclosed. The camera comprises a convex photochromic reflector directed towards an image capture element. Multiple incoming light sensors around the perimeter of the camera detect strong incoming light and cause the activation of a corresponding UV light. The UV light in turn activates the photochromic effect on a particular region of the photochromic reflector that corresponds to an area of strong incident light. The photochromic reflector then darkens in that area, providing compensation for a scene that has a wide range of lighting conditions. Therefore, the camera compensates for strong lighting indoors as well as outdoors.
14 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A camera for acquiring a 360 degree panoramic image, the camera comprising:
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a generally cylindrical housing, said housing allowing light to pass through it a top cover, said top cover disposed at a first end of said housing; a photochromic reflector, said photochromic reflector disposed with said housing, below said top cover; and an image capture element, said image capture element disposed at a second end of said housing, wherein the photochromic reflector is a hemispherical photochromic reflector, and wherein the photochromic reflector is comprised of an acrylic half-ball, the acrylic half-ball having a mirror coating disposed thereon, and a photochromic coating disposed on the mirror coating, and further comprising; a plurality of sensor modules disposed around the exterior of the camera; and a plurality of light sources disposed around the exterior of the camera, wherein each light source corresponds to a sensor module, and each light source is configured to illuminate the photochromic reflector upon activation of the corresponding sensor module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A camera for acquiring a 360 degree panoramic image, the camera comprising:
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a photochromic housing; a top cover, said top cover disposed at a first end of said photochromic housing; a photochromic reflector, said photochromic reflector disposed with said photochromic housing, below said top cover;
an image capture element, said image capture element disposed at a second end of said photochromic housing;a radial mirror, said radial mirror surrounding said photochromic reflector, said radial mirror disposed to direct UV light onto said photochromic reflector; a plurality of sensor modules disposed around the exterior of the camera; and a plurality of ultraviolet light sources disposed around the exterior of the camera, wherein each ultraviolet light source corresponds to a sensor module, and each ultraviolet light source is configured to illuminate the photochromic reflector and photochromic housing upon activation of the corresponding sensor module. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification