Image capturing device for capturing an image at a wide angle and image presentation system

• US 9,143,700 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Future University Hakodate
• Original Assignee: Future University Hakodate
• Inventors: Suzuki, Sho'ji, Kaneno, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): PRABHAKHER, PRITHAM DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/931,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 348/239, 348/333.08, 348/333.1, 348 36- 60, 348/584, 348/211.11, 359362-366, 359443-461, 359725-731, 359/838, 359/859, 359/863
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/023 Multi-image cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/06 involving anamorphosis G03B37/02, G03B37/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability

Abstract

A first imaging unit is configured to capture an image showing a subject in front. A convex reflector is located behind an imaging plane of an optical system formed by the first imaging unit and is configured to share an optical axis with the first imaging unit and mirror a subject beside the convex reflector, a convex portion of the convex reflector being oriented forward. A second imaging unit is configured to share the optical axis with the first imaging unit and capture an image mirrored by the convex reflector. An image processing unit is configured to adjust a resolution of images captured by the first and the second imaging units, obtain a mirror-reversed image from the image captured by the first imaging unit or the image captured by the second imaging unit, and blend the mirror-reversed image with the other image.

Claims

1. An image capturing device comprising:

a first imaging camera, which captures a front image showing a subject in a front view;

a convex reflector located behind an imaging plane of an optical system formed by the first imaging camera, which shares an optical axis with the first imaging camera and mirrors at least the subject beside the convex reflector as a side image, a convex portion of the convex reflector oriented forward, facing the subject;

a second imaging camera, which shares the optical axis between the first imaging camera and the convex reflector and captures the side image mirrored by the convex reflector; and

an image processor, which adjusts resolutions of the front image captured by the first imaging camera and the side image captured by the second imaging camera, obtains a mirror-reversed image from either the front image captured by the first imaging camera or from the side image captured by the second imaging camera, and blends the mirror-reversed front image or mirror-reversed side image with the side image or front image, respectively, thus creating a blended image;

wherein vertical and horizontal sizes of the image captured by the first imaging camera fits a resolution of the image captured by the second imaging camera.

2. The image capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring a magnification or reduction factor from a user,

wherein upon acquiring the magnification or reduction factor, the image processor further re-adjusts a resolution of the image captured by the first imaging camera and a resolution of the image captured by the second imaging camera and re-builds the blended image.

3. An image presentation system comprising:

the image capturing device according to claim 1;

a projector, which projects the blended image generated by the image capturing device; and

a curved screen, which reflects the projected blended image from the projector.

4. An image capturing device comprising:

a first imaging camera, which captures a front image showing a subject in a front view;

a convex reflector located behind an imaging plane of an optical system formed by the first imaging camera, which shares an optical axis with the first imaging camera and mirrors at least the subject beside the convex reflector, along the optical axis, and a convex portion of the convex reflector being oriented forward, facing the subject;

a planar reflector located between the first imaging camera and the convex reflector that mirrors the side image mirrored by the convex reflector;

a second imaging camera, which shares the optical axis with the first imaging camera and the convex reflector and captures the side image mirrored by the convex reflector via the opening hole of the convex reflector; and

an image processor which adjusts resolutions of the front image from the first imaging camera and the side image from the second imaging camera, and generates a single blended image by overwriting a center portion of the side image from the second imaging camera with the front image from the first imaging camera;

wherein vertical and horizontal sizes of the image captured by the first imaging camera fits a resolution of the image captured by the second imaging camera.

5. The image capturing device according to claim 4, further comprising:

acquiring a magnification or reduction factor from a user,

wherein upon acquiring the magnification or reduction factor, the image processor further re-adjusts a resolution of the image captured by the first imaging camera and a resolution of the image captured by the second imaging camera and re-builds the blended image.

6. An image presentation system comprising:

the image capturing device according to claim 4;

a projector, which projects the blended image generated by the image capturing device; and

a curved screen, which reflects the projected blended image from the projector.