Panoramic optical systems

• US 9,229,200 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 360ai Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: EyeSee360, Inc.
• Inventors: Eckhardt, Stephen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US13/737,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 359/728
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0852 having a field corrector only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/086 wherein the system is made of a single block of optical material, e.g. solid catadioptric systems

Abstract

Panoramic optical systems are disclosed comprising an ellipsoidal mirror and a lens system that reduces astigmatism. The lens systems are capable of operating at fast speeds. Simple and highly manufacturable lens systems are provided for capturing and/or projecting high quality 360-degree panoramic scenes.

Claims

1. A panoramic optical system comprising:

an ellipsoidal mirror; and

an astigmatism reducing lens system comprising a series of lenses arranged to transmit images from the ellipsoidal mirror, wherein the lens system has an F/number faster than F/10 and reduces astigmatism to less than ±

500 microns, and wherein the panoramic optical system has a panoramic field of view ranging from −

30°

or less to +30°

or more with respect to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the system.

2. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the lens system reduces astigmatism to less than ±

200 microns.

3. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the ellipsoidal mirror comprises a conic constant of from −

0.3 to −

0.9.

4. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the ellipsoidal mirror comprises a conic constant of from −

0.6 to −

0.85.

5. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the ellipsoidal mirror is catadioptric.

6. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the lens system comprises at least 5 of the lenses.

7. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the lens system comprises less than 10 of the lenses.

8. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the lenses are rotationally symmetric.

9. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the panoramic field of view ranges from −

40°

or less to +40°

or more with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the system.

10. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the panoramic field of view ranges from −

50°

or less to +50°

or more with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the system.

11. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the F/number is faster than F/8.

12. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the F/number is faster than F/6.

13. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, having an F-theta distortion of less than 15 percent.

14. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, having an F-theta distortion of less than 5 percent.

15. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, wherein the optical system is afocal.

16. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting an image after passing through the lens system.

17. The panoramic optical system of claim 1, further comprising a projector for projecting an image after passing through the lens system.

18. A panoramic optical system comprising:

an ellipsoidal mirror comprising a convex reflective surface; and

an astigmatism reducing lens system comprising a series of lenses arranged to transmit images from the ellipsoidal mirror, wherein the lens system has an F/number faster than F/10 and reduces astigmatism to less than ±

500 microns, and wherein the panoramic optical system has a panoramic field of view ranging from −

30°

or less to +30°

or more with respect to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the system.