Multi-directional viewing and imaging

• US 20060033985A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/366
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces

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.

Claims

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:

directing electromagnetic radiation received from the at least one of a plurality of fields of view 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting step includes opening a shade for an opening that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting step includes rotating a ring comprising at least one opening so that the at least one opening aligns with an opening of a casing that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a combination of the plurality of fields of view comprises a panoramic field of view.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a level of detail for the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward an imaging location.

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:

means for directing electromagnetic radiation received from the at least one of a plurality of fields of view 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.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for selecting the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for selecting includes means for opening a shade for an opening that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the shade comprises one of a cover, a shutter, or a liquid crystal panel.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for selecting includes means for rotating a ring comprising at least one opening so that the at least one opening aligns with an opening of a casing that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein a combination of the plurality of fields of view comprises a panoramic field of view.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a system for adjusting a level of detail for the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

15. A method of generating an image, the method comprising:

directing electromagnetic radiation received from at least one of a plurality of fields of view 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.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a level of detail for the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising repeating the directing and selecting steps for each of the plurality of fields of view to generate the image.

19. A panoramic imaging system comprising:

means for directing electromagnetic radiation received from at least one of a plurality of fields of view onto a first reflective surface;

a second reflective surface for 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

means for generating an image based on the electromagnetic radiation.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for adjusting a level of detail for the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for selecting the at least one of the plurality of fields of view.