US3601475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distortion-free panoramic viewer and picture therefor
Assignee: Jetru Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-24
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A panoramic viewer having a large slot in the front portion thereof and a special wide-angle ocular in the rear portion thereof for eliminating the distortion of a fisheye-type picture placed in the slot to enable substantially distortion-free wideangle viewing.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey L Ratliff Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/02; G02B27/022; G02B27/024; G02B27/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A wide-angle viewing device for recreating substantially distortion-free panoramic views, comprising: a housing; a single wide-angle ocular supported by said housing in the rear portion thereof in a position to be looked through by the eye of an observer and having optical surfaces which produce substantially the following predetermined relation over wide-angles of view: K congruent theta /Y where: theta is the angle a ray entering the eye of an observer makes with the optical axis of the ocular, y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane of said ocular to the point of origin of said ray measured along a line perpendicular to said optical axis and passing through said optical center, and K is a predetermined property of the ocular which has a predetermined value that is substantially constant throughout wide-angle values of theta for nullifying a predetermined amount of fisheye-type distortion in a fisheye-type picture optically aligned at the focal plane of said ocular; transverse slot means within said housing in the front portion thereof for transversely receiving and supporting a picture upon the focal plane of said ocular; and single picture-framing means within the housing surrounding said slot for making visible the focal plane within said slot over values of theta from 0* to wide-angle values of theta as seen through said ocular.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A wide-angle viewing device for recreating substantially distortion-free panoramic views, comprising: a housing; a single wide-angle ocular supported by said housing in the rear portion thereof in a position to be looked through by the eye of an observer and having optical surfaces which produce substantially the following predetermined relation over wide-angles of view: K congruent theta /Y where: theta is the angle a ray entering the eye of an observer makes with the optical axis of the ocular, y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane of said ocular to the point of origin of said ray measured along a line perpendicular to said optical axis and passing through said optical center, and K is a predetermined property of the ocular which has a predetermined value that is substantially constant throughout wide-angle values of theta for nullifying a predetermined amount of fisheye-type distortion in a fisheye-type picture optically aligned at the focal plane of said ocular; transverse slot means within said housing in the front portion thereof for transversely receiving and supporting a picture upon the focal plane of said ocular; and single picture-framing means within the housing surrounding said slot for making visible the focal plane within said slot over values of theta from 0* to wide-angle values of theta as seen through said ocular.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
A picture assembly for use at the focal plane of a wide-angle ocular having a predetermined distortion property +K, where: +K Congruent theta /Y If theta is the angle a ray entering the eye of an observer looking into the ocular makes with the optical axis of the ocular, Y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane of said ocular to the point of origin of said ray measured along a line perpendicular to said optical axis and passing through said optical center, and +k has a predetermined value that is substantially constant throughout wide-angle values of theta , comprising: a film frame; and image of an object recorded within said frame to have a predetermined reverse distortion property -K which is of a predetermined value that will substantially nullify the +K of the ocular when said image is within said focal plane with its optical center on said optical axis; and support means for enabling said frame to be held within said focal plane with the optical center of said image upon said optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
A picture assembly for use at the focal plane of a wide-angle ocular having a predetermined distortion property +K, where: +K Congruent theta /Y If theta is the angle a ray entering the eye of an observer looking into the ocular makes with the optical axis of the ocular, Y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane of said ocular to the point of origin of said ray measured along a line perpendicular to said optical axis and passing through said optical center, and +k has a predetermined value that is substantially constant throughout wide-angle values of theta , comprising: a film frame; and image of an object recorded within said frame to have a predetermined reverse distortion property -K which is of a predetermined value that will substantially nullify the +K of the ocular when said image is within said focal plane with its optical center on said optical axis; and support means for enabling said frame to be held within said focal plane with the optical center of said image upon said optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A picture assembly for use at the focal plane of a wide-angle ocular having a predetermined distortion property K Congruent theta /Y wherein theta is the angle a ray entering an observer''s eye makes with the optical axis of said ocular, Y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane to the point of origin of the ray measured along a line passing through the optical center perpendicular to the optical axis, and K is substantially constant for all values of theta from 0* to wide-angle values of theta , said picture assembly comprising: a compressed, fisheye-type picture of an object having a predetermined distortion property -K which will substantially nullify the distortion +K of the ocular when said picture is positioned at the focal plane of said ocular with the optical center of said picture on the optical axis of said ocular, and support means for mounting said picture for insertion in the focal plane of said ocular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A picture assembly for use at the focal plane of a wide-angle ocular having a predetermined distortion property K Congruent theta /Y wherein theta is the angle a ray entering an observer''s eye makes with the optical axis of said ocular, Y is the distance from the optical center of the focal plane to the point of origin of the ray measured along a line passing through the optical center perpendicular to the optical axis, and K is substantially constant for all values of theta from 0* to wide-angle values of theta , said picture assembly comprising: a compressed, fisheye-type picture of an object having a predetermined distortion property -K which will substantially nullify the distortion +K of the ocular when said picture is positioned at the focal plane of said ocular with the optical center of said picture on the optical axis of said ocular, and support means for mounting said picture for insertion in the focal plane of said ocular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said wide-angle values of theta means values of theta greater than 42*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2410722A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |