US6163022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging apparatus, distance measurement apparatus and method for measuring distance
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1998-05-18
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Granted: 2000-12-19
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Expires: 2018-05-18
Abstract
Abstract The imaging apparatus of this invention includes: a lens, a half mirror, and a first CCD arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror, wherein one of the first and second CCDs outputs a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD outputs an Inverted image of the input image.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuhiko Yasui
- 👤 Noboru Nomura
- 👤 Atsushi Iisaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/12; G06; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/50; G06V20/56; G06V20/58; G06V20/588
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens, a half mirror, and a first CCD arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror, wherein the first CCD and the second CCD one have an inverse relationship in which one of the first and second CCDs outputs as an output signal a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD simultaneously outputs as an output signal an inverted image of the input image, the output signal of the one of the first and second CCDs representing a raster scan image of the input image from left to right and the output signal of the other CCD representing a raster scan image of the input image from right to left; and further comprising an image processor circuit for processing the output signals of the first and second CCDs based on their inverse relationship in order to perform image recognition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens, a half mirror, and a first CCD arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror, wherein the first CCD and the second CCD one have an inverse relationship in which one of the first and second CCDs outputs as an output signal a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD simultaneously outputs as an output signal an inverted image of the input image, the output signal of the one of the first and second CCDs representing a raster scan image of the input image from left to right and the output signal of the other CCD representing a raster scan image of the input image from right to left; and further comprising an image processor circuit for processing the output signals of the first and second CCDs based on their inverse relationship in order to perform image recognition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wavelength selective optical element on an optical path from the lens to at least one of the first and second CCDs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wavelength selective optical element is an infrared filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the half mirror also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively reflects infrared radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the half mirror also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively transmits infrared radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a magnifying lens on an optical path from the lens to at least one of the first and second CCDs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit for detecting a correlation between the normal image and the inverted image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-19 | 2004-06-19 | 2004-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-19 | 2008-06-19 | 2008-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-19 | 2012-06-19 | 2012-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |