US6459451B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for a panoramic camera to capture a 360 degree image
Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-06-11
•
Granted: 2002-10-01
•
Expires: 2017-06-11
Abstract
Abstract Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360 degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Driscoll, Jr.
- 👤 Howard Morrow
- 👤 Alan J. Steinhauer
- 👤 Willard Curtis Lomax
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/12; G02; G02B; G02B13/00; G02B13/06; G03; G03B; G03B37/00; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19617; G08B13/19626; G08B13/19628; G08B13/19678; G08B13/19682; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/2628; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around said convex mirror and from a field-of-view extending through a horizon line, said convex mirror having a substantially parabolic shape; an astigmatism correction lens, said astigmatism correction lens correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from said convex mirror, said astigmatism resulting from the shape of said convex mirror; an objective lens for focusing said light reflected from said convex mirror as corrected by the astigmatism correction lens; and an image capture mechanism, said image capture mechanism capturing said light reflected from said convex mirror, whereby said light is captured linearly proportional to the incident angle of said light on said mirror.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around said convex mirror and from a field-of-view extending through a horizon line, said convex mirror having a substantially parabolic shape; an astigmatism correction lens, said astigmatism correction lens correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from said convex mirror, said astigmatism resulting from the shape of said convex mirror; an objective lens for focusing said light reflected from said convex mirror as corrected by the astigmatism correction lens; and an image capture mechanism, said image capture mechanism capturing said light reflected from said convex mirror, whereby said light is captured linearly proportional to the incident angle of said light on said mirror.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around the convex mirror; at least one correction lens, the at least one correction lens correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from the convex mirror, said at least one optical aberration a result of the convex mirror; and at least one image capture mechanism configured to capture a portion of said light as corrected by the at least one correction lens.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around the convex mirror; at least one correction lens, the at least one correction lens correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from the convex mirror, said at least one optical aberration a result of the convex mirror; and at least one image capture mechanism configured to capture a portion of said light as corrected by the at least one correction lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said at least one optical aberration is astigmatism and the at least one correction lens is an astigmatism correction lens configured to correct said astigmatism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said at least one optical aberration is field curvature and the at least one correction lens is a field flattening lens configured to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one optical aberration includes field curvature and another one of the at least one correction lens is a field flattening lens configured to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light is from a band of light around the convex mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said band of light around the convex mirror extends through a horizon line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said light reflected from the convex mirror forms an annular image; and the convex mirror is shaped such that an angle of elevation from said horizon line is linearly proportional to a radial distance of the center of said annular image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one image capture mechanism comprises photographic film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one image capture mechanism comprises an electronic image capture device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said electronic image capture device comprises at least one charged coupled device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a beam splitter, the beam splitter dividing said light into a first image and a second image; wherein the at least one image capture mechanism comprises a first electronic image capture mechanism and a second electronic image capture mechanism; and wherein said first electronic image capture mechanism captures at least half of said first image and said second electronic image capture mechanism captures at least half of said second image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a protective transparent block, the protective transparent block covering the convex mirror.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a second mirror, the second mirror reflecting said light reflected from the convex mirror through an aperture in the convex mirror; and wherein the at least one image capture mechanism captures said light reflected from the second mirror.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one image capture mechanism is housed within the convex mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: a protective transparent block, the protective transparent block covering the convex mirror.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the protective transparent block ends at said aperture in the convex mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a lens system is housed within an indentation of the protective transparent block.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the protective transparent block has an external surface and said external surface is shaped such that light rays that will be reflected onto the at least one image capture mechanism enter the protective transparent block at a normal to said external surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light is captured as an annular image, and said apparatus further comprises a transformation mechanism configured to transform a portion of said annular image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transformation mechanism comprises a computer configured to perform said transformation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transformation mechanism comprises circuitry configured to perform said transformation.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claims 2 , 3 , 4 or 5 further comprising an objective lens configured to focus said portion of said light onto the at least one image capture mechanism.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claims 2 , 3 , 4 or 5 wherein said portion of said light reflected from the convex mirror forms an annular image.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claims 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 13 , 14 or 19 wherein said portion of said light captured by the at least one image capture mechanism represents a capture angle of at least 45 degrees of said substantially 360 degrees of said light reflected by the convex mirror.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said capture angle is substantially 180 degrees.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around the convex mirror; an astigmatism correction lens, the astigmatism correction lens correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from the convex mirror, said astigmatism a result of the convex mirror; an objective lens, the objective lens focusing said light as corrected by the astigmatism correction lens onto at least one image capture mechanism; and a field flattening lens, the field flattening lens correcting field curvature in said light from the objective lens to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus at said at least one image capture mechanism, said field curvature a result of the convex mirror.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for capturing panoramic images, said apparatus comprising: a convex mirror, said convex mirror reflecting light from substantially 360 degrees around the convex mirror; an astigmatism correction lens, the astigmatism correction lens correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from the convex mirror, said astigmatism a result of the convex mirror; an objective lens, the objective lens focusing said light as corrected by the astigmatism correction lens onto at least one image capture mechanism; and a field flattening lens, the field flattening lens correcting field curvature in said light from the objective lens to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus at said at least one image capture mechanism, said field curvature a result of the convex mirror.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for recording a panorama comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from said convex mirror by at least one correction lens, said at least one optical aberration a result of said convex mirror; and capturing a portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens by at least one image capture mechanism, wherein said at least one optical aberration includes astigmatism and said at least one correction lens is an astigmatism correction lens configured to correct said astigmatism.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for recording a panorama comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from said convex mirror by at least one correction lens, said at least one optical aberration a result of said convex mirror; and capturing a portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens by at least one image capture mechanism, wherein said at least one optical aberration includes astigmatism and said at least one correction lens is an astigmatism correction lens configured to correct said astigmatism.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said at least one optical aberration includes field curvature and another one of said at least one correction lens is a field flattening lens configured to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising focusing said portion of said light, corrected by said at least one correction lens, onto said image plane with an objective lens.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for recording a panorama comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from said convex mirror by at least one correction lens, said at least one optical aberration a result of said convex mirror; and capturing a portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens by at least one image capture mechanism, wherein said at least one optical aberration is field curvature and said at least one correction lens is a field flattening lens configured to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for recording a panorama comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting at least one optical aberration in said light reflected from said convex mirror by at least one correction lens, said at least one optical aberration a result of said convex mirror; and capturing a portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens by at least one image capture mechanism, wherein said at least one optical aberration is field curvature and said at least one correction lens is a field flattening lens configured to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
46 words
The method of claims 28 , 29 or 31 wherein said portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens represents a capture angle of at least 45 degrees of said substantially 360 degrees of said light reflected by the convex mirror.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said capture angle is substantially 180 degrees.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said portion of said light as corrected by said at least one correction lens forms an annular image.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising transforming a portion of said annular image.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said portion of said light is captured on a photographic film.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said portion of said light is captured by at least one charged coupled device.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for capturing panoramic images comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from said convex mirror, said astigmatism a result of said convex mirror; focusing said astigmatism corrected light onto at least one image capture mechanism; and correcting field curvature in said light from the objective lens to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus at said at least one image capture mechanism, said field curvature a result of the convex mirror.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for capturing panoramic images comprising steps of: reflecting light from a substantially 360 degree band around a convex mirror to an image plane; correcting astigmatism in said light reflected from said convex mirror, said astigmatism a result of said convex mirror; focusing said astigmatism corrected light onto at least one image capture mechanism; and correcting field curvature in said light from the objective lens to flatten said field curvature to a field of optimal focus at said at least one image capture mechanism, said field curvature a result of the convex mirror.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-30 | 2006-04-01 | 2006-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | 2010-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-30 | 2014-04-01 | 2014-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |