The present invention relates generally to the field of digital film and video photography. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand-held digital camera device that captures a 360-degree panoramic image.
A conventional hand-held digital camera provides a relatively small viewing angle and can only capture images in the direction in which the camera is aimed. Accordingly, each captured image provides a view of only what the camera operator chooses to focus on. Although some cameras use a specialized wide-angle lens to capture a wider panoramic image, such panoramic cameras still have a limited field of view.
Camera systems exist that can capture light from all directions, such that a full 360-degree panoramic image can be created. A full 360-degree panoramic image allows a viewer to choose what he would like to look at within the image, offering multiple different viewing directions and fields of view within the same image. However, these systems and the methods that are known for creating 360-degree panoramic images have several limitations, including mechanical complexity and labor-intensive, time consuming processing.
For instance, a particular method for creating 360-degree panoramic images involves combining a series of individual photographs taken in different directions into a single panoramic image. More specifically, software tools exist for receiving as input a sequence of digitized, overlapping still photographs, taken by a camera at constant degree intervals (e.g. 30 degree intervals) as the camera is turned on a tripod around a vertical axis (possibly rotated automatically by a complex actuator mechanism). The overlapping photographs are merged together by the software tools into one long panoramic strip. Unfortunately, this process is very time-consuming, requiring human intervention, and is prone to temporal artifacts since the photographs being merged together were actually captured at different times. The time change during the series of photographs makes it difficult to create panoramic images in changing scenes. Furthermore, it is difficult to extend this type of process from a single still panoramic image into a continuous frame or a motion picture (i.e. video) panoramic image capture.
In another example, some panoramic camera systems operate by spinning a lens and film to capture a panoramic view in a single sweeping motion. This type of system is mechanically complex and not practical for use as a hand-held camera.
Panoramic camera devices that instantaneously capture a 360 degree panoramic image also exist, for example the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,451 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,742,070. However, there remains much room for improvement, with regard to the size, housing, practicality, ease of use and transportation of the camera.
There thus exists a need in the industry to provide an improved panoramic camera.
In accordance with a broad aspect, the present invention provides a panoramic camera comprising an ovoid-shaped housing having a top end and a bottom end. The camera includes a lens disposed proximate to the top end of the housing, a display screen disposed at the bottom of the housing and an image sensor unit within the housing, the image sensor unit operative to capture images. A switch is provided on the housing, the switch activatable by a camera operator for causing the camera to take a photograph or video.
In accordance with another broad aspect, the present invention provides a panoramic camera comprising an ovoid-shaped housing having a top end and a bottom end; a lens disposed proximate to the top end of the housing; a display screen disposed at the bottom of the housing; an image sensor unit within the housing operative to capture images; and a switch on the housing, the switch activatable by a camera operator for causing the camera to take a photograph or video. The camera also includes a stand at the bottom end of the housing, the stand movable between a closed position and an open position.
In accordance with yet another broad aspect, the present invention provides a panoramic camera comprising an ovoid-shaped housing having a top end and a bottom end; a lens disposed proximate to the top end of the housing; a display screen disposed at the bottom of the housing; an image sensor unit within the housing operative to capture images; and a switch on the housing, the switch activatable by a camera operator for causing the camera to take a photograph or video. The camera also includes a visual indicator on the housing for guiding the camera operator during the taking of a photograph or video.
The invention will be better understood by way of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
The present invention is directed to a novel, hand-held panoramic camera for instantaneously capturing full 360-degree panoramic images.
Note that, although the panoramic camera will often be discussed herein in the context of taking panoramic pictures or photographs, the novel panoramic camera may also be used to take panoramic videos.
As shown in
As seen in
Note that the term “top” is used herein to identify the end 130 of the housing 110, and thus of the camera 100, that is intended to be facing upwardly when the camera 100 is held by a camera operator taking a panoramic photograph or video. Similarly, the term “bottom” is used herein to identify the end 150 of the housing 110, and thus of the camera 100, that is intended to be facing downwardly when the camera 100 is held by the camera operator taking a panoramic photograph or video. More specifically, in order to take a full 360-degree sky-to-ground photograph, the camera operator will typically hold the camera 100 in front of or above his/her body, with the top end 130 facing upwardly and the bottom end 150 facing downwardly, as will be discussed in further detail below. However, the camera 100 may be held in any orientation, with the top end 130 facing any direction, to take various different types of panoramic photographs of a surrounding scene (e.g. horizontal panoramic, vertical panoramic, etc).
The lens 120 is an optical lens located within the housing 110 proximate the top end 130 thereof. This lens 120 may consist of a single lens or of an assembly of lenses, which lens or lens assembly may itself be formed of one or more optical lens elements. Regardless of its design and composition, the lens 120 is operative to collect light rays from a surrounding scene and focus these rays into the image sensor unit of the camera 100 where images are captured. As seen in
The panoramic lens 120 can be a wide-angle lens, such as a fish-eye or a panomorph lens, or a plurality of (non-wide-angle) lenses or one or more mirrors for imaging a surrounding environment on one or more image sensors. The image collected may thus be a single continuous hemispherical image including a horizontal zone and an overhead dome, a single horizontal zone (omitting a vertical dome), or a plurality images able to be stitched together to form a panoramic image. A panomorph lens is a wide-angle lens that provides better resolution in the horizontal zone than in the vertical dome.
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the lens 120 is an elliptical lens assembly, operative to capture light from a surrounding scene in a viewing angle of 360 degrees about the optical axis 170 (i.e. elliptical images, including but not limited to circular images). In one possible non-limiting example, as depicted in
Continuing with the example of an elliptical lens assembly 120, when the camera operator holds the camera 100, it is the orientation of the camera 100 (i.e. direction in which the lens 120 is pointed), rotation of the camera 100 (i.e. orientation of the elliptical lens 120) and the position of the camera 100 with respect to the camera operator's body (e.g. in front of or above) that determine the type of panoramic photograph/video to be taken. For example, when the camera operator holds the camera 100 in front of his/her body with the elliptical lens 120 pointed upwardly, the camera operator can take a 360-degree sky-to-ground panoramic photograph of the scene surrounding the camera 100. In another example, when the camera operator holds the camera 100 in front of his/her body with the elliptical lens 120 pointed outwardly and in a horizontal orientation, the camera operator can take a horizontal panoramic photograph of the scene surrounding the camera 100. In another example, when the camera operator holds the camera 100 in front of his/her body with the elliptical lens 120 pointed outwardly and in a vertical orientation, the camera operator can take a vertical panoramic photograph of the scene surrounding the camera 100.
Since the optical functionality and operation of an elliptical lens assembly in the context of a panoramic camera will be apparent to those skilled in the art, they will not be discussed in further detail herein.
It is important to note that various different types of lenses and lens assemblies that are operative to instantaneously capture panoramic images, comprising various different numbers of optical lens elements, are possible for the lens 120 of the camera 100, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
As shown in
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the display screen 140 is elliptical or oval in shape for displaying the field of view captured by an elliptical lens 120, as seen in
The display screen 140 is disposed at a particular angle at the bottom end 150 of the housing 110, as seen in
The display screen 140 is therefore angled on the housing 110 such that the optical axis 170 and the display screen 140 define an acute angle 200 therebetween, as shown in
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation of the present invention, the display screen 140 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen with touch screen capability, whereby the camera operator can not only view images on the display screen 140 but also provide basic commands to the camera 100 via the display screen 140 by touching icons appearing on the display screen 140 (e.g. view photograph, play video, delete photograph/video, etc.). The user interface presented to the camera operator via the display screen 140 may be implemented by an internal processing unit of the camera 100.
The switch 160 on the housing 110 is a control or trigger that allows the camera operator to cause the camera 100 to take a photograph. In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the switch 160 is a push-button type of control that responds to pressure applied thereon by the camera operator to cause the camera 100 to take a photograph, such as in the case of a shutter-release button on standard cameras. Therefore, when the camera operator presses on the switch 160 (for example with the thumb of the hand holding the camera 100, as seen in
As seen in
In a specific non-limiting example of implementation of the present invention, the ovoid-shaped housing 110 of the camera 100 is a multi-component assembly, as seen in
Each separate assembly 700, 702, 704, 706, 708 of the housing 110 may itself comprise one or more elements or components which fit together and/or interconnect to form the respective assembly. These components may be formed of various different types of materials including for example metal, metal alloy, polymer, plastic, rubber and elastomer, among other possibilities. Specific to the present invention, each such component is molded or extruded during its construction to acquire a respective, predetermined shape that contributes to the final, egg-shape of the assembled housing 110. For example, the top housing assembly 700 is characterized by a tapering cone shape, while the left and right frame assemblies 702, 704 are characterized by an arc shape.
In a non-limiting example, the top housing assembly 700, which is also shown in
In another non-limiting example, each of the left and right frame assemblies 702, 704 includes a moulded or extruded body frame (712 and 714, respectively), as well as a cosmetic cover (716 and 718, respectively). The body frames 712, 714 are designed to fit around the image sensor unit 710 and other internal components of the camera 100 upon assembly. The cosmetic covers 716, 718 of the left and right frame assemblies 702, 704 form a part of the protective outer surface of the housing 110, adjacent to the switch 160 once the camera 100 is fully assembled.
In yet another non-limiting example, the bottom housing assembly 706 includes the display screen 140, a support frame 720 for the display screen 140 and the switch 160. In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the switch 160 is a switch assembly formed of a switch cover 722 and a switch support 724, this switch assembly being electrically or mechanically connected to a shutter of the lens 120 in the assembled camera 100. In the assembled camera 100, the support frame 720 and switch 160 join with the left and right frame assemblies 702, 704, as well as with the rear housing assembly 708 to form part of the external surface or body of the protective housing 110 of the camera 100. It is the support frame 720 that defines the bottom end 150 of the housing 110, and thus of the camera 100.
In a further non-limiting example, the rear housing assembly 708, which is also shown in
Note that, in variant embodiments of the present invention, the housing 110 of the panoramic camera 100 may include more or less housing assemblies than described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, each separate housing assembly may include more, less and/or different components than those described above. However, any such components and/or housing assemblies will be sized and shaped such that, when assembled together, they impart an ovoid or egg shape to the protective housing 110 of the camera 100.
Various different types of attachment mechanisms may be used to interconnect and hold together the various assemblies 700, 702, 704, 706, 708 of the housing 110 upon construction of the camera 100, as well as to interconnect and hold together the various components of each assembly. Such attachment mechanisms may include screws (as shown in
In a variant embodiment of the present invention, the housing 110 of the camera 100 optionally includes a detachable, protective cover 726 for securing to the top end 130 of the housing 110 when the camera 100 is not in use and/or is being transported, as shown in
With reference to
As is well known to those skilled in the art, the image sensor unit 710 of the camera 100 is operative to capture light and to convert an optical image into an electronic signal. Different types of sensors (e.g. CCD image sensor, CMOS imaging chip, etc.) are possible for the image sensor unit 710, as are different types of processing and image generation operations, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the image sensor unit 710 is operative to capture an elliptical panoramic image, and to process this captured light energy for generating digital information allowing to display the panoramic image in a viewer or viewing window, such as display screen 140 or a display of a remote computing device.
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the image sensor unit 710 includes one or more integrated circuits, each packaged as a printed circuit board (PCB) or as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) logic die stacked on a laminate substrate. In one example, the image sensor unit 710 is formed of an integrated circuit package on package (PoP) (i.e. two or more logic and/or memory packages stacked or installed atop one another with a standard interface to route signals therebetween), allowing for a higher component density within the relatively small, egg-shaped internal space of the housing 110 of the panoramic camera 100.
The image sensor unit 710 and lens assembly 120 together form part of an imager assembly of the camera 100, which may include various other elements, including for example a lens shutter, a frame 600 for the lens assembly 106, a transparent cover 602 to protect the lens assembly 120 (at the top end 130 of the housing 110 in the assembled camera 100) and a base 603.
Examples of other possible internal components of the camera 100 may include a heat sink plate 604 for dissipating at least in part the heat generated by the image sensor unit 710 during its processing operations, a light-emitting diode (LED) PCB or PoP 606, a microphone and speaker (not shown), a radio-frequency identification (RFID) antenna (not shown), a central processing unit (CPU) PCB or PoP 608 and a Wi-Fi PCB or PoP 610, among many other possibilities.
The various internal components and modules of the camera 100 may all be implemented in software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. Obviously, various different software, hardware and/or firmware based implementations of these components and modules are possible and included within the scope of the present invention.
In a broad embodiment of the present invention, the panoramic camera 100 includes a visual indicator on the housing 110 for guiding the camera operator during the taking of a photograph or video. More specifically, the visual indicator may confirm to the camera operator when a photograph has been taken by the camera 100 or when the camera 100 begins and ends the recording of a video. This visual indicator is controlled by an internal component of the camera 100, such as the image sensor unit or a processing unit.
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the visual indicator is a light on the external surface of the housing 110, positioned to be visible to the camera operator when holding the camera 100 to take a photograph or video. This light may acquire any one of an on, off and flashing state to provide visual cues to the operator as to the status of an operation performed by camera 100. For example, the light may flash once or multiple times after the camera 100 has taken a photograph, to confirm that the photography operation is completed. In another example, the light may acquire the on state when the camera 100 is recording a video, remaining in the on state until the recording has ended, at which point the light acquires the off state.
In the case of the non-limiting example of
In another broad embodiment of the present invention, the panoramic camera 100 includes a stand at the bottom end 150 of the housing 110, operative to support the camera 100 on a horizontal surface for maintaining the camera 100 in a position in which its top end 130 is upwardly facing and its optical axis 170 is in a vertical plane. In other words, the stand positions the camera 100 to take a full 360-degree sky-to-ground panoramic photograph (or video) and holds the camera 100 in this position without assistance from an operator of the camera.
In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, the stand is movable between a closed position in which the stand is substantially flush with the bottom end 150 of the housing 110, and an open position in which the stand is capable to support the camera 100 on a horizontal surface. Thus, when a camera operator wants to set the camera 100 down on a horizontal surface with the top end 130 of the camera 100 facing upwardly, the camera operator moves the stand to its open position and set the camera 100 down on its stand.
In the case of the non-limiting example of
In a variant embodiment of the present invention, the stand is also operative to control an automatic timer of the camera 100, where this timer may be implemented by the image sensor unit 710 or a processing unit of the camera 100. Thus, the stand is movable by the camera operator to one or more trigger positions for starting an internal timer of the camera 100, which timer will cause the camera 100 to automatically take a photograph upon expiry of a predetermined period of time associated with the respective trigger position, without need for the camera operator to activate the switch 160.
In the case of the non-limiting example of
Note that the stand of the camera 100 (e.g. ring 906) may be movable to more than one trigger position, each such trigger position being associated with a respective period of time to which the internal timer will be set for automatically taking a photograph. In one non-limiting example, the stand is movable to two different trigger positions, the first of which causes the internal timer to be set to 25 seconds, the second of which causes the internal timer to be set to 45 seconds. In the case of either trigger position, the stand is biased back from the respective trigger position to the open position, such that once the timer has been set, the camera 100 can be set down on its stand on a horizontal surface and left unattended by the camera operator.
In yet another variant embodiment of the present invention, the camera 100 includes an input/output port for exchanging data and communications with an external computing device, where this input/output port may be controlled by a processing unit of the camera 100. In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, this input/output port is a USB port 400 built into the support frame 720 of the bottom housing assembly 706 of the housing unit 110, as shown in
In a further variant embodiment of the present invention, the camera 100 is operative to wirelessly connect with a remote or external computing device, such as a personal computer, a smart phone or a tablet, for exchanging data and/or communications with the remote computing device. For example, photographs and videos may be wirelessly transferred from the camera 100 to the remote computing device. In another example, control signals may be received by the camera 100 from the remote computing device, such as a remote control signal causing the camera 100 to automatically take a photograph. In a specific, non-limiting example of implementation, this wireless connectivity of the camera 100 is provided by Wi-Fi PoP 610, as shown in
Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the present invention. Various possible modifications and different configurations will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of the present invention, which is defined more particularly by the attached claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CA2013/050009 | 1/7/2013 | WO | 00 |