Claims
- 1. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:
at least one lens having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the lens having a convex spherical reflective surface capable of receiving light from a substantially 360° surrounding panoramic scene and reflecting the light received from the panoramic scene.
- 2. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising apparatus positioned to receive light reflected by the convex spherical reflective surface and capable of correcting at least one aberration of the light.
- 3. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus corrects astigmatism of the light.
- 4. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus does color correction of the light.
- 5. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus focuses the light.
- 6. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 5 wherein, after focusing the light, an image is created wherein f-theta is less than 1.
- 7. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 wherein f-theta is more than 0.5.
- 8. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 6 that includes a digital image connector capable of reading the image and adjusting f-theta closer to 1.
- 9. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the apparatus creates a flattened image plane when the light is focused.
- 10. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 2 wherein the convex spherical reflective surface is capable of receiving light for an unbroken included angle of at least 80°, in a vertical plane, whereafter the light from the entire included angle is received by the manipulation apparatus.
- 11. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 10 wherein the included angle extends from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon.
- 12. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a transparent component covering the convex reflective surface, the transparent component having a spherical outer surface through which the light from the panoramic scene passes before reaching the reflective surface.
- 13. A panoramic imaging arrangement comprising:
at least one lens having a substantially vertical axis of revolution, the lens being capable of receiving light from substantially a 360° panoramic scene surrounding the lens for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°, in a vertical plane, extending from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon, and altering the direction of the light received from the panoramic scene; and a light manipulation apparatus positioned and capable of receiving light from the lens for the entire included angle.
- 14. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 13 wherein the lens has a spherical surface altering the direction of the light.
- 15. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 14 wherein the lens has a reflective surface which reflects the light.
- 16. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 15 wherein the reflective surface is convex.
- 17. The panoramic imaging arrangement of claim 16 wherein the reflective surface is spherical.
- 18. Apparatus for capturing a panoramic scene, the apparatus comprising:
a vertically extending support structure; a lower lens block secured to an upper end of the support structure; an upper lens block secured to the lower lens block in a position above the lower lens block, the upper lens block having convex, outer surface having a vertically extending axis of revolution; a convex reflective surface on the upper lens block wherein light from a substantially 360° surrounding panoramic scene passes through the convex outer surface of the upper lens block into the upper lens block, the light is then reflected off the convex reflective surface, and the light then passes through the upper lens block and then through the lower lens block.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18 that includes a system of lenses, positioned below the lower lens block to receive the light after passing through the lower lens block.
- 20. A method of mounting a panoramic lens arrangement which includes a first lens block including a convex reflective surface having a vertically extending axis of revolution, a transparent component covering the reflective surface, and a second lens block located on the first lens block, the method comprising:
securing the second lens block to a support structure in a position so that light from a substantially 360° surrounding panoramic scene passes through the transparent component, whereafter the light is reflected by the convex reflective surface, whereafter the light passes through the second lens block.
- 21. A method of capturing a panoramic scene, comprising:
reflecting light, received from a 360° surrounding panoramic scene from a convex spherical reflective surface; and correcting at least one characteristic of the light reflected from the convex spherical reflective surface, the characteristic being selected of the group consisting of: astigmatism; color; f-theta; and image plane flatness.
- 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the convex spherical reflective surface receives light for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°, in a vertical plane, whereafter the light from the entire included angle is corrected.
- 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the included angle extends from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon.
- 24. A method of capturing a panoramic scene, comprising:
receiving light from a 360 surrounding panoramic scene for an unbroken included angle of at least 60°, in a vertical plane, extending from an angle below the horizon to an angle above the horizon; altering the direction of the light received from the panoramic scene; and correcting at least one characteristic the light after altering its direction, the characteristic being selected from the group consisting of: astigmatism; color; f-theta; and image plane flatness.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/137,660 filed Aug. 20, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. ______ that is a is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/872,525 filed Jun. 11, 1997 (pending) which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/020,292 filed Jun. 24, 1996.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60020292 |
Jun 1996 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09137660 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09999282 |
Nov 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08872525 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09137660 |
Aug 1998 |
US |