Micro-lens panoramic imager

US5291334A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Allan Wirth · Bedford, US
• Andrew Jankevics · Westford, US
• Franklin M. Landers · Wakefield, US
• Theresa L. Bruno · Bedford, US
• Dante P. D'Amato · Swampscott, US
• Lawrence E. Schmutz · Watertown, US
• Lawrence H. Gilligan · Charlottesville, US
• John L. Duncan · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 1992
• Grant date: Mar 1, 1994
• Expiry date: Jan 30, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B3/02
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A panoramic imaging system is formed from select configurations of micro-optic multiplets (MOM) comprised of two microlens modules (MLM). The MLMs themselves are formed from arrays of microlenses. The present panoramic imaging system is characterized by the two MLMs configured on concentric approximately spherical surfaces. The optic axis of each of the microlenses is tilted slightly with respect to its neighbor to allow for proper alignment of images to form a single primary image on a substantially spherical global image surface.