Patent · US Expired

Panoramic optics assembly having an initial flat reflective element

US5841589A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
32References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 1995
Grant dateNov 24, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B13/06
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene comprises a plurality of optical elements. A flat reflective element redirects light from a panoramic scene. A plurality of refractive elements, successively receive the redirected light from the reflective element and create a real pupil. An optical relay system receives light from a last of the plurality of refractive elements. The optical relay system establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects optical aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane assembly. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles perpendicular to the optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.