High-precision panoramic imaging system
US6560413B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B37/04
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A panoramic imaging system includes multiple cameras and mirrors. The field of view of each camera is directed radially outward from a central axis of the imaging system by one of the mirrors, the target alignment planes for the mirrors being defined by a plurality of planar reference surfaces. Each mirror is mounted in a resilient mounting structure, and is held in place by the mirror contact region of a retaining structure. Each retaining structure also includes a base contact region clamped to one of the planar reference surfaces. The base contact region and the mirror contact region of each retaining structure are coplanar, so that each reflective surface is aligned with a planar reference surface. The properly directed fields of view of the plurality of cameras can be combined to form a panoramic image. According to an embodiment of the invention, the panoramic imaging system comprises an eight-sided camera.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.