Image-capturing apparatus having multiple image capturing units
US7102686B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/001
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image-capturing apparatus is capable of capturing a three-dimensional image and a high quality panoramic image as the need arises, and is portable if it is used as a single lens camera that captures a normal two-dimensional image. A second image-capturing unit having an image-capturing optical system is detachably connected to a first image-capturing unit, which is capable of functioning as an image-capturing apparatus by itself, through joints and a connector. The second image-capturing unit can extensively connect to other units, which have the similar connecting structure. Information is transmitted between the units through a slot for an external storage device. The positions of images captured by the second and subsequent image-capturing units can be adjusted with respect to an image captured by the first image-capturing unit. In synchronism with release signals from the first image-capturing unit, the other units are driven to capture the images at the same time or continuously.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.