Optical: systems and elements – Lens – Panoramic
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-07
2001-12-25
Sugarman, Scott J. (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
Panoramic
C359S728000, C359S729000, C359S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333826
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wide angle optical system providing means for the simultaneous and seamless imaging of the entire great circle perpendicular to its optical axis, said imaging also encompassing a substantial angular area on either side of the plane of said great circle, whereby three dimensional space is transformed into a two dimensional annular format image or whereby a two dimensional annular image is projected onto a surrounding surface or into surrounding three dimensional media. The invention may be associated with or incorporated into a film camera, electronic camera, electronic sensor, projector, medical instrument, surveillance system, robotic system, command and control system, flight system, simulator, virtual reality booth, suite, theater, or similar article. The invention further relates to the distribution of still or motion picture images by optical or electronic means, whereby entire two dimensional annular images or any segments thereof are converted into viewable horizontal images or subsets thereof; or, from horizontal format images or any subsets thereof into annular images or a segments thereof. Further, the present invention relates to the capture, integration, and display of images having three dimensional information and the capture and presentation of sound and other characteristics of real or artificially generated subject matter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Many means for imaging a great circle of a sphere that is disposed around a particular vantage point are presently known. Assembly of a plurality of discrete images to form a fixed or moving panoramic image is common in the prior art. Assembly of two opposing images, each alternately taken with a fisheye lens having at least 180 degrees of coverage to image the entire sphere around the camera in two separate images is also known in the prior art. Alternate use of a single hemispherical fisheye lens to capture images in opposing directions, where said fisheye lens is used in combination with an indexing bracket having means to index the 180 degree zone of the typically distorted entrance pupil of said fisheye lens in the same spatial position when recording each of the opposing still images is also known, and is embodied in the IPIX (R) imaging system. Simultaneous use of two opposing cameras, each having a fisheye lens of at least 180 degrees coverage is also known, and is embodied in Dan Slater's Spherecam. The Spherecam facilitates instantaneous imaging of the entire sphere around the camera pair in two separate images.
Presently known panoramic motion picture systems include the Circle Vision 360 theater at Disneyland (R) and other systems having various degrees of coverage such as planetariums equipped with Omnimax (TM) projectors. The disadvantage of these systems is that each image has insufficient coverage to provide a 360 degree panorama in a single original image. Therefore, assembly of two or more images is required to provide a complete 360 degree panoramic image.
The use of a single refractive optical system in hyper hemispherical and panoramic imaging is common in the prior art. Systems utilizing refractive means include rotating panoramic cameras, fisheye lenses having more than 180 degrees of coverage, and J. M. Slater's whole sky lens, as shown on page 582 of the October 1932 issue of American Photographer. The system by Slater is difficult to manufacture with conventional optical fabrication equipment due to the deep internal curvature and delicate nature of its outer elements.
Reflectors are widely used in hyper hemispherical or panoramic imaging and projection. Systems of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,778 (Panoramic fish-eye imaging system), U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,266 (Optical system for recording or projecting a panoramic image), U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,093 (Lens system for panoramic imagery), U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,126 (Optical system for 360 degree image transfer), U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,809 (Reflectors and mounts for panoramic projection), U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,936 (Optical system for panoramic projection), and D312,263 (the applicant's patent for a Wide angle reflector attachment for a camera or similar article), and as embodied in disclosures of the Columbia University Omnicamera and the Be Here (TM) panoramic lens prototype. These systems have various advantages and disadvantages, with excessive size, vulnerability of optical surfaces, weak mechanical components, or complexity versus image quality being the most common disadvantages.
Optical reflector configurations include a simple reflector disposed directly in front of a camera lens, as embodied in the Spiratone Birds Eye Attachment; a Cassegrain system having integral imaging optics as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,126 (Optical system for 360 degree image transfer) and
FIGS. 6 through 12
of U.S. Pat. No. D312,263 (Wide angle reflector attachment for a camera or similar article); or a system having three or more reflectors, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,675 (Optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene).
Support means for a camera or reflective optical element include a tripod; a transparent cylinder of the type embodied in the Spiratone Birds Eye Attachment; a transparent hollow semi-sphere of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,093 (Lens system for panoramic imagery) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,126 (Optical system for 360 degree image transfer); a transparent annular window combined with a short retaining fixture, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,675 (Optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene), an axial strut and transparent optical substrate of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,266 (Optical system for recording or projecting a panoramic image), U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,809 (Reflectors and mounts for panoramic projection), and D312,263 (Wide angle reflector attachment for a camera or similar article), pages 74 to 80 of the 1988 Riverside Telescope Makers Conference proceedings, or pages 68 and 69 of the April, 1987 issue of Astronomy magazine; and a solid optical substrate, as in the applicant's co-pending provisional applications 60/043,701 and 60/055,876.
Systems having support means for a camera or secondary reflector that consist of a tripod or other off-axis structure have a disadvantage in that part of the subject matter is obstructed by off-axis elements of the support structure. Prior systems having axial strut supports have the disadvantage of a strut which influences an excessively large portion of the image, causes excessive flare, or is long or thin enough to be subject to damage or excessive flexure or vibration. Systems having outer refractive surfaces or enclosures have the disadvantage of being subject to flare from the additional exposed optical surface.
Reflective surfaces consist of a metallic coating on an external reflector surface (as shown and as shown on pages 79 and 80 of the proceedings of the 1988 Riverside Telescope Makers Conference); internal optical surfaces which utilize total internal reflection, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,763 (Panoramic imaging block for three-dimensional space), the JPL Radial Profilometry paper, and Peri-Apollar lens; and an internal optical surface having a reflective coating, as shown in the applicant's provisional patent applications.
Reflector substrates include spun, machined, polished, or plated metal surfaces, as embodied in the applicant's larger hubcap reflector which is shown on page 186 of the August 1986 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine, page 68 of the April 1987 issue of Astronomy magazine, and as shown and described on pages 74 through 80 of the proceedings of the 1988 Riverside Telescope Makers Conference; electrolytically replicated metal surfaces, including those having an outer coating of rhodium, as embodied in Melles Griot concave light multipliers on page 12-17 of the Optics Guide 5 catalog; glass having a reflective coating, as embodied in the Spiratone Birds Eye attachment; transparent refractive material having a reflective coating, as shown in U.S. Pat.
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