Radial imaging system and method
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorPippinus Maarten Robertus Wortelboer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radial imaging system is provided for capturing an image of an object which extends radially around an image sensor in an object plane. A reflector (42) is used for reflecting incident light (46) to a generally axial direction. The image sensor (40) receives the generally axially directed reflected light, and it has a stepped reflector surface having a series of reflecting linear facets (48) which together form a generally curved, e.g. concave surface. This design enables improved uniformity of the imaging performance with respect to the radial distance to the object being imaged.
Claims17
A radial imaging system for capturing an image of an object which extends around an image sensor in an object plane, the system comprising:
- a laser light source for generating illumination light and directing it radially outwardly within the object plane;
- a reflector for reflecting incident generally radial light to a generally axial direction;
- and
- an image sensor for receiving the generally axially directed reflected light,
- wherein the reflector comprises a stepped reflector surface having a series of reflecting linear facets in sequence between a radial innermost portion and a radial outermost portion of the reflector, the linear facets together forming a generally curved surface, wherein each facet is for reflecting incident generally radial light from a different range of radial distances to the image sensor.
A radial imaging method for capturing an image of an object which extends around an image sensor in an object plane, the method comprising:
- reflecting incident generally radial light to a generally axial direction;
- and
- receiving the generally axially directed reflected light at an image sensor,
- wherein the reflector comprises a stepped reflector surface having a series of reflecting linear facets in sequence between a radial innermost portion and a radial outermost portion of the reflector, the linear facets together forming a generally curved surface, each reflecting linear facet generates an image of a range of radial distances to the object plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.