Camera
AssigneeNCTech Ltd
InventorsNeil Tocher, Cameron Ure
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera (10) that has four imaging means (12), each arranged to capture a different field of view and each associated with a separate sensor or detector (20). Each imaging means (12) is tilted to capture light from a zenith above the camera. The four imaging means (12) are equally spaced around a central axis, so that each contributes around a quarter of the scene being imaged.
Claims19
A camera assembly for imaging a scene, the camera assembly consisting of:
- exactly four imaging means equally positioned around a central axis of the camera assembly, each imaging means consisting of a lens;
- exactly four separate sensors associated with the exactly four imaging means;
- and
- a single cradle mounting each of the exactly four separate sensors at a uniform angle providing a uniform corresponding tilt of each of the exactly four separate sensors and each of the respective lens,
- wherein:
- each of the exactly four imaging means is positioned to capture a different field of view defined by the lens of the respective imaging means,
- each field of view is provided to the associated separate sensor, so that the camera assembly captures four separate images, and
- the uniform angle at which each of the exactly four sensors is mounted is obliquely angled relative to the central axis of the camera assembly such that the uniform corresponding tilt of each of the exactly four separate sensors causes the exactly four imaging means to capture light from a zenith above, and lying on the central axis of, the camera assembly and to capture at least a quarter of the scene being imaged.
A camera assembly for imaging a scene, the camera assembly comprising:
- a cube-shaped casing;
- and
- an optical device defining an integral unit for insertion in the camera assembly and comprising:
- a first end secured to the casing,
- a second end unsecured such that it floats relative to the casing, the second end being opposite the first end,
- an imaging means consisting of a lens located at the first end,
- a sensor mounted on a circuit board located at the second end, and
- an aligner comprising a barrel that optically aligns the lens and the sensor, the lens and the barrel being secured in place by attachment of the lens to the casing, an end of the barrel to which the sensor is attached being unsecured and floating relative to the casing such that the circuit board hangs in mid-air.
A camera assembly consisting of exactly four imaging means each consisting of a lens and associated sensors, each lens being tilted at the same corresponding angle as its associated sensor, each imaging means being oriented to capture a different field of view, each field of view being defined by the respective lens and provided to the associated separate sensor, so that the camera is operable to capture four separate images, wherein each imaging means is equally positioned around a central axis of the camera assembly and oriented at an angle that is oblique to the central axis so as to capture light from a zenith above the camera assembly and on the central axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.