Panoramic digital camera system and method

A digital panoramic camera system for producing a digital panoramic image with a computer, said camera system comprising:

• a camera body defining an interior space and having an opening formed therethrough such that light enters said interior space through said opening and propagates along an optic path;
• an adjustable aperture adapted and arranged within said interior space along said optic path, said aperture adjustable between an open and a closed position, such that said aperture in said open position provides at least a portion of the light communicated into said interior space along said optic path;
• an infrared cutoff filter adapted and arranged within said interior space along said optic path downstream of said aperture, such that light having a wavelength below a predetermined wavelength is substantially prevented from communicating downstream of said infrared cutoff filter along said optic path, and;
• a charge coupled device having photo diodes arranged thereon, each of said photo diodes having a color filter, said charge coupled device adapted and arranged within said interior space along said optic path downstream of said infrared cutoff filter such that said charge coupled device generates analog signals corresponding to color information transmitted by the light provided along said optic path from said infrared cutoff filter.

A method for creating digital panoramic images comprising the steps of:

• providing an optic path such that light propagates along said optic path;
• filtering the light such that light having a wavelength below a predetermined wavelength is substantially prevented from propagating along said optic path;
• providing a charge coupled device along said optic path color responsive to light such that said charge coupled device generates analog signals corresponding to color information which is transmitted thereto from the light propagated along said optic path;
• rotating said optic path about a rotational axis such that light propagates along said optic path;
• processing said analog signals generated by said charge coupled device;
• synchronizing said processing of said analog signals with said rotating of said optic path such that a series of processed digital signals corresponding to said color information is produced, and;
• converting said digital signals into a digital image.

A method for creating digital images comprising the steps of:

• providing an optic path such that light propagates along said optic path;
• providing a charge coupled device along said optic path color responsive to light such that said charge coupled device generates analog signals corresponding to color information which is transmitted thereto from the light propagated along said optic path;
• aligning said optic path at a first angle relative to said rotational axis;
• rotating said optic path about said rotational axis such that said charge coupled device generates a first set of analog signals;
• processing said first set of analog signals;
• synchronizing said processing of said first set of analog signals with said rotating of said optic path such that a first set of digital signals corresponding to said color information is produced,
• aligning said optic path at a second angle relative to said rotational axis;
• rotating said optic path about said rotational axis such that said charge coupled device generates a second set of analog signals;
• processing said second set of analog signals:
• synchronizing said processing of said second set of analog signals with said rotating of said optic path such that a second set of digital signals corresponding to said color information is produced;
• converting said first and second sets of digital signals into a digital image.