US 5,760,826 A · Omnidirectional imaging apparatus

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is an omnidirectional imaging apparatus for sensing an image of a substantially hemispherical scene from a single viewpoint, including a truncated, convex, substantially paraboloid-shaped reflector positioned to orthographically reflect an image of the substantially hemispherical scene, and an image sensor positioned to receive the orthographically reflected image. Also disclosed herein is an omnidirectional image projection apparatus for projecting an image of a substantially hemispherical scene as viewed from a single viewpoint, including a means for projecting a collimated beam of light modulated with the image, and a truncated convex substantially paraboloid-shaped reflector positioned to orthographically reflect the collimated beam of light modulated with the image, to project the hemispherical scene.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An omnidirectional imaging apparatus for sensing an image of a substantially hemispherical scene from a single viewpoint, comprising:

(a) a truncated convex substantially paraboloid-shaped reflector positioned to orthographically reflect an image of said substantially hemispherical scene, said paraboloidal reflector having a focus coincident with said single viewpoint of said omnidirectional imaging apparatus, including said reflector;
(b) telecentric means, optically coupled to said reflector, for substantially filtering out principal rays of electromagnetic radiation which are not orthographically reflected by said reflector;
and
(c) an image sensor positioned to receive said filtered orthographic reflection of said image.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Omnidirectional imaging apparatus

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Omnidirectional imaging apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22