# US 7,542,671 B2 · Omni directional photographing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,542,671 B2 - Document ID: US7542671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/428,021 - Filed: 2006-06-30 - Published: 2008-01-03 - Granted: 2009-06-02 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-30 - Assignees: OPT Corporation - Inventors: Masayuki Ito; Osamu Murayama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7542671B2 ## CPC - G03B 37/06: involving anamorphosis (G03B37/02, G03B37/04 take precedence) - G02B 3/08: with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens {(diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876)} - G08B 13/19626: {optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses} - H04N 7/142: {Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Provided is a specific configuration of an omnidirectional photographing device which includes one camera module equipped with a lens for directly taking a 360-degree annular image. More specifically, there is provided an omnidirectional photographing device configured to facilitate carrying. The omnidirectional photographing device includes: one camera module equipped with a lens capable of directly taking a 360-degree annular image; a main body for holding the camera module; and a display unit fixed to the main body, for displaying an image photographed by the camera module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An omnidirectional photographing device, comprising: a camera module equipped with a lens capable of directly taking a 360-degree annular image; a main body for holding the camera module; a display unit for displaying an image photographed by the camera module, the display unit being provided to the main body fixedly or integrally; a lens mounting unit disposed in one end of the omnidirectional photographing device to mount the lens, wherein a field angle of the camera module is defined to provide an elevation angle and a depression angle with respect to a plane of the lens mounting unit; and the display unit is arranged on the depression angle side of the omnidirectional photographing device, outside a range of the field angle; legs projecting downward below bottom surfaces of the display unit, the main body and a lower end of a light receiving module holding unit, wherein the camera module is held in the main body to arrange the lens in an upper end of the omnidirectional photographing device; and a space is formed below the bottom surfaces; and a light receiving unit of the light receiving module holding unit project into the space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 1 wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 1 further comprising a predetermined electric connection port projected in or exposed to the space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 3, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 1, further comprising legs provided to project downward from bottom surfaces of the display unit and the main body, wherein: the camera module is held in the main body to arrange the lens in an upper end of the omnidirectional photographing device; and a space is formed below both of the bottom surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 5, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 5, further comprising a predetermined electric connection port projected in or exposed to the space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 7, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 9 An omnidirectional photographing device, comprising: a camera module equipped with a lens capable of directly taking a 360-degree annular image; a main body for holding the camera module; a recording unit for recording an image photographed by the camera module, the recording unit being provided to the main body fixedly or integrally; a lens mounting unit disposed in one end of the omnidirectional photographing device to mount the lens, wherein a field angle of the camera module is defined to provide an elevation angle and a depression angle with respect to a plane of the lens mounting unit; and the recording unit is arranged on the depression angle side of the omnidirectional photographing device, outside a range of the field angle; legs projecting downward below bottom surfaces of the recording unit, the main body and a lower end of a light receiving module holding unit, wherein the camera module is held in the main body to arrange the lens in an upper end of the omnidirectional photographing device; and a space is formed below the bottom surfaces; and a light receiving unit of the light receiving module holding unit projects into the space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 9, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 9, further comprising a predetermined electric connection port projected in or exposed to the space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 11, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 9, further comprising legs provided to project downward from bottom surfaces of the display unit and the main body, wherein: the camera module is held in the main body to arrange the lens in an upper end of the omnidirectional photographing device; and a space is formed below both of the bottom surfaces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 13, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 13, further comprising a predetermined electric connection port projected in or exposed to the space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The omnidirectional photographing device according to claim 15, wherein the main body has a camera module holding portion for holding the camera module, the camera module holding portion being formed into a cylindrical shape.