Integrated panoramic and forward optical device, system and method for omnidirectional signal processing
AssigneeInterScience, Inc.
InventorsMichelle D. Simkulet, Jiayin Ma, Jason E. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device, system and method integrating forward and panoramic fields is disclosed, comprising: a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of the convex surface; a secondary reflector, forward of the primary reflector relative to the forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof facing rearward toward the primary reflector; a primary reflector hole in the primary reflector, substantially centered about an optical axis of the apparatus; and a secondary reflector hole in the secondary reflector, substantially centered about the optical axis.
Claims38
An apparatus seamlessly integrating forward and panoramic fields to achieve a continuous wide field of view, comprising:
- a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of said convex surface;
- a secondary reflector, forward of said primary reflector relative to said forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof facing rearward toward said primary reflector, comprising a substantially flat geometry facing rearward toward said primary reflector;
- a primary reflector hole in said primary reflector, substantially centered about an optical axis of said apparatus;
- and
- a secondary reflector hole in said secondary reflector, substantially centered about said optical axis, said secondary reflector hole comprising a diameter smaller than a diameter of said primary reflector hole;
- at least one field collecting element, forward of said secondary reflector relative to said forward field, substantially centered about said optical axis;
- at least one field focusing element, rearward of said primary reflector relative to said forward field, substantially centered about said optical axis;
- and
- said secondary and primary reflector holes comprising diameters selected for achieving said continuous wide field of view by accounting for the geometry of said primary reflector, the geometry of said secondary reflector, the separations of said primary reflector and said secondary reflector one from another along said optical axis, and a defined boundary location between said forward and panoramic fields of view;
- wherein:
- said primary reflector, said secondary reflector, said at least one field collecting element and said at least one field focusing element, as configured in combination, substantially match magnifications and F/#s as between said forward and panoramic fields and thereby project a substantially seamless boundary between said forward and panoramic fields onto a detection plane.
A method for receiving signals with seamlessly integrated forward and panoramic fields thereby achieving a continuous wide field of view, comprising:
- providing a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of said convex surface;
- facing a substantially flat geometry of a secondary reflector, forward of said primary reflector relative to said forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof, rearward toward said primary reflector;
- substantially centering a primary reflector hole in said primary reflector, about an optical axis of said primary reflector and said secondary reflector;
- substantially centering a secondary reflector hole in said secondary reflector, about said optical axis, wherein
- a diameter of said secondary reflector hole is smaller than a diameter of said primary reflector hole;
- substantially centering at least one field collecting element, forward of said secondary reflector relative to said forward field, about said optical axis;
- substantially centering at least one field focusing element, rearward of said primary reflector relative to said forward field, about said optical axis;
- and
- selecting a diameter of said secondary reflector hole and a diameter of said primary reflector hole to achieve said continuous wide field of view by accounting for the geometry of said primary reflector, the geometry of said secondary reflector, the separations of said primary reflector and said secondary reflector one from another along said optical axis, and a defined boundary location between said forward and panoramic fields of view;
- wherein:
- said primary reflector, said secondary reflector, said at least one field collecting element and said at least one field focusing element, as configured in combination, substantially match magnifications and F/#s as between said forward and panoramic fields and thereby project a substantially seamless boundary between said forward and panoramic fields onto a detection plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.