Patent ID: 9420177
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: B64C,B64D,G01C,G01S,G06T,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A panoramic view imaging system (PVIS), comprising: a visual light frame acquisition assembly comprising a lens and a sensor, where the visual light frame acquisition assembly produces a frame from light in a visible spectrum, where the light in the visible spectrum is acquired passively from a scene; a rotational position controller that pans the visual light frame acquisition assembly through a range of horizontal imaging positions; a rotational position encoder that produces data describing a rotational position at which light for the frame is acquired; an elevation position controller that tilts the visual light frame acquisition assembly through a range of vertical imaging positions; an elevation position encoder that produces data describing an elevation position at which light for the frame is acquired; a zoom controller that changes the focal length of the visual light frame acquisition assembly; an image processor that produces a panoramic image from a plurality of frames produced by the visual light frame acquisition assembly; and a range apparatus that produces range information for a plurality of locations in the frame;