Patent ID: 7649690
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. 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.