Patent ID: 7538956
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A panoramic imaging device comprising: an optical lens system for collecting light entering in a capture angle of at least 120° so as to form images on a predetermined focal plane; imaging means placed at the focal plane for converting the images formed by the optical lens system to electronic image information; and image reproducing means for subjecting the electronic image information obtained from the imaging means to imaging processing so as to reproduce a panoramic image, wherein the optical lens system comprises: an optical lens array having a center lens for receiving light entering in a front range of not larger than 60° in the capture angle as well as left and right side lenses which are formed on the same plane as that with the center lens formed thereon and on left and right sides of the center lens, respectively, and which have optical axes parallel to that of the center lens, so as to respectively receive lights entering in left and right ranges each of not larger than 60° in the capture angle; and light reflecting means placed on a light entrance side of the optical lens array for guiding and reflecting the lights entering in the left and right ranges each of not larger than 60° in the capture angle to the left and right side lenses, respectively, such that each light entering each side lens is directed along the optical axis of the each side lens, wherein the imaging means is formed of a photodetector array placed at a predetermined distance from, and in parallel to, the optical lens array for capturing an image formed by the center lens and images formed by the left and right side lenses, and wherein the image reproducing means combines the image formed by the center lens in the front range of not larger than 60° in the capture angle with the images respectively formed by the left and right side lenses in the left and right ranges each of not larger than 60° in the capture angle so as to reproduce a panoramic image with a picture angle of at least 120°.