Patent ID: 6611282
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A panoramic imaging apparatus for sensing a super wide-angle field of view comprising:(a) a pair of reflectors, including (i) a primary reflector having a first shape and a first size and capable of providing a first reflection of a super wide-angle scene, and (ii) a secondary reflector having a second shape and a second size, which is positioned to accept the first reflection to provide a second reflection at a first location, the shapes and sizes of the primary and secondary reflectors, and their respective positions, are such that the second reflection provided at the first location is substantially free of field curvature effects and astigmatic effects; (b) a relay system positioned to accept the second reflection and comprising optics capable of substantially filtering out optical rays other than those reflected directly by the secondary reflector from incoming optical rays reflected directly by the first reflector to provide a filtered reflection; and (c) an image sensor positioned to accept the filtered reflection, in which the panoramic imaging apparatus captures the super wide-angle scene from a substantially single reference viewpoint.