Patent ID: 6424470
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical device having a 360Â° field-of-view, comprising:a piece of optical material having a longitudinal axis, said piece defining an annular portion symmetric about said longitudinal axis, said annular portion defining an exterior surface that is concave wherein a first diameter of said piece is defined at one end of said annular portion and a second diameter of said piece is defined at an opposite end of said annular portion; said first diameter being smaller than said second diameter; said exterior surface shaped such that light passing through said piece and incident on said annular portion is totally reflected within said piece; and a cylindrical piece of optical material optically coupled to said opposite end of said annular portion, said cylindrical piece extending from said opposite end in a direction along the optical axis that is away from said one end to an outboard end of said cylindrical piece.