Patent ID: 8035681
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
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 180° 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: 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 in the capture angle with the images respectively formed by the pairs of left and right side lenses in the divided pairs of left and right ranges in the capture angle so as to reproduce a panoramic image with a picture angle of at least 180°; and wherein each of the lights received by the center lens and the side lenses is light entering in a range smaller than approximately 60° in the capture angle of at least 180°.