Patent ID: 7123777

Claim:
A system for processing images, the system comprising: a mirror for reflecting an image of a scene; a mounting assembly for mounting the mirror on an axis, wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface defined by rotating around the axis: an equi-angular shape or a compensated equi-angular shape; a camera for capturing the image reflected by the minor; a digital conveder device for producing pixel data representative of the captured image; and means for radially linearly mapping the pixel data into a viewable image comprising: means for retrieving a source image file including the pixel data of the captured image; a processor for creating a destination image file buffer, for mapping the pixel data of the captured image to the destination image file buffer, and for outputting pixel data from the destination image file buffer as a destination image file; and means for displaying a viewable image defined by the destination file, wherein the destination image file comprises one of: a cylindrical panoramic projection image file, a perspective panoramic projection image file, an equi-rectangular panoramic projection image file, and an equi-angular panoramic projection image file.