Patent Document

This application makes reference to, incorporates herein and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) by virtue of a provisional patent application earlier filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 8, 1997, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATION AND INTERACTIVE VIEWING OF TOTALLY IMMERSIVE STEREOSCOPIC IMAGES which was duly assigned Ser. No. 60/061,342. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/767,376 filed Dec. 16, 1996 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/516,629 filed Aug. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,990,941 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995 (now abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/386,912 filed Feb. 8, 1995 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 14, 1994 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/014,508 filed Feb. 8, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,363), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 07/699,366 filed May 13, 1991 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667). Furthermore, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995 (now abandoned), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/516,629 filed Aug. 18, 1995, are both continuation-in-parts of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588). This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/386,912 filed Feb. 8, 1995, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 11, 1994, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/014,508 filed Feb. 8, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,363), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/699,366 filed May 13, 1991 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667). In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588). 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to support structures for image capturing devices and the methods for their use in the capture and creation of totally immersive stereoscopic images from fisheye or wide-angle images captured from the support structures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the purposes of modern photography is to encourage a viewer to explore an image and, in the process, transform the image into something more than a two dimensional representation of space. Panoramic images provide some feeling of being enveloped into an image, but this feeling diminishes at the periphery of the image. 
     To create a greater feeling of being enveloped and to provide a greater resolution image to a viewer, high numbers of picture elements have been combined to create even larger panoramic images. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,389 to Alperin which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Unfortunately, the combining of a plurality of images creates the potential for distortions at the seams of the images. Additionally, the number of images required to create a composite image in this manner is burdensome. 
     A partially enveloping image was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667 to Zimmermann, expressly incorporated by reference to its entire contents. Zimmermann discloses a system and method for navigating about a spherically distorted image where the user&#39;s inputs control the displayed portion of the screen. 
     Another difficulty of capturing large field-of-view images is the potential for misalignment of a camera as it is moved from a first image capturing position to a second image capturing position. Further, with multiple images being captured, the possible alignment error grows with each movement of a misaligned camera. The resulting images then require additional manual correlation to compensate for any misalignment of the camera. 
     Yet another difficulty is providing a supporting structure which allows for the quick and easy capture of an image. Another difficulty is providing a portable support for a camera where the support does not require numerous adjustments to capture panoramic or spherical images. See, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/767,376 filed Dec. 16, 1996 to Kuban et al. that is expressly incorporated herein by reference. While the Kuban et al. system solves the above problems, it is directed to the capture of images about a single axis of rotation, which effects the usefulness of these images when used for stereoscopic viewing. This effect is due to the identical image being used as the display in each eye, which does not account for the normal inter-pupillary distance between a user&#39;s eyes. This inter-pupillary distance is necessary for realistic stereoscopic viewing. 
     None of this previous work uses the new techniques described in this application for the capture and creation of stereoscopic immersive images. Therefore, there is a need for the method of and apparatus for capturing fisheye or wide-angle images and then creating and displaying totally immersive stereoscopic images from the fisheye and wide-angle images. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problems and related problems of the prior art are overcome by the principles of the present invention. According to these principles, a lens supporting structure is disclosed which provides exact alignment of and offsets for a image capture means. The exact alignment produces captured images that are properly aligned for easily seaming together the captured images to form spherical images. In addition, the combination of the exact alignment and offsets is used to produce multiple, properly aligned captured images to form a seamed panoramic view. Embodiments of the present invention include a base support structure that rotably attaches to an offset mounting system that includes a rotable eccentric mount support and a rotable lens mount support that attaches to and supports a image capture means. Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate the offset mounting system and rotable lens mount taking on a variety of forms and combinations. For simplicity, the rotable lens mount is described herein as a ring and associated elements thereof Additional configurations of the rotable lens mount include a supporting platform and equivalents thereof In at least one embodiment, the rotable lens mount attaches to a rotating sleeve that rotates about a central bore. In one embodiment the supporting structure is a tripod; in another a monopod is used to diminish the footprint of the structure on the image. 
     In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the lens mount coincides with a plane of an objective lens of the lens where the plane signifies a large field-of-view of the lens. In another embodiment, the plane signifies an approximate 180-degree field-of-view of the lens. In yet another embodiment, the plane signifies a field-of-view greater than 180 degrees. The axis of rotation of the lens mount is preferably co-linear with the axis of rotation of the lens. By rotating the image capture means about the rotable eccentric mount support and by rotating the lens about the axis of rotation of the lens mount, multiple images are captured. In particular, through the controlled positions of the eccentric and lens mounts, the captured images are seamed together to form totally immersive stereoscopic images. The number of fixed positions of the lens mount accounts for lenses with various fields-of-view. 
     In one embodiment, the offset mounting system consists of a lens mount, where the lens mount bottom securely attaches to the top end of the top-half of a two-stop rotator. The bottom end of the top-half of the two-stop rotator is rotably connected to the top end of the bottom-half of the two-stop rotator and the bottom end of the bottom-half of two-stop rotator securely attaches to the top side at a first end of the eccentric mount. The bottom side at a second end of the eccentric mount securely attaches to the top end of the top-half of an n-stop rotator, where n is a number greater than one. The bottom end of the top-half of the n-stop rotator is rotably connected to the top end of the bottom-half of the n-stop rotator. 
     By way of example only, capturing and seaming together left and right hemispherical images are described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, which is incorporated by reference herein as to its entire contents. 
     Additional techniques for capturing first and second images having approximately equal to or greater than 180 degree field-of-view are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995, which is incorporated by reference herein as to its entire contents. 
     Through the use of perspective correction and manipulation disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667 to Zimmermann and its progeny including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,384,588; 5,359,363; and 5,313,306 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994, Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 11, 1994 and Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, the formed seamless image is explored, of which these are expressly incorporated by reference as to their entire contents. The exact representation of the transformation provided by this approach allows the seamless edges to be produced when the data is collected in a controlled manner. 
     Consequently, a method of capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising the steps of: mounting an offset mounting means to a support means at a first end of the offset mounting means; mounting an image capture means to a second end of the offset mounting means and rotating the offset mounting means so that the image capture means is in a first position; rotating the offset mounting means through a first series of positions in a constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the image capture means at each of the series of positions such that the immersive images cover a 360 degree field-of-view; converting each of the captured immersive images into a first digital data image for each of the series of first positions; creating a first totally immersive representation; storing the first totally immersive representation in memory; rotating the offset mounting means so that the image capture means is in a second position, wherein the second position is 180 degrees apart from the first position; rotating the offset mounting means through a second series of positions in the constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the camera input means at each of the series of positions such that the immersive images cover a 360 degree field-of-view; converting each of the captured immersive images into a second digital data image for each of the series of second positions; creating a second totally immersive representation; and storing the totally immersive representation in memory: 
     Consequently, a camera mounting apparatus for use in capturing totally immersive stereoscopic images is claimed that comprises: an n-stop rotator means having a top end and a bottom end; an eccentric mount means having a top side, a bottom side, a first end, and a second end, wherein the bottom side of the first end of the eccentric mount means is rigidly attached to the top end of the n-stop rotator means; a two-stop rotator means having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end of the two-stop rotator means is rigidly attached to the top side of the second end of the eccentric mount means; and a lens mount means having a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the lens mount means is rigidly attached to the top end of the two-stop rotator means. 
     Consequently, a system for capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising: an image capture means for capturing immersive images; an offset mounting means for mounting said image capture means thereon; a support means for mounting said offset mounting means thereon; an image receiving means for receiving said captured immersive images from said camera input means; a conversion means for converting said captured immersive images into digital data images; a storage means for storing said digital data images in memory; a processing means for creating two totally immersive representations from said digital data images, one for each eye; an associating means for associating said totally immersive representations as a pair; a transformation means for transforming a portion of said totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction; and a stereoscopic display means for displaying said two totally immersive representations independently to each eye of a user. 
     Consequently, a method of displaying totally immersive representations is claimed comprising the steps of. transforming portions of a first totally immersive representation and a second totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction, wherein the transforming portions step comprises the steps of: reading even lines from a first totally immersive representation digital image file, sending said even lines to a transformer for transforming said even lines into a right eye image, reading odd lines from a second totally immersive representation digital image file, and sending said odd lines to a transformer for transforming said odd lines into a left eye image; displaying said transformed portions, wherein said displaying each said transformed portion step further comprises the steps of: selecting a stereoscopic display device for receiving said portions, said stereoscopic display device being selected from, but not limited to, the group comprising: independent miniature displays head mounted for each eye, displays with polarized filters that direct independent monitor images to each eye, color filters that direct stereo images to each eye through color mapping, and sequential shuttered glasses that alternately display every image to alternating eyes allowing the left eye to receive the left eye image and then the right eye to receive the right eye image, in rapid succession; and receiving said portions from said totally immersive representations in said stereoscopic display device. 
     Consequently, a method of capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising the steps of mounting an image capture means on an offset mounting means; rotating the offset mounting means through a series of positions in a constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the image capture means at each of the series of positions; converting the captured immersive images into digital data images; creating two totally immersive representations from the digital data images, one for each eye, and digitally storing the totally immersive representations in memory; transforming a portion of the totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction; and displaying the two totally immersive representations independently to each eye of a user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the stereoscopic image capture system. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the stereoscopic image capture system. 
     FIG. 2A illustrates a diagram of the image orientations and the order for the steps in the image capture process. 
     FIG. 2B illustrates the right image digitization process and right totally immersive representation creation process. 
     FIG. 2C illustrates the left image digitization process and left totally immersive representation creation process. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of the steps in the image file display process. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a display in which the inventive method may be practiced and which is exemplary of other displays in which the inventive method may also be practiced. 
     FIG. 5A illustrates one embodiment of the offset mounting system. 
     FIG. 5B illustrates a side-perspective view of the lens mount. 
     FIG. 5C illustrates a cut-away top view of the connection between the lens mount and the two-stop rotator. 
     FIG. 5D illustrates a partial cross-section of the two-stop rotator that shows the structure of the positioning elements and central bore. 
     FIG. 5E illustrates a bottom view of the top-half and top view of the bottom-half of the two-stop rotator. 
     FIG. 5F illustrates a bottom view of the top-half and top view of the bottom-half of the n-stop rotator. 
     FIG. 5G illustrates a partial cut-away view of the top side of eccentric mount at the n-stop rotator end. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the offset mounting system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A shows a front view of the stereoscopic image capture system  100  as contemplated by embodiments of the present invention. System  100  includes an image capture means  110  securely mounted to an offset mounting means  120  and offset mounting means  120  is mounted to a support means  190 . Image capture means  110  consists of a camera  112  with a lens  14  securely mounted to the camera  112 . Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the camera  112  as a still camera taking chemical or digital pictures, or a video camera capturing video images. 
     In one embodiment, the lens  114  is a wide-angle lens. Other embodiments of the present invention contemplate the lens  114  including the lens types of: fish-eye, hemispherical, and greater than hemispherical types of lenses. Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the support means  190  including stable base structures such as tripods and tripod-monopod combinations. Offset mounting means  120  consists of a lens mount  141  that securely attaches to a top-half  144  of a two-stop rotator  132 . The top-half  144  of the two-stop rotator  132  is rotably connected to a bottom-half  147  of the two-stop rotator  132 . The bottom-half  147  of the two-stop rotator  132  securely attaches on the top-side of a first end of an eccentric mount  150 . The bottom-side of a second end of the eccentric mount  150  securely attaches to a top-half  153  of an n-stop rotator  135 , where n is a number greater than one. The top-half  153  of the n-stop rotator  135  is rotably connected to a bottom-half  156  of the n-stop rotator  135 . The bottom-half  156  of n-stop rotator  135  is mounted on a support means  190 . Two-stop rotator  132  and n-stop rotator  135  are separated by an inter-device distance d 1 , for example, simulating the average interpupillary distance of human eyes approximately 3 inches. In one embodiment, the inter-device distance d 1  is half the interpupillary distance, approximately 1½ inches. 
     Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the two-stop and n-stop rotators  132  and  135 , respectively, including a low friction layer between the contacting surfaces of the top-half  144  and bottom-half  147  of two-stop rotator  132  and between the top-half  153  and bottom-half  156  of n-stop rotator  135 . This low friction layer preferably includes at least one Teflon™ (or equivalent) disk. Alternative embodiments of the two-stop and n-stop rotators  132  and  135 , respectively, include bearings, a fluid filled enclosure, and coated surfaces. In one embodiment, the lens mount  141 , two-stop rotator  132 , eccentric mount  150 , n-stop rotator  135 , and support means  190  are made of aluminum and/or anodized aluminum. 
     By rotating the top-half  144  of two-stop rotator  132   180  degrees, the lens  114  points in a direction opposite from its initial direction. Positioning devices (see FIG. 5 description) between top-half  144  and bottom-half  147  of two-stop rotator  132  securely maintain lens  114  in a first position and in a second, opposite position, where the first and second positions differ by 180 degrees. Accordingly, a user wishing to capture two oppositely directed images photographs a first image with the camera  112  in a first position, rotates the top-half  144  of the two-stop rotator  132  until the camera  112  is oriented in a second position, which is 180 degrees apart from the first position, and photographs a second image. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the stereoscopic image capture system  100  illustrated in FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 2A shows the images captured by the stereo image capture process of the present invention. In FIG. 2, an embodiment is shown for capturing images every 90 degrees with the stereoscopic image capture system  100  being centered at point  210 . In this embodiment, the center of stereoscopic image capture system  100  is the center of n-stop rotator  135  and the center of image capture means  110  is the center of two-stop rotator  132 . Offset mounting means  120  is first offset to the right of center  210  so that image capture means  110  is centered over right position  212  and lens  114  is oriented toward right  1  image  220 . Right 1 image  220  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is then rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over top position  214  with camera lens  114  oriented toward right 2 image  230 . Right 2 image  230  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is again rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over left position  216  with lens  114  oriented toward right 3 image  240 . Right 3 image  240  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is rotated a final 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over bottom position  218  with lens  114  oriented toward is right  4  image  250 . Right  4  image  250  is captured using image capture means  110 . 
     FIG. 2B shows right 1, 2, 3, and 4 images  220 ,  230 ,  240 , and  250 , respectively, are sent through an Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter  201  and digitized into right 1, 2, 3, and 4 digital images  220 ′,  230 ′,  240 ′, and  250 ′, respectively. Then, all of the right digital images  220 ′,  230 ′,  240 ′, and  250  are combined into a right eye totally immersive representation  292 . The right eye totally immersive representation  292  is then stored in a right eye file  294  for future display. While the order of image capture and the direction of rotation of the offset mounting means  120  can be varied in alternate embodiments of the present invention, this will require additional manual operator intervention and a more complex processing system. The order and constant direction specified in this embodiment of the present invention has been selected to maximize the efficiency of the image capture and totally immersive representation creation processes. The constant s direction specified in this embodiment could have also been clockwise. 
     A similar set of steps are followed to capture the left eye images. Offset mounting means  120  is first offset to the left of center  210  so that image capture means  110  is centered over left position  216  and lens  114  is oriented toward left 1 image  260 . Left 1 image  260  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is then rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over bottom position  218  with lens  114  oriented toward left 2 image  270 . Left 2 image  270  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is again rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over right position  212  with lens  114  oriented toward left 3 image  280 . Left 3 image  280  is captured using image capture means  110 . Offset mounting means  120  is rotated a final 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means  110  is centered over top position  214  with lens  114  oriented toward left 4 image  290 . Left 4 image  290  is captured using image capture means  110 . 
     FIG. 2C shows left 1, 2, 3, and 4 images  260 ,  270 ,  280 , and  290 , respectively, are sent through the A/D converter  201  and digitized into left 1, 2, 3, and 4 digital images  260 ′,  270 ′,  280 ′, and  290 ′, respectively. Then, all of the left digital images  260 ′,  270 ′,  280 ′, and  290  are combined into a left eye totally immersive representation  296 . The left eye totally immersive representation  296  is then stored in a left eye file  298  for future display. 
     The creation of the right and left totally immersive representations  292  and  296 , respectively, and subsequent storage in right and left eye files  294  and  298   296 , respectively, create images that are internally seamless and perfectly aligned. Similarly, the points in the right eye file  294  and the left eye file  298  are also perfectly aligned so as to provide the correct perspective view for each eye. This is important for accurate and realistic stereoscopic displays of the stored images to a user&#39;s left and right eyes. 
     Alternate embodiments can include capturing images at different offset angles, including, but not limited to: 180, 110, 72, 60, 45, 40, 36, and 30 degrees. In another embodiment, images could also be captured in the up and down directions either independent of or in combination with the left and right images. 
     FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the steps performed in one embodiment of the stereoscopic image file display process. In FIG. 3, the right eye file  294  and left eye file  298  information are alternately output through right eye connection  310  and left eye connection  320  to input connection  332  for gnomic transformer  330 . Gnomic transformer  330  produces an interlaced stereo image by interlacing the right eye file  294  information into the even numbered lines and the left eye file  298  information into the odd numbered lines of the interlaced stereo image. Interlacing of the image data is accomplished by feedback loop  334 , which outputs the number of the next line in the image, and, if it is an even number, then input connection  332  switches to right eye connection  310  to receive the next line of image data. Similarly, if the output line number is an odd number, then input connection  332  switches to left eye connection  320  to receive the next line of image data. This interlaced stereo image is then sent to a stereo interlaced output buffer  340 . In one embodiment, stereo interlaced output buffer  340  outputs the stereo image as an interlaced display signal  335  to a Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter  350  which converts interlaced display signal  335  to an analog signal and then transmits the analog signal to a display. FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a stereo display apparatus in which the inventive method may be practiced and which is exemplary of other displays in which the inventive method may also be practiced. In FIG. 4, the interlaced display signal  335  is output from stereo interlaced output buffer  340  to an image splitter  410 . Image splitter  410  splits out the even and odd lines from the interlaced display signal  335  and sends the even lines via output connection  415  to a right eye display connection  420  to a right eye display  442  and sends the odd lines via output connection  415  to a left eye display connection  430  to the left eye display  444  of a miniature head mounted display  440 . Output connection  415  switches between right eye display connection  420  and left eye display connection  430  based on the line number of the next line to be output. For example, if the next line to be output is an even number then output connection  415  switches to the right eye display connection  420 , and if the next line to be output is an odd number then output connection  415  switches to the left eye display connection  430 . Alternative stereo displays include, but are not limited to, the following: dual displays; independent miniature displays head mounted for each eye; displays with polarized filters that direct independent monitor images to each eye; color filters that direct stereo images to each eye through color mapping; and sequential shuttered glasses that alternately display every image to alternating eyes allowing the left eye to receive the left eye image and then the right eye to receive the right eye image, in rapid succession. 
     FIG. 5A shows one embodiment of offset mounting means  120 . In FIG. 5A, offset mounting means  120  consists of a lens mount  141  with a lens mount bottom  142  that securely attaches to the top end  143  of the top-half  144  of a two-stop rotator  132 . The bottom end  145  of the top-half  144  of the two-stop rotator  132  is rotably connected to the top end  146  of the bottom-half  147  of the two-stop rotator  132  and the bottom end  148  of the bottom-half  147  of the two-stop rotator  132  securely attaches to a top side  149  at a first end of an eccentric mount  150 . Bottom side  151 , at a second end of the eccentric mount  150 , securely attaches to a top end  152  of a top-half  153  of an n-stop rotator  135 , a bottom end  154  of the top-half  153  of the n-stop rotator  135  is rotably connected to a top end  155  of a bottom-half  156  of the n-stop rotator  135 . Bottom end  157  of bottom-half  156  of n-stop rotator  135  contains a support means mounting recess  178  for attaching the offset mounting means  120  to the support means  190 . The surface of both top-half  144  and bottom-half  147  can have a grooved areas to provide easier grasping by a user when rotating the two-stop rotator  132 . Likewise, the grooved areas could be knurled, bumped, or some other grip enhancing structure in other embodiments. 
     FIG. 5B provides a side-perspective view of lens mount  141 . In FIG. 5B, lens mount  141  comprises an outer surface  183 , an inner surface  184 , an image side  189 , and a back side (not shown). Lens mount  141  is a substantially complete annular ring having an opening  188  that extends the across the width of image side  189  and extending between inner and outer surfaces  184  and  183 , respectively, to create upper and lower portions of lens mount  141 . Fastening screw  185  is recessed downward through recessing slot  186  on outer surface  18 3 in the upper portion of lens mount  141 , passing through opening  188 , and into the lower portion of lens mount  141  having a screw recess  187  for receiving the fastening screw  185 . In the present embodiment opening  188  is disposed at an approximately 90 degree angle from lens mount bottom  142 . Lens mount bottom  142  is a flat section on the lower portion of outer surface  183 . Fastening screw  185  is loosened to permit installation of lens  114  (not shown) and tightened to close opening  188  to securely hold lens  114 . Alternate embodiments of the lens mount are disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/767,376 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the two-stop and n-stop rotators  132  and  135 , respectively, including a low friction layer between the contacting surfaces of top-half  144  of two-stop rotator  132  and bottom-half  147  of two-stop rotator  132  and between top-half  153  of n-stop rotator  135  and bottom-half  156  of n-stop rotator  135 . This low friction layer preferably includes at least one Teflon™ (or equivalent) disk. Alternative embodiments of the two-stop and n-stop rotators  132  and  135 , respectively, include bearings, a fluid filled enclosure, and coated surfaces. In one embodiment, the lens mount  141 , two-stop rotator  132 , eccentric mount  150 , n-stop rotator  135 , and support means  190  are made of aluminum and/or anodized aluminum. 
     FIG. 5C show a cut-away top view of the connection of lens mount  141  and top end  143  of top-half  144  of two-stop rotator  132 . Lens mount  141  has a pair of screws  181  recessed through inner surface  184 , extending through lens mount bottom  142  and into top end  143  of top-half  144  of  2  stop-rotator  132  to securely fasten lens mount  141  to top end  143 . Bottom lip  170  is attached to image side  189  of lens mount  141  with the bottom edge of bottom lip  170  being aligned with and extending along lens mount bottom  142 . Bottom lip  170  extends from the lens mount bottom  142  along image side  189  with the top edge of bottom lip  170  extending a short distance past inner surface  184 . The top edge of bottom lip  170  is curved in substantially the same arc as inner surface  184 . Bottom lip  170  is centered over top end  143  and recessed screw  182 . Top lip  171  is similarly attached to image side  189  of lens mount  141  with top edge of top lip  171  being substantially aligned with outer surface  183  at a point essentially 180 degrees from bottom lip  170 . Top lip  171  extends downward from outer surface  183  along image side  189  with the bottom edge of top lip  171  extending a short distance past inner surface  184 . Alternate embodiments for lips include, but are not limited to: a single continuous lip and more than two lips equally arranged around image side  189 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 5A, recessed screw  182  extends from top end  143  of top-half  144  of two-stop rotator  132  downward through bottom end  145  of top-half  144  and into two-stop rotator central bore  122  where it terminates and operates to rotably connect top-half  144  and bottom-half  147  of two-stop rotator  132 . FIG. 5A also shows screw  180  passing through washer  179  and bottom side  152  at a first end of eccentric mount  150  and into bottom end  148  of bottom-half  147  of two-stop rotator  132  to securely fasten two-stop rotator  132  to eccentric mount  150 . 
     FIG. 5D is a partial cross-section of two-stop rotator  132  along line A and shows the internal structure of the two-stop rotator  132  positioning elements. In the present embodiment, bottom end  145  of top-half  144  contains two recesses  177  positioned 180 degrees apart along the center line of bottom end  145 . Springs  178  are positioned in recesses  177 , ball bearings  175  are positioned on top of the springs  178 , and bottom-half  147  is fastened to top-half  144  so that top end  146  of bottom-half  147  contact ball bearings  175  and strain springs  178  into recesses  177 . The strain on springs  178  creates a force that constantly pushes ball bearings  175  against top end  146  of bottom-half  147 . In the present embodiment, top-half  144  is fastened to bottom-half  147  by inserting fastening screw  182  through top end  143  of top-half  144  and into central bore  122  that extends from bottom-half  147 . Referring now to FIG. 5E, as ball bearings  175  slide into curved indents  176  on top end  146  of bottom-half  147  the force exerted by the strained springs holds the ball bearings  175 , and, thus, two-stop rotator  132  in place. Significant force must be exerted to move the ball bearings  175  out of the curved indents  176  in order to rotate the twostop rotator  132 . The on-center distance d between recesses  177  is equal to the on-center distance between curved indents  176 . In addition, recesses  177  and curved indents  176  are aligned along the center line of two-stop rotator  132 . In an alternate embodiment with an odd number of recesses and curved indents, the recesses and curved indents would have equidistant radii from the center point of the two-stop rotator  132  and be at equal offset angles, for example, radii equal to 0.5 inches and the offset angles equal to 110 degrees for a 3-stop rotator. 
     FIG. 5F shows the four recesses  177  and curved indents  176  of the current embodiment of the n-stop rotator  135 . The operation is consistent with that described above for two-stop rotator  132  and alternate embodiments with odd numbers of recesses and curved indents. 
     FIG. 5G shows a partial cut-away view of top side  149  at a second end of eccentric mount  150 . Screws  161  are recessed into and through eccentric mount  150  through recessed screw holes  160  and into top end  152  of top-half  153  of n-stop rotator  135 . Recessed screw holes  160  are parallel to and offset from the center line of n-stop rotator  135 . Eccentric mount  150  also has locator pin holes  162  to receive locator pins  163 . Locator pins  163  extend through eccentric mount  150  and into top end  152  of top-half  153  of n-stop rotator  135 . 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the offset camera platform means  500 . In this embodiment, the angled eccentric mount  150  of FIG. 5 is replaced with a straight eccentric mount  610 . All other elements are identical to those described above for FIG.  5 A. Another alternate embodiment would replace the angled eccentric mount  150  of FIG. 5A with a centered straight mount so that equal lengths of the straight mount extend past the n-stop rotator  135 . In addition, the straight mount would permit the two-stop rotator  132  to slide from side-to-side. 
     What has been described is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements and methods can be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     All U.S. Patent Applications referenced herein shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference as to their entire contents.

Technology Category: g