A multi-camera imaging system includes a cylindrical frame and a plurality of cameras kinematically mounted to the cylindrical frame. The cameras include outer optical element that are truncated to have a pair of nominally parallel edges and are configured to capture fields of view having angular edges. The cameras are arranged such that the fields of view of adjacent cameras overlap at an overlap region along an optical gap between the parallel edges.
A low-parallax multi-camera imaging system may enable combination of images from multiple camera channels into a panoramic image. In some examples, the imaging system may be designed to include small areas of overlap between adjacent camera channels. Panoramic images may be generated by compositing image data from multiple camera channels by using techniques described herein. In some examples, contribution of each camera channel may be weighted based on factors such as distances relative to an overlap region or content within the overlap region.
3.
LOW PARALLAX LENS DESIGN WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
A lens form for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture and image polygonal fields of view. The lens form includes a compression lens element group and a wide-angle lens element group.
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A low-parallax multi-camera imaging system may enable combination of images from multiple camera channels into a panoramic image. In some examples, the imaging system may be designed to include small areas of overlap between adjacent camera channels. Panoramic images may be generated by compositing image data from multiple camera channels by using techniques described herein. In some examples, contribution of each camera channel may be weighted based on factors such as distances relative to an overlap region or content within the overlap region.
A frame for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of interconnected faces configured to mount cameras. The faces are mounted along peripheral edges using kinematic connections. The frame provides a structure on which the mounted cameras provide a combined field of view of up to about 360-degrees with minimal parallax between adjacent cameras.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
G02B 7/00 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
A frame for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of interconnected faces configured to mount cameras. The faces are mounted along peripheral edges using kinematic connections. The frame provides a structure on which the mounted cameras provide a combined field of view of up to about 360-degrees with minimal parallax between adjacent cameras.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
G02B 7/00 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
This application generally describes an imaging system, such as a multi-camera imaging system. The imaging system can include a plurality of channels and individual of the channels can include an objective lens and a relay optical system. The object lens images received light on a first image plane, as a first image, and the relay optical system images the first image on a second image plane, as a second, magnified image. In examples, the object lens and the relay optical system make up an optically coherent system.
A low parallax imaging device includes a dome defining an interior volume in which a plurality of imaging lens elements are disposed. The dome includes a first outer optical element associated with a first of the imaging lens elements and a second outer optical element associated with a second of the imaging lens elements. Facets are provided at seams in the dome between the first outer optical element and the second outer optical element.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
H04N 23/55 - Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensorsMounting thereof
H04N 23/698 - Control of cameras or camera modules for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
13.
Opto-mechanics of panoramic capture devices with abutting cameras
A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
H04N 23/55 - Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensorsMounting thereof
H04N 23/698 - Control of cameras or camera modules for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
15.
LOW PARALLAX LENS DESIGN WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
The present disclosure relates to panoramic low-parallax multi-camera capture devices having a plurality of adjacent and abutting polygonal cameras. The disclosure also relates to lens designs for cameras that capture incident light from a polygonal shaped field of view to form a polygonal shaped image with improved parallax and front color performance. A lens form for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture and image polygonal fields of view. The lens form includes a compression lens element group and a wide-angle lens element group.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
16.
Lens design for low parallax panoramic camera systems
A lens form for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. The imaging lens elements include a plurality of lens element groups for directing incident light to an imaging plane. The lens elements control a distance between an entrance pupil located behind the image plane and a low parallax point to reduce parallax errors between adjacent of the imaging lens elements.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
H04N 23/55 - Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensorsMounting thereof
H04N 23/698 - Control of cameras or camera modules for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
17.
LOW PARALLAX IMAGING SYSTEM WITH AN INTERNAL SPACE FRAME
A frame for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of interconnected faces configured to mount cameras. The faces are mounted along peripheral edges using kinematic connections. The frame provides a structure on which the mounted cameras provide a combined field of view of up to about 360-degrees with minimal parallax between adjacent cameras.
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
This application generally describes an imaging system, such as a multi-camera imaging system. The imaging system can include a plurality of channels and individual of the channels can include an objective lens and a relay optical system. The object lens images received light on a first image plane, as a first image, and the relay optical system images the first image on a second image plane, as a second, magnified image. In examples, the object lens and the relay optical system make up an optically coherent system.
A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
20.
OPTO-MECHANICS OF PANORAMIC CAPTURE DEVICES WITH ABUTTING CAMERAS
A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
G03B 15/00 - Special procedures for taking photographsApparatus therefor
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A low parallax imaging device includes a dome defining an interior volume in which a plurality of imaging lens elements are disposed. The dome includes a first outer optical element associated with a first of the imaging lens elements and a second outer optical element associated with a second of the imaging lens elements. Facets are provided at seams in the dome between the first outer optical element and the second outer optical element.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
G06T 3/40 - Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
A lens form for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. The imaging lens elements include a plurality of lens element groups for directing incident light to an imaging plane. The lens elements control a distance between an entrance pupil located behind the image plane and a low parallax point to reduce parallax errors between adjacent of the imaging lens elements.
G02B 27/64 - Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
G03B 37/00 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by-side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
A multicamera panoramic imaging system having no parallax. In an example, the multicamera panoramic imaging system includes multiple discrete, imaging systems disposed in a side-by- side array, wherein a field of view of each discrete, imaging systems is conjoined with a field of view of each adjacent discrete imaging system, further wherein a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any one of the discrete imaging systems will be substantially parallel to a stencil of chief rays at the edge of the field of view of any adjacent ones of the discrete imaging systems such that all of the substantially parallel stencils of chief rays appear to converge to a common point when viewed from object space. A method for forming an image of an object having no parallax.
G03B 37/04 - Panoramic or wide-screen photographyPhotographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveyingPhotographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
patents
