Catadioptric Panoramic Camera Optical System Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refractive-only optics used in panoramic imaging cameras face challenges in maintaining uniform quality across the field of view due to limited field-compression methods, which are computationally complex and heavy, while catadioptric systems offer wider field compression but with weight and material cost concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact panoramic camera design incorporating a catadioptric optical element with a convex reflector and a decompression lens, featuring axially symmetric aspheric surfaces, to provide a 360-degree field of view with high optical resolution, reducing system size and weight by using plastic materials and minimizing the number of optical elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If refractive-only optics (fisheye lenses) are used to achieve wide field of view, then field compression is possible, but the system weight increases significantly and manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for high-refractive dense meniscus lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines refractive and reflective optical elements into a catadioptric system. Specifically, it uses a combination of lenses (refractive elements) and mirrors (reflective elements) to achieve wide field of view compression while reducing the weight and complexity compared to pure refractive systems. This merging allows the system to leverage the advantages of both optical approaches.
2Temperature
If refractive-only optics are used to achieve wide field of view, then field compression is possible, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for high-refractive dense meniscus lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines refractive and reflective optical elements into a catadioptric system. Specifically, it uses a combination of lenses (refractive elements) and mirrors (reflective elements) to achieve wide field of view compression while reducing the weight and complexity compared to pure refractive systems. This merging allows the system to leverage the advantages of both optical approaches.
3Temperature
If catadioptric optical systems are used to achieve super-wide-angle field of view, then field compression function is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a catadioptric optical system where a single optical assembly performs multiple functions: achieving wide field of view compression, providing adjustable focus, and enabling both panoramic and non-panoramic imaging modes. The system uses a combination of reflective and refractive elements that work together to accomplish these diverse functions within a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable focus capability into the catadioptric system by allowing the image sensor to move relative to the optical elements. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize focus for different imaging scenarios (panoramic vs. non-panoramic) and different object distances, adding flexibility without significantly increasing structural complexity.
4Temperature
If traditional catadioptric systems are used, then wide field compression is achieved, but the system size and weight increase due to multiple optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compact nested arrangement where the image sensor is positioned within the optical path, close to the reflective optical element. The optical elements are arranged in a space-efficient configuration where components are nested or closely integrated, reducing the overall system volume while maintaining the catadioptric field compression capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a compact, high-resolution panoramic imaging system with reduced weight and size, maintaining high optical resolution and field compression capabilities, suitable for applications like teleconferencing and robotics, without the need for digital image processing.
Implementation Method 1
The convex reflector is configured to provide a virtual curved and compressed image of a 360-degree panoramic scene
Implementation Method 2
The decompression lens is configured to decompress the virtual curved and compressed image into a real image with a high optical resolution and a parabolic image decompression
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical system, apparatus, and method for sensing 360-degree horizontal and wide vertical field of view are shown. Powerful optics creates high resolution decompressed images on an image sensor. The compact panoramic camera includes two major optical components: (i) an axially symmetric convex aspheric reflector incorporated into a catadioptric optical element capable of providing a virtual curved image of a 360-degree panoramic scene with a specific image compression and (ii) a decompression lens with hardware aperture. The decompression lens is comprised of three single lens elements and accepts the virtual curved and compressed image and projects it onto the image sensor with high optical resolution and parabolic image decompression to achieve a high digital resolution at the same time. Another version of decompression lens is comprised only of a single lens element and projects high resolution decompressed images onto an image sensor.