Omnidirectional Imaging System Hyperbolic Mirror Focal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional omnidirectional imaging systems suffer from blind spots, particularly when ceiling-mounted, due to the placement of mirrors and lenses, which restricts their field of view and introduces areas where images cannot be captured.
Innovation Solution
An omnidirectional imaging system utilizing a primary mirror with a hyperbolic shape and multiple secondary mirrors with hyperbolic shapes, where the outer focal points of both the primary and secondary mirrors coincide, allowing the camera to capture images without blind spots by positioning it at the common focal point, thereby ensuring a wide field of view and eliminating blind areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a secondary mirror is used to expand the imaging range, then the field of view is improved, but a blind spot area is created directly below the ceiling-mounted structure
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent mirror units (primary mirror and secondary mirrors) that each capture different portions of the surrounding environment. The primary mirror captures the main field of view while secondary mirrors positioned at different locations capture additional areas including the blind spot region, with all images synthesized to form a complete omnidirectional view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-plane imaging approach to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement of multiple mirrors positioned at different heights and angles. By placing secondary mirrors both above and below the primary mirror in vertical space, the system captures light rays from all directions including those that would otherwise be blocked, eliminating the blind spot while maintaining a ceiling-mounted configuration.
2Area of moving object
If mirrors are placed on the subject side to capture reflections, then the field of view is expanded, but the imaging range of the primary mirror is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
Different mirror surfaces are assigned specialized functions optimized for their specific roles. The primary mirror is designed with specific curvature and positioning to capture the main horizontal field of view, while secondary mirrors are positioned and shaped to specifically target and capture the blind spot area and vertical regions. Each mirror's local optical properties are optimized for its particular imaging responsibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Secondary mirrors act as intermediary optical elements that capture light rays from specific angular regions and redirect them to the camera. These intermediary mirrors do not block the primary mirror's field of view but instead capture complementary information from regions the primary mirror cannot reach, particularly the area directly below the ceiling mounting.
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 system achieves a wider field of view and eliminates blind spots, enhancing the imaging capability by directly capturing images from both the primary and secondary mirrors, making it suitable for applications requiring comprehensive and unobstructed views.
Implementation Method 1
a primary mirror including a hyperbolic mirror; a plurality of secondary mirrors arranged around the primary mirror, each of the plurality of secondary mirrors including ahyperbolic mirror
Data Source
AI summary
To enable an image with no blind spot area to be obtained while ensuring a wide field of view, an omnidirectional imaging system includes: a primary mirror (101) including a hyperbolic mirror; a plurality of secondary mirrors (102) arranged around the primary mirror and each including a hyperbolic mirror; and a camera (104) that captures an image reflected by the primary mirror and images reflected by the plurality of secondary mirrors. A hyperboloid of the primary mirror and hyperboloids of the plurality of secondary mirrors have a substantially coincident outer focal point, and the camera (104) is placed so that a viewpoint of the camera substantially coincides with the outer focal point of the hyperboloid of the primary mirror (101) and the hyperboloids of the plurality of secondary mirrors (102), the viewpoint of the camera being an entrance pupil position of a lens attached to the camera (104).