Panoramic Stereoscopic Imaging Nested Reflectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image capture systems, particularly stereoscopic panoramic systems, lack the capability to efficiently capture and reconstruct complete global panoramic views with distinct stereoscopic information, limiting their ability to provide accurate depth perception across wide ranges of pitch and yaw angles.
Innovation Solution
The optical system incorporates a camera with an outer and inner reflector, featuring a paraboloidal structure and striations that refract and reflect light to capture stereoscopic images from multiple positions, allowing for the simultaneous capture of two circular panoramic views with spatially offset viewpoints, enabling accurate stereoscopic 3D reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional image capture systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot capture complete global panoramic views with distinct stereoscopic information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested reflector configuration where an inner reflector is positioned inside an outer reflector. Both reflectors have paraboloidal surfaces and are concentrically arranged around the camera. This nested structure enables the system to capture complete global panoramic views with distinct stereoscopic information by reflecting light from different spatial positions into the camera, effectively solving the limitation of conventional systems while maintaining a compact form factor.
2Measurement precision
If a single panoramic view is captured, then the field of view is wide, but depth perception is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the panoramic image capture into two distinct circular image portions: an inner circular portion and an outer annular portion. Each portion corresponds to light reflected from different positions on the inner and outer reflectors, respectively. This segmentation provides spatially separated stereoscopic information that enables accurate depth perception while maintaining a wide field of view, as each portion contains depth data from its specific reflection path.
3Ease of operation
If light is reflected directly to the camera, then the light path is short, but off-axis light cannot be properly directed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs paraboloidal surfaces for both the inner and outer reflectors. These curved surfaces are specifically shaped to reflect off-axis light rays onto the longitudinal axis of the optical system, directing them toward the camera. The paraboloidal geometry ensures that light from various angular positions is efficiently redirected along the optical axis, maintaining light path efficiency while achieving precise alignment without complex mechanical adjustments.
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
This solution enables the capture and display of realistic, globally panoramic stereoscopic images that allow users to view environments in 3D from various directions, providing accurate depth perception and allowing for the recreation of scenes with correct stereoscopic displacement, even when viewed remotely or from different perspectives.
Implementation Method 1
The outer reflector can be partially reflective and partially transmissive, and the outer reflector can be configured to reflect light to the camera
Implementation Method 2
The inner reflector can be configured to reflect light that is transmitted through the outer reflector. The inner reflector can be configured to reflect the light through the hole at the narrow end of the outer reflector to the camera
Implementation Method 3
The striations can be configured to receive off-axis light traveling along a path that does not intersect a longitudinal axis of the optical system, and to turn the light by reflection to have an on-axis path to the camera that intersects the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 4
The outer substrate material can be configured to refract light transmitted through the outer reflector. The outer substrate material can be configured to refract the light in a first direction
Implementation Method 5
The inner substrate material can be configured to refract the light transmitted through the outer reflector. The inner substrate material can be configured to refract the light in a second direction that is opposite the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system for panoramic stereoscopic imaging can include an outer reflector and an inner reflector, which can both be configured to reflect light to a camera. The outer reflector can include striations or other reflection elements to turn the light that is reflected to the camera such that first and second light rays that are parallel and offset from each other (e.g., suitable for stereoscopic 3D viewing) can be reflected by the respective outer and inner reflectors to the camera. The outer reflector can be partially reflective and partially transmissive so that some light can pass through the outer reflector to be reflected by the inner reflector to the camera. The camera can capture a single image having a first portion that corresponds to a view generated by the inner reflector, and a second portion that corresponds to a stereoscopically offset view generated by the outer reflector.