Segmented Cap Lens Single-Viewpoint Panoramic Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Panoramic cameras face challenges in achieving high-resolution, single viewpoint imaging over large fields of view while minimizing parallax errors and imaging artifacts, with existing solutions being bulky, expensive, and suffering from distortion and skew issues.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a cluster of conventional cameras and a novel segmented cap lens that relays a single viewpoint to multiple relayed viewpoints, allowing seamless image fusion and reducing parallax errors, with the cap lens being a refractive optical element that refocuses incoming light without significant divergence, enabling high-resolution panoramic imaging with minimal distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a cluster of cameras with segmented mirrors is used to achieve large FOV high resolution panoramic imaging, then the field of view coverage and spatial resolution are improved, but the system size and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cap lens is divided into multiple segments, each corresponding to a specific camera in the cluster. Each lens segment directs light from a particular angular sector to its corresponding camera, enabling the system to achieve large FOV coverage without requiring a physically large mirror structure. This segmentation allows the optical function to be distributed across multiple smaller components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical mirror-based optical system with a refractive cap lens system. Instead of using physically large segmented mirrors that require complex mechanical support structures, the invention uses a compact cap lens assembly that achieves the same light redirecting function through refraction, significantly reducing system size and weight while maintaining large FOV coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple component cameras with distinct viewpoints are used to achieve large FOV panorama, then the field of view coverage is improved, but parallax errors and imaging artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cap lens acts as an intermediary optical element that redirects light from different angular sectors to multiple cameras positioned at different physical locations. By introducing this intermediary refractive system, the patent enables cameras with physically separated positions to capture images that appear to originate from a common virtual viewpoint, thereby eliminating parallax errors while maintaining large FOV coverage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a continuous curved mirror is used to create omnidirectional panoramic camera with single viewpoint, then the single viewpoint condition is achieved, but image resolution decreases and distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single continuous curved mirror that maps the entire FOV to one camera (which causes distortion and resolution loss), the patent segments both the optical system (cap lens) and the camera array. Each camera captures a specific angular sector through its corresponding lens segment, allowing the system to maintain single viewpoint consistency while preserving high image resolution and minimizing distortion in each captured sector.
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 solution achieves high-resolution, single viewpoint panoramic imaging with reduced parallax errors and minimal artifacts, resulting in a more compact and efficient system compared to traditional catadioptric cameras, with improved image quality and reduced system size.
Implementation Method 1
a novel segmented cap lens that relays a single viewpoint of a panorama to a plurality of relayed viewpoints... the cap lens being a refractive optical element that refocuses incoming light
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method and apparatus of obtaining single and video, high-resolution, panoramic images of a large field-of-view scene with a single viewpoint. The system consists of a segmented cap lens, multiple imaging sensors and imaging lenses. The cap lens is segmented to capture an individual sub-field of the entire panorama. In addition, the cap lens is optimized to relay the optical centers of the component cameras into a single viewpoint therefore reducing parallax errors. A high-resolution panoramic image with reduced artifacts is reconstructed by mosaicking multiple images taken by component cameras. The entire system is based upon refractive lenses to minimize the path length of light rays, enabling a relatively compact design for practical applications.