Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090201360 | Dichroic Cut Filter for Wide-Angle Imaging - An image device for wide-angle imaging may include an integrated optical system with a wide-angle dichroic cut filter. The dichroic cut filter may be an ultra-violet/infrared (UV/IR) cut filter to block UV and IR wavelengths of light and to transmit visible light. The dichroic cut filter is positioned adjacent to a surface of a lens in the optical system that receives rays of light at a substantially uniform angle of incidence along its surface. For example, the lens having the dichroic cut filter may receive all rays of light at an angle of incidence normal to the lens surface. The passband characteristics of the dichroic cut filter thus remain consistent for all rays of light. The dichroic cut filter may also be positioned near an aperture of the image device so as to direct retroreflected light away from the image sensor. | 08-13-2009 |
20090201361 | Panoramic Camera With Multiple Image Sensors Using Timed Shutters - The present invention relates to the field of panoramic still and motion photography. In a first embodiment, a camera apparatus for panoramic photography includes a first image sensor positioned to capture a first image. The first image sensor has a rolling-shutter readout arranged in portrait orientation. The camera apparatus also includes second image sensor positioned to capture a second image. The second image sensor has a rolling-shutter readout arranged in portrait orientation. Finally, the camera apparatus includes a controller configured to signal the second image sensor to start capturing the second image before the first image sensor finishes capturing the first image. At least a portion of the first image is in front of the second image relative to a forward direction of the camera apparatus. | 08-13-2009 |
20090201578 | Reducing Flare in a Lens Having a Dichroic Filter - In order to obtain an image with high color fidelity in an environment with a bright source in a field of view, flare must be minimized. An image device that reduces flare may include an absorptive UV cut filter positioned in an integrated optical system and a dichroic IR cut filter disposed on a lens in the optical system. The dichroic IR cut filter receives reflected light from one or more surfaces in the optical system at an angle of incidence larger than an angle of incidence of image light entering the dichroic IR cut filter, so that the reflected light is transmitted out of the system. The absorptive UV cut filter may be used to reduce UV-wavelength light reaching an image sensor of the image device. In this manner, the image device avoids processing undesirable wavelengths of light that is beyond the visible spectrum. | 08-13-2009 |
20110134224 | High-Resolution, Variable Depth of Field Image Device - A high-resolution image device that is used to receive images in a variable depth of field environment may include a color image sensor, a panchromatic image sensor, and a measuring device. The color image sensor may be configured to receive a color image of an object. Similarly, a synchronous panchromatic image may be received by the panchromatic image sensor. To generate a fine spatial color image with higher resolution than the image received by the color image sensor, the image device may be configured to replace a luminance component from the original color image with a luminance component from the panchromatic image. However, due to a spatial difference between apertures of the color and panchromatic image sensors, parallax error may occur due to a perceived shift of the imaged object against a reference background in the color and panchromatic images. The measuring device may be configured to measure a distance between the image sensors and the object, such that the image device may be configured to use the distance to account for the effect of parallax. | 06-09-2011 |
20130141522 | HIGH-RESOLUTION, VARIABLE DEPTH OF FIELD IMAGE DEVICE - A high-resolution image device that is used to receive images in a variable depth of field environment may include a color image sensor, a panchromatic image sensor, and a measuring device. The color image sensor may be configured to receive a color image of an object. Similarly, a synchronous panchromatic image may be received by the panchromatic image sensor. The image device may be configured to replace a luminance component from the original color image with a luminance component from the panchromatic image. The measuring device may be configured to measure a distance between the image sensors and the object, such that the image device may be configured to use the distance to account for the effect of parallax. | 06-06-2013 |
20130169745 | Panoramic Camera With Multiple Image Sensors Using Timed Shutters - The present invention relates to the field of panoramic still and motion photography. In a first embodiment, a camera apparatus for panoramic photography includes a first image sensor positioned to capture a first image. The first image sensor has a rolling-shutter readout arranged in portrait orientation. The camera apparatus also includes second image sensor positioned to capture a second image. The second image sensor has a rolling-shutter readout arranged in portrait orientation. Finally, the camera apparatus includes a controller configured to signal the second image sensor to start capturing the second image before the first image sensor finishes capturing the first image. At least a portion of the first image is in front of the second image relative to a forward direction of the camera apparatus. | 07-04-2013 |
20130242086 | Method and System for Identifying Depth Data Associated with an Object - Methods and systems for identifying depth data associated with an object are disclosed. The method includes capturing, with an image capturing device, a plurality of source images of the object. The image capturing device has a sensor that is tilted at a known angle with respect to an object plane of the object such that the image capturing device has a depth of field associated with each source image, the depth of field defining a plane that is angled with respect to the object plane. An image processor analyzes the plurality of source images to identify segments of the source images that satisfy an image quality metric. Position data is assigned to the identified segments of the source images, the position data including depth positions based on the plane defined by the depth of field. | 09-19-2013 |
20140267590 | Diagonal Collection of Oblique Imagery - A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis. | 09-18-2014 |
20140320651 | Diagonal Collection of Oblique Imagery - A vehicle collects oblique imagery along an intercardinal nominal heading using rotated camera-groups with distortion correcting electronic image sensors that align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground, thereby improving collection quality, efficiency, and/or cost. In a first aspect, the camera-groups are rotated diagonal to the nominal heading. In a second aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors align projected pixel columns or rows with a pre-determined direction on the ground. In a third aspect, the distortion correcting electronic image sensors are rotated around the optical axis of the camera. In a fourth aspect, cameras collect images in strips and the strips from different cameras overlap, providing large-baseline, small-time difference stereopsis. | 10-30-2014 |