Panoramic mirror and system for producing enhanced panoramic images
The present invention relates to providing enhanced panoramic images with an improved panoramic mirror. A panoramic mirror is provided with a controlled vertical field of view. The controlled vertical field of view improves the resolution of a viewable panoramic image by eliminating portions of unwanted images from the viewable panoramic image.
1. A panoramic photographic apparatus comprising:
a mirror; and
means for mounting the mirror on an axis;
wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle C with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis substantially at a point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, the first angle C being at least about 0.5°, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis a shape described by the equation:
ⅆ
r
ⅆ
(
θ
+
A
α
)
=
r
cot
(
k
tan
(
θ
+
A
α
)
+
π
2
)
where θ is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−1−α)/2.
2. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle C ranges from about 0.5° to about 20°.
3. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle C ranges from about to about 10°.
4. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle C ranges from about 2° to about 8°.
5. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle C is about 5°.
6. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.
7. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50° to about 100°.
8. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein α ranges from about 3 to about 15.
9. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the means for mounting the mirror on an axis comprises:
a cylinder;
wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to a lens of a camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.
10. A panoramic photographic apparatus comprising:
a rod positioned on an axis; and
a mirror mounted at a first end of the rod;
wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle E with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis at a point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, the first angle E being described by the equation:
E =(atan( r R /r camera )+α·atan(r R /r camera )+ A )/ 2
where r R is the radius of the r camera is the distance the mirror is placed from a camera, α is a constant defining the gain, and A is at least about 0.5°.
11. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first angle E ranges from about 5° to about 30°.
12. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first angle E ranges from about 10° to about 20°.
13. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first angle E ranges from about 12° to about 16°.
14. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first angle E is about 14°.
15. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.
16. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50° to about 100°.
17. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis: an equi-angular shape, a compensated equi-angular shape, a parabolic shape, a hyperbolic shape, or a spherical shape.
18. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the mirror has a compensated equi-angular shape described by the equation:
ⅆ
r
ⅆ
(
θ
+
A
α
)
=
r
cot
(
k
tan
(
θ
+
A
α
)
+
π
2
)
where θ is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−1−α)/2.
19. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein α ranges from about 3 to about 15.
20. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the mirror is supported by the rod.
21. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the rod reduces unwanted reflections in the mirror.
22. A panoramic photographic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the rod is substantially cylindrical in shape.
23. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images comprising:
a mirror;
means for mounting the mirror on an axis;
wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle C with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis substantially at a point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, the first angle C being at least about 0.5°, wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis a shape described by the equation;
ⅆ
r
ⅆ
(
θ
+
A
α
)
=
r
cot
(
k
tan
(
θ
+
A
α
)
+
π
2
)
where θ is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−1−α)/2; and
a camera with a lens;
wherein the camera is positioned so that the lens is substantially aligned with the axis.
24. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23 , wherein the first angle C ranges from about 0.5° to about 20°.
25. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23 , wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the axis and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.
26. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 25 , wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50° to about 100°.
27. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23 , wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:
a cylinder;
wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to the lens of the camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.
28. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 27 , wherein the cylinder has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.
29. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 27 , wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.
30. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23 , wherein the system produces a high-resolution viewable panoramic image.
31. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 23 , wherein the system further comprises an additional mirror positioned adjacent the mirror and an additional camera positioned for cooperation with the additional mirror.
32. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images comprising:
a mirror;
a rod positioned on an axis;
means for mounting the mirror on the axis;
wherein the mirror includes a convex reflective surface symmetric about the axis, the surface forming a first angle E with respect to a first plane perpendicular to the axis at a point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, the first angle E being described by the equation:
E (atan ( r R /r camera )+α·atan( r R /r camera )+ A )/2
where r R is the radius of the rod, r camera is the distance the mirror is placed from a camera, α is a constant defining the gain, and A is at least about 0.5°; and
a camera with a lens;
wherein the camera is positioned so that the lens is substantially aligned with the axis.
33. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the first angle E ranges from about 5° to about 30°.
34. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the surface further forms a second angle D with respect to a second plane perpendicular to the axis at an end of the mirror opposite the point of intersection between the rod and the mirror, and with respect to a plane tangent to the mirror surface at the end of the mirror.
35. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 34 , wherein the second angle D ranges from about 50° to about 100°.
36. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the convex reflective surface comprises a surface of rotation defined by rotating around the axis: an equi-angular shape, a compensated equi-angular shape, a parabolic shape, a hyperbolic shape, or a spherical shape.
37. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 36 , wherein the mirror has a compensated equi-angular shape described by the equation:
ⅆ
r
ⅆ
(
θ
+
A
α
)
=
r
cot
(
k
tan
(
θ
+
A
α
)
+
π
2
)
where θ is the angle that a light ray makes with the axis as it reflects off of a point on the surface of the mirror and into a camera lens, r is the length of a light ray between the camera lens and a point on the surface of the mirror, α is a constant defining the gain, and k is a constant defined by (−1−α)/2.
38. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises the rod and the mirror is mounted at a first end of the rod and a second end of the rod is attached to the camera.
39. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38 , wherein the rod has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.
40. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38 , wherein the rod has a diameter of from about 0.05 cm to about 15 cm.
41. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38 , wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.
42. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 38 , wherein the mounting rod has a diameter D R , the mirror has a diameter D M , and the ratio of D R :D M is greater than 1:4.
43. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:
a primary stage,
wherein the primary stage is attached to a camera; and
a secondary stage,
wherein the secondary stage is affixed to the primary stage.
44. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43 , wherein the secondary stage comprises:
the rod;
wherein the mirror is mounted at a first end of the rod and a second end of the rod is attached to the primary stage.
45. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43 , wherein the primary stage has a length of from about 1 cm to about 8 cm.
46. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44 , wherein the rod has a length of from about 2 cm to about 6 cm.
47. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44 , wherein the rod has a diameter of from about 0.05 cm to about 15 cm.
48. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 43 , wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.
49. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 44 , wherein the rod has a diameter D R , the mirror has a diameter D M , and the ratio of D R :D M is greater than 1:4.
50. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the means for mounting the mirror on the axis comprises:
a cylinder;
wherein a first end of the cylinder is attached to the lens of the camera and wherein the mirror is mounted at a second end of the cylinder.
51. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 50 , wherein the cylinder has a length of from about 3 cm to about 12 cm.
52. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 50 , wherein the mirror has a diameter of from about 0.3 cm to about 60 cm.
53. A system for providing enhanced panoramic images according to claim 32 , wherein the system produces a high-resolution viewable panoramic image.