Mirror system and method for acquiring biometric data

1. A system for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume from an unconstrained subject comprising a substantially rotationally symmetric mirror, motor means to rotate the mirror at a constant rotational velocity about an axis, and a sensor configured to acquire biometric imagery reflected off of the mirror as it is rotated about the axis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the substantially rotationally symmetric mirror is comprised of one or more conical sections.

3. The system of claim 1 configured to obtain a set of still images.

4. The system of claim 1 configured for iris recognition comprising one or more conical sections arranged to rotate at a substantially constant rotational velocity around their common axis.

5. A reflection device comprising a first surface that reflects light off that surface as if off a rotationally symmetric surface; a second surface different from the first surface that reflects light off that surface as if off a substantially rotationally symmetric surface; wherein said first and said second surfaces are mounted on the same axis such that rotational symmetry of each surface is maintained.

6. A method for acquiring imagery in a large capture volume by configuring a sensor to view a scene reflected off a non-flat surface that reflects light as if off a flat surface; mounting the said surface on a rotating axis such that said surface is not precisely perpendicular to said axis; and acquiring imagery of the scene reflected off said surface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein a set of still images of portions of the scene are obtained.

8. The method of claim 6 for acquiring imagery comprising pointing a sensor at said reflection device; and rotating said reflection device about the axis.