Panoramic Optic Clear Enclosure
An apparatus includes a panoramic optical component shaped to direct light toward a camera; and an enclosure having a transparent portion, the transparent portion being configured such that only light entering the transparent portion in a direction substantially normal to a surface of the transparent portion is transmitted to the panoramic optical component.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a panoramic optical component shaped to direct light toward a camera; and
an enclosure including a transparent portion, the transparent portion being configured such that only light entering the transparent portion in a direction substantially normal to a surface of the transparent portion is transmitted to the panoramic optical component.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opaque rod positioned along an axis between the panoramic optical component and the camera.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the opaque rod is tapered such that its cross-sectional area decreases in a direction away from the panoramic optical component.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a length and width of the opaque rod are sufficient to block light from passing through the enclosure near the axis.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion has a uniform thickness.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion is positioned below a horizontal plane, the plane determined by rays of incident light onto the panoramic optical component at substantially a 90 degree angle from an axis of radial symmetry, or by a plane whose rays of incident light are within 5 degrees of the horizontal plane.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion is positioned above a horizontal plane, the plane determined by rays of incident light onto the panoramic optical component at substantially a 90 degree angle from an axis of radial symmetry, or by a plane whose rays of incident light are within 5 degrees of the horizontal plane.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opaque truncated cone in the enclosure.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the opaque truncated cone is positioned in a region outside of a reflected field of view of the panoramic optical component.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the panoramic optical component is mounted within the enclosure.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes an opaque portion.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the panoramic optical component and the enclosure are each radially symmetric.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion comprises:
a material that is substantially transparent at desired wavelengths of incident light.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent portion comprises one of:
polycarbonate or acrylic plastics; glass; or quartz.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thin film antireflective coating on the transparent portion.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the panoramic optical component comprises one of:
a panoramic annular lens or a reflector.
17 . An apparatus comprising:
a camera;
a panoramic optical component shaped to direct light toward the camera; and
an enclosure including a transparent portion, the transparent portion being configured such that only light entering the transparent portion in a direction substantially normal to a surface of the transparent portion is transmitted to the panoramic optical component.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:
an opaque rod positioned along an axis between the panoramic optical component and the camera.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a length and width of the opaque rod are sufficient to block light from passing through the enclosure near the axis.