Panoramic optical systems
Panoramic optical systems are disclosed comprising an ellipsoidal mirror and a lens system that reduces astigmatism. The lens systems are capable of operating at fast speeds. Simple and highly manufacturable lens systems are provided for capturing and/or projecting high quality 360-degree panoramic scenes.
1. A panoramic optical system comprising:
an ellipsoidal mirror; and
an astigmatism reducing lens system comprising a series of lenses arranged to transmit images from the ellipsoidal mirror, wherein the lens system has an F/number faster than F/10 and reduces astigmatism to less than ±500 microns, and wherein the panoramic optical system has a panoramic field of view ranging from −30° or less to +30° or more with respect to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the system.
2. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the lens system reduces astigmatism to less than ±200 microns.
3. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the ellipsoidal mirror comprises a conic constant of from −0.3 to −0.9.
4. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the ellipsoidal mirror comprises a conic constant of from −0.6 to −0.85.
5. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the ellipsoidal mirror is catadioptric.
6. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the lens system comprises at least 5 of the lenses.
7. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the lens system comprises less than 10 of the lenses.
8. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the lenses are rotationally symmetric.
9. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the panoramic field of view ranges from −40° or less to +40° or more with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the system.
10. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the panoramic field of view ranges from −50° or less to +50° or more with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the system.
11. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the F/number is faster than F/8.
12. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the F/number is faster than F/6.
13. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , having an F-theta distortion of less than 15 percent.
14. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , having an F-theta distortion of less than 5 percent.
15. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , wherein the optical system is afocal.
16. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , further comprising a detector for detecting an image after passing through the lens system.
17. The panoramic optical system of claim 1 , further comprising a projector for projecting an image after passing through the lens system.
18. A panoramic optical system comprising:
an ellipsoidal mirror comprising a convex reflective surface; and
an astigmatism reducing lens system comprising a series of lenses arranged to transmit images from the ellipsoidal mirror, wherein the lens system has an F/number faster than F/10 and reduces astigmatism to less than ±500 microns, and wherein the panoramic optical system has a panoramic field of view ranging from −30° or less to +30° or more with respect to a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the system.