IP Library Granted Patent US 10,281,272
Granted Patent B2
US 10,281,272 · App. 15/522,616 · Granted May 7, 2019

Optical system that widens an image capture view angle

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,281,272
App. No.
15/522,616
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a technology which is suitable for both widening an image capture view angle and securing an angular resolution across the entire image capture range. In an imaging optical system, a rate of change of an image height per view angle, i.e. dy/dθ, is greater than 0 at a maximum view angle θmax, a rate of change of a view angle per image height, i.e. D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ), satisfies an expression D(θp)>{(D(θmax)−D(0))/θmaxθ}θp+D(0), with θp which lies in a range of 0<θ<θmax, and it satisfies an expression 1.5<(y(θs)/θs)/{(y(θmax)−y(θs))/(θmax−θs)}<3.0 with a switching view angle θs of the rate of change D(θ) of the view angle per image height.

Claims (54)

1. An optical system for imaging an object, the optical system comprising:

two or more imaging lenses having an anspherical convex surface and a spherical concave surface on which light emitted from the object is incident,

a plurality of pairs of cemented lenses that receive light from the two or more imaging lenses;

a spherical lens that receives light from the plurality of cemented lenses, and

a polarizer that receives light from the spherical lens to form an image,

wherein:

θ is a half view angle of the optical system,

D is a distance from the object to the optical system,

y(θ) is an image height of the image,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ is a rate a rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ is a rate of change of the image height per view angle,

Θs is a switching view angle of the rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ, is greater than 0 at a maximum view angle θmax of the optical system,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ), satisfies D(θp)>{(D(θmax)−D(0))/θmaxθ}θp+D(0), with θp which lies in a range of 0<θ<θmax, and

Y(θ) satisfies 1.5<(y(θs)/θs)/{(y(θmax)−y(θs))/(θmax−θs)}<3.0.

2. An optical system for imaging an object, the optical system comprising:

two or more imaging lenses having an anspherical convex surface and a spherical concave surface on which light emitted from the object is incident,

a plurality of pairs of cemented lenses that receive light from the two or more imaging lenses;

a spherical lens that receives light from the plurality of cemented lenses, and

a polarizer that receives light from the spherical lens to form an image,

wherein:

θ is a half view angle of the optical system,

D is a distance from the object to the optical system,

y(θ) is an image height of the image,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ is a rate a rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ is a rate of change of the image height per view angle,

Θs is a switching view angle of the rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ, is greater than 0 at a maximum view angle θmax of the optical system,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ), satisfies D(θp)>{(D(θmax)−D(0))/θmaxθ}θp+D(0), with θp which lies in a range of 0<θ<θmax,

D(θ) does not have a vertex, and

y(θ) satisfies 1.5<(y(θs)/θs)/{(y(θmax)−y(θs))/(θmax−θs)}<3.0.

3. An optical system for imaging an object, the optical system comprising:

two or more imaging lenses having an anspherical convex surface and a spherical concave surface on which light emitted from the object is incident,

a plurality of pairs of cemented lenses that receive light from the two or more imaging lenses;

a spherical lens that receives light from the plurality of cemented lenses, and

a polarizer that receives light from the spherical lens to form an image,

wherein:

θ is a half view angle of the optical system,

D is a distance from the object to the optical system,

y(θ) is an image height of the image,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ is a rate a rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ is a rate of change of the image height per view angle,

Θs is a switching view angle of the rate of change of the view angle per image height,

dy/dθ, is greater than 0 at a maximum view angle θmax of the optical system,

D(θ)=1/(dy(θ)/dθ), satisfies D(θp)>{(D(θmax)−D(0))/θmaxθ}θp+D(0), with θp which lies in a range of 0<θ<θmax,

y(θ) satisfies 1.5<(y(θs)/θs)/{(y(θmax)−y(θs))/(θmax−θs)}<3.0,

D(θ) does not have a vertex, and

the optical system has at least one or more inflection points.

4. The optical system according to claim 1 , wherein:

satisfies 10°<θs<30°.

5. The optical system according to claim 1 ; further comprising

an imaging element that captures the image of the object.

6. The optical system according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a distance calculator that receives two or more images from the imaging element and calculates the distance from the object to the optical system based on the two or more images.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 056299/0447 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2017
From: MURATA, SEIJI; BETSUI, KEIICHI
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 042167/0693 →