Mounting systems for multi-camera imagers
A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
1. An imaging device comprising:
a first camera configured to image a first polygonal field of view to a first image plane, the first camera including a first lens housing having first sides defining a first polygonal periphery that supports a first outer lens element, a first side of the first sides including a first alignment feature and at least one first magnet, the first alignment feature comprising a ball; and
a second camera configured to image a second polygonal field of view to a second image plane, the second camera including a second lens housing having a plurality of second sides defining a second polygonal periphery that supports a second outer lens element, a second side of the second sides including a second alignment feature and at least one second magnet, the second alignment feature comprising at least one of a vee-groove or a flat;
wherein the first alignment feature cooperates with the second alignment feature and the first magnet attracts the second magnet cooperate to couple the first side and the second side at a seam.
2. The imaging device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first alignment feature or the second alignment features comprises a curved protrusion that contacts an opposing surface at an effective single point of contact.
3. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising at least a third camera having a polygonal lens housing with at least one magnet for attracting a third magnet on a third side of the first sides.
4. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting structure including a first surface for contacting the first lens housing and a second surface for contacting the second lens housing.
5. The imaging device of claim 4 wherein one of the first lens housing or the second lens housing comprises a ball protruding from a surface thereof and the first surface of the mounting structure comprises a socket configured to receive the ball.
6. The imaging device of claim 5 wherein a camera located opposite the mounting structure is designated as a primary camera channel, which provides a primary datum ball and socket features to limit mis-alignments of camera channels adjacent to, and abutting, the primary channel.
7. The imaging device of claim 6 wherein at least one of the other cameras is designated as a secondary camera channel, that is aligned to the primary camera channel, and is further supported directly or indirectly by a channel loading support.
8. The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the mounting structure comprises a central hub including a plurality of sockets and at least one of the first camera housing or the second camera housing includes a feature configured to mate with a socket of the plurality of sockets.
9. The imaging device of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of a cable, spring, or latch mechanism to constrain motion of the at least one of the first camera housing or the second camera housing relative to the central hub.
10. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein edges of at least one of the first outer lens element or the second outer lens element includes a lens datum feature.
11. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first lens housing or the second lens housing comprises a first lens holding plate on a first side and a second lens holding plate on a second side, and
at least one of the first lens holding plate or the second lens holding plate comprises holes through which adhesive is provided to edges of the corresponding outer lens element.
12. The imaging device of claim 1 further comprising a relay lens system that collects, as collected image light, image light from the first image plane and the second image plane and re-images the collected image light to an additional image plane.
13. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer dome including a plurality of arcuate surfaces including a first arcuate surface associated with the first camera and a second arcuate surface associated with the second camera.
14. The imaging device of claim 1 wherein the first camera converges a first projection of incident non-paraxial chief rays to a first non-paraxial point within a first low-parallax volume, and the second camera converges a second projection of incident non-paraxial chief rays to a second non-paraxial point within a second low-parallax volume.
15. The imaging device of claim 14 wherein the first lens housing is positioned relative to the second lens housing such that the first low-parallax volume at least partially overlaps the second low-parallax volume.
16. The imaging device of claim 14 , further comprising a camera lens that limits a transverse component of a spherical aberration at a plane that favors image light from peripheral fields.
17. The imaging device of claim 1 wherein the first camera and the second camera are further configured to co-optimize the width of a seam between adjacent camera lens housings, the extent of blind regions between cameras, and the width of any extra overlap field of view.
18. An imaging device comprising:
a first camera configured to image a first polygonal field of view to a first image plane, the first camera including a first lens housing having first sides defining a first polygonal periphery that supports a first outer lens element, a first side of the first sides including a first alignment feature and at least one first magnet; and
a second camera configured to image a second polygonal field of view to a second image plane, the second camera including a second lens housing having a plurality of second sides defining a second polygonal periphery that supports a second outer lens element, a second side of the second sides including a second alignment feature and at least one second magnet; and
a mounting structure including a first surface for contacting the first lens housing and a second surface for contacting the second lens housing,
wherein the first alignment feature cooperates with the second alignment feature and the first magnet attracts the second magnet cooperate to couple the first side and the second side at a seam, and
wherein at least one of the first lens housing or the second lens housing comprises a ball protruding from a surface thereof and the first surface of the mounting structure comprises a socket configured to receive the ball.
19. An imaging device comprising:
a first camera configured to image a first polygonal field of view to a first image plane, the first camera including a first lens housing having first sides defining a first polygonal periphery that supports a first outer lens element, a first side of the first sides including a first alignment feature and at least one first magnet; and
a second camera configured to image a second polygonal field of view to a second image plane, the second camera including a second lens housing having a plurality of second sides defining a second polygonal periphery that supports a second outer lens element, a second side of the second sides including a second alignment feature and at least one second magnet; and
a mounting structure including a first surface for contacting the first lens housing and a second surface for contacting the second lens housing,
wherein the first alignment feature cooperates with the second alignment feature and the first magnet attracts the second magnet cooperate to couple the first side and the second side at a seam, and
wherein the mounting structure comprises a central hub having a convex surface and at least one of the first camera housing or the second camera housing includes a concave feature configured to cooperate with the convex surface of the central hub when pulled into contact by a tensioning mechanism.
20. The imaging device of claim 19 , wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises at least one of a cable, a spring, or a latch mechanism.