Hemispherical Star Camera

摘要

A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

主权项

1. A digital camera, comprising:
a monocentric lens having a focal length, an outer surface and a center; a plurality of pixelated optical sensor arrays, each pixelated optical sensor array being oriented toward the center of the monocentric lens and spaced apart from the outer surface of the monocentric lens, such that the pixelated optical sensor array is disposed about the focal length of the monocentric lens from the center of the monocentric lens; and for each pixelated optical sensor array of the plurality of pixelated optical sensor arrays, at least one baffle disposed between the outer surface of the monocentric lens and the pixelated optical sensor array, the baffle corresponding to the pixelated optical sensor array and having a longitudinal axis normal to the baffle's corresponding pixelated optical sensor array and extending through the center of the monocentric lens.