Methods and apparatus for panoramic afocal image capture

摘要

The present invention includes a panoramic imaging system for projecting a 360 degree cylindrical field of view onto a two-dimensional annular format using a panoramic imaging block with a concentric axis 5 of symmetry, two refractive surfaces and two reflective surfaces, and an additional aspheric lens for mitigating aberrations inherent in refractive and reflective lenses.

主权项

1. A panoramic image capture apparatus for a smartphone comprising a handheld image capture device, the apparatus comprising:
a panoramic optical block comprising optical refractive lenses and optical reflective lenses; a relay system; and a coupler for removably positioning the panoramic optical block and the relay system, proximate to a camera in the handheld device, wherein the camera comprises a camera lens and the coupler positions the panoramic optical block and the relay system such that light may pass through the optical refractive lenses and optical reflective lenses into the camera lens, and wherein the panoramic optical block enables the camera to capture a substantially 360° field of view about a captured plane, wherein the captured plane is substantially perpendicular to the camera and parallel the panoramic optical block.