Sphere Optics Company, LLC

Spere Optics Company, LLC

Meyer J Giordano

Robert S Englert

Christopher T Cotton

W David Schmidt

A generally conical element is defined about a vertical axis and having a tip on the vertical axis, and a generally conical odd aspheric contour mirror surface that is defined upward from the tip relative to the vertical axis. A toroidal lens element, disposed to capture light data input of a surrounding scene reflected from the odd aspheric contour mirror surface, has a cross-section shape defined relative to a plane passing through the toroidal lens element and including the vertical axis and is defined by revolving a convex or concave lens surface cross-section shape around the vertical axis, the convex or concave lens surface cross-section shape defined from another axis parallel to the vertical axis but offset, wherein the toroidal lens element cross-sectional shape is constant in rotation about the vertical axis and imparts a toroid shape to the toroidal lens element relative to the vertical axis.

Omnidirectional catadioptric lens with odd aspheric contour or multi-lens

At least one lens element defines a cylindrical void that encloses a conical element having a conical mirror surface defined about a common vertical axis upward from a tip on a generally 45-degree angle to the vertical axis. The lens element(s) have cross-sectional shapes defined relative to a plane passing through the lens element and including the vertical axis, the cross-sectional shape constant in rotation about the vertical axis and imparting a generally toroid shape to the lens element(s) for capturing image information from a surrounding scene and translating the captured light into a horizontal projection is oriented toward the conical mirror surface, which reflects the projection 90 degrees vertically downward toward an image plane of a light sensitive sensor for generating a photographic representation of the surrounding scene.

Omnidirectional catadioptric lens structure

Spherical lens for a camera

Aspects capture, view, present and display photo-realistic, fully-immersive panoramic virtual environments, displaying to a user via a display screen, in a first layer at a first level of opacity, an image of current surroundings of the user from image data captured from the current surroundings of the user by an image capture device; and in a second layer at a second level of opacity, an image of another environment that differs from the current surroundings of the user as a function of time or of place, wherein the second layer is located coextensive with the first layer. The first level of opacity is selected to present image data of the panoramic image within the first layer as transparent relative to image data of the panoramic image within the second layer; or as opaque relative to image data of the panoramic image within the second layer.

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Syracuse, NY, United States of America

Meyer J Giordano