Panoramic imaging systems based on two laterally-offset and vertically-overlap camera modules

Abstract

Panoramic imaging systems and devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a disclosed panoramic camera assembly of a panoramic imaging system includes a first camera module including a first wide-angle-lens camera positioned to cover one half of a full spherical space and a second camera module including a second wide-angle-lens camera positioned to cover the other half of the full spherical space. Moreover, the optical axis of the first camera and the optical axis of the second camera are separated by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axes. Furthermore, the first camera module and the second camera module are positioned to have a predetermined amount of overlap in the vertical direction so that a height of the panoramic camera assembly is significantly smaller than a dimension of the first camera module plus a dimension of the second camera module in the vertical direction.