The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2011
Edward Driscoll, Jr., Portola Valley, CA (US);
Howard Morrow, Missoula, MT (US);
Alan J. Steinhauer, Fresno, CA (US);
Willard Curtis Lomax, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Edward Driscoll, Jr., Portola Valley, CA (US);
Howard Morrow, Missoula, MT (US);
Alan J. Steinhauer, Fresno, CA (US);
Willard Curtis Lomax, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
B.H. Image Co. LLC, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360 degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images.