Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B13/00—Viewfinders; Focusing aids for cameras; Means for focusing for cameras; Autofocus systems for cameras
  • G03B13/32—Means for focusing
  • G03B13/34—Power focusing
  • G03B13/36—Autofocus systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C3/00—Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders
  • G01C3/02—Details
  • G01C3/06—Use of electric means to obtain final indication
  • G01C3/08—Use of electric radiation detectors
  • G01C3/085—Use of electric radiation detectors with electronic parallax measurement
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B37/00—Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
  • G03B37/06—Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe involving anamorphosis

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of acquisition of panoramic images in order to allow viewing of an environment over 360 °.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a panoramic image acquisition device, of the type comprising at least one reflecting means provided with an at least partially reflecting external surface, in order to allow said image to be reflected towards a sensor device.
• camera or camera type image
• a panoramic image is a two-dimensional image which makes it possible to visualize the environment located in a complete perimeter around a precise point with a three-dimensional effect. This kind of image is very useful to visualize a landscape of a particular point, or to visualize the interior space of a room.
• the device When the image is acquired using a camera, the device also makes it possible to carry out video surveillance.
• panoramic image acquisition devices and in particular the international patent application WO-A-99/30197 which relates to an omnidirectional device used to capture the image of a scene from a point of view. unique.
• This device comprises a substantially parabolic reflector means placed so as to reflect orthographically the main rays of electromagnetic radiation emitted by said scene. said reflecting means has a focal point which coincides with said unique view of said omnidirectional device, including said substantially parabolic reflecting means.
• This device also comprises one or more image sensors placed so as to receive said main rays of electromagnetic radiation reflected orthographically from said parabolic reflector, which makes it possible to capture the image of said scene.
• the major drawback of this device resides in the fact that: part of the field of vision of the paraboloid shape is obscured by the image sensor device; - the reflector means "sees" a part of the image sensor device, which will necessarily appear on the final image and therefore will have an impact on the quality and realism of the view;
• the present invention intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a panoramic image acquisition device which makes it possible: to obscure the image sensor apparatus; - acquire an image centered on the horizontal very close to human vision; include the device in a protective box obscured on the acquired image; acquire an image making it possible to view the entire environment using a device comprising a complete field of vision; and allow for image overlays.
• the present invention is of the type described above and it is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that it proposes to offset the starting point of the viewing angle, from the proximal end from the reflecting means towards its distal end, by producing the surface of said conical and concave primary reflecting means.
• a cone is a regulated surface whose generator passes through a fixed point, the vertex.
• a concave cone is a cone whose generator has a curvature in the direction of the axis of the cone.
• said primary conical surface is generated by a substantially parabolic generator or by a generator substantially in an arc of a circle or even by a substantially elliptical generator.
• the image obtained, whether taken with a camera or a camera, is a two-dimensional anamorphic image which allows a complete 360 ° panorama to be recreated with a three-dimensional effect. Thanks to the device according to the invention, the average field of vision is closer to the horizontal and makes it possible to obtain images very close to natural human vision.
• said reflecting means has a cone shape which includes a base having a return, in order to allow an overlap of the field of vision located behind the image sensor apparatus.
• Said reflector means can, moreover, have a cone shape which has a truncated top, in order to allow positioning of a fixing element at the level of said top.
• said reflecting means is primary and has a cone shape which has a hollowed top and the image acquisition device comprises at least one deflection surface, at least partially reflecting, making it possible to return the image to the image sensor device, for example through the hollowed-out vertex.
• This version also has a variant in which the image acquisition device comprises a secondary reflecting means provided with an external secondary surface, having a cone shape, at the less partially reflecting and concave, coaxial with the primary reflecting means.
• said secondary reflecting means having a cone shape whose secondary apex is truncated and possibly hollowed out to allow the image to pass.
• the device according to the invention does not reflect the image sensor device and it makes it possible to obtain a total field of vision.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain maximum image quality in the area of the environment which contains the most information, that is to say in the area close to the horizontal.
• the device according to the invention also makes it possible to place the reflective surface or surfaces in a protection device situated outside the field of vision of the image acquisition device. Thanks to the relevance of the field of vision offered with the device according to the invention, it is possible to use it for very specific applications, such as for example the qualitative and quantitative measurement of certain waves in spectral measuring devices, especially for the analysis of the composition of materials.
• the present invention also relates to an image sensor device provided with an image acquisition device according to the invention, to a method of constructing a digital image by acquiring a panoramic anamorphic image at using an image acquisition device according to the invention, as well as a digital image obtained by the implementation of the image acquisition device according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a device for acquiring image of the prior art
• Figure 2 illustrates the field of vision of the device of Figure 1
• Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of the primary reflecting means of the device according to the invention
• Figure 5 illustrates the field of vision of the device of Figures 3 and 4
• FIG. 6 illustrates the field of vision of the device according to the invention when the primary reflecting means comprises a base having a return
• FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional view of a fixing box for the device according to the invention on an optical system of an image sensor apparatus
• FIG. 1 illustrates a device for acquiring image of the prior art
• Figure 2 illustrates the field of vision of the device of Figure 1
• Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate a front view and a bottom view of the primary reflecting means of the device according to the invention
• Figure 5 illustrates the field of vision of the device of Figures 3 and 4
• FIG. 6 illustrates the field of vision of the device according to the invention when the primary reflecting means comprises a
• FIG. 8 illustrates a version of the invention with medium primary reflector and medium secondary reflector arranged back to back
• FIG. 9 illustrates a version of the invention with primary reflector means and secondary reflector arranged face to face
• FIG. 10 illustrates a version of the invention with primary reflector means and secondary reflector arranged back to back with the image sensor apparatus positioned between them
• FIG. 11 illustrates a version of the invention with primary reflector means and secondary reflector arranged face to face with the image sensor apparatus positioned between them
• - Figure 12 illustrates the principle of determining the main parameters of the basic version of the device according to the invention.
• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a panoramic image acquisition device of the prior art comprising a primary reflector means (2) provided with a primary surface (3), external, reflecting, in order to allow the reflection of said image towards an image sensor device (4) of the camera or camera type.
• the primary reflector means (2) is positioned in the optical axis of the image sensor device (4) and its optical system (4 ').
• the primary surface (3) is convex and has a parabolic or semi-circular shape. Part of the field of vision (5) of the paraboloid shape is obscured by the optical system (4 ') of the image sensor apparatus (4).
• the primary reflector means (2) "sees” a part of the image sensor device (4) and of the optical system (4 '), which will necessarily appear on the final image and therefore will have an impact on the quality and the realism of sight.
• the device according to the invention is a device (1) for acquiring a panoramic image, of the type comprising at least one primary reflector means (2) provided with a primary surface (3), external , at least partially reflecting, in order to allow the said image to be reflected towards at least one image sensor device (4) of the camera or camera type.
• the primary surface (3) preferably constitutes a mirror reflecting all the waves, but it may possibly include a filter in order to oppose the reflection of certain waves.
• the device according to the invention is characterized in that said primary reflecting means (2) consists of a conical, concave primary surface (3), that is to say curved towards the central axis.
• said conical surface is generated by a substantially parabolic generator or by a generator substantially in a circular arc or by a generator substantially elliptical, depending on the characteristics of the image sought.
• the bottom view section is therefore a circle or an ellipse.
• the primary surface (3) can be a conical surface in an arc of a circle having a radius R of approximately 60 millimeters, for an angle P of approximately 56.5 ° and the external diameter I can be approximately 120 millimeters.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the field of vision (5) of a fictitious observer 0 using the device according to the invention.
• the starting point of the angle of vision of the proximal end of the reflecting means is offset towards its distal end.
• the primary surface (3) does not reflect the observer 0, nor an image sensor device positioned in its place.
• the optical system of the image sensor device is then outside the field of vision (5) and the primary surface (3) can be placed in a protective device also located outside the field of vision (5).
• said primary reflecting means (2) has a cone shape which includes a base (9) having a return (10), as illustrated in FIG. 6, in order to allow the field of vision V located to be covered. behind the image sensor device (4).
• Said primary reflector means (2) can have a cone shape the top (6) of which is truncated and the device (1) can comprise a fixing element positioned at least at the level of said top (6), in order to allow it to be fixed to the image sensor device (4).
• This fixing element may consist, for example, of a rod positioned in the axis A of the optical system of the device (1) and fixed against the top (6).
• This fixing element can also consist, for example, of a housing (7) comprising a screw pitch intended to come to cooperate with the screw pitch usually formed at the end of the optical system (4 ') of the device. image sensor (4), this housing also being fixed against the top (6), as illustrated in FIG. 7.
• said primary reflector means (2) is positioned in the axis of the optical system of the image sensor device (4), either vertically, horizontally, or possibly inclined.
• the image acquisition device (1) comprises at least one deflection surface (11, 21), at least partially reflecting, coaxial with the primary reflecting means (2), in order to allow to reverse the position of the image sensor device (4) on the optical axis A.
• the device (1) comprises a secondary reflecting means (12) provided with a surface secondary (13), external, having an at least partially reflecting and concave cone shape, substantially coaxial with the primary reflecting means (2) and whose secondary apex (16) is truncated and hollowed out.
• - Said primary reflecting means (2) and said secondary reflecting means (12) may be identical and may be positioned symmetrically with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis A of the device (1).
• the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflector means can be positioned face to face, that is to say, base (9) against base (19), as illustrated in FIG. 8.
• the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflector means can be positioned back to back, that is to say, primary surface (3) facing secondary surface (13), as illustrated in FIG. 9. Said return surface (11) is then flat, even possibly concave and the top (16) of the secondary reflecting means (12) preferably comprises an at least partially transparent surface (25).
• the image sensor device (4) is positioned in the optical axis A of the device (1), but it can also be imagined to position the image sensor device (4) between the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means, substantially perpendicular to the optical axis A of the device (1).
• FIG. 10 illustrates, for example, a version of the invention in which the reflecting means primary (2) and secondary (12) are positioned back to back and the image sensor device (4) is placed between them.
• the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means each then each have a reference surface (11, 21) of order 1, coaxial respectively with the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means, as well as a order 2 deflection surface (22, 32), inclined with respect to the optical axis A, in order to return the images which have passed through the respective vertices (6, 16) to the image pickup device (4).
• the return surfaces (11, 21) of order 1 and the return surfaces (22, 32) of order 2 are not necessarily planar, they can present a calculated deformation.
• FIG. 11 illustrates, for its part, a version of the invention in which the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means are positioned face to face and the image sensor apparatus (4) is placed between them.
• the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means each then each have a deflection surface (11, 21), inclined relative to the optical axis A, in order to send the images back to the image sensor device ( 4).
• the return surfaces (11, 21) are not necessarily flat, they can have a calculated deformation.
• Said or said reflecting means (2, 12) is or are preferably arranged in a housing protection (7, 17) having at least one window (8, 18) at least partially transparent over at least the entire height respectively of said conical, concave surface (3, 13).
• Said protective casing (7, 17) further comprises means for allowing its attachment to the image sensor apparatus (4) in a hermetic manner to light.
• These fixing means consist for example of a thread.
• the return surfaces (11, 21) of order 1 are positioned at the bottom of the housings (7, 17) and the return surfaces (22, 32) of order 2 are positioned in another housing (23) integral with the housings (7, 17) and which can be secured with the image sensor device (4).
• the return surfaces (11, 21) are positioned in a housing (23) integral with the housings (7, 17) and which can be secured with the image sensor device (4).
• the fields of vision (5, 15) of the primary (2) and secondary (12) reflecting means respectively are not identical according to the versions.
• the choice between the different versions is therefore made according to the desired fields of vision.
• the present invention also relates to an image sensor apparatus (4) provided with a device (1), to a method of constructing a digital image by acquisition of a panoramic anamorphic image using a device (1) and by digital processing of said image, as well as a digital image obtained by the implementation of the device (1).
• - D is the distance between the objective of the image sensor device (4) and the top of the primary reflector means (2); - T is the angle of view on the primary reflector means (2) from the objective of the image sensor (4);
• - P is the angle describing the arc of circle in which the curvature of the primary surface (3) is inscribed;
• - R is the radius of the circle characterizing the arc of a circle
• - G is the tangent to the circle;
• - Pmax is the value of the angle P for the complete arc of a circle;
• - B is the value of the angle for which the image sensor device (4) sees the highest.
• the distance D is determined as a function of the focal length of the objective, while knowing that this focal length represents an angle (for example 38mm in 4/3 is equivalent to an angle of 38 degrees on the horizontal plane).
• h R (l - Sin (Pi / 2 - Pmax))
• the device (1) thus determined makes it possible to acquire panoramic images.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)
• Studio Devices (AREA)
• Measurement Of Optical Distance (AREA)
• Lenses (AREA)
• Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-03-22 FR FR0003672A patent/FR2806809B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-09-20 EP EP00964329A patent/EP1266263A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-09-20 KR KR1020027012557A patent/KR20030005235A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-09-20 AU AU7528900A patent/AU7528900A/xx active Pending
  • 2000-09-20 CA CA002402618A patent/CA2402618A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-09-20 MX MXPA02009246A patent/MXPA02009246A/es unknown
  • 2000-09-20 EA EA200200984A patent/EA200200984A1/ru unknown
  • 2000-09-20 CN CN00819568A patent/CN1452730A/zh active Pending
  • 2000-09-20 BR BR0017169-7A patent/BR0017169A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-09-20 JP JP2001569554A patent/JP2003528351A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-09-20 WO PCT/FR2000/002606 patent/WO2001071423A1/fr active Search and Examination
• 2001
  • 2001-03-22 WO PCT/FR2001/000878 patent/WO2001071420A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-03-22 IL IL15184401A patent/IL151844A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-03-22 AU AU46628/01A patent/AU4662801A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-22 EP EP01919549A patent/EP1266260A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-03-22 AU AU46629/01A patent/AU4662901A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-22 IL IL15184201A patent/IL151842A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-08-28 TW TW090121122A patent/TW528924B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-02-26 US US10/082,922 patent/US20020126395A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-09-20 US US10/251,132 patent/US20030043261A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-09-20 US US10/251,551 patent/US20030053080A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-09-20 IL IL15184502A patent/IL151845A0/xx unknown
  • 2002-10-18 ZA ZA200208455A patent/ZA200208455B/en unknown

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