[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PANORAMIC VIEWING WITH CURVED SURFACE MIRRORS
[75] Inventors: Alfred M. Bruckstein, Summit;
Thomas J. Richardson, South Orange, both of N.J.
[73] Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc., Murray Hill, N.J.
[ * ] Notice: This patent issued on a continued prosecution application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2).
[21] Appl. No.: 08/706,156
[22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1996
[51] Int. CI. G03D 37/00
[52] U.S. CI 352/69; 352/70; 352/71
[58] Field of Search 352/69, 70, 71
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,304,434 12/1942 Ayres 352/69
3,286,590 11/1966 Braeggemann 352/69
3,420,605 1/1969 Kipping 352/69
3,506,344 4/1970 Petit, Jr. 352/69
3,998,532 12/1976 Dykes 352/69
4,078,860 3/1978 Globus et al 352/69
5,539,483 7/1996 Nalwa 352/69
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
"Panoramic Optics Gives U.S. Tankers A Better Than Birdseye View", Rees and Lisic, Industrial Photography, Apr. 1963, pp. 36-69.
"Real-Time Omnidirectional Image Sensor (COPIS) for Vision-Guided Navigation" by Yasushi Yagi, Shinjiro Kawato and Saburo Tsuji. IEEE Transactions On Robotics and Automation, vol. 10, No. 1 Feb. 1994, pp. 11-22. "Omnidirectional Imaging With Hyperboloidal Projection", by K. Yamazawa, Y. Yagi and M. Yachida. Proceedings of the 1993 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. Yokohama, Japan. Jul. 26-30-1993. pp. 1029-1034.
Primary Examiner—Russell Adams
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
An omnidirectional or panoramic viewer/projector uses a single camera and a mirror with a curved surface. The curved mirror provides a single virtual optical center or viewpoint.
5 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
