Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A wound or incision closure apparatus comprises a first and second panel. Each of the panels comprises a bottom adhesive layer, a medial substrate layer, and an upper load distribution layer which connect the two panels. A sensory or therapeutic element is disposed adjacent, within, or between two or more of the layers. The sensory or therapeutic element can provide sensing and/or therapy for the incision and/or monitor the incision so that the therapy can be customized and updated.

Abstract: A panoramic lens includes an aspherical convex surface and an aspherical concave surface. The convex surface includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion, and the concave surface also includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion. Light from a 360-degree surrounding scene enters the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the convex surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the concave surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the convex surface, and exits the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the concave surface as a narrow column of light beams. Light beams containing image data can be provided to the transparent portion of the concave surface, and those beams will follow this same optical path through the panoramic lens in reverse to project a panoramic image out from the transparent region of the convex surface.

Abstract: A method for designing a lens system that allows one design tolerance to be relaxed to enhance other lens characteristics where the aberration(s) resulting from the relaxed design tolerance can be corrected by image processing subsequent to the acquisition of the raw image containing the aberration(s). In addition, wide-angle and/or catadioptric lenses so designed can be used with cameras or other image sensors. Further, the raw image can be corrected by an image correction processor within or external to a camera system, comprised of specialized circuitry and/or an appropriately configured general-purpose computer.

Abstract: A video conference receiving system receives a panoramic view of a meeting. The panoramic view is displayed in a panoramic window of a display unit with additional windows so that a remote participant of the meeting enjoys many of the benefits of physically attending the meeting. For example, a virtual camera window can be displayed in the display unit. The remote participant can pan the virtual camera window to view different areas of the meeting. Furthermore the remote participant can cause the virtual camera window to zoom in or zoom out to obtain the desired image. An auto-tracking window can be displayed that automatically tracks an object, such as a on-site participant of the meeting or the active speaker of the meeting. Furthermore, an application that is shared by the participants of the meeting can be displayed in an application window.

Abstract: A panoramic lens includes an aspherical convex surface and an aspherical concave surface. The convex surface includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion, and the concave surface also includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion. Light from a 360-degree surrounding scene enters the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the convex surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the concave surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the convex surface, and exits the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the concave surface as a narrow column of light beams. Light beams containing image data can be provided to the transparent portion of the concave surface, and those beams will follow this same optical path through the panoramic lens in reverse to project a panoramic image out from the transparent region of the convex surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for defining a view path through at least one wide-angle video stream and for creation of a resultant unwarped video stream responsive to the view path. Aspects of the invention allow an operator to monitor the wide-angle video stream(s) and select which portion of the wide-angle frame to unwarp in real-time. Further, the operator can stop the playback of the wide-angle video stream and dwell within a particular wide-angle frame to create special effects such as camera tilt, pan and zoom operations in a stop action situation.

Abstract: An audio/visual conference station that includes a panoramic lens to capture an image of the panoramic scene surrounding the lens. The station also includes communication mechanisms to compress the panoramic image for transmission to a remote audio/visual conference station for display. Thus, people around the remote audio/visual conference station are able to both hear and see those at the local audio/visual conference station and vice versa. The audio/visual conference stations can also communicate through a server system to increase the number of visual conference stations exchanging or sharing images. In addition the server system can off-load some of the image processing steps from the visual conference stations.

Abstract: An audio/visual conference station that sits in the middle of a conference table, and includes a panoramic lens to capture and record a panoramic scene (e.g., meeting participants) that are surrounding the conference table and facing the conference station. The panoramic scene is captured as an annular image that is “unwrapped” and processed to form a rectangular panoramic image. The station also includes communication mechanisms to compress the panoramic image for transmission to a remote audio/visual conference station for display. Thus, people around the remote audio/visual conference station are able to both hear and see those at the local audio/visual conference station and vice versa. In addition, the audio/visual conference station includes several independently controlled display devices that allow meeting participants to enhance selected portions of the panoramic image, such as a current speaker.

Abstract: A method for designing a lens system that allows one design tolerance to be relaxed to enhance other lens characteristics where the aberration(s) resulting from the relaxed design tolerance can be corrected by image processing subsequent to the acquisition of the raw image containing the aberration(s). In addition, wide-angle and/or catadioptric lenses so designed can be used with cameras or other image sensors. Further, the raw image can be corrected by an image correction processor within or external to a camera system, comprised of specialized circuitry and/or an appropriately configured general-purpose computer.

Abstract: A panoramic flash system is disclosed that filters out visible light (but not invisible light) from a flash unit that is directly connected to a camera equipped with a panoramic lens. The invisible light is then used to trigger a remote flash located in a blind spot of the field of view of the panoramic lens. The remote flash then illuminates the scene within the field-of-view of the panoramic lens. The visible-light filter can be an adhesive tape that is placed over the lens of a flash unit that is integral with the camera body. The panoramic lens can have the remote flash unit attached to the lens in the lens' blind spot.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panoramic imaging arrangement comprising a first and second transparent component both rotationally symmetric about an axis of revolution. The first transparent component has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a reflective portion and a refractive portion both about the axis of revolution. The refractive portion extends radially from the axis of revolution to the start of the reflective portion. The second transparent component is attached to the first transparent component at a refractive interface that extends into the upper surface. The second transparent component includes a distal reflective surface. Light from a portion of a surrounding panoramic scene is refracted by a portion of the upper surface, is reflected by the reflective portion of the lower surface through the refractive interface to the distal reflective surface.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panoramic imaging arrangement comprising a first and second transparent component both rotationally symmetric about an axis of revolution. The first transparent component has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface includes a reflective portion and a refractive portion both about the axis of revolution. The refractive portion extends radially from the axis of revolution to the start of the reflective portion. The second transparent component is attached to the first transparent component at a refractive interface that extends into the upper surface. The second transparent component includes a distal reflective surface. Light from a portion of a surrounding panoramic scene is refracted by a portion of the upper surface, is reflected by the reflective portion of the lower surface through the refractive interface to the distal reflective surface.

Abstract: According to one aspect the invention, a panoramic imaging arrangement is provided which includes at least a first lens block including a convex reflective surface and a transparent component. The convex reflective surface has a substantially vertically extending axis of revolution and is capable of receiving light from a 360° surrounding panoramic scene, and reflecting the light for further manipulation. The transparent component covers the convex reflective surface. The convex reflective surface is thereby protected from environmental conditions which may otherwise result in damage to the convex reflective surface.

Abstract: According to one aspect the invention, a panoramic imaging arrangement is provided which includes at least a first lens block including a convex reflective surface and a transparent component. The convex reflective surface has a substantially vertically extending axis of revolution and is capable of receiving light from a 360° surrounding panoramic scene, and reflecting the light for further manipulation. The transparent component covers the convex reflective surface. The convex reflective surface is thereby protected from environmental conditions which may otherwise result in damage to the convex reflective surface.

Abstract: A panoramic lens includes an aspherical convex surface and an aspherical concave surface. The convex surface includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion, and the concave surface also includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion. Light from a 360-degree surrounding scene enters the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the convex surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the concave surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the convex surface, and exits the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the concave surface as a narrow column of light beams. Light beams containing image data can be provided to the transparent portion of the concave surface, and those beams will follow this same optical path through the panoramic lens in reverse to project a panoramic image out from the transparent region of the convex surface.