Abstract: A miniature wide-angle imaging lens has a miniaturization ratio, of a total track length from the center of a first surface to a focal plane by an image circle diameter, with a value less than 3.0. The imaging lens includes, starting from an object side of the lens, a first group of at least three optical elements, a second group including an aperture stop and an optical element immediately in front of or behind the aperture stop, and a third group of at least two optical elements.

Abstract: An optimization apparatus for a camera system having lenses with at least one non-uniform parameter and a method to design them is disclosed. When the non-uniform parameter of the lenses is the presence of optical distortion, the image of the objects inside the optimization apparatus are deformed. Embodiments of the invention allow designing of optimization apparatuses using 2D or 3D objects pre-distorted according to the exact distortion profile of the lens. When viewed by a camera system with a lens having optical distortion, the image of the pre-distorted apparatus appears undistorted, and can be automatically analyzed with existing software programs or be compared to existing images by human observers.

Abstract: An image distortion transformation method for transforming an original image by an imager having an original distortion profile to a transformed image optimized for a distortion processing unit includes inputting the original image from the imager into the transformation unit, inputting an original image distortion profile into the original distortion profile memory of the transformation unit, and inputting a target distortion profile into the target distortion profile memory of the transformation unit. The target distortion profile is different from the original distortion profile. The method further includes transforming the original image into a transformed image by transforming the distortion profile of the original image from the original image distortion profile to the target image distortion profile, and outputting the transformed image from the transformation unit.

Abstract: An optimization apparatus for a camera system having lenses with at least one non-uniform parameter and a method to design them is disclosed. When the non-uniform parameter of the lenses is the presence of optical distortion, the image of the objects inside the optimization apparatus are deformed. Embodiments of the invention allow designing of optimization apparatuses using 2D or 3D objects pre-distorted according to the exact distortion profile of the lens. When viewed by a camera system with a lens having optical distortion, the image of the pre-distorted apparatus appears undistorted, and can be automatically analyzed with existing software programs or be compared to existing images by human observers.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method and apparatus for projecting a panoramic image, the method including steps of generating an image on an image generation surface, and then projecting the generated image on a projection surface to obtain a panoramic projected image, the points of the generated image being projected on the projection surface according to a non uniform distribution determined as a function of at least one parameter of a set comprising the shape of the generated image, the shape of the projection surface, and the position of an observation point of the projected image, in relation to the projection surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for projecting a panoramic image, according to the method, the steps include generating an image on an image generation surface, and then projecting the generated image on a projection surface to obtain a panoramic projected image, the points of the generated image being projected on the projection surface according to a non uniform distribution determined as a function of at least one parameter of a set comprising the shape of the generated image, the shape of the projection surface, and the position of an observation point of the projected image, in relation to the projection surface.

Abstract: A method for identifying a panoramic optical system enables its intrinsic characteristics to be semi-automatically or automatically determined so as to be able to subsequently apply the digital processes for appropriate corrections of the perspectives and distortions specific to the identified panoramic optical system. The panoramic optical system has a marking device visible from outside through a front lens, allowing identification by an operator, and/or a marking device directly projected on the image plane through the optical system, for automatic identification and calibration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera support device including an attachment device for a camera fitted or capable of being fitted with a first lens, and a mechanism for rotating around an axis. The attachment device also includes a device for attaching an adapter lens, particularly a panoramic adapter lens, arranged to hold the adapter lens in line with the first lens without the need to attach the adapter lens to the camera.

Abstract: A method for orienting a digital panoramic image obtained using at least one initial wide-angle image the image points of which are transferred into a three-dimensional coordinate system includes inserting an orientation mark into the initial image at the time of the exposure. The method further includes detecting the location of the orientation mark in the digital panoramic image, performed by an image analysis algorithm.

Abstract: A method for capturing a digital panoramic image, includes projecting a panorama onto an image sensor by means of a fish-eye objective lens having a constant field angle relative to its optical axis. The image sensor is rectangular in shape. The fish-eye objective lens is provided to project onto the image sensor, without reducing the field of view, a distorted panoramic image that covers a number of pixels on the image sensor higher than the number of pixels that would be covered by an image disk.

Abstract: A method for capturing a digital panoramic image includes projecting a panorama onto an image sensor by means of a panoramic objective lens. The panoramic objective lens has a distribution function of the image points that is not linear relative to the field angle of the object points of the panorama, such that at least one zone of the image obtained is expanded while at least another zone of the image is compressed. When a panoramic image obtained is then displayed, correcting the non-linearity of the initial image is required and is performed by means of a reciprocal function of the non-linear distribution function of the objective lens or by means of the non-linear distribution function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for capturing a digital panoramic image, by projecting a panorama onto an image sensor by means of a fish-eye objective lens having a constant field angle relative to its optical axis, the image sensor being rectangular in shape. According to the present invention, the fish-eye objective lens is provided to project onto the image sensor, without reducing the field of view, a distorted panoramic image (ID1) that covers a number of pixels on the image sensor higher than the number of pixels that would be covered by an image disk. Advantages: improvement in the definition in a useful zone of the image, particularly to improve the quality of digital zooms.

Abstract: A method for capturing a digital panoramic image includes projecting a panorama onto an image sensor by means of a panoramic objective lens. The panoramic objective lens has a distribution function of the image points that is not linear relative to the field angle of the object points of the panorama, such that at least one zone of the image obtained is expanded while at least another zone of the image is compressed. When a panoramic image obtained is then displayed, correcting the non-linearity of the initial image is required and is performed by means of a reciprocal function of the non-linear distribution function of the objective lens or by means of the non-linear distribution function.