Imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337584-A1
Application number	US-201615223574-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 16, 2012
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging system includes an imaging body having an optical system and an imaging element, a power supplier configured to supply power to the imaging element, and a housing configured to hold the imaging body and the power supplier, wherein the optical system includes at least one optical element projecting from the housing, and a distance AP between a gravity center A of a portion including the optical system and a gravity center P of the entire imaging system and a distance BP between a gravity center B of the power supplier and the gravity center P of the entire imaging system satisfy the following condition.

AP>BP

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An imaging system, comprising:
an imaging body including an optical system and an imaging element; a battery to supply power to the imaging element; a shutter button; and a housing including the imaging body, the battery, the shutter button, and a base at an end of the housing, wherein a portion of the optical system projects from a portion of the housing which is between the shutter button and the portion of the optical system, and wherein a center of the optical system, a center of the shutter button, and a gravity center of the battery are disposed in order in a direction from an upper portion of the imaging system towards the base at the end of the housing.

3 . The imaging system according to claim 2 , wherein a distance AP between the gravity center of the imaging body and a gravity center of the entire imaging system and a distance BP between the gravity center of the battery and the gravity center of the entire imaging system satisfy the following condition:
AP>BP.

4 . An imaging system, comprising:
an imaging body including an optical system, the optical system including a first lens group and a second lens group, the first lens group and the second lens group having optical axes which are aligned with each other, the first lens group and the second lens group facing in opposite directions; a battery to supply power to the imaging system; a user interface into which an instruction to start imaging by the imaging body is input; and a housing including a holder holding the imaging body, a main body holding the battery, and a base at an end of the housing, wherein a gravity center of the imaging body, a gravity center of the imaging system, and the base at the end of the housing are disposed in an order of the gravity center of the imaging body, the gravity center of the imaging system, and the base at the end of the housing.

5 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a main circuit board which is parallel to a main surface of the user interface.

6 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the user interface faces in a direction which is parallel to the optical axes.

7 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , further comprising:
circuitry to capture two images using the two lens groups, the two images to be combined into a 360 degree image, wherein the image system is a spherical omnidirectional imaging system.

8 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the first lens group and the second lens group are adjacent to an upper edge of the housing at an end of the housing which is opposite to the base.

9 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the first lens group and the second lens group each have an angle of view of at least 180 degrees.

10 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the battery is disposed on a central line of the image system which runs from between the first lens group and the second lens group down to the base.

11 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a power switch facing in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction the user interface faces.

12 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises:
two main faces which are a same size; and two minor faces, smaller than the main faces, which are perpendicular to the main faces, wherein one of the two main faces includes the user interface.

13 . An imaging system, comprising:
an imaging body including an optical system, the optical system including a first lens group and a second lens group, the first lens group and the second lens group having optical axes which are aligned with each other, the first lens group and the second lens group facing in opposite directions; a battery to supply power to the imaging system; a user interface into which an instruction to start imaging by the imaging body is input; a housing including a holder holding the imaging body, a main body holding the battery, and a base at an end of the housing; a main circuit board which is parallel to a main surface of the user interface, a power switch facing in a direction which is perpendicular to a direction the user interface faces, wherein a gravity center of the imaging body, a gravity center of the imaging system, and the base at the end of the housing are disposed in an order of the gravity center of the imaging body, the gravity center of the imaging system, and the base at the end of the housing, wherein: the user interface faces in a direction which is parallel to the optical axes, the first lens group and the second lens group each have an angle of view of at least 180 degrees, and the battery is disposed on a central line of the image system which runs from between the first lens group and the second lens group down to the base.

14 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a prism which reflects light from one of the first lens group and the second lens group at an angle of 90 degrees.

15 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a second circuit board that is parallel the said circuit board.

16 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
circuitry to capture two images using the two lens groups, the two images to be combined into a 360 degree image, wherein the image system is a spherical omnidirectional imaging system.

17 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , wherein:
the first lens group and the second lens group are substantially a same size.

18 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , wherein:
the first lens group and the second lens group are adjacent to an upper edge of the housing at an end of the housing which is opposite to the base.

19 . The imaging system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the housing does not include a display to display an image captured by the imaging element.

20 . The imaging system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the housing does not include a display to display an image captured by the imaging body.

21 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , wherein:
the housing does not include a display to display an image captured by the imaging body.

Assignees

• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Masuda Kensuke
• Terao Noriyuki
• Irino Yoshiaki
• Tanaka Tomonori
• Imae Nozomi
• Harada Toru
• Takenaka Hirokazu
• Yamamoto Hideaki
• Sawaguchi Satoshi
• Bessho Daisuke
• Satoh Hiroyuki
• Shohara Makoto

Classifications

• H04N23/698 Primary

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G02B13/06

  Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" {including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces} · CPC title