Rigid multi-directional imaging bundle and imaging assembly incorporating the same

• Main Authors: TABOR KEVIN, HIGHBARGER KERRY, RASZKA SCOTT A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.10.2011
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

A multi-directional imaging assembly includes a multi-directional imaging bundle having at least two rigid image-conducting branch elements. Each branch element has opposed image-input and image-output faces and at least one bend between the faces. The branch elements are mutually bound such that the image-input faces are disparately directed and the image-output faces coincide to define a common image-output face. Optically aligned with each image-input face is a focusing element that defines a field of view correlating to a spatial region. An image of the spatial region correlating to the field of view defined by a focusing element is acquired and projected onto the image-input face with which that focusing element is optically aligned. Images conducted through the branch elements, and outputted through the common image-output face, are optically communicated to an image detector array. The image detector array is communicatively linked to a data processing system including image-enhancing algorithms that eliminate redundant content among plural images in order to create a composite image that simulates a single, large-field-of-view image.