Panoramic camera

A scanning camera that employs a continuously rotating folded optical system (often referred to as a "light bar"). Many modern panoramic cameras use this design principle, which provides a very compact approach to long focal length, wide scan angle camera systems.

Category：Photoelectric module

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A scanning camera that employs a continuously rotating folded optical system (often referred to as a "light bar"). Many modern panoramic cameras use this design principle, which provides a very compact approach to long focal length, wide scan angle camera systems. Since the entire optical system and film had to be precisely synchronized, the operational realization of the light bar camera concept was only possible through the development of precision electro-optical encoders. The purpose of this encoder is to control and synchronize various optomechanical functions.

The light bar concept uses a folded optical assembly that rotates continuously around an axis of rotation. The film is spread out on the spool housing and conveyed in opposite directions, maintaining the precise speed of movement of the image and film. This avoids the high acceleration and high-speed movement of the film, while keeping the lens in a uniform temperature environment.

In the light bar design, the registration of the image plane is only required to be maintained within the scanning gap. Synchronization is achieved using a positive contact friction gear system driven directly by the light bar assembly.

When the camera lens is rotated, the distance from it to the image surface (that is, the radius of the dome) is not equal to the focal length of the lens, so there will be lateral image displacement. This is why the film should be moved on the turret in the opposite direction of the lens rotation during the exposure cycle in order to compensate for the aforementioned image shift. A function of the speed and height of film transport can be varied.

Because of the compact size of the light bar camera, it is relatively easy to achieve cross-stereoscopic photography with a single camera by tilting the entire optics and dome assembly alternately forwards and backwards before each exposure. Advance compensation can be achieved by rotation of the optics and barrel assembly around the tilt axis during the exposure cycle. The rate of pitch can be adjusted in order to correct for image blur caused by the forward motion of the aircraft during the pan scan.

Keyword:

A scanning camera

camera

light bar