This application makes reference to, incorporates herein and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) by virtue of a provisional patent application earlier filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 8, 1997, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATION AND INTERACTIVE VIEWING OF TOTALLY IMMERSIVE STEREOSCOPIC IMAGES which was duly assigned Ser. No. 60/061,342. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/767,376 filed Dec. 16, 1996 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/516,629 filed Aug. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,990,941 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995 (now abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/386,912 filed Feb. 8, 1995 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 14, 1994 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/014,508 filed Feb. 8, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,363), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 07/699,366 filed May 13, 1991 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667). Furthermore, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995 (now abandoned), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/516,629 filed Aug. 18, 1995, are both continuation-in-parts of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588). This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/386,912 filed Feb. 8, 1995, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 11, 1994, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/014,508 filed Feb. 8, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,363), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/699,366 filed May 13, 1991 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667). In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,588).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to support structures for image capturing devices and the methods for their use in the capture and creation of totally immersive stereoscopic images from fisheye or wide-angle images captured from the support structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the purposes of modern photography is to encourage a viewer to explore an image and, in the process, transform the image into something more than a two dimensional representation of space. Panoramic images provide some feeling of being enveloped into an image, but this feeling diminishes at the periphery of the image.

To create a greater feeling of being enveloped and to provide a greater resolution image to a viewer, high numbers of picture elements have been combined to create even larger panoramic images. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,389 to Alperin which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Unfortunately, the combining of a plurality of images creates the potential for distortions at the seams of the images. Additionally, the number of images required to create a composite image in this manner is burdensome.

A partially enveloping image was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667 to Zimmermann, expressly incorporated by reference to its entire contents. Zimmermann discloses a system and method for navigating about a spherically distorted image where the user's inputs control the displayed portion of the screen.

Another difficulty of capturing large field-of-view images is the potential for misalignment of a camera as it is moved from a first image capturing position to a second image capturing position. Further, with multiple images being captured, the possible alignment error grows with each movement of a misaligned camera. The resulting images then require additional manual correlation to compensate for any misalignment of the camera.

Yet another difficulty is providing a supporting structure which allows for the quick and easy capture of an image. Another difficulty is providing a portable support for a camera where the support does not require numerous adjustments to capture panoramic or spherical images. See, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/767,376 filed Dec. 16, 1996 to Kuban et al. that is expressly incorporated herein by reference. While the Kuban et al. system solves the above problems, it is directed to the capture of images about a single axis of rotation, which effects the usefulness of these images when used for stereoscopic viewing. This effect is due to the identical image being used as the display in each eye, which does not account for the normal inter-pupillary distance between a user's eyes. This inter-pupillary distance is necessary for realistic stereoscopic viewing.

None of this previous work uses the new techniques described in this application for the capture and creation of stereoscopic immersive images. Therefore, there is a need for the method of and apparatus for capturing fisheye or wide-angle images and then creating and displaying totally immersive stereoscopic images from the fisheye and wide-angle images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems and related problems of the prior art are overcome by the principles of the present invention. According to these principles, a lens supporting structure is disclosed which provides exact alignment of and offsets for a image capture means. The exact alignment produces captured images that are properly aligned for easily seaming together the captured images to form spherical images. In addition, the combination of the exact alignment and offsets is used to produce multiple, properly aligned captured images to form a seamed panoramic view. Embodiments of the present invention include a base support structure that rotably attaches to an offset mounting system that includes a rotable eccentric mount support and a rotable lens mount support that attaches to and supports a image capture means. Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate the offset mounting system and rotable lens mount taking on a variety of forms and combinations. For simplicity, the rotable lens mount is described herein as a ring and associated elements thereof Additional configurations of the rotable lens mount include a supporting platform and equivalents thereof In at least one embodiment, the rotable lens mount attaches to a rotating sleeve that rotates about a central bore. In one embodiment the supporting structure is a tripod; in another a monopod is used to diminish the footprint of the structure on the image.

In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the lens mount coincides with a plane of an objective lens of the lens where the plane signifies a large field-of-view of the lens. In another embodiment, the plane signifies an approximate 180-degree field-of-view of the lens. In yet another embodiment, the plane signifies a field-of-view greater than 180 degrees. The axis of rotation of the lens mount is preferably co-linear with the axis of rotation of the lens. By rotating the image capture means about the rotable eccentric mount support and by rotating the lens about the axis of rotation of the lens mount, multiple images are captured. In particular, through the controlled positions of the eccentric and lens mounts, the captured images are seamed together to form totally immersive stereoscopic images. The number of fixed positions of the lens mount accounts for lenses with various fields-of-view.

In one embodiment, the offset mounting system consists of a lens mount, where the lens mount bottom securely attaches to the top end of the top-half of a two-stop rotator. The bottom end of the top-half of the two-stop rotator is rotably connected to the top end of the bottom-half of the two-stop rotator and the bottom end of the bottom-half of two-stop rotator securely attaches to the top side at a first end of the eccentric mount. The bottom side at a second end of the eccentric mount securely attaches to the top end of the top-half of an n-stop rotator, where n is a number greater than one. The bottom end of the top-half of the n-stop rotator is rotably connected to the top end of the bottom-half of the n-stop rotator.

By way of example only, capturing and seaming together left and right hemispherical images are described in greater detail in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/863,584 filed May 27, 1997, which is incorporated by reference herein as to its entire contents.

Additional techniques for capturing first and second images having approximately equal to or greater than 180 degree field-of-view are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/494,599 filed Jun. 23, 1995, which is incorporated by reference herein as to its entire contents.

Through the use of perspective correction and manipulation disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,667 to Zimmermann and its progeny including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,384,588; 5,359,363; and 5,313,306 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/189,585 filed Jan. 31, 1994, Ser. No. 08/339,663 filed Nov. 11, 1994 and Ser. No. 08/373,446 filed Jan. 17, 1995, the formed seamless image is explored, of which these are expressly incorporated by reference as to their entire contents. The exact representation of the transformation provided by this approach allows the seamless edges to be produced when the data is collected in a controlled manner.

Consequently, a method of capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising the steps of: mounting an offset mounting means to a support means at a first end of the offset mounting means; mounting an image capture means to a second end of the offset mounting means and rotating the offset mounting means so that the image capture means is in a first position; rotating the offset mounting means through a first series of positions in a constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the image capture means at each of the series of positions such that the immersive images cover a 360 degree field-of-view; converting each of the captured immersive images into a first digital data image for each of the series of first positions; creating a first totally immersive representation; storing the first totally immersive representation in memory; rotating the offset mounting means so that the image capture means is in a second position, wherein the second position is 180 degrees apart from the first position; rotating the offset mounting means through a second series of positions in the constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the camera input means at each of the series of positions such that the immersive images cover a 360 degree field-of-view; converting each of the captured immersive images into a second digital data image for each of the series of second positions; creating a second totally immersive representation; and storing the totally immersive representation in memory:

Consequently, a camera mounting apparatus for use in capturing totally immersive stereoscopic images is claimed that comprises: an n-stop rotator means having a top end and a bottom end; an eccentric mount means having a top side, a bottom side, a first end, and a second end, wherein the bottom side of the first end of the eccentric mount means is rigidly attached to the top end of the n-stop rotator means; a two-stop rotator means having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end of the two-stop rotator means is rigidly attached to the top side of the second end of the eccentric mount means; and a lens mount means having a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the lens mount means is rigidly attached to the top end of the two-stop rotator means.

Consequently, a system for capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising: an image capture means for capturing immersive images; an offset mounting means for mounting said image capture means thereon; a support means for mounting said offset mounting means thereon; an image receiving means for receiving said captured immersive images from said camera input means; a conversion means for converting said captured immersive images into digital data images; a storage means for storing said digital data images in memory; a processing means for creating two totally immersive representations from said digital data images, one for each eye; an associating means for associating said totally immersive representations as a pair; a transformation means for transforming a portion of said totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction; and a stereoscopic display means for displaying said two totally immersive representations independently to each eye of a user.

Consequently, a method of displaying totally immersive representations is claimed comprising the steps of. transforming portions of a first totally immersive representation and a second totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction, wherein the transforming portions step comprises the steps of: reading even lines from a first totally immersive representation digital image file, sending said even lines to a transformer for transforming said even lines into a right eye image, reading odd lines from a second totally immersive representation digital image file, and sending said odd lines to a transformer for transforming said odd lines into a left eye image; displaying said transformed portions, wherein said displaying each said transformed portion step further comprises the steps of: selecting a stereoscopic display device for receiving said portions, said stereoscopic display device being selected from, but not limited to, the group comprising: independent miniature displays head mounted for each eye, displays with polarized filters that direct independent monitor images to each eye, color filters that direct stereo images to each eye through color mapping, and sequential shuttered glasses that alternately display every image to alternating eyes allowing the left eye to receive the left eye image and then the right eye to receive the right eye image, in rapid succession; and receiving said portions from said totally immersive representations in said stereoscopic display device.

Consequently, a method of capturing immersive images for stereoscopic display is claimed comprising the steps of mounting an image capture means on an offset mounting means; rotating the offset mounting means through a series of positions in a constant direction; capturing an immersive image with the image capture means at each of the series of positions; converting the captured immersive images into digital data images; creating two totally immersive representations from the digital data images, one for each eye, and digitally storing the totally immersive representations in memory; transforming a portion of the totally immersive representation with distortion and perspective correction; and displaying the two totally immersive representations independently to each eye of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1A

illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the stereoscopic image capture system.

FIG. 1B

illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the stereoscopic image capture system.

FIG. 2A

illustrates a diagram of the image orientations and the order for the steps in the image capture process.

FIG. 2B

illustrates the right image digitization process and right totally immersive representation creation process.

FIG. 2C

illustrates the left image digitization process and left totally immersive representation creation process.

FIG. 3

illustrates a flowchart of the steps in the image file display process.

FIG. 4

illustrates an embodiment of a display in which the inventive method may be practiced and which is exemplary of other displays in which the inventive method may also be practiced.

FIG. 5A

illustrates one embodiment of the offset mounting system.

FIG. 5B

illustrates a side-perspective view of the lens mount.

FIG. 5C

illustrates a cut-away top view of the connection between the lens mount and the two-stop rotator.

FIG. 5D

illustrates a partial cross-section of the two-stop rotator that shows the structure of the positioning elements and central bore.

FIG. 5E

illustrates a bottom view of the top-half and top view of the bottom-half of the two-stop rotator.

FIG. 5F

illustrates a bottom view of the top-half and top view of the bottom-half of the n-stop rotator.

FIG. 5G

illustrates a partial cut-away view of the top side of eccentric mount at the n-stop rotator end.

FIG. 6

illustrates an alternative embodiment of the offset mounting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A

shows a front view of the stereoscopic image capture system

100

as contemplated by embodiments of the present invention. System

100

includes an image capture means

110

securely mounted to an offset mounting means

120

and offset mounting means

120

is mounted to a support means

190

. Image capture means

110

consists of a camera

112

with a lens

14

securely mounted to the camera

112

. Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the camera

112

as a still camera taking chemical or digital pictures, or a video camera capturing video images.

In one embodiment, the lens

114

is a wide-angle lens. Other embodiments of the present invention contemplate the lens

114

including the lens types of: fish-eye, hemispherical, and greater than hemispherical types of lenses. Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the support means

190

including stable base structures such as tripods and tripod-monopod combinations. Offset mounting means

120

consists of a lens mount

141

that securely attaches to a top-half

144

of a two-stop rotator

132

. The top-half

144

of the two-stop rotator

132

is rotably connected to a bottom-half

147

of the two-stop rotator

132

. The bottom-half

147

of the two-stop rotator

132

securely attaches on the top-side of a first end of an eccentric mount

150

. The bottom-side of a second end of the eccentric mount

150

securely attaches to a top-half

153

of an n-stop rotator

135

, where n is a number greater than one. The top-half

153

of the n-stop rotator

135

is rotably connected to a bottom-half

156

of the n-stop rotator

135

. The bottom-half

156

of n-stop rotator

135

is mounted on a support means

190

. Two-stop rotator

132

and n-stop rotator

135

are separated by an inter-device distance d

1

, for example, simulating the average interpupillary distance of human eyes approximately 3 inches. In one embodiment, the inter-device distance d

1

is half the interpupillary distance, approximately 1½ inches.

Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the two-stop and n-stop rotators

132

and

135

, respectively, including a low friction layer between the contacting surfaces of the top-half

144

and bottom-half

147

of two-stop rotator

132

and between the top-half

153

and bottom-half

156

of n-stop rotator

135

. This low friction layer preferably includes at least one Teflon™ (or equivalent) disk. Alternative embodiments of the two-stop and n-stop rotators

132

and

135

, respectively, include bearings, a fluid filled enclosure, and coated surfaces. In one embodiment, the lens mount

141

, two-stop rotator

132

, eccentric mount

150

, n-stop rotator

135

, and support means

190

are made of aluminum and/or anodized aluminum.

By rotating the top-half

144

of two-stop rotator

132

180

degrees, the lens

114

points in a direction opposite from its initial direction. Positioning devices (see

FIG. 5

description) between top-half

144

and bottom-half

147

of two-stop rotator

132

securely maintain lens

114

in a first position and in a second, opposite position, where the first and second positions differ by 180 degrees. Accordingly, a user wishing to capture two oppositely directed images photographs a first image with the camera

112

in a first position, rotates the top-half

144

of the two-stop rotator

132

until the camera

112

is oriented in a second position, which is 180 degrees apart from the first position, and photographs a second image.

FIG. 1B

illustrates a side view of the stereoscopic image capture system

100

illustrated in FIG.

1

A.

FIG. 2A

shows the images captured by the stereo image capture process of the present invention. In

FIG. 2

, an embodiment is shown for capturing images every 90 degrees with the stereoscopic image capture system

100

being centered at point

210

. In this embodiment, the center of stereoscopic image capture system

100

is the center of n-stop rotator

135

and the center of image capture means

110

is the center of two-stop rotator

132

. Offset mounting means

120

is first offset to the right of center

210

so that image capture means

110

is centered over right position

212

and lens

114

is oriented toward right

1

image

220

. Right 1 image

220

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is then rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over top position

214

with camera lens

114

oriented toward right 2 image

230

. Right 2 image

230

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is again rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over left position

216

with lens

114

oriented toward right 3 image

240

. Right 3 image

240

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is rotated a final 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over bottom position

218

with lens

114

oriented toward is right

4

image

250

. Right

4

image

250

is captured using image capture means

110

.

FIG. 2B

shows right 1, 2, 3, and 4 images

220

,

230

,

240

, and

250

, respectively, are sent through an Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter

201

and digitized into right 1, 2, 3, and 4 digital images

220

′,

230

′,

240

′, and

250

′, respectively. Then, all of the right digital images

220

′,

230

′,

240

′, and

250

are combined into a right eye totally immersive representation

292

. The right eye totally immersive representation

292

is then stored in a right eye file

294

for future display. While the order of image capture and the direction of rotation of the offset mounting means

120

can be varied in alternate embodiments of the present invention, this will require additional manual operator intervention and a more complex processing system. The order and constant direction specified in this embodiment of the present invention has been selected to maximize the efficiency of the image capture and totally immersive representation creation processes. The constant s direction specified in this embodiment could have also been clockwise.

A similar set of steps are followed to capture the left eye images. Offset mounting means

120

is first offset to the left of center

210

so that image capture means

110

is centered over left position

216

and lens

114

is oriented toward left 1 image

260

. Left 1 image

260

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is then rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over bottom position

218

with lens

114

oriented toward left 2 image

270

. Left 2 image

270

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is again rotated 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over right position

212

with lens

114

oriented toward left 3 image

280

. Left 3 image

280

is captured using image capture means

110

. Offset mounting means

120

is rotated a final 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction so that image capture means

110

is centered over top position

214

with lens

114

oriented toward left 4 image

290

. Left 4 image

290

is captured using image capture means

110

.

FIG. 2C

shows left 1, 2, 3, and 4 images

260

,

270

,

280

, and

290

, respectively, are sent through the A/D converter

201

and digitized into left 1, 2, 3, and 4 digital images

260

′,

270

′,

280

′, and

290

′, respectively. Then, all of the left digital images

260

′,

270

′,

280

′, and

290

are combined into a left eye totally immersive representation

296

. The left eye totally immersive representation

296

is then stored in a left eye file

298

for future display.

The creation of the right and left totally immersive representations

292

and

296

, respectively, and subsequent storage in right and left eye files

294

and

298

296

, respectively, create images that are internally seamless and perfectly aligned. Similarly, the points in the right eye file

294

and the left eye file

298

are also perfectly aligned so as to provide the correct perspective view for each eye. This is important for accurate and realistic stereoscopic displays of the stored images to a user's left and right eyes.

Alternate embodiments can include capturing images at different offset angles, including, but not limited to: 180, 110, 72, 60, 45, 40, 36, and 30 degrees. In another embodiment, images could also be captured in the up and down directions either independent of or in combination with the left and right images.

FIG. 3

shows a flowchart of the steps performed in one embodiment of the stereoscopic image file display process. In

FIG. 3

, the right eye file

294

and left eye file

298

information are alternately output through right eye connection

310

and left eye connection

320

to input connection

332

for gnomic transformer

330

. Gnomic transformer

330

produces an interlaced stereo image by interlacing the right eye file

294

information into the even numbered lines and the left eye file

298

information into the odd numbered lines of the interlaced stereo image. Interlacing of the image data is accomplished by feedback loop

334

, which outputs the number of the next line in the image, and, if it is an even number, then input connection

332

switches to right eye connection

310

to receive the next line of image data. Similarly, if the output line number is an odd number, then input connection

332

switches to left eye connection

320

to receive the next line of image data. This interlaced stereo image is then sent to a stereo interlaced output buffer

340

. In one embodiment, stereo interlaced output buffer

340

outputs the stereo image as an interlaced display signal

335

to a Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter

350

which converts interlaced display signal

335

to an analog signal and then transmits the analog signal to a display.

FIG. 4

shows one embodiment of a stereo display apparatus in which the inventive method may be practiced and which is exemplary of other displays in which the inventive method may also be practiced. In

FIG. 4

, the interlaced display signal

335

is output from stereo interlaced output buffer

340

to an image splitter

410

. Image splitter

410

splits out the even and odd lines from the interlaced display signal

335

and sends the even lines via output connection

415

to a right eye display connection

420

to a right eye display

442

and sends the odd lines via output connection

415

to a left eye display connection

430

to the left eye display

444

of a miniature head mounted display

440

. Output connection

415

switches between right eye display connection

420

and left eye display connection

430

based on the line number of the next line to be output. For example, if the next line to be output is an even number then output connection

415

switches to the right eye display connection

420

, and if the next line to be output is an odd number then output connection

415

switches to the left eye display connection

430

. Alternative stereo displays include, but are not limited to, the following: dual displays; independent miniature displays head mounted for each eye; displays with polarized filters that direct independent monitor images to each eye; color filters that direct stereo images to each eye through color mapping; and sequential shuttered glasses that alternately display every image to alternating eyes allowing the left eye to receive the left eye image and then the right eye to receive the right eye image, in rapid succession.

FIG. 5A

shows one embodiment of offset mounting means

120

. In

FIG. 5A

, offset mounting means

120

consists of a lens mount

141

with a lens mount bottom

142

that securely attaches to the top end

143

of the top-half

144

of a two-stop rotator

132

. The bottom end

145

of the top-half

144

of the two-stop rotator

132

is rotably connected to the top end

146

of the bottom-half

147

of the two-stop rotator

132

and the bottom end

148

of the bottom-half

147

of the two-stop rotator

132

securely attaches to a top side

149

at a first end of an eccentric mount

150

. Bottom side

151

, at a second end of the eccentric mount

150

, securely attaches to a top end

152

of a top-half

153

of an n-stop rotator

135

, a bottom end

154

of the top-half

153

of the n-stop rotator

135

is rotably connected to a top end

155

of a bottom-half

156

of the n-stop rotator

135

. Bottom end

157

of bottom-half

156

of n-stop rotator

135

contains a support means mounting recess

178

for attaching the offset mounting means

120

to the support means

190

. The surface of both top-half

144

and bottom-half

147

can have a grooved areas to provide easier grasping by a user when rotating the two-stop rotator

132

. Likewise, the grooved areas could be knurled, bumped, or some other grip enhancing structure in other embodiments.

FIG. 5B

provides a side-perspective view of lens mount

141

. In

FIG. 5B

, lens mount

141

comprises an outer surface

183

, an inner surface

184

, an image side

189

, and a back side (not shown). Lens mount

141

is a substantially complete annular ring having an opening

188

that extends the across the width of image side

189

and extending between inner and outer surfaces

184

and

183

, respectively, to create upper and lower portions of lens mount

141

. Fastening screw

185

is recessed downward through recessing slot

186

on outer surface

18

3 in the upper portion of lens mount

141

, passing through opening

188

, and into the lower portion of lens mount

141

having a screw recess

187

for receiving the fastening screw

185

. In the present embodiment opening

188

is disposed at an approximately 90 degree angle from lens mount bottom

142

. Lens mount bottom

142

is a flat section on the lower portion of outer surface

183

. Fastening screw

185

is loosened to permit installation of lens

114

(not shown) and tightened to close opening

188

to securely hold lens

114

. Alternate embodiments of the lens mount are disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/767,376 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the two-stop and n-stop rotators

132

and

135

, respectively, including a low friction layer between the contacting surfaces of top-half

144

of two-stop rotator

132

and bottom-half

147

of two-stop rotator

132

and between top-half

153

of n-stop rotator

135

and bottom-half

156

of n-stop rotator

135

. This low friction layer preferably includes at least one Teflon™ (or equivalent) disk. Alternative embodiments of the two-stop and n-stop rotators

132

and

135

, respectively, include bearings, a fluid filled enclosure, and coated surfaces. In one embodiment, the lens mount

141

, two-stop rotator

132

, eccentric mount

150

, n-stop rotator

135

, and support means

190

are made of aluminum and/or anodized aluminum.

FIG. 5C

show a cut-away top view of the connection of lens mount

141

and top end

143

of top-half

144

of two-stop rotator

132

. Lens mount

141

has a pair of screws

181

recessed through inner surface

184

, extending through lens mount bottom

142

and into top end

143

of top-half

144

of

2

stop-rotator

132

to securely fasten lens mount

141

to top end

143

. Bottom lip

170

is attached to image side

189

of lens mount

141

with the bottom edge of bottom lip

170

being aligned with and extending along lens mount bottom

142

. Bottom lip

170

extends from the lens mount bottom

142

along image side

189

with the top edge of bottom lip

170

extending a short distance past inner surface

184

. The top edge of bottom lip

170

is curved in substantially the same arc as inner surface

184

. Bottom lip

170

is centered over top end

143

and recessed screw

182

. Top lip

171

is similarly attached to image side

189

of lens mount

141

with top edge of top lip

171

being substantially aligned with outer surface

183

at a point essentially 180 degrees from bottom lip

170

. Top lip

171

extends downward from outer surface

183

along image side

189

with the bottom edge of top lip

171

extending a short distance past inner surface

184

. Alternate embodiments for lips include, but are not limited to: a single continuous lip and more than two lips equally arranged around image side

189

.

Referring again to

FIG. 5A

, recessed screw

182

extends from top end

143

of top-half

144

of two-stop rotator

132

downward through bottom end

145

of top-half

144

and into two-stop rotator central bore

122

where it terminates and operates to rotably connect top-half

144

and bottom-half

147

of two-stop rotator

132

.

FIG. 5A

also shows screw

180

passing through washer

179

and bottom side

152

at a first end of eccentric mount

150

and into bottom end

148

of bottom-half

147

of two-stop rotator

132

to securely fasten two-stop rotator

132

to eccentric mount

150

.

FIG. 5D

is a partial cross-section of two-stop rotator

132

along line A and shows the internal structure of the two-stop rotator

132

positioning elements. In the present embodiment, bottom end

145

of top-half

144

contains two recesses

177

positioned 180 degrees apart along the center line of bottom end

145

. Springs

178

are positioned in recesses

177

, ball bearings

175

are positioned on top of the springs

178

, and bottom-half

147

is fastened to top-half

144

so that top end

146

of bottom-half

147

contact ball bearings

175

and strain springs

178

into recesses

177

. The strain on springs

178

creates a force that constantly pushes ball bearings

175

against top end

146

of bottom-half

147

. In the present embodiment, top-half

144

is fastened to bottom-half

147

by inserting fastening screw

182

through top end

143

of top-half

144

and into central bore

122

that extends from bottom-half

147

. Referring now to

FIG. 5E

, as ball bearings

175

slide into curved indents

176

on top end

146

of bottom-half

147

the force exerted by the strained springs holds the ball bearings

175

, and, thus, two-stop rotator

132

in place. Significant force must be exerted to move the ball bearings

175

out of the curved indents

176

in order to rotate the twostop rotator

132

. The on-center distance d between recesses

177

is equal to the on-center distance between curved indents

176

. In addition, recesses

177

and curved indents

176

are aligned along the center line of two-stop rotator

132

. In an alternate embodiment with an odd number of recesses and curved indents, the recesses and curved indents would have equidistant radii from the center point of the two-stop rotator

132

and be at equal offset angles, for example, radii equal to 0.5 inches and the offset angles equal to 110 degrees for a 3-stop rotator.

FIG. 5F

shows the four recesses

177

and curved indents

176

of the current embodiment of the n-stop rotator

135

. The operation is consistent with that described above for two-stop rotator

132

and alternate embodiments with odd numbers of recesses and curved indents.

FIG. 5G

shows a partial cut-away view of top side

149

at a second end of eccentric mount

150

. Screws

161

are recessed into and through eccentric mount

150

through recessed screw holes

160

and into top end

152

of top-half

153

of n-stop rotator

135

. Recessed screw holes

160

are parallel to and offset from the center line of n-stop rotator

135

. Eccentric mount

150

also has locator pin holes

162

to receive locator pins

163

. Locator pins

163

extend through eccentric mount

150

and into top end

152

of top-half

153

of n-stop rotator

135

.

FIG. 6

shows an alternate embodiment of the offset camera platform means

500

. In this embodiment, the angled eccentric mount

150

of

FIG. 5

is replaced with a straight eccentric mount

610

. All other elements are identical to those described above for FIG.

5

A. Another alternate embodiment would replace the angled eccentric mount

150

of

FIG. 5A

with a centered straight mount so that equal lengths of the straight mount extend past the n-stop rotator

135

. In addition, the straight mount would permit the two-stop rotator

132

to slide from side-to-side.

What has been described is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements and methods can be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

All U.S. Patent Applications referenced herein shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference as to their entire contents.