Wide-field of view (fov) imaging devices with active foveation capability

Abstract

The present invention comprises a foveated imaging system capable of capturing a wide field of view image and a foveated image, where the foveated image is a controllable region of interest of the wide field of view image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foveated imaging system, configured to capture a wide field of view image and a foveated image, where the foveated image is a controllable region of interest of the wide field of view image, the system comprising:
 an objective lens, facing an external scene, configured to receive incoming light from an external scene and to focus the light upon a beamsplitter;   a beamsplitter, configured to split the incoming light from the external scene into a first portion on a wide field of view imaging path and second portion on a foveated imaging path;   the wide field of view imaging path comprising:
 a first stop, separate from the objective lens, which limits the amount of the first portion received in the wide field of view path from the beamsplitter; 
 a wide field of view imaging lens, different from the objective lens and configured to receive the first portion from the first stop and focus a wide field of view image on a wide field of view imaging sensor; 
 the wide field of view imaging sensor, configured to record the first portion focused from the wide field of view imaging lens as a wide field of view image; 
   the foveated imaging path consisting of:
 a second stop, which limits the second portion received in the foveated imaging path from the beamsplitter; 
 a scanning mirror, the scanning mirror being a multi-axis movable mirror configured to tilt about a Y axis and rotate about a Z axis and reflect a selected region of interest within the second portion from the beamsplitter back towards the beamsplitter; 
 a reflective surface, disposed upon the beamsplitter, configured to direct the second portion reflected by the scanning mirror; 
 a foveated imaging lens, configured to receive the second portion, associated with a region of interest of the external scene, from the scanning mirror, and focus a foveated image on a foveated imaging sensor; and 
 the foveated imaging sensor, configured to record the region of interest from the foveated imaging lens as a higher resolution foveated image; 
   wherein the foveated image system is configured to display the higher resolution foveated image within the wide field of view image.   
     
     
         2 . A foveated imaging system, configured to capture a wide field of view image and a foveated image, where the foveated image is a controllable region of interest of the wide field of view image, the system comprising:
 an objective lens, facing an external scene, configured to receive incoming light from an external scene and to focus the light upon a beamsplitter;   a beamsplitter, configured to split the incoming light from the external scene into a first portion on a wide field of view imaging path and second portion on a foveated imaging path;   the wide field of view imaging path comprising:
 a first stop, separate from the objective lens, which limits the amount of the first portion received in the wide field of view path from the beamsplitter; 
 a wide field of view imaging lens, different from the objective lens and configured to receive the first portion from the first stop and focus a wide field of view image on a wide field of view imaging sensor; 
 the wide field of view imaging sensor, configured to record the first portion focused from the wide field of view imaging lens as a wide field of view image; 
   
       the foveated imaging path consisting of:
   a second stop, which limits the second portion received in the foveated imaging path from the beamsplitter;   an electronically controlled piezoelectric scanning mirror, the electronically controlled piezoelectric scanning mirror being a multi-axis movable mirror configured to tilt about a Y axis and rotate about a Z axis and reflect a selected region of interest within the second portion from the beamsplitter back towards the beamsplitter;   a reflective surface, disposed upon the beamsplitter, configured to direct the second portion reflected by the scanning mirror;   a foveated imaging lens, configured to receive the second portion, associated with a region of interest of the external scene, from the scanning mirror, and focus a foveated image on a foveated imaging sensor; and   the foveated imaging sensor, configured to record the region of interest from the foveated imaging lens as a higher resolution foveated image;   
 wherein the foveated image system is configured to display the higher resolution foveated image within the wide field of view image. 
 
     
     
         3 . A foveated imaging system, configured to capture a wide field of view image and a foveated image, where the foveated image is a controllable region of interest of the wide field of view image, the system comprising:
 an objective lens, facing an external scene, configured to receive incoming light from an external scene and to focus the light upon a beamsplitter;   a beamsplitter, configured to split the incoming light from the external scene into a first portion on a wide field of view imaging path and second portion on a foveated imaging path;   the wide field of view imaging path comprising:
 a first stop, separate from the objective lens, which limits the amount of the first portion received in the wide field of view path from the beamsplitter; 
 a wide field of view imaging lens, different from the objective lens and configured to receive the first portion from the first stop and focus a wide field of view image on a wide field of view imaging sensor; 
 the wide field of view imaging sensor, configured to record the first portion focused from the wide field of view imaging lens as a wide field of view image; 
   the foveated imaging path consisting of:
 a second stop, which limits the second portion received in the foveated imaging path from the beamsplitter; 
 an electronically controlled micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror, the electronically controlled micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror being a multi-axis movable mirror configured to tilt about a Y axis and rotate about a Z axis and reflect a selected region of interest within the second portion from the beamsplitter back towards the beamsplitter; 
 a reflective surface, disposed upon the beamsplitter, configured to direct the second portion reflected by the scanning mirror; 
 a foveated imaging lens, configured to receive the second portion, associated with a region of interest of the external scene, from the 
 scanning mirror, and focus a foveated image on a foveated imaging sensor; and 
 the foveated imaging sensor, configured to record the region of interest from the foveated imaging lens as a higher resolution foveated image; 
   wherein the foveated image system is configured to display the higher resolution foveated image within the wide field of view image.