The Kaplan “OWL” (Omni-Directional Wide-Angle Lens) Rotating “Holodeck” Camera

Votes: 5
Views: 7802

This revolutionary, continuously spinning, 360 degree panoramic, holographic, remotely controlled zoom camera achieves its real time 360 degree omni-directional panoramic stereo color (or stereo color-infrared ) real time images via the use of a set of precisely-aligned “Synchronously-Rotating Linear Triplex Lenses” (Patents Pending) and a matched and aligned set of linear CCD sensors.

The conceptual design: (Fig 1) used 3 sets of equiangular rotating Linear Triplex lenses mounted on the outside of a 14” diameter, 2 piece, injection-molded, spin-balanced plastic cylindrical case that rotates (at 24 selectable speeds from 300 to 1500 rpm) congruently with the enclosed linear sensor array (totaling 9 precisely aligned lenses) and 3 synchronously rotating and precision-aligned remotely adjustable vertical linear CCD sensors tuned to optical spectrum “red,” “blue” and “green” by colored slit filters overlying the 3 CCD sensors aligned at 120 degree angles as viewed from above. In Fig. 2 & 3, the lens multiplicity, and sensor array numbers are doubled to six each yielding 6 precision-aligned sets of Linear Triplex lenses (totaling 18 spinning lenses aligned at 60 degree angles as viewed from above) focusing on the 6 separate optical-filter-covered linear CCD detector strips, with application of 3 additional selected linear optical filters and an additional 3 linear CCD sensors. In most applications the second set of sensors will double the red, blue and green data scan data acquisition rate per camera rotation, thus allowing the same cylindrical vertical line raster to be acquired with ½ the rpm. Thus, either 3 or 6 internally rotating, “line-scanning” color-filtered CCD detectors face the synchronously rotating outer cylindrical Linear Triplex Lens sets. The radial positions of these CCD detectors can be precisely adjusted by remote control to adjust zoom magnification in real time. The image data set is holographic, panoramic, and also has remotely adjustable vertical and horizontal scan line count per frame, (resolution) and frame rate; which are effected by selection of synchronizing clock circuits controlling the vertically-oriented linear CCD detectors.

The CCD linear array sensors are mounted on grooved sliders that are moved radially, on command, along gold plated drive-screws which are rotated by 6 plastic bevel-gears (3 above and 3 below) that are synchronously driven by 2 central rotating beveled-gears attached to 2 servo-motors that adjust the proximity of the CCD sensors to the lenses (thus adjusting zoom magnification of the panoramic vertical line cylindrical raster image). The gold plated screw-drives bring DC filtered power to the CCD detectors and their related FIFO memory circuits. These linear CCD arrays conversely output their serial data into the silver triangular “Opposed Resonant Triangle” Antenna via the gold-plated drive screws; through a series of frequency-notch filters and variable reluctance amplifiers attached to each CCD detector and screw-drive connector. These high frequencies are divided into 36 sub-harmonic frequencies by the crystal-inductor resonant circuits of the rotating antennas of the camera which are AM modulated by rotating circuits to transmit the optical data to a similar fixed Antenna up to 1,000 feet from the camera which is attached to a recorder.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Harvey Kaplan
  • Type of entry:
    individual
  • Profession:
    Scientist
  • Number of times previously entering contest:
    3
  • Harvey's favorite design and analysis tools:
    I like to study the figures and illustrations in articles and publications. As a retired radiologist, I can safely say that a picture is often more valuable than a thousand words. I am very grateful for 4 gigabyte thumb drives, and for "smart-phones".
  • Harvey's hobbies and activities:
    Electronics, Metallurgy, Inventing, Music, Theatre
  • Harvey belongs to these online communities:
    Society of Nuclear Medicine, RSNA, Thorium Enregy
  • Harvey is inspired by:
    Einstein quote: "We will need a substantially new type of thinking, if mankind is to survive." Hyman Rickover quote: "Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.". Also: "Every great discovery is first ridiculed, then violently opposed, and finally accepted as common sense". "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.". "What is not started today, is NEVER finished tomorrow. " (Goethe) "The distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion". (Einstein) "The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelop our future". (John Maynard Keynes) "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty (Churchill) "Difficulty is the excuse that history never accepts". (Edward R Murrow)
  • Patent status:
    pending