US 12,464,246 B2
Variable focal length multi-camera aerial imaging system and method
Frank Giuffrida, Honeoye Falls, NY (US)
Assigned to Pictometry International Corp., Rochester, NY (US)
Appl. No. 18/249,643
Filed by Pictometry International Corp., Rochester, NY (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 19, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/055630
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 19, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/086976, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/093,562, filed on Oct. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0007752 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 23/698 (2023.01); G01C 11/02 (2006.01); G03B 37/04 (2021.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/698 (2023.01) [G01C 11/02 (2013.01); G03B 37/04 (2013.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01); H04N 23/90 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging system, comprising:
an image-capturing system positioned on a platform such that the platform moves the image-capturing system over a predefined target area at a first altitude above the Earth's surface, the image-capturing system comprising:
two or more cameras, each of the two or more cameras adjustable between a first focal length and a second focal length, and adjustable between a first orientation of a field of view and a second orientation of the field of view, the two or more cameras configured to capture a set of two or more input images depicting partially overlapping geographic coverage sub-areas when the two or more cameras are at the first focal length and the first orientation of the field of view; and
one or more processor executing image display and analysis software configured to send one or more signal from the one or more processor to the image-capturing system to change the two or more cameras from the first focal length to the second focal length and to change the two or more cameras from the first orientation of the field of view to the second orientation of the field of view, wherein a change from the first focal length to the second focal length introduces coverage gaps between the geographic coverage sub-areas, and wherein the change from the first orientation of the field of view to the second orientation of the field of view eliminates the coverage gaps.