In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

An inventive device includes a multi-aperture imaging device comprising an image sensor; an array of adjacently arranged optical channels, each optical channel including an optic for projecting at least one partial field of view of a total field of view onto an image sensor area of the image sensor arrangement, a beam deflection means for deflecting an optical path of the optical channels, and a focusing means for setting a focal position of the multi-aperture imaging device. The device further comprises a control means configured to control the focusing means and to receive image information from the image sensor; the control means being configured to control the multi-aperture imaging device into a sequence of focal positions so as to capture a corresponding sequence of image information of the total field of view and to produce, from the sequence of image information, a depth map for the captured total field of view.

An inventive device includes a multi-aperture imaging device comprising an image sensor; an array of adjacently arranged optical channels, each optical channel including an optic for projecting at least one partial field of view of a total field of view onto an image sensor area of the image sensor arrangement, a beam deflection means for deflecting an optical path of the optical channels, and a focusing means for setting a focal position of the multi-aperture imaging device. The device further comprises a control means configured to control the focusing means and to receive image information from the image sensor; the control means being configured to control the multi-aperture imaging device into a sequence of focal positions so as to capture a corresponding sequence of image information of the total field of view and to produce, from the sequence of image information, a depth map for the captured total field of view.

Disclosed is a shooting method, which is applied to a terminal device defining at least one camera, and the at least one camera includes at least one lift-able camera. The method includes: displaying a shooting interface; receiving a shooting instruction; controlling a first camera to shoot at least two images at different heights to obtain a shot photo, where the first camera is one of the at least one lift-able camera. With adoption of the embodiments of this application, the software debugging time for the camera can be reduced, and the shooting efficiency can be improved.

Disclosed is a shooting method, which is applied to a terminal device defining at least one camera, and the at least one camera includes at least one lift-able camera. The method includes: displaying a shooting interface; receiving a shooting instruction; controlling a first camera to shoot at least two images at different heights to obtain a shot photo, where the first camera is one of the at least one lift-able camera. With adoption of the embodiments of this application, the software debugging time for the camera can be reduced, and the shooting efficiency can be improved.

An apparatus comprising of a device to enclose a durable, data collecting camera in an upright position, as to be put into subterranean environment, such as a manhole, and utilizing sensors and lights to detail the information of the manhole which it is lowered into. It is attached to a metal arm that may be connected either to an automobile or tripod for stability. An application may be used to view this data and the camera itself has the ability to move 360 degrees while attached to a metal arm. This ensures the camera is kept in an upright position, which is particularly useful while using the Matterport Pro 1/Pro 2 cameras.

An apparatus comprising of a device to enclose a durable, data collecting camera in an upright position, as to be put into subterranean environment, such as a manhole, and utilizing sensors and lights to detail the information of the manhole which it is lowered into. It is attached to a metal arm that may be connected either to an automobile or tripod for stability. An application may be used to view this data and the camera itself has the ability to move 360 degrees while attached to a metal arm. This ensures the camera is kept in an upright position, which is particularly useful while using the Matterport Pro 1/Pro 2 cameras.

In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.