METHOD OF OBTAINING IMAGE OF EARTH'S SURFACE FROM MOVING VEHICLE AND APPARATUS FOR REALISING SAID METHOD Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC G03B37/04 G01C11/02 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method involves photographing the surface using multiple electro-optical photodetectors with partial overlapping of the obtained subframes which form a central projection frame in form of a band which is directed by its long side across the direction of movement of the vehicle, obtaining frames as the vehicle moves with partial overlapping thereof with each other and then merging the frames into a single image. The subframes are obtained by photographing the surface at an angle to the vertical which successively increases to the ends of the band, wherein all photodetectors are exposed at the same time. The device has a holding tool in which are mounted at least two electro-optical photodetectors such that projections of their optical axes on the vertical plane are at an angle to the vertical, which varies in a unidirectional manner from one photodetector to the other by a value less than the projection of the viewing field angle of the photodetector on said plane. Projections of optical axes of the photodetectors on another vertical plane which is perpendicular to the first form an angle with each other of not more than 50% of the projection of the viewing field angle of the photodetector on that plane.

EFFECT: larger capturing width without increasing the viewing field angle of the lens, minimising change in aspect when switching between adjacent frames, shorter exposure time during capture and lower probability of obtaining a blurred image.

4 cl, 2 dwg