Single lens panoramic camera

Claim 2

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism, which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: a. said scanning mechanism having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a scan has been completed during a first portion of revolution to reorient said deflection means to perform anotHer scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution; and b. said scanning mechanism further having second deflection means spaced from said first deflection means for rotation with said first deflection means, and second means for moving said second deflection means relative to an axis transverse to said axis of rotation after said first deflection means has completed scanning from a first and second angular limit and said second deflection means has exposed a section of film between a third and a fourth angular limit, to position said second deflection means to receive radiation from said first deflection means and again direct it toward said third angular limit.

Claim 3

The panoramic camera of claim 1 in which said second means for moving includes shaft means parallel to said transverse axis relative to which said second deflection means is movable, and to which said second deflection means is fixed, and second drive means for moving said shaft means.

Claim 4

The panoramic camera of claim 2 in which said second drive means imparts rotational motion to said shaft means.

Claim 5

The panoramic camera of claim 2 in which said second drive means imparts linear motion to said shaft means.

Claim 6

A panoramic camera having a single lens scanning mechanism for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism comprising: first radiation reflection means for scanning an area to be photographed from a first angular limit to a second angular limit; film positioning means for receiving photographic film and supporting it in a cylindrical path around the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism; second radiation reflection means, spaced from said first reflection means and rotatable with it, for receiving radiation from said first reflection means and directing it onto said film from a third to a fourth angular limit; means for moving said first reflection means relative to an axis transverse to said axis of rotation, after it has completed scanning from said first to said second limit, to position said first reflection means to again receive radiation form the direction of said first limit and reflect it to said second reflection means; and second means for moving said second reflection means relative to an axis transverse to said axis of rotation, after it has completed directing radiation onto said film between said third and fourth limits, to again direct radiation from said first reflection means toward said third limit.

Claim 7

A panoramic camera having a single lens scanning mechanism for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism comprising: first radiation reflection means for scanning an area to be photographed from a first angular limit to a second angular limit; film positioning means for receiving photographic film and supporting it in a cylindrical path around the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism; second radiation reflection means, spaced from said first reflection means and rotatable with it, for receiving radiation from said first reflection means and directing it onto said film from a third to a fourth angular limit; means for moving said first reflection means relative to an axis transverse to said axis of rotation, after it has completed scanning from said first to said second limit, to position said first reflection means to again receive radiation form the direction of said first limit and reflect it to said second reflection means; and second means for moving said second reflection means relative to an axis transverse to said axis of rotation, after it has completed directing radiation onto said film between said third and fourth limits, to again direct radiation from said first reflection means toward said third limit.

Claim 8

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism, which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: a. film positioning for receiving photographic film and positioning it in a plurality of arcuate portions of a cylindrical path around said axis of rotation; and b. said scanning means having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a scan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to perform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution.

Claim 9

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism, which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: a. film positioning for receiving photographic film and positioning it in a plurality of arcuate portions of a cylindrical path around said axis of rotation; and b. said scanning means having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a scan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to perform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution.

Claim 10

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: a. film positioning means for receiving two photographic films and positioning each of them in separate arcuate portions of a cylindrical path around said axis of rotation; and b. said scanning mechanism having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a sCan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to preform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution.

Claim 11

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: a. film positioning means for receiving two photographic films and positioning each of them in separate arcuate portions of a cylindrical path around said axis of rotation; and b. said scanning mechanism having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a sCan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to preform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution.

Claim 12

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism, which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: said scanning mechanism having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a scan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to perform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution; and b. said scanning mechanism further having second deflection means, including a reflection element, spaced from said first deflection means for rotation with said first deflection means.

Claim 13

A panoramic camera having a single lens system scanning mechanism, which rotates about an axis of rotation, for providing a plurality of scans of an area of interest during each revolution of said scanning mechanism, comprising: said scanning mechanism having first deflection means for scanning the area of interest, and first means for moving said deflection means relative to an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said scanning mechanism after a scan has been completed during a first portion of a revolution to reorient said first deflection means to perform another scan of the area of interest during another portion of that revolution; and b. said scanning mechanism further having second deflection means, including a reflection element, spaced from said first deflection means for rotation with said first deflection means.

Claim 14

In an optical bar panoramic camera wherein an optical bar scanning mechanism with a single lens system rotates about a scanning axis to scan a film medium, positioned in a cylindrical plane about the scanning axis, with the image of a photographed scene, the improvement comprising deflection means, including a positionable image deflector, in said scanning mechanism for deflecting said image to the film medium by a first optical path, having a first entrance aperture, during a first scanning period when said first entrance aperture faces said scene and said image deflector is in a first position, and for deflecting said image to the film medium by a second optical path, having a second entrance aperture, during a second scanning period when said second entrance aperture faces said scene and said image deflector is in a second position, said first and second entrance apertures being angularly displaced in said scanning mechanism about said scanning axis to successively face said scene as said scanning mechanism rotates.

Claim 15

In an optical bar panoramic camera wherein an optical bar scanning mechanism with a single lens system rotates about a scanning axis to scan a film medium, positioned in a cylindrical plane about the scanning axis, with the image of a photographed scene, the improvement comprising deflection means, including a positionable image deflector, in said scanning mechanism for deflecting said image to the film medium by a first optical path, having a first entrance aperture, during a first scanning period when said first entrance aperture faces said scene and said image deflector is in a first position, and for deflecting said image to the film medium by a second optical path, having a second entrance aperture, during a second scanning period when said second entrance aperture faces said scene and said image deflector is in a second position, said first and second entrance apertures being angularly displaced in said scanning mechanism about said scanning axis to successively face said scene as said scanning mechanism rotates.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said deflection means includes a first reflective surface means, and means for moving said first reflective surface means relative to an axis transverse to said scanning axis after said first scanning period has been completed, to reorient said first reflective surface means during said second scanning period.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for moving said first reflective surface means includes means for causing said first reflective surface means to rotate approximately 90* around said axis transverse to said scanning axis.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first reflective surface means includes first and second reflective surfaces positioned orthogonally to each other along said axis transverse to said scanning axis, and said means for moving said first reflective surface means includes means for moving said first reflective surface means along said axis transverse to said scanning axis, whereby either said first or second orthogonal reflective surface may be selectively positioned respectively in either said first or second optical paths.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein: a. said deflection means includes a second reflective surface means spaced from said first reflective surface means along said scanning axis, said second reflective surface means being rigidly positioned in said scanning mechanism; and b. said film medium is positioned in a cylindrical plane substantially 360* about said scanning axis.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said deflection means includes a second reflective surface means spaced from said first reflective surface means along said scanning axis; b. means are provided for moving said second reflective surface means relative to an axis transverse to the scanning axis after said first scanning period to reorient said seconD reflective surface means during said second scanning period; and c. the film medium is positioned in a cylindrical plane substantially 180* about said scanning axis.