US3640199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic scan camera using a pivoted mirror
Assignee: TRANS HORIZONS Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-19
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1990-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A continuously rotated panoramic camera mounted on a support having a fixed semicircular cam concentric with the axis of rotation of the camera. The camera is provided with an offset angled mirror fixed relative to the camera and with a pivoted mirror carrying a dog engageable with the cam to rotate the pivoted mirror into the field of view of the camera and into a position to receive images reflected from the angled fixed mirror. The parts are so arranged that in the course of a revolution, after the camera has scanned 180* of a scene during the first half of the revolution, the pivoted mirror is rotated by the dog and cam into a position causing the camera to repeat this scan during the second half of the revolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse David Wolf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B37/00; G03B37/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a panoramic camera, a support, platform means rotatably mounted on said support for rotation around a vertical axis, a camera mounted on said platform means and being directed outwardly with respect to said axis, mirror means on the platform means, said mirror means including a mirror pivotally mounted on said platform means, means biasing said mirror toward a first position, and cooperating cam and follower means on the support and the mirror constraining said mirror to assume a second position rotated from said first position during substantially one-half the cycle of rotation of said platform means around said vertical axis, said mirror intersecting the optical axis of and being in the field of view of the camera in at least one of said positions, and being angled to provide a camera field of view in said one position which is substantially diametrically opposite to the field of view of the camera when the mirror is in its other position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a panoramic camera, a support, platform means rotatably mounted on said support for rotation around a vertical axis, a camera mounted on said platform means and being directed outwardly with respect to said axis, mirror means on the platform means, said mirror means including a mirror pivotally mounted on said platform means, means biasing said mirror toward a first position, and cooperating cam and follower means on the support and the mirror constraining said mirror to assume a second position rotated from said first position during substantially one-half the cycle of rotation of said platform means around said vertical axis, said mirror intersecting the optical axis of and being in the field of view of the camera in at least one of said positions, and being angled to provide a camera field of view in said one position which is substantially diametrically opposite to the field of view of the camera when the mirror is in its other position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The panoramic camera of claim 1 and wherein said camera is provided with film transport means for moving film transversely across said optical axis and cooperating guide means on the support and the camera to actuate said film transport means responsive to rotation of said platform means on said support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The panoramic camera of claim 2 and wherein said guide means comprises a fixed gear on said support coaxial with the axis of rotation of said platform means, a pinion gear journaled relative to said platform means meshing with said fixed gear, and means drivingly connecting said pinion gear to said film transport means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The panoramic camera of claim 1 and wherein said cam and follower means comprises an arcuate cam bar on the support concentric with said vertical axis and subtending an angle of approximately 180*, and a follower element connected to said pivotally mounted mirror and being engageable with said cam bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The panoramic camera of claim 4, and wherein the pivotally mounted mirror is mounted so as to intersect the optical axis of the camera in both its first and second positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The panoramic camera of claim 5 and wherein said second position is angularly spaced approximately 90* from said first position around the axis of rotation of the pivotally mounted mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The panoramic camera of claim 6 and wherein the pivotally mounted mirror makes an angle of approximately 45* with the optical axis of the camera in either its first or its second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The panoramic camera of claim 4 and wherein said pivotally mounted mirror is mounted on said platform means for rotation on a vertical axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The panoramic camera of claim 8, and wherein the pivotal axis of said pivotally mounted mirror is laterally offset from the optical axis of the camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The panoramic camera of claim 9 and wherein said mirror means further includes a second mirror fixedly mounted on said platform means at a position offset from said camera and angled to receive light rays from images behind the camera, said pivotally mounted mirror being swingable to a working position intersecting said optical axis and angled to reflect light rays from the fixedly mounted mirror to the camera substantially in the direction of said optical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The panoramic camera of claim 10 and wherein said fixedly mounted mirror is vertically mounted on said platform means and is laterally offset from said camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panoramic camera of claim 11, and wherein said fixedly mounted mirror is angled at substantially 45* to said optical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The panoramic camera of claim 12 and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring connecting said follower means to said platform means and urging said pivoted mirror toWard a position laterally spaced from said optical axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The panoramic camera of claim 13 and stop means limiting the pivoted mirror to a position substantially parallel to said optical axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |