US3652165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Relative back focus monitoring method and apparatus
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-01
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Granted: 1972-03-28
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Expires: 1990-05-01
Abstract
Abstract The subject invention provides an improved method and apparatus for determining the relative back-focus of each of a plurality of lenticules or the like and, more particularly, provides a method and a means for sequentially determining the relative back-focus of each of a plurality of lenticules, comprising a lenticular film which is disposed along one surface of a supporting web. The relative back-focus of each lenticule or the like may be generally defined as the distance from the focus of said lenticule or the like to a reference which, in the case of a web supported lenticular film, is the surface of the web opposite the lenticular film. Briefly, collimated light is passed through each of the lenticules and is focused by a stationary microscopic objective which is positioned outward of the surface of the web opposite the lenticular film. A movable aperture plate is positioned outward of the microscopic objective and is moved toward and away from said microscopic objective so that the position of the image of the focused collimated light varies with respect to said aperture plate. When the image of said lenticule is focused in the plane of said aperture plate, it is detected by a photo-detector which provides an electrical output pulse indicative thereof. Means are provided for determining the position of the aperture plate at the time of said pulse. A source of light of a wavelength different from that of said collimated light is provided and transmits light through said microscopic objective to the non-lenticulated side of said web so as to be reflected therefrom. This reflected light is focused remote from said web by said microscopic objective and the aperture plate is moved with respect to the microscopic objective until said reflected light is focused in the plane of said aperture plate. When the reflected light is so focused, in the plane of the aperture plate, it is detected by a second photodetector which will provide an electrical output pulse in response thereto. The position of the microscopic objective is determined at the time of the electrical output pulse responsive to said reflected light, and the distance traversed by said aperture plate, between said output pulses, may be readily determined. For a given microscopic objective, the distance traversed by the aperture plate will be a multiple of the relative back-focus of the lenticule being monitored which is dependent on the focal length of the microscopic objective.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward S Candidus Jr
- 👤 Thomas W Snow
- 👤 John F Ullathorne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C7/00; G03C7/14; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/95; G01N21/956; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/14; G03B21/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of serially arranged lenticulations, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said lenticulations and being focused thereby; lens means having an optical axis for monitoring such serially arranged lenticulations and sequentially imaging the focus of said light by each along said optical axis; movable aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said optical axis with respect to a reference and to said lens means and sequentially passing through each said image during the monitoring of said lenticulations by said lens means; photoresponsive means for detecting the imaged foci of said light by said lenticulations and for generating a signal in response thereto; and means responsive to said signal for determining the distance between each of the foci of said lenticulations and said reference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of serially arranged lenticulations, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said lenticulations and being focused thereby; lens means having an optical axis for monitoring such serially arranged lenticulations and sequentially imaging the focus of said light by each along said optical axis; movable aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said optical axis with respect to a reference and to said lens means and sequentially passing through each said image during the monitoring of said lenticulations by said lens means; photoresponsive means for detecting the imaged foci of said light by said lenticulations and for generating a signal in response thereto; and means responsive to said signal for determining the distance between each of the foci of said lenticulations and said reference.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for determining the distance between the focus of a lenticule or the like and a predetermined reference, including the steps of: illuminating said lenticule or the like with light whereby an image will be focused by said lenticule or the like; bringing said image to a first focus along an axis; illuminating said reference and reflecting light therefrom; bringing said reflected light to a second focus along said axis; detecting said first and second foci; and measuring the distance between said first and second foci to thereby determine the distance between the focus of said lenticule or the like and said reference.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for determining the distance between the focus of a lenticule or the like and a predetermined reference, including the steps of: illuminating said lenticule or the like with light whereby an image will be focused by said lenticule or the like; bringing said image to a first focus along an axis; illuminating said reference and reflecting light therefrom; bringing said reflected light to a second focus along said axis; detecting said first and second foci; and measuring the distance between said first and second foci to thereby determine the distance between the focus of said lenticule or the like and said reference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said lenticule or the like is illuminated with light of one wavelength and light of a different wavelength is reflected from said reference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
The invention of claim 3 additionally including the steps of: moving an aperture plate toward and away from said lenticule or the like and said reference along the optical axis of said lenticule or the like so as to transmit the maximum amount of light of said one wavelength when said aperture plate is at said first focus and the maximum amount of light of said different wavelength when said aperture plate is at said second focus; measuring the position of said aperture plate when the light of said one wavelength transmitted is at a maximum and again when the light of said different wavelength is at a maximum; and comparing the positions of the aperture plates so measured to determine the distance between said reference and the focus of said lenticule or the like.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for determining the distance from the focus of a lenticule or the like to a reference, including: means for illuminating said lenticule or the like so as to focus an image; lens means secured in spaced relation to said reference and said lenticule or the like for bringing said image to a first focus along an axis; means for illuminating said reference and reflecting light therefrom through said lens means to a second focus along said axis; means movably positioned in spaced relation to said lens means and along the optical axis thereof for passing a variable amount of light transmitted thEreto by said lens means; said amount being a maximum with respect to said reflected light when said light transmitting means is at one of said foci and a maximum with respect to the light from said image when said light transmitting means is at the other of said foci; means for determining the position of said light transmitting means when said amount is a maximum with respect to said reflected light and again when said amount is a maximum with respect to light from said image; and means for comparing the positions of said transmitting means so determined to effect an indication of the distance between said reference and the focus of said lenticule or the like.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus for determining the distance from the focus of a lenticule or the like to a reference, including: means for illuminating said lenticule or the like so as to focus an image; lens means secured in spaced relation to said reference and said lenticule or the like for bringing said image to a first focus along an axis; means for illuminating said reference and reflecting light therefrom through said lens means to a second focus along said axis; means movably positioned in spaced relation to said lens means and along the optical axis thereof for passing a variable amount of light transmitted thEreto by said lens means; said amount being a maximum with respect to said reflected light when said light transmitting means is at one of said foci and a maximum with respect to the light from said image when said light transmitting means is at the other of said foci; means for determining the position of said light transmitting means when said amount is a maximum with respect to said reflected light and again when said amount is a maximum with respect to light from said image; and means for comparing the positions of said transmitting means so determined to effect an indication of the distance between said reference and the focus of said lenticule or the like.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein the light illuminating said lenticule is of one wavelength and the light reflected from said reference is of a different wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
The invention as related in claim 6, wherein said means for determining the position of said light transmitting means includes a pair of photo-detectors each responsive to light of a different one of said wavelengths and a beam splitter positioned spaced along said optical axis from said transmitting means for reflecting a portion of the light passing through said transmitting means to one of said photo-detectors and transmitting a portion of the light passing through said transmitting means to the other of the photo-detectors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7, wherein said position determining means includes transducer means connected to said transmitting means for monitoring the position thereof and providing an output signal in response thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
The invention as set out in claim 8, wherein said position determining means includes means connected to said transducer means for dividing the output thereof by a predetermined constant and means connected to said pair of photo-detectors, said transducer means and said dividing means for sampling the output from said dividing means in response to signals from each of said pair of photo-detectors and comparing said samples to effect an output signal indicative of the distance between the focus of said lenticule or the like and said reference. 10 The invention as described in claim 9, further including means for moving said transmitting means along said optical axis toward and away from said lenticule or the like and said reference and means for providing cyclical driving signals to said moving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set out in claim 10, wherein said means for illuminating said lenticule or the like comprises a source of chromatically filtered collimated light and said means for illuminating said reference comprises a source of chromatically filtered non-collimated light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
301 words
In apparatus for determining the relative back-focus of each of the lenticules or the like comprising a web supported film, the combination including: means for illuminating a preselected one of said lenticules or the like with collimated light of one wavelength whereby said lenticule or the like will focus the image of said collimated light; a lens positioned in fixed spaced relation to said web and along the optical axis of said lenticule or the like; a first beam splitter positioned spaced from said lens along the optical axis thereof; a source of non-collimated light, of a wavelength different from that of said source of collimated light, positioned with respect to said first beam splitter such that a portion of said non-collimated light will be reflected from said first beam splitter through said lens onto said web and be reflected from a surface thereof back through said lens and said first beam splitter; an aperture plate positioned along said optical axis in spaced relation to said lens and said first beam splitter and movable along said optical axis with respect to said lens so as to pass a variable amount of light transmitted through said first beam splitter; a second beam splitter positioned along said optical axis for transmittiNg a portion of the light passing through said aperture plate and reflecting a portion thereof; means for detecting the light reflected by said second beam splitter; means for detecting the light transmitted by said second beam splitter; and means connected to said aperture plate and to said detecting means for determining the position of said aperture plate in response to the energization of said detectors so as to provide an output signal indicative of the distance between the focus of said lenticule or the like and the reflecting surface of said web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
301 words
In apparatus for determining the relative back-focus of each of the lenticules or the like comprising a web supported film, the combination including: means for illuminating a preselected one of said lenticules or the like with collimated light of one wavelength whereby said lenticule or the like will focus the image of said collimated light; a lens positioned in fixed spaced relation to said web and along the optical axis of said lenticule or the like; a first beam splitter positioned spaced from said lens along the optical axis thereof; a source of non-collimated light, of a wavelength different from that of said source of collimated light, positioned with respect to said first beam splitter such that a portion of said non-collimated light will be reflected from said first beam splitter through said lens onto said web and be reflected from a surface thereof back through said lens and said first beam splitter; an aperture plate positioned along said optical axis in spaced relation to said lens and said first beam splitter and movable along said optical axis with respect to said lens so as to pass a variable amount of light transmitted through said first beam splitter; a second beam splitter positioned along said optical axis for transmittiNg a portion of the light passing through said aperture plate and reflecting a portion thereof; means for detecting the light reflected by said second beam splitter; means for detecting the light transmitted by said second beam splitter; and means connected to said aperture plate and to said detecting means for determining the position of said aperture plate in response to the energization of said detectors so as to provide an output signal indicative of the distance between the focus of said lenticule or the like and the reflecting surface of said web.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as recited in claim 12, further including means for sinusoidally driving said aperture plate toward and away from said lens along said optical axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13, further including means for dividing the change in position of said aperture plate so determined by a constant equal to the linear longitudinal magnification of said lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
In apparatus for monitoring lenticules or the like of a type comprising a source of light for illuminating at least a preselected one of said lenticules or the like and being focused thereby, means for detecting the focus of said light, and means for comparing said focus with a reference and determining the distance therebetween, the improvement wherein said means for detecting the focus of said light includes: a lens secured in fixed spaced relation to said reference; and means movably positioned along the optical axis of said lens, in spaced relation thereto, for transmitting a variable amount of light from said lens; said light transmitted being a maximum when said transmitting means is spaced from said lens an amount proportional to the distance from said lens to said focus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
In apparatus for monitoring lenticules or the like of a type comprising a source of light for illuminating at least a preselected one of said lenticules or the like and being focused thereby, means for detecting the focus of said light, and means for comparing said focus with a reference and determining the distance therebetween, the improvement wherein said means for detecting the focus of said light includes: a lens secured in fixed spaced relation to said reference; and means movably positioned along the optical axis of said lens, in spaced relation thereto, for transmitting a variable amount of light from said lens; said light transmitted being a maximum when said transmitting means is spaced from said lens an amount proportional to the distance from said lens to said focus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as recited in claim 15, wherein said transmitting means comprises an aperture plate or the like.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of lenticules or the like, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said lenticules or the like and being focused thereby; means for sequentially scanning said plurality of lenticules or the like and detecting the focus of light by each, including lens means positioned along an axis in fixed spaced relation with respect to a reference; aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said axis with respect to said reference; and means for comparing the relative positions of said aperture plate means or the like and said reference and determining the distance therebetween in response to each sequentially detected focus to thereby determine the distance between each said focus and said reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of lenticules or the like, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said lenticules or the like and being focused thereby; means for sequentially scanning said plurality of lenticules or the like and detecting the focus of light by each, including lens means positioned along an axis in fixed spaced relation with respect to a reference; aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said axis with respect to said reference; and means for comparing the relative positions of said aperture plate means or the like and said reference and determining the distance therebetween in response to each sequentially detected focus to thereby determine the distance between each said focus and said reference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of focusing means, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said focusing means and being focused thereby; lens means having an optical axis and positioned in fixed spaced relation along said axis with respect to a reference for sequentially scanning said plurality of focusing means and sequentially imaging the focus of said light by each to a position along said axis; aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said axis with respect to said lens means and sequentially passing through each said image at least once during the cyclical movement thereof; first photoelectric means for detecting coincidence of each said image and said aperture plate means or the like; means for illuminating said reference and imaging same at a position within the path of said aperture plate means or the like so as to be traversed by said aperture plate means or the like during the cyclical movement of said aperture plate means or the like; second photoelectric means for detecting coincidence between the image of said reference and said aperture plate means or the like; and means for comparing the relative positions of said aperture plate means or the like and said reference and determining the diStance therebetween in response to signals from said first and second photoelectric means, respectively, to thereby determine the distance between the focus of said light by each of said focusing means and said reference.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of focusing means, including: a source of light for illuminating each of said focusing means and being focused thereby; lens means having an optical axis and positioned in fixed spaced relation along said axis with respect to a reference for sequentially scanning said plurality of focusing means and sequentially imaging the focus of said light by each to a position along said axis; aperture plate means or the like disposed in cyclically variable spaced relation along said axis with respect to said lens means and sequentially passing through each said image at least once during the cyclical movement thereof; first photoelectric means for detecting coincidence of each said image and said aperture plate means or the like; means for illuminating said reference and imaging same at a position within the path of said aperture plate means or the like so as to be traversed by said aperture plate means or the like during the cyclical movement of said aperture plate means or the like; second photoelectric means for detecting coincidence between the image of said reference and said aperture plate means or the like; and means for comparing the relative positions of said aperture plate means or the like and said reference and determining the diStance therebetween in response to signals from said first and second photoelectric means, respectively, to thereby determine the distance between the focus of said light by each of said focusing means and said reference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2999436A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-28 | 1975-09-27 | 1976-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-28 | 1979-09-27 | 1980-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-28 | 1983-09-27 | 1984-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |