US3687041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple zone stereo rangefinder
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A camera is disclosed incorporating an improved stereoscopic binocular rangefinder. The rangefinder mechanism and its coupling to the camera are constructed so they can be adjusted to accommodate for changes in the objective lens of the camera, e.g., as related to the addition of a close-up attachment to the objective lens.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip R Norris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/18; G03B13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
A binocular rangefinder for use with a focusable camera with an objective lens and adapted to use at least one auxiliary lens; said rangefinder functioning on the principle of correspondence between two visual convergence angles to determine the distance to a subject, with a first of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of said subject, and a second of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of a reticle, said binocular rangefinder comprising: concave mirror means, with at least one partially transparent reflecting surface having a predetermined focal length; said concave mirror means having a right viewing portion to provide said right eye image and a left viewing portion to provide said left eye image, said portions having a generatrix common to both and a fixed orientation with respect to each other; reticle means equally spaced from said right viewing portion and from said left viewing portion by optical paths of equal length and viewable by reflection from the concave surface of said concave mirror means; planar mirror means, opposite said concave mirror means, for reflecting at least one image of said reticle to said concave surface; a sliding member to support said planar mirror; cam means in said sliding member, including a slot, having a first edge of such shape as to move said planar mirror in a first predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said objective lens and a second edge of such shape as to move said planar mirror in a second predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said at least one auxiliary lens attached to said objective lens; a drive pin, responsive to changes in said focal settings, and adapted to engage said cam means; and means for causing said drive pin to engage one of sAid first and said second edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
A binocular rangefinder for use with a focusable camera with an objective lens and adapted to use at least one auxiliary lens; said rangefinder functioning on the principle of correspondence between two visual convergence angles to determine the distance to a subject, with a first of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of said subject, and a second of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of a reticle, said binocular rangefinder comprising: concave mirror means, with at least one partially transparent reflecting surface having a predetermined focal length; said concave mirror means having a right viewing portion to provide said right eye image and a left viewing portion to provide said left eye image, said portions having a generatrix common to both and a fixed orientation with respect to each other; reticle means equally spaced from said right viewing portion and from said left viewing portion by optical paths of equal length and viewable by reflection from the concave surface of said concave mirror means; planar mirror means, opposite said concave mirror means, for reflecting at least one image of said reticle to said concave surface; a sliding member to support said planar mirror; cam means in said sliding member, including a slot, having a first edge of such shape as to move said planar mirror in a first predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said objective lens and a second edge of such shape as to move said planar mirror in a second predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said at least one auxiliary lens attached to said objective lens; a drive pin, responsive to changes in said focal settings, and adapted to engage said cam means; and means for causing said drive pin to engage one of sAid first and said second edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A focus-coupled rangefinder for use with a focusable camera adapted for using magnification means for substantially changing the ratio of image size to object size, including: means, integral with a coupling between the camera focus control and said rangefinder, for altering said coupling to vary the response of said rangefinder to changes in the focus setting of said camera; and means, connected to said altering means and to said coupling, for actuating said altering means whereby said coupling may be altered as a consequence of the use of said magnification means and the focus setting of said camera, as determined by said rangefinder, will be correct irrespective of the use of said magnification means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
A focus-coupled rangefinder for use with a focusable camera adapted for using magnification means for substantially changing the ratio of image size to object size, including: means, integral with a coupling between the camera focus control and said rangefinder, for altering said coupling to vary the response of said rangefinder to changes in the focus setting of said camera; and means, connected to said altering means and to said coupling, for actuating said altering means whereby said coupling may be altered as a consequence of the use of said magnification means and the focus setting of said camera, as determined by said rangefinder, will be correct irrespective of the use of said magnification means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The rangefinder described in claim 2, wherein said coupling is controlled by a cam and said means for altering said coupling includes a mechanism for changing the pitch of said cam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The rangefinder described in claim 2, wherein said coupling includes: first cam means of such shape as to vary the response of said rangefinder in conjunction with changes in the focus setting of said camera; second cam means of such shape as to vary the response of said rangefinder in conjunction with changes in the focus setting of said camera used together with said magnification means; and means for selecting one of said cam means in accord with the nominal ratio of image size to object size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The rangefinder described in claim 4, wherein said first and said second cam means comprise opposite edges of a slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
A binocular rangefinder for use with a focusable camera adapted to use auxiliary magnification means to substantially change the ratio of image size to object size; said rangefinder functioning on the principle of correspondence between two visual convergence angles to determine the distance to a subject, with a first of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of said subject, and a second of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of a reticle, said binocular rangefinder comprising: concave mirror means, with at least one partially transparent reflecting surface having a predetermined focal length; said concave mirror means having a right viewing portion to provide said right eye images and a left viewing portion to provide said left eye images, said portions having a generatrix common to both and a fixed orientation with respect to each other; reticle means equally spaced from said right viewing portion and from said left viewing portion by optical paths of equal length and viewable by reflection from the concave surface of said concave mirror means; and means for varying the length of said optical paths as a function of the focal setting of said camera; said function being changeable as a consequence of changes in said magnification means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
220 words
A binocular rangefinder for use with a focusable camera adapted to use auxiliary magnification means to substantially change the ratio of image size to object size; said rangefinder functioning on the principle of correspondence between two visual convergence angles to determine the distance to a subject, with a first of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of said subject, and a second of said convergence angles permitting the fusing of a right eye image and left eye image of a reticle, said binocular rangefinder comprising: concave mirror means, with at least one partially transparent reflecting surface having a predetermined focal length; said concave mirror means having a right viewing portion to provide said right eye images and a left viewing portion to provide said left eye images, said portions having a generatrix common to both and a fixed orientation with respect to each other; reticle means equally spaced from said right viewing portion and from said left viewing portion by optical paths of equal length and viewable by reflection from the concave surface of said concave mirror means; and means for varying the length of said optical paths as a function of the focal setting of said camera; said function being changeable as a consequence of changes in said magnification means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The binocular rangefinder described in claim 6, further comprising: planar mirror means, opposite said concave mirror means, for reflecting at least one image of said reticle to said concave surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The binocular rangefinder described in claim 6, wherein said optical paths have lengths not exceeding said predetermined focal length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The binocular rangefinder described in claim 7, further comprising: a sliding member to support said planar mirror; cam means in said sliding member; and a drive pin, responsive to changes in said focal setting, and adapted to engage said cam means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
The binocular rangefinder described in claim 9, wherein said magnification means comprises at least one objective lens and at least one auxiliary lens and said cam means comprises a slot in said sliding member, including: a first edge of such shape as to move said planar mirror in a first predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said objective lens; and a second edge of such shape as to move said planar miRror in a second predetermined manner related to focal settings of said camera with said at least one auxiliary lens, said first and second edges separated so said drive pin can engage only one edge at a time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
In combination with a focusable camera having an objective lens adapted to cooperate with means for changing its focal length, a stereoscopic binocular rangefinder of the kind having a partially transparent concave mirror and a reticle optically spaced from said concave mirror an optical distance not to exceed a focal length of said concave mirror, and means for adjusting said optical distance in a preselected way to indicate, by means of images formed of said reticle, the focal setting of said camera, including: dual cam means for altering said means for adjusting said optical distance in a preselected way to correspond with a predetermined change in the focal length of said objective lens; and selection means for engaging said dual cam means in accord with the predetermined focal length of said objective lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
In combination with a focusable camera having an objective lens adapted to cooperate with means for changing its focal length, a stereoscopic binocular rangefinder of the kind having a partially transparent concave mirror and a reticle optically spaced from said concave mirror an optical distance not to exceed a focal length of said concave mirror, and means for adjusting said optical distance in a preselected way to indicate, by means of images formed of said reticle, the focal setting of said camera, including: dual cam means for altering said means for adjusting said optical distance in a preselected way to correspond with a predetermined change in the focal length of said objective lens; and selection means for engaging said dual cam means in accord with the predetermined focal length of said objective lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
The improved stereoscopic binocular rangefinder described in claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting said optical distance includes: a sliding member adapted to change said optical distance; a cam slot in said sliding member; a first functional shape on a first edge of said cam slot; a second functional shape on a second edge of said cam slot; a driver attached to said camera''s focusing mechanism and engaging said cam slot such that said driver bears on only one of said edges; and means for causing said driver to bear alternatively on the other edge of said cam slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved stereoscopic binocular rangefinder described in claim 12 wherein said focal length of said objective lens is changed by adding to said objective lens an auxiliary lens and said first functional shape relates to said objective lens and said second functional shape relates to the combination of said objective lens together with said auxiliary lens.
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) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |