US3720145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portrait camera having synchronized flash illumination source
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-29
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1990-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A portrait camera designed for closeups, having a Fresnel lens in front of the flashcube mount for focusing light from the flashcube into a relatively narrow and limited field angle, corresponding to the narrow field of view of the objective lens of the camera, and for directing light toward the axis of the camera lens.
Inventors
- 👤 B Johnson
- 👤 W Shelton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:26
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B9/00; G03B9/70; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0452
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A hand-held camera suited for portrait photography comprising: camera body means for supporting photosensitive material of at least snapshot size format at an exposure plane; mounting means positioned upon said camera body means for supporting a source of flash illumination and including positive lens means having a given focal length and mounted upon said camera body means in a position spaced from said source a distance less than said focal length for intercepting illumination therefrom and forming an enlarged virtual image thereof; imaging means including an objective lens mounted upon said camera body means for forming within a field of view of narrow angular extent an image of a photographic subject framed for portraiture at said exposure plane; ranging means mounted upon said camera body means for controlling the positioning of said camera body means to establish a minimum camera-to-subject distance selected to substantially reduce perspective distortion of the image of said subject at said exposure plane; and shutter means for activating said source of illumination in synchronism with the exposure of said photosensitive material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A hand-held camera suited for portrait photography comprising: camera body means for supporting photosensitive material of at least snapshot size format at an exposure plane; mounting means positioned upon said camera body means for supporting a source of flash illumination and including positive lens means having a given focal length and mounted upon said camera body means in a position spaced from said source a distance less than said focal length for intercepting illumination therefrom and forming an enlarged virtual image thereof; imaging means including an objective lens mounted upon said camera body means for forming within a field of view of narrow angular extent an image of a photographic subject framed for portraiture at said exposure plane; ranging means mounted upon said camera body means for controlling the positioning of said camera body means to establish a minimum camera-to-subject distance selected to substantially reduce perspective distortion of the image of said subject at said exposure plane; and shutter means for activating said source of illumination in synchronism with the exposure of said photosensitive material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A hand-held camera suited for portrait photography comprising: camera body means for supporting photosensitive material of at least snapshot size format at an exposure plane; mounting means positioned upon said camera body means for supporting a source of flash illumination and including positive lens means having a given focal length and mounted upon said camera body means in a position spaced from said source a distance less than said focal length for intercepting illumination therefrom and forming an enlarged virtual image thereof; imaging means including an objective lens mounted upon said camera body means for forming within a field of view of narrow angular extent an image of a photographic subject framed for portraiture at said exposure plane; ranging means mounted upon said camera body means for controlling the positioning of said camera body means to establish a minimum camera-to-subject distance selected to substantially reduce perspective distortion of the image of said subject at said exposure plane; and shutter means for activating said source of illumination in synchronism with the exposure of said photosensitive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A hand-held camera suited for portrait photography comprising: camera body means for supporting photosensitive material of at least snapshot size format at an exposure plane; mounting means positioned upon said camera body means for supporting a source of flash illumination and including positive lens means having a given focal length and mounted upon said camera body means in a position spaced from said source a distance less than said focal length for intercepting illumination therefrom and forming an enlarged virtual image thereof; imaging means including an objective lens mounted upon said camera body means for forming within a field of view of narrow angular extent an image of a photographic subject framed for portraiture at said exposure plane; ranging means mounted upon said camera body means for controlling the positioning of said camera body means to establish a minimum camera-to-subject distance selected to substantially reduce perspective distortion of the image of said subject at said exposure plane; and shutter means for activating said source of illumination in synchronism with the exposure of said photosensitive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The hand-held camera of claim 1 in which said camera body means includes an elongate exposure chamber the forwardmost portion of which is configured to retain said shutter means including manually movable trigger means for effecting said exposure and a stationary trigger element cooperatively disposed with respect to said manually movable trigger means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The hand-held camera of claim 1 wherein: said photosensitive material format is rectangular, having a predetermined diagonal dimension; and said imaging means objective lens is selected having a focal length equivalent to about twice the said diagonal dimension of said format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held camera of claim 1 in which said ranging means camera-to-subject distance is predetermined and fixed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hand-held camera of claim 1 in which said positive lens means includes an echelon lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The hand-held camera of claim 1 in which: said source of flash illumination is structured having a given light emission area and is configured to illuminate a field of view of relatively broad angular extent; and said positive lens means is configured to redirect said illumination within a field of relatively arrow angular extent with respect to that of said source of flash illumination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The hand-held camera of claim 6 wherein: said photosensitive material format is rectangular, having a predetermined diagonal dimension; and said imaging means objective lens is selected having a focal length equivalent to about twice the said diagonal dimension of said format.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hand-held camera of claim 6 in which said mounting means is configured for mounting a multilamp flash array each lamp within which is formed in combination with a contoured reflector, the periphery of which defines the periphery of said given light emission area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hand-held camera of claim 6 in which said positive lens means is configured having a light accepting surface area substantially larger than said given light emission area and is formed and arranged to intercept substantially all illumination therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held camera of claim 6 in which said ranging means camera-to-subject distance is predetermined and fixed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |