Patent US2958442A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3738248A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3738248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic module having acoustic transducer
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1972-02-18
•
Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1992-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A framework supports and protects an underwater camera and several strobe lights for the nighttime taking of pictures of marine organisms. The framework-camera-and-light module is suspended from a surface vessel and readings are obtained from vertically and horizontally directed transducers to allow a precise positioning of the module. A hydrophone locates the sound making organisms and an additional transducer, carried adjacent to the camera, provides an indication of the distance from the camera to the organisms to permit placement of the camera for proper focusing. Because the transducers and hydrophone allow a precise positioning of the camera in darkness, the organism is photographed in the open and in a natural state when the strobe lights flash in synchronization with the camera shutter.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fish
- 👤 B Parks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An underwater photographic module comprising: means defining a framework; means suspending said framework means from a surface vessel including control and data transfer cables; a camera mounted on the framework means having a predetermined focal length and adapted for undersea use; means for acoustically locating sound producing organisms to ensure the proper orientation of said camera toward the sound producing organisms via the suspending means. means carried on said framework means for providing an acoustic representation of the distance between said camera and said sound producing organisms to ensure the placement of said camera at said predetermined focal distance via the suspending means; and a plurality of strobe lights carried on said framework means for illuminating said object with a high intensity flash.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An underwater photographic module comprising: means defining a framework; means suspending said framework means from a surface vessel including control and data transfer cables; a camera mounted on the framework means having a predetermined focal length and adapted for undersea use; means for acoustically locating sound producing organisms to ensure the proper orientation of said camera toward the sound producing organisms via the suspending means. means carried on said framework means for providing an acoustic representation of the distance between said camera and said sound producing organisms to ensure the placement of said camera at said predetermined focal distance via the suspending means; and a plurality of strobe lights carried on said framework means for illuminating said object with a high intensity flash.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An underwater module according to claim 1 further including: means for indicating the horizontal separation between said framework means and obstacles while being towed by said surface vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An underwater module according to claim 2 further including: means defining a pair of vertically extending, flat side panels mounted on opposite sides of said framework means for stabilizing the module in currents.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An underwater module according to claim 3 further including: connector elements pivotally mounting said camera and said strobe lights on said framework means for permitting the selective orientation of said camera and said strobe lights.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An underwater module according to claim 4 in which said framework means includes a pair of diagonal members mounting said camera for ensuring the selective positioning of said camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An underwater module according to claim 5 in which each connector element is a ''''T'''' section of piping having a cross-portion slot and carrying a releasable clamp for permitting the selective positioning of said camera and said strobe light on said framework.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US525459A
Cited
US1295776A
Cited
US2019059A
Cited
US2176573A
Cited
DE708920C
Cited
US2331736A
Cited
US2904257A
Cited
US2996967A
Cited
US3324239A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |