Camera with apparent image motion and direction compensation

Claim 2

A camera assembly incorporating image motion compensation, comprising, in combination: lens means having an optical axis normal to a given plane for producing an image of an object lying in a given object plane on a predetermined focal surface fixed with respect to said object plane and between which object plane and lens means relative motion is occurring along a given path in said given plane; film gate means for positioning a sensitive film at said focal surface of the lens means; means for reciprocating said film gate means back and forth relative to said lens means normally along a path parallel to said given object plane and perpendicular to said optical axis; means for exposing said film during motion of said film gate means; and means for selectively varying the direction of the path of said film gate means relative to the optical axis of said lens means so that said film gate path may be maintained substantially parallel to said object plane when the attitude of said given path is changed with respect to said object plane.

Claim 3

A camera assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for feeding fresh film to said film gate means as said film gate means is moving in one direction along its path and for carrying such fresh film with said film gate means as it moves in the opposite direction along its path.

Claim 4

A camera assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the image produced by said lens means is cylindrical, said film gate means includes a cylindrical film-receiving surface and the movement of said film gate means takes place within a plane normal to the axis of said cylindrical film-receiving surface.

Claim 5

A camera assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for feeding and for carrying includes suction-producing means for capturing and holding said fresh film against said film-receiving surface.

Claim 6

A camera assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the image produced by said lens means is cylindrical, said film gate means includes a cylindrical film-receiving surface and the movement of saId film gate means takes place within a plane normal to the axis of said cylindrical film-receiving surface.

Claim 7

A camera assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for feeding and for carrying includes suction-producing means for capturing and holding said fresh film.

Claim 8

A camera assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for varying the velocity of movement of said film gate means at that point along its path whereat exposure is effected.

Claim 9

A camera assembly as defined in claim 7 including means for feeding fresh film to said film gate means as said film gate means in moving in one direction along its path and for carrying such fresh film with said film gate means as it moves in the opposite direction along its path.

Claim 10

A camera assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the image produced by said lens means is cylindrical, said film gate means includes a cylindrical film-receiving surface and the movement of said film gate means takes place within a plane normal to the axis of said cylindrical film-receiving surface.

Claim 11

A camera assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for feeding and for carrying includes suction-producing means for capturing and holding said fresh film against said film-receiving surface.

Claim 12

A camera assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the image produced by said lens means is cylindrical, said film gate means includes a cylindrical film-receiving surface and the movement of said film gate means takes place within a plane normal to the axis of said cylindrical film-receiving surface.

Claim 13

A camera assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for feeding and for carrying includes suction-producing means for capturing and holding said fresh film against said film-receiving surface.

Claim 14

In a camera assembly particularly suited for aerial photography where a significant component of image motion is present due to the velocity component of an aircraft relative to the ground surface, in combination: a camera body and optical means fixed to the aircraft for producing instantaneous images of the ground surface on a focal surface which is in fixed position relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and faces downwardly toward the ground surface; film gate means movable longitudinally of the aircraft with respect to said camera body and optical means having an interim position for presenting a sensitive film area at said fixed focal surface, at alternate of which interim positions said instantaneous images are produced by said optical means; means for moving said film gate means to pass back and forth longitudinally of the aircraft along a path through said interim position of the film gate means wherein said path along which said film gate means is moved is in a plane parallel to said velocity component of said aircraft; and means for varying the direction of said path through said interim position to follow changes in the inclination of said longitudinal axis of the aircraft with respect to the ground surface.

Claim 15

In a camera assembly particularly suited for aerial photography where a significant component of image motion is present due to the velocity component of an aircraft relative to the ground surface, in combination: a camera body and optical means fixed to the aircraft for producing instantaneous images of the ground surface on a focal surface which is in fixed position relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and faces downwardly toward the ground surface; film gate means movable longitudinally of the aircraft with respect to said camera body and optical means having an interim position for presenting a sensitive film area at said fixed focal surface, at alternate of which interim positions said instantaneous images are produced by said optical means; means for moving said film gate means to pass back and forth longitudinally of the aircraft along a path through said interim position of the film gate means wherein said path along which said film gate means is moved is in a plane parallel to said velocity component of said aircraft; and means for varying the direction of said path through said interim position to follow changes in the inclination of said longitudinal axis of the aircraft with respect to the ground surface.

Claim 16

In a camera assembly as defined in claim 13 including means for selectively varying the velocity of said film gate means as it passes through said interim position thereof.

Claim 17

In a camera assembly as defined in claim 13 including means for advancing film in said film gate means as said film gate means is moved in one direction through said interim position, and means for holding the film stationary with respect to said film gate means as it is moved in the opposite direction through said interim position.

Claim 18

In a camera assembly as defined in claim 15 including means for selectively varying the velocity of said film gate means as it passes through said interim position thereof.

Claim 19

In a camera assembly having optical means for intermittently producing an image on a fixed focal surface and film gate means for presenting a photosensitive film area at said focal surface, the combination of: guide means for allowing said film gate means to move in Opposite directions on either side of that interim position at which said film area is presented at said fixed focal surface; means connected to said film gate means for effecting reciprocatory movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for exposing said film as it is moved through said interim position by said means for effecting movement of said film gate means; swash plate means connected to said film gate means for effecting movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for driving said swash plate means at a uniform rotational speed; and means for selectively varying the stroke imparted by said swash plate means whereby to vary the instantaneous velocity imparted to said film gate means at said interim position thereof.

Claim 20

In a camera assembly having optical means for intermittently producing an image on a fixed focal surface and film gate means for presenting a photosensitive film area at said focal surface, the combination of: guide means for allowing said film gate means to move in Opposite directions on either side of that interim position at which said film area is presented at said fixed focal surface; means connected to said film gate means for effecting reciprocatory movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for exposing said film as it is moved through said interim position by said means for effecting movement of said film gate means; swash plate means connected to said film gate means for effecting movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for driving said swash plate means at a uniform rotational speed; and means for selectively varying the stroke imparted by said swash plate means whereby to vary the instantaneous velocity imparted to said film gate means at said interim position thereof.

Claim 21

In a camera assembly having optical means for intermittently producing an image on a fixed focal surface and film gate means for presenting a photosensitive film area at said focal surface, the combination of: guide means for allowing said film gate means to move in opposite directions on either side of that position at which said film area is presented at said fixed focal surface; swash plate means connected to said film gate means for effecting reciprocatory movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for selectively varying the stroke imparted by said swash plate means; a rotatable hub upon which said swash plate means is mounted; said swash plate means including an outer element and a drive pin carried by said outer element and disposed radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said hub, said drive pin engaging said film gate means; means for selectively positioning said hub swingably about the axis of said drive pin whereby the stroke imparted by said drive pin is unaffected by such positioning; and means connecting said drive hub to said guide means for altering the path of movement allowed by said guide means in response to said selected positioning of the hub assembly.

Claim 22

In a camera assembly having optical means for intermittently producing an image on a fixed focal surface and film gate means for presenting a photosensitive film area at said focal surface, the combination of: guide means for allowing said film gate means to move in opposite directions on either side of that position at which said film area is presented at said fixed focal surface; swash plate means connected to said film gate means for effecting reciprocatory movement thereof within the confines allowed by said guide means; means for selectively varying the stroke imparted by said swash plate means; a rotatable hub upon which said swash plate means is mounted; said swash plate means including an outer element and a drive pin carried by said outer element and disposed radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said hub, said drive pin engaging said film gate means; means for selectively positioning said hub swingably about the axis of said drive pin whereby the stroke imparted by said drive pin is unaffected by such positioning; and means connecting said drive hub to said guide means for altering the path of movement allowed by said guide means in response to said selected positioning of the hub assembly.

Claim 23

In a camera assembly as defined in claim 18 including means for advancing film in said film gate means; means for intermittently braking the advancing of the film; and suction means for capturing and holding film to conform to said focal surface during braking of film advance.

Claim 24

A camera assembly incorporating image motion compensation, comprising, in combination: lens means for producing the image of an object at a predetermined focal surface and between which object and lens means relative motion is occurring along a given path; film gate means for positioning a sensitive film in said focal surface of the lens means; means for reciprocating said film gate means back and forth across the optical axis of said lens means along a path parallel to said given path; film supply means adjacent one end of the film gate means path and film take-up means adjacent the other end of the film gate means path; film drive means disposed between said supply means and said take-up means; an indefinite length of film in said supply means issuing therefrom into engagement with said drive means, thence through said film gate means back into engagement with said drive means and then into said take-up means to form a film loop between the points of engagement thereof with said drive means and which loop passes through said film gate means with sufficient slack to accommodate the reciprocatory movement of said film gate means; said drive means including positively interconnected drive elements engaging both ends of said loop and a constant speed drive motor connected to said elements whereby the length of said loop is constant and the feed and take-up of said film from said supply means and to said take-up means respectively are constant; secondary film drive means on said film gate means for advancing film therethrough; means for intermittently terminating operation of said secondary drive means; and means on said film gate means for capturing and holding the film therein for transport with the film gate means when the intermittent termination of said secondary drive means occurs.

Claim 25

A camera assembly incorporating image motion compensation, comprising, in combination: lens means for producing the image of an object at a predetermined focal surface and between which object and lens means relative motion is occurring along a given path; film gate means for positioning a sensitive film in said focal surface of the lens means; means for reciprocating said film gate means back and forth across the optical axis of said lens means along a path parallel to said given path; film supply means adjacent one end of the film gate means path and film take-up means adjacent the other end of the film gate means path; film drive means disposed between said supply means and said take-up means; an indefinite length of film in said supply means issuing therefrom into engagement with said drive means, thence through said film gate means back into engagement with said drive means and then into said take-up means to form a film loop between the points of engagement thereof with said drive means and which loop passes through said film gate means with sufficient slack to accommodate the reciprocatory movement of said film gate means; said drive means including positively interconnected drive elements engaging both ends of said loop and a constant speed drive motor connected to said elements whereby the length of said loop is constant and the feed and take-up of said film from said supply means and to said take-up means respectively are constant; secondary film drive means on said film gate means for advancing film therethrough; means for intermittently terminating operation of said secondary drive means; and means on said film gate means for capturing and holding the film therein for transport with the film gate means when the intermittent termination of said secondary drive means occurs.

Claim 26

A camera assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said secondary drive means includes a driven element positively engaging said film, a constantly rotating member, and a resilient coupling connecting said constantly rotating member to said driven element, and wherein said means for intermittently terminating operation of said secondary drive means comprises brake means for intermittently stopping said driven element while causing said resilient coupling torsionally to store drive energy which upon deactivation of said brake means rapidly dissipates and temporarily advances film through said film gate means faster than the subsequent advance effected by said constantly rotating member alone.