US3769889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three dimensional image reproduction with pseudo-scopy correction by image inversion optics which are capable of independently controlling z-axis placement in image space
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing multiple perspective, autostereoscopic images is disclosed along with a camera employing the method, which lends itself to inexpensive construction and which may be hand-held to take pictures with excellent depth illusion and virtually free of Z-axis compression with exposure times appropriate to conventional photography. The camera employs a selector screen and is constructed such that any point in object space viewed by the camera may be imaged anywhere along the depth axis of the picture, in image space, so that the image may be made of any extent desired, a virtual image, independently of camera focus by controlling the orientation relative to the camera axis of the optical image-reversal elements employed for pseudoscopy correction or by providing additional optical elements associated with each such image reversal element for optically effectively controlling such orientation.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wechsler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In a camera for forming orthoscopic three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, the improvement comprising means forming a plurality of discrete optical paths optically aligned with said lenses, each path including an image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical element forming an angle Alpha with respect to the camera axis, and control means for independently varying the convergence of light rays through each optical path such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plane independently of whether or not such object is in focus, thereby permitting the formation of an image having any desired virtual component independently of the focus of the camera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a camera for forming orthoscopic three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, the improvement comprising means forming a plurality of discrete optical paths optically aligned with said lenses, each path including an image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical element forming an angle Alpha with respect to the camera axis, and control means for independently varying the convergence of light rays through each optical path such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plane independently of whether or not such object is in focus, thereby permitting the formation of an image having any desired virtual component independently of the focus of the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said optical paths consists of an image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical element forming an angle Alpha such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged on the image plane independently of whether or not such object is in focus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A camera as defined in claim 2 wherein said image reversal elements are image reversal prisms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A camera as defined in claim 3 wherein said selector screen is a line or lenticular screen capable of displaying horizontal parallax, said camera having at least three lenses disposed transversely with respect to said line screen, and a prism held in a prism mount pivotably disposed in the optical path of each lens and being pivotable substantially about the center of such lens to control the convergence of light rays passing through such lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera as defined in claim 3 whereIn said selector screen is a line or lenticular screen capable of displaying horizontal parallax, said camera having a single lens and a plurality of prisms having exit apertures substantially covering the entire field of view of said lens, each prism being held in a prism mount pivotably disposed in the optical path of such lens and being pivotable about points extending transversely with respect to the elements of said selector screen and disposed close to the plane of such lens for controlling the convergence of light rays passing through said lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera as defined in claim 4 including Z-axis control means for controlling the angles Alpha of all of such prisms together in a predetermined relationship such that an object point at a predetermined distance from the camera is imaged by all lenses at a common point on the image plane in image space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A camera as defined in claim 6, each prism mount having a stud extending therefrom and wherein said Z-axis control means includes a cam member engaged by all said studs and controllable to rotate all of the prism mounts together to continuously vary the angles Alpha while maintaining the relationship Alpha kappa Chi , where kappa is a constant and Chi is the vector distance from the axis of symmetry of the lenses to each respective lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera as defined in claim 5 including Z-axis control means for controlling the angles Alpha of all such prisms together in a predetermined relationship such that an object at a predetermined point in object space is imaged by all lenses at a common point on the image plane in image space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said image reversal elements are image reversal prisms having entrance and exit faces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A camera as defined in claim 9, the axis of each such prism forming an angle Alpha with respect to the camera axis, each said optical path including an optical tilter, the angles Alpha and said tilters being disposed such that an object a a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plane independently of whether or not such object is in focus, thereby permitting the formation of an image having any desired virtual component independently of the focus of the camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A camera as defined in claim 10 wherein said prisms are aligned parallel to the camera axis, each such optical tilter being angularly disposed in conjunction with said prisms to image an object point at a predetermined distance from the camera on the image plane in image space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A camera as defined in claim 9, each such prism having entrance and exit faces forming angles with respect to the base of the prism such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plane independently of whether or not such object is in focus, thereby permitting the formation of an image having any desired virtual component independently of the focus of the camera.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camera as defined in claim 12 wherein said lenses are constituted by convex lens surfaces formed on at least one of the faces of each said prisms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A camera as defined in claim 1 including a second selector screen mounted back to back with the first mentioned selector screen, a diffusing layer being interposed between said selector screens, such that the depth placement of the image may be directly viewed by looking at said second selector screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A camera as defined in claim 1 wherein said selector screen is a line or lenticular screen capable of displaying horizontal parallax, said camera having a single lens carried by a moveable lens mount for scanning the lens in a direction transvesely of the selector screen, said optical element being an image reversal prism carried by said mount, and including means for varying the angle Alpha of the prism with respect to the camera axis during such scan such that perspectives taken by the lens of a selected point in object space at all points of its travel during such scan are imaged coincidently at a point in the image plane.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of forming orthoscopic three dimensional images with a camera having one or more lenses on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane comprising the steps of: a. forming a plurality of discrete optical paths aligned with a lens, said lens forming perspectives on said image plane, b. positioning in each of said optical paths an image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical element at an angle with respect to the lens axis such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera is imaged in the image plane for a given lens-to-film distance enabling the formation of an image having any desired virtual component and, c. forming the perspectives into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three dimensional image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of forming orthoscopic three dimensional images with a camera having one or more lenses on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane comprising the steps of: a. forming a plurality of discrete optical paths aligned with a lens, said lens forming perspectives on said image plane, b. positioning in each of said optical paths an image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical element at an angle with respect to the lens axis such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera is imaged in the image plane for a given lens-to-film distance enabling the formation of an image having any desired virtual component and, c. forming the perspectives into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three dimensional image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the optical elements in the optical paths are moved together such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 16 wherein said image reversal pseudoscopy correction optical elements are prisms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 18 including aligning said prisms parallel to the camera axis and disposing an optical tilter in each of said optical paths at an angle such that an object at a predetermined distance from the camera will be imaged in the image plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method as defined in claim 16 wherein a line or lenticular selector screen capable of displaying horizontal parallax is employed for forming the perspectives into said discrete fields and including the steps of causing a lens to move in a direction transverse to the lines of the selector screen, forming said optical paths at each position of the lens during movement of said lens by a prism aligned with said lens and imaging the perspectives taken by the lens of a selected point in object space at all points of its travel coincidentaly at a point in the image plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as defined in claim 16 wherein a first selector screen is employed for forming the perspectives into said discrete fields, placing a second selector screen back to back with said first selector screen and directly viewing and adjusting the depth placement of the image upon the second selector screen by interposing a diffusing layer between the first and second selector screens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as defined in claim 20 wherein said optical paths include an optical tilter aligned with the prism, said angle remaining zero during such lens movement and including the step of varying the optical tilter during the lens movement such that the perspectives taken by the lens of a selected point in object space at all points of the lens movement are imaged coincidently at a point in the image plane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 16 including the steps of disposing a diffusing element in the image plane, choosing the point in object space to be imaged on the image plan, and varying said angles to bring into coincidence the images of this point in the several perspectives seen on the diffusing element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space comprising a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming perspectives into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, said selector screen having a finite predetermined thickness equal to the desired distance between its surface carrying the lines or lenticules, and the film, and a spring back for yieldably urging the film and selector screen into uniform planar contact with each other whereby images of good optical quality may be formed on film without the necessity for a vacuum back.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space comprising a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming perspectives into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, said selector screen having a finite predetermined thickness equal to the desired distance between its surface carrying the lines or lenticules, and the film, and a spring back for yieldably urging the film and selector screen into uniform planar contact with each other whereby images of good optical quality may be formed on film without the necessity for a vacuum back.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
A camera as defined in claim 24 wherein said spring back is formed of a substantially rigid planar element covering at least the same surface area as such film and provided on its face adjacent such film with a layer of soft yieldable mAterial for assuring planar contact between the film and the selector screen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an autostereoscopic camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimentional image, said camera including means for varying the Z-axis placement of objects in image space, the improvement comprising a second selector screen mounted back to back with the first selector screen, and a diffusing layer interposed between the first and second selector screens such that the depth placement of the image may be directly viewed by looking at said second selector screen.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an autostereoscopic camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimentional image, said camera including means for varying the Z-axis placement of objects in image space, the improvement comprising a second selector screen mounted back to back with the first selector screen, and a diffusing layer interposed between the first and second selector screens such that the depth placement of the image may be directly viewed by looking at said second selector screen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an autostereoscopic camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, the improvement comprising a second selector screen mounted back to back with the first selector screen, and a diffusing layer interposed between the first and second selector screens such that the depth placement, focus and composition, of the image may be directly viewed by looking at said second selector screen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an autostereoscopic camera for forming three-dimensional images on an image plane in image space partially defined with respect to a Z-axis normal to said image plane, including one or more lenses for forming perspectives on said image plane, and a selector screen disposed parallel to the image plane for forming the perspectives from said lenses into a plurality of discrete fields for obtaining a viewable three-dimensional image, the improvement comprising a second selector screen mounted back to back with the first selector screen, and a diffusing layer interposed between the first and second selector screens such that the depth placement, focus and composition, of the image may be directly viewed by looking at said second selector screen.
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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |