US4024573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scanning TV camera
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-04-19
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1996-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A TV camera is adapted to scan a field that may extend almost 360° around the camera, except for the angular area obscured by the camera body, by means of a double dove prism mounted for rotation in front of the camera lens on an axis that is normal to the optical axis of the lens. The double dove, which has an internal reflective surface, reflective on both sides, at the interface of the two dove portions, is oscillated by drive means to sweep continuously back and forth a selected angular amount less than 180° to cover a scan field of twice that angular amount, so that some portion of the scanned field is always in the field of view of the camera.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Robert Carnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:13
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/108; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A scanning TV camera system comprising: a TV camera having a lens and an optical axis of the lens; a double dove prism having an internal surface that is reflective on both sides at the interface of two dove prisms joined together base to base to form the double dove and having four refracting faces relatively positioned as sides of a square; said double dove prism having an axis of rotation in the plane of said interface on a line at which planes that are at right angles to said refracting faces intersect; said double dove prism being mounted for rotation in front of said lens with its axis of rotation substantially normal to the optical axis of said lens; and means for oscillating the double dove prism about its said axis a predetermined angular amount less than 180°, whereby a view of substantially 360° around the prism is obtained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A scanning TV camera system comprising: a TV camera having a lens and an optical axis of the lens; a double dove prism having an internal surface that is reflective on both sides at the interface of two dove prisms joined together base to base to form the double dove and having four refracting faces relatively positioned as sides of a square; said double dove prism having an axis of rotation in the plane of said interface on a line at which planes that are at right angles to said refracting faces intersect; said double dove prism being mounted for rotation in front of said lens with its axis of rotation substantially normal to the optical axis of said lens; and means for oscillating the double dove prism about its said axis a predetermined angular amount less than 180°, whereby a view of substantially 360° around the prism is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The camera system of claim 1 in which said oscillating means is a reversing motor drivingly connected to a shaft that is connected to said double dove prism coaxial with the axis of rotation of said prism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The camera system of claim 1 in which said double dove prism is a square in cross section normal to its axis of rotation, and in which its width and height measured at said interface are each greater than the diameter of the aperture of said lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The camera system of claim 3 in which said width and height are larger than the diameter of said lens aperture as measured at an optical projection of said aperture on the surface of said double dove prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The camera system of claim 4 in which said double dove prism is a cube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3780224A
Cited
US3889052A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |