US4152061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-focusing camera apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-05-01
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Granted: 1979-05-01
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Expires: 1998-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided which automatically focus a television camera or motion picture camera, or the like, in applications where, for any given camera-pointing direction, the desired subject will lie at a single-valued and predetermined distance from the camera such as on a planar surface. In one embodiment, a mechanical linkage enables a camera, shooting downward onto a flat playing field, to self-focus on any point in that field. In an electronic embodiment, a learn mode is included that handles events on more complicated terrains such as mountainous terrain in skiing events. In these cases, the self-focusing action is instantaneous, continuous and accurate.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary B. Gordon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/305; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
Camera focusing apparatus for a camera having an adjustable-focus lens operated from a fixed position relative to a horizontal object plane, the apparatus comprising: support means for the camera rotatable at least about a substantially horizontal axis; angle-sensing means disposed with respect to said support means to produce an output substantially proportional to the sine of the angular position of the camera about said horizontal axis; scaling means coupled to the angle-sensing means for altering said output of the angle-sensing means by a constant of proportionality which is indicative of and inversely proportional to the height of the camera above the object plane; and actuating means for converting the altered ouput of said scaling means to focus-adjusting motion of the lens of the camera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
Camera focusing apparatus for a camera having an adjustable-focus lens operated from a fixed position relative to a horizontal object plane, the apparatus comprising: support means for the camera rotatable at least about a substantially horizontal axis; angle-sensing means disposed with respect to said support means to produce an output substantially proportional to the sine of the angular position of the camera about said horizontal axis; scaling means coupled to the angle-sensing means for altering said output of the angle-sensing means by a constant of proportionality which is indicative of and inversely proportional to the height of the camera above the object plane; and actuating means for converting the altered ouput of said scaling means to focus-adjusting motion of the lens of the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Camera focusing system as in claim 1 wherein: said angle-sensing means responds to the declination angle of the camera about said axis relative to horizontal; and said scaling means includes a movable coupling disposed to be set at a selectable distance from the horziontal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
Camera-focusing apparatus for a camera having a focus-adjustable lens operated at a fixed location relative to the object, the apparatus comprising: support means for the camera disposed to allow rotation thereof about substantially horizontal and vertical axes; angle-sensing means disposed to produce outputs representative of the pointing directions of th camera relative to said support means; lens position-sensing means for producing an output indicative of the lens focus setting of the camera;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
Camera-focusing apparatus for a camera having a focus-adjustable lens operated at a fixed location relative to the object, the apparatus comprising: support means for the camera disposed to allow rotation thereof about substantially horizontal and vertical axes; angle-sensing means disposed to produce outputs representative of the pointing directions of th camera relative to said support means; lens position-sensing means for producing an output indicative of the lens focus setting of the camera;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
storage means coupled to said angle-sensing means and said lens position-sensing means for selectively storing the output indicative of the sensed lens position and corresponding outputs representative of the sensed camera-pointing directions; means for selectively recalling from said storage means the stored output indicative of lens focus setting corresponding substantially to the outputs produced by the angle-sensing means in response to the camera attaining a selected pointing direction; and lens-positioning mens responsive to said recalled output for altering the lends focus adjustment in response thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
storage means coupled to said angle-sensing means and said lens position-sensing means for selectively storing the output indicative of the sensed lens position and corresponding outputs representative of the sensed camera-pointing directions; means for selectively recalling from said storage means the stored output indicative of lens focus setting corresponding substantially to the outputs produced by the angle-sensing means in response to the camera attaining a selected pointing direction; and lens-positioning mens responsive to said recalled output for altering the lends focus adjustment in response thereto.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of adjusting the focus of a camera operated from a fixed position relative to a horizontal object plane, the method comprising: supporting the camera for rotation at least about a substantially horizontal axis; producing an output substantially proportional to the sine of the angular position of the camera about the axis; scaling the sine output relative to the height of the camera relative to the object plane; and applying the scaled output to the camera as focus-adjusting motion of the lens thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of adjusting the focus of a camera operated from a fixed position relative to a horizontal object plane, the method comprising: supporting the camera for rotation at least about a substantially horizontal axis; producing an output substantially proportional to the sine of the angular position of the camera about the axis; scaling the sine output relative to the height of the camera relative to the object plane; and applying the scaled output to the camera as focus-adjusting motion of the lens thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
The method of adjusting the focus of a camera operated at a fixed position relative to an object, the method comprising: supporting the camera for rotation about substantially horizontal and vertical axes; producing outputs representative of the angular positions of the camera about the axes; producing an output representative of the focus setting of the camera pointing at an object located in the directions identified by the angular positions aout the axes; storing the output representative of the focus setting at the corresponding angular positions of the camera about the axes; selectively recalling the stored outputs representative of focus settings of the camera in response to the camera being oriented at the angular positions corresponding thereto; and altering the focus setting of the camera in response to the recalled focus-setting outputs.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
The method of adjusting the focus of a camera operated at a fixed position relative to an object, the method comprising: supporting the camera for rotation about substantially horizontal and vertical axes; producing outputs representative of the angular positions of the camera about the axes; producing an output representative of the focus setting of the camera pointing at an object located in the directions identified by the angular positions aout the axes; storing the output representative of the focus setting at the corresponding angular positions of the camera about the axes; selectively recalling the stored outputs representative of focus settings of the camera in response to the camera being oriented at the angular positions corresponding thereto; and altering the focus setting of the camera in response to the recalled focus-setting outputs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3797909A
Cited
US4120004A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-30 | 1982-10-30 | 1983-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-30 | 1986-10-30 | 1987-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-30 | 1990-10-30 | 1991-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |