US4178090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
3-Dimensional camera device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-06-30
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Granted: 1979-12-11
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Expires: 1997-06-30
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a reflex camera device having a single lens for the photography of right and left images from an object space transmitted as first and second light ray bundles from two positions separated by an interocular distance onto a single frame of a single film strip; a first exterior means for distinguishing from each other the first and second light ray bundles; a single frame aperture; a second means near the image plane to separate the first and second light ray bundles from each position respectively into right and left adjacent images onto the single frame; means to control convergence, focus and interocular distance; and a reflex viewer containing a third distinguishing means near the image plane to enable the simultaneous viewing and photographing of right and left adjacent images; and optionally an indicium marking means for said film strip at the side of the frame line.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin M. Marks
- 👤 Mortimer Marks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:31
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B35/00; G03B35/08; G03B35/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device for photographing an object space in 3 dimensions from a first and a second position separated by an interocular distance, first and second light ray bundles from said object space to said first and second positions, a monocular lens, a first optical axis and a second optical axis through said lens, a film gate, a film frame at said film gate, a first position first horizontal deflector, and a first position second horizontal deflector, to deflect the said first light ray bundle from the said first position to along said first optical axis, a second position first vertical deflector and a second position second vertical deflector to deflect the second light ray bundle from said second position to along said second optical axis, a dark bar dividing said film gate into a first area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the first light ray bundle and a second area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the second light ray bundle, said first area and said second areas being adjacent at the said film gate, said first optical axis passing through center of said first area and the optical center of said lens, and said second optical axis passing through the center of the said second area and the optical center of said lens, means located along said first and second light ray bundles, said means and said dark bar mask defining and separating the said first and second light ray bundles at the first and second areas of said film gate, said first light ray bundle being transmitted only to said first area, and said second light ray bundle being transmitted only to said second area, and in which at least one of said horizontal deflectors is rotable, the said second horizontal deflector having a transparent diagonal upper half plane and a specular reflecting lower half plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device for photographing an object space in 3 dimensions from a first and a second position separated by an interocular distance, first and second light ray bundles from said object space to said first and second positions, a monocular lens, a first optical axis and a second optical axis through said lens, a film gate, a film frame at said film gate, a first position first horizontal deflector, and a first position second horizontal deflector, to deflect the said first light ray bundle from the said first position to along said first optical axis, a second position first vertical deflector and a second position second vertical deflector to deflect the second light ray bundle from said second position to along said second optical axis, a dark bar dividing said film gate into a first area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the first light ray bundle and a second area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the second light ray bundle, said first area and said second areas being adjacent at the said film gate, said first optical axis passing through center of said first area and the optical center of said lens, and said second optical axis passing through the center of the said second area and the optical center of said lens, means located along said first and second light ray bundles, said means and said dark bar mask defining and separating the said first and second light ray bundles at the first and second areas of said film gate, said first light ray bundle being transmitted only to said first area, and said second light ray bundle being transmitted only to said second area, and in which at least one of said horizontal deflectors is rotable, the said second horizontal deflector having a transparent diagonal upper half plane and a specular reflecting lower half plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, in which said second horizontal device is a glass cube having a laminated diagonal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, in which said second horizontal deflector is a first surface mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, in which said first horizontal deflector is a first surface mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, said first horizontal deflector is a reflecting element having an angle η of about 52°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, in which said means comprises a first set and a second set of mutually extinguishing filters, a first set between the said monocular lens and the said first and second positions, and a second set at the image plane at the gate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 6, in which said mutually extinguishing filters are polarizers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 7, and achromatic depolarizers between said object and said first set of polarizers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 7, and an achromatic half-wave birefringent plate between one of said first sets of polarizers and said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, means to control the convergence angle of the first and second light ray bundles from said object space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, means to control the position of the said lens along its axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, means to control the convergence angle of the first and second light ray bundles from the said object space, and means to control the position of the said lens along its axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, a reflex camera having a viewfinder, a first dark bar between said first and second areas in the film gate, and a second dark bar between the first and second areas at the focal plane of the viewfinder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 13, in which said viewfinder is monocular, the images seen in the said viewfinder being identical with the images photographed on said film frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 13, in which said viewfinder is binocular, a first set of mutually extinguishing filters at said image plane, a pair of oculars, a second set of mutually extinguishing filters on said oculars, prisms on said oculars, whereby said first and second images appearing at the image plane of said viewfinder are overlapped and appear in 3 dimensions when viewed through said binocular device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 13 in which horizontal and vertical reticle lines are placed at the image plane of said viewfinder to measure the convergence distance p by the displacement Δ 1 of corresponding points of the right and left images on said image plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
127 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 10, a reversible adjustable speed motor, a speed control device connected to said motor, a gear train driven by said motor, said gear train having first and second output shafts whose speeds are proportional and at a controlled ratio to each other, a first coupling device and a second coupling device attached to said first and second output shafts respectively whereby the angle α through which at least one of said horizontal deflectors is rotated, and the distance q of the optical center of the said lens to said film plane is varied in direct ratio to control the simultaneous convergence and focus while tracking an object being photographed as said object moves toward or away from the said camera.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, means for adjusting at least one of said first and second vertical deflectors to control the vertical displacement and direction of the said second light ray bundle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, said camera being a reflex camera, an aperture in front of said device, first and second dark bars between said images in the film gate and at the focal plane of the viewfinder, adjusting means for at least one of said vertical deflectors, whereby the said images on said first and second areas are adjusted for vertical position, and vertical parallax.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, in which the said second horizontal deflector is mounted upon a vertical shaft, a first means to control the angle through which said shaft is turned, and second means for adjusting the distance between the optical center of said lens and said film plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 20, in which the said second horizontal deflector is rotable, and in which said first means rotates said deflector about a vertical axis through an angle α to adjust the convergence angle θ of the left and right images; and in which the said second means moves the lens along its axis varying the distance q between the optical center of said lens and said film plane, coupling between said first and second means providing a motion through a distance Δq proportional to the change in angle Δα of rotation of the said second horizontal deflector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 21, a differential to control the relative angle between the first and second output means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 21, a means for decoupling the said coupling device, said first and second means comprising first and second shafts, respectively, and a means to independently control the angle of each of said shafts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 1, a first lens and a second lens in front of said first and second positions respectively, a third lens in front of said monocular lens, means for adjusting the distance between the optical centers of the said first and second lenses whereby the interocular distance between said first and second positions is varied.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 24, in which said first and second lenses are spherical plano concave, the index of refraction is about 1.685, the Abbe No. is at least 45, and the third lens is spherical convex, whereby the field of view is increased horizontally and vertically.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 24, in which said first and second lenses are cylindrical plano-concave, the index of refraction is about 1.685, the Abbe No. is at least 45, and the third lens is cylindrical-convex, the axes of said cylinders being horizontal, whereby the angular field of view is increased vertically.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
313 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device for photographing an object space in 3 dimensions from a first and a second position separated by an interocular distance, first and second light ray bundles from said object space to said first and second positions, a monocular lens, a first optical axis and a second optical axis through said lens, a film gate, a film frame at said film gate, a first position first horizontal deflector, and a first position second horizontal deflector, to deflect the said first light ray bundle from the said first position to along said first optical axis, a second position first vertical deflector and a second position second vertical deflector to deflect the second light ray bundle from said second position to along said second optical axis, a dark bar dividing said film gate into a first area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the first light ray bundle and a second area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the second light ray bundle, said first area and said second area being adjacent at the said film gate, said first optical axis passing through center of said first area and the optical center of said lens, and said second optical axis passing through the center of the said second area and the optical center of said lens, means located along said first and second light ray bundles, said means and said dark bar mask defining and separating the said first and second light ray bundles at the first and second areas of said film gate, said first light ray bundle being transmitted only to said first area, and said second light ray bundle being transmitted only to said second area, in which all the deflectors are prisms, and in which there are no reflective surfaces which reflect substantially.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
313 words
In a 3-dimensional camera device for photographing an object space in 3 dimensions from a first and a second position separated by an interocular distance, first and second light ray bundles from said object space to said first and second positions, a monocular lens, a first optical axis and a second optical axis through said lens, a film gate, a film frame at said film gate, a first position first horizontal deflector, and a first position second horizontal deflector, to deflect the said first light ray bundle from the said first position to along said first optical axis, a second position first vertical deflector and a second position second vertical deflector to deflect the second light ray bundle from said second position to along said second optical axis, a dark bar dividing said film gate into a first area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the first light ray bundle and a second area coinciding with the plane of the image of the object space carried by the second light ray bundle, said first area and said second area being adjacent at the said film gate, said first optical axis passing through center of said first area and the optical center of said lens, and said second optical axis passing through the center of the said second area and the optical center of said lens, means located along said first and second light ray bundles, said means and said dark bar mask defining and separating the said first and second light ray bundles at the first and second areas of said film gate, said first light ray bundle being transmitted only to said first area, and said second light ray bundle being transmitted only to said second area, in which all the deflectors are prisms, and in which there are no reflective surfaces which reflect substantially.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A 3-dimensional camera device according to claim 27, in which said prisms are compound prisms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-12-10 | 1983-06-11 | 1983-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-10 | 1987-06-11 | 1987-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-10 | 1991-06-11 | 1991-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |