Patent US6903443B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5873007A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5873007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Picture composition guidance system
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-28
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2017-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A picture composition guidance system for guiding a user to take pictures with quality picture compositions includes a horizon guide having an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line, a diagonal guide having a pair of diagonal lines, and a strong points guide having a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker. The horizon guide, the diagonal guide, and the strong points guide are superimposed on a viewfinder for a camera such that the upper horizontal line and the lower horizontal line demarcate the view finder substantially in thirds. Further, the pair of diagonal lines intersect on the lower horizontal line while the pair of upper markers are positioned on the upper horizontal line, the pair of lower markers are positioned on the lower horizontal line, and the center marker is positioned substantially in the center of the viewfinder. One embodiment of the invention further includes a toggle feature allowing a user to customize which one of the guides are displayed on the viewfinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Luis Arnaldo Ferrada Suarez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:23
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/02; G03B17/00; G03B17/18; G03B17/20; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/53; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line, wherein said horizon guide is superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said view finder substantially in equal thirds; and a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and intersect on said lower horizontal line at substantially the middle of the longitudinal direction of said lower horizontal line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line, wherein said horizon guide is superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said view finder substantially in equal thirds; and a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and intersect on said lower horizontal line at substantially the middle of the longitudinal direction of said lower horizontal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and said pair of diagonal lines intersect at approximately one third of the way above the bottom of said viewfinder and at substantially the middle of the longitudinal direction of said view finder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and said pair of diagonal lines intersect at approximately one third of the way above the bottom of said viewfinder and at substantially the middle of the longitudinal direction of said view finder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
161 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line; a diagonal guide including a pair of diagonal lines extending substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder; and a strong points guide including a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker, wherein said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide are superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said viewfinder substantially in equal thirds, said pair of diagonal lines intersect on said lower horizontal line at substantially the middle of the longitudinal length of said lower horizontal line, said pair of upper markers are positioned on said upper horizontal line, said pair of lower markers are positioned on said lower horizontal line, and said center marker is positioned substantially in the center of said viewfinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line; a diagonal guide including a pair of diagonal lines extending substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder; and a strong points guide including a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker, wherein said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide are superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said viewfinder substantially in equal thirds, said pair of diagonal lines intersect on said lower horizontal line at substantially the middle of the longitudinal length of said lower horizontal line, said pair of upper markers are positioned on said upper horizontal line, said pair of lower markers are positioned on said lower horizontal line, and said center marker is positioned substantially in the center of said viewfinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The guidance system of claim 3, further comprising a toggle feature for toggling each of said horizontal lines, said diagonal lines, and said markers of said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The guidance system of claim 3, wherein said viewfinder is a liquid crystal display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidance system of claim 3, wherein said camera is a photographic camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidance system of claim 3, wherein said camera is a video camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidance system of claim 3, wherein said camera is a digital camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture composition guidance system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a strong points guide for guiding the balance of a picture composition including a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker, wherein said upper, lower, and center markers are superimposed on said view finder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The picture composition guidance system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said pair of upper markers are positioned on said upper horizontal line, said pair of lower markers are positioned on said lower horizontal line, and said center marker is positioned substantially in the center of said viewfinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The guidance system of claim 9, further comprising a toggle feature for toggling each of said diagonal lines and said markers of said diagonal guide and said strong points guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guidance system of claim 2, further comprising a toggle feature for toggling each of said diagonal lines of said diagonal guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The guidance system of claim 1, further comprising a toggle feature for toggling each of said horizontal lines and said diagonal lines of said horizon guide and said diagonal guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and intersect at substantially one third of the way above the bottom of said view finder; and a toggle feature for toggling each of said diagonal lines of said diagonal guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a diagonal guide including a pair of intersecting diagonal lines, wherein said diagonal guide is superimposed on said viewfinder such that said pair of diagonal lines extend along substantially the longitudinal length of said view finder and intersect at substantially one third of the way above the bottom of said view finder; and a toggle feature for toggling each of said diagonal lines of said diagonal guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line; a diagonal guide including a pair of diagonal lines; and a strong points guide including a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker, wherein said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide are superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said viewfinder substantially in equal thirds, said pair of diagonal lines intersect on said lower horizontal line, said pair of upper markers are positioned on said upper horizontal line, said pair of lower markers are positioned on said lower horizontal line, and said center marker is positioned substantially in the center of said viewfinder, said guidance system further including a toggle feature for toggling each of said horizontal lines, said diagonal lines, and said markers of said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide on and off in any combination.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
178 words
A picture composition guidance system usable with a viewfinder of a camera comprising: a horizon guide including an upper horizontal line and a lower horizontal line; a diagonal guide including a pair of diagonal lines; and a strong points guide including a pair of upper markers, a pair of lower markers, and a center marker, wherein said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide are superimposed on said view finder such that said upper horizontal line and said lower horizontal line demarcate said viewfinder substantially in equal thirds, said pair of diagonal lines intersect on said lower horizontal line, said pair of upper markers are positioned on said upper horizontal line, said pair of lower markers are positioned on said lower horizontal line, and said center marker is positioned substantially in the center of said viewfinder, said guidance system further including a toggle feature for toggling each of said horizontal lines, said diagonal lines, and said markers of said horizon guide, said diagonal guide, and said strong points guide on and off in any combination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1140108A
Cited
US5687408A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |