OBJECTIVE INCORPORATING AN IMAGE STABILIZER

• US 3,650,596 A
• Filed: 05/13/1970
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean Thevenaz
• Original Assignee: Jean Thevenaz
• Inventors: Thevenaz, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherman, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/036,866
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 350/16 356/148,149,248,250
• US Class Current: 359/555
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably

Abstract

An objective chiefly for kinematographic cameras adapted to compensate for untimely shifting of the objective when the camera is held by hand during operation. This compensation is provided by resorting solely to the precession of one or more gyroscopes adapted to rock around an axis with reference to a cage pivotally carried by the objective mount around an axis perpendicular to the axis of the gyroscope, said cage being urged by a spring into a predetermined position and connected with a pivotal optic element incorporated with the objective in a manner such that any angular movement of the cage produced by the precession of the gyroscope causes the pivoting optic element to be shifted with reference to the objective mount to an extent such as will compensate any sudden modification in the angular setting of the optical axis of the objective.

Claims

1. In combination with an objective fitted in a mount, liable to be untimely shifted angularly and including a pivotal optical member, the provision of gyroscopic image-stabilizing means comprising a gyroscope including a cage pivotally secured to the mount around a single axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the gyroscope, a spring adapted to urge said cage into a predetermined operative position and to force the pivotal optical member to assume, under the action of the precession of the gyroscope on its cage, an angular position compensating for sudden modifications in the angular setting of the optical axis of the objective.

2. Image stabilizing means as claimed in claim 1, including a second gyroscope, a second gyroscope cage and a second spring, the rotary axes of the gyroscopes with reference to their cages being orthogonal.

3. Image stabilizing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal optical member includes a reflecting surface extending across the optical axis of the objective and a support carrying said surface, said support adapted to rock around at least one axis and subjected to the action of said spring.

4. Image stabilizing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the objective includes a front lens and a rear lens and the pivotal member includes a reflecting surface extending across the optical axis of the objective and a support carrying said surface, said support adapted to rock around at least one axis and subjected to the action of said spring.

5. Image stabilizing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the objective includes a front lens and a rear lens, and the pivotal optical member includes a rectangular prism extending across the optical axis of the objective, and a support carrying said prism, said support adapted to rock around at least one axis and subjected to the action of said spring.

6. Image stabilizing means as in claim 1, for use in a kinematographic reflex camera provided with means deflecting a fraction of the light passing through the objective towards a view finder, wherein the pivotal optical member is located beyond said deflecting means in the direction of the light passing through the objective.

7. Image stabilizing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time constant of the spring acting on the gyroscope cage is sufficiently large for it to compensate for the oscillatory shifting of the objective at a frequency above two cycles per second.