Panoramic pickup camera

• US 4,038,670 A
• Filed: 03/03/1975
• Issued: 07/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Propiedades Faron NV Kralendijk Bonaire Netherlands Antilles
• Original Assignee: Infra-Vision Limited ZUG
• Inventors: Seitz, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Edna M.
• Application Number:
  US05/554,448
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 354/94-96, 354/98, 354/99
• US Class Current: 396/22
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras

Abstract

A panoramic camera for producing pictures with randomly large image or viewing angles which may exceed 360° and in which at the moment of exposure the objective or film is stationary. There is provided a camera housing containing the objective and rotatable relative to a support or holder. There is further provided a film container and a film guide having a cylindrical guide portion, the radius of curvature of which is equal to the focal length of the objective. According to the invention the camera housing besides containing the objective also includes the film container, the film guide also including a ring in the housing opposite from the support which is freely rotatable or stationary respective to the housing. The support is cylindrical and a cylindrical circumferential surface is provided at the edge of cylindrical support. The film is fixedly held with its one edge at the cylindrical circumferential surface and with its other edge is held under contact at a second cylindrical circumferential surface formed on the ring.

Claims

1. In a panoramic pickup camera for producing pictures with randomly large viewing angles which may exceed 360°

, wherein at the moment of light exposure the film is stationary, having a support, a camera structure containing the objective and rotatable relative to the support, and a film container and a film guide having a substantially cylindrical arched portion, the radius of which is equal to the focal length of the objective, the improvement comprising;

the camera structure containing spaced from the objective the film container, said camera structure incorporating a housing enclosing the objective, the film guide including a ring positioned on the side of the housing which is situated opposite the support, said ring being freely rotatable respective to the camera structure, said support possessing a substantially cylindrical configuration, a first substantially cylindrical circumferential surface provided on said cylindrical support, said ring possessing a second substantially cylindrical circumferential surface, the film being held under contact at its one edge against the first cylindrical circumferential surface of the support and at its other edge against the second cylindrical circumferential surface of the ring.

2. The camera as defined in claim 1, further including a feed mechanism for the film by means of which the film is drawn from the film container and is continuously contacted against said cylindrical circumferential surfaces.

3. A panoramic camera for producing pictures having large viewing angles comprising

a fixed stationary component,

a pivotal component mounted for rotational movement relative to the stationary component,

an objective in the pivotal component located along the axis of rotation thereof,

a ring rotationally mounted in the pivotal component,

first and second circumferential surfaces, the first circumferential surface formed on the stationary component, the second circumferential surface formed on the ring, each of the circumferential surfaces being circular with the radius of the circle equalling the focal length of the objective,

a film container carrier by the pivotal component,

first and second spaced apart rollers in the film container with their axes positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of the pivotal component and located adjacent the circumferential surfaces, and

at least two endless elastic bands extending over both of the first and second rollers adapted to hold film against the circumferential surfaces.

4. A panoramic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rollers are driven by contact against a third circumferential surface which is formed on the stationary component.

5. A panoramic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein an electric motor is provided to rotate the pivotal component and wherein there are photoelectric cells measuring the light incident to the camera to control the speed of the electric motor.

6. A panoramic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is an aperture at one end or the pivotal component thereof to admit light, the aperture having an adjustable tapered conical configuration.

7. A panoramic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is a hinged mirror provided between the objective and the film container which closes the top of the camera in one position and serves to direct light to a ground glass plate to form a view finder in its other position.

8. A panoramic camera as claimed in claim 3 wherein the objective is enclosed in a housing which is vertically adjustable within the pivotal component.