Orientation indicating device

• US 4,801,793 A
• Filed: 01/13/1988
• Issued: 01/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Vaynshteyn, Mikhail
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US07/143,411
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 354/465, 354/471, 354/106, 354/269.1, 354/289.11, 354/289.12
• US Class Current: 396/50
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/20 visible in viewfinder
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices

Abstract

An orientation indicating device visibly indicates, preferably in the viewfinder of a camera, that the camera is deviated improperly from its normal horizontal position for picture-taking. The device comprises a pendulum controlled indicating circuit including electrically activated display means for indicating before a picture is taken that the camera is deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal, and therefore the picture should not be taken.

Claims

1. An orientation indicating device for visibly indicating that a camera is deviated improperly from a normal horizontal position to take a picture, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing a visible indication that said camera is deviated improperly from horizontal; and

pendulum switch means responsive to said camera being deviated improperly from horizontal for activating said orientation indicating means before a picture can be taken.

2. An orientation indicating device as recited in claim 1, wherein said orientation indicating means includes means for visibly indicating the particular direction said camera is deviated improperly from horizontal.

3. An orientation indicating device for visibly indicating that a camera is deviated improperly from a normal horizontal position to take a picture, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing respective visible indications that said camera is deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal; and

pendulum switch means responsive to said camera being deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal for activating said orientation indicating means before a picture can be taken, to provide a corresponding visible indication.

4. An orientation indicating device as recited in claim 3, wherein said pendulum switch means includes a pendulum-like contact swingably suspended from a fixed point but urged to remain vertical by gravity and a plurality of spaced fixed contacts disposed to make respective electrical contact with said pendulum-like contact as said camera is deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal.

5. In a photographic camera of the type having a viewfinder, an orientation device for visibly indicating that said camera is properly oriented in a normal horizontal or vertical position to take a picture, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing a visible indication in said viewfinder that said camera is oriented in its normal horizontal position or its normal vertical position; and

pendulum switch means responsive to said camera being oriented in its normal horizontal or vertical position for activating said orientation indicating means before a picture can be taken.

6. An orientation indicating device as recited in claim 5, wherein said visible indication provided in said viewfinder is shaped to conform with the boundary of the eye view through the viewfinder.

7. An orientation indicating device for visibly indicating that a camera is properly oriented in a normal horizontal or vertical position to take a picture or is deviated improperly from horizontal or vertical, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing respective visible indications that said camera is oriented in its normal horizontal or vertical position or is deviated improperly from horizontal or vertical; and

pendulum switch means responsive to said camera being oriented in its normal horizontal or vertical position or being deviated improperly from horizontal or vertical for activating said orientation indicating means before a picture can be taken, to provide a corresponding visible indication.

8. An orientation indicating device as recited in claim 7, wherein said pendulum which means includes a pendulum-like contact swingably supported from a fixed point but urged to remain vertical by gravity and a plurality of spaced fixed contacts disposed to make respective electrical contact with said pendulum-like contact as said camera is oriented to its normal horizontal and vertical positions or is deviated improperly from horizontal or vertical.

9. In a photographic camera of the type having a viewfinder, an orientation indicating device for visibly indicating that said camera is properly oriented in a normal horizontal position to take a picture or is deviated improperly from horizontal, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing respective visible indications in said viewfinder that said camera is oriented in its normal horizontal position, is deviated inclined-left from horizontal, or is deviated inclined-right from horizontal; and

pendulum switch means including a pendulum-like contact swingably supported from a fixed point but urged to remain vertical by gravity and a plurality of spaced fixed contacts disposed to make respective electrical contact with said pendulum-like contact as said camera is oriented to its normal horizontal position or is deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal, for activating said orientation indicating means before a picture can be taken, to provide corresponding visible indications in said viewfinder.

10. In a photographic camera of the type having a viewfinder, an orientation indication device for visibly indicating that a camera is deviated improperly from a normal horizontal position to take a picture, said device comprising:

orientation indicating means electrically activatable for providing respective visible indications in said viewfinder that said camera is deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal; and

orientation sensing means responsive to said camera being deviated inclined-left or inclined-right from horizontal for activating said orientation means before a picture can be taken, to provide a corresponding visible indication in said viewfinder.