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Electronic recording camera with front projector

  • US 4,835,563 A
  • Filed: 04/15/1988
  • Issued: 05/30/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In a dual function portrait camera for the concurrent photographic recording of a first portion of the image-forming light reflected to said camera from a portrait subject on photographic film within the camera housing as a photographic image and electronic imaging of a second portion of said image-forming light by video charge coupled device within said housing as an electronic image, said camera comprising:

  • (a) an automatic camera including a camera housing, photographic film, auto-focus front lens means for receiving image-forming light reflected to said camera from a portrait subject, auto-exposure shutter means behind said front lens means and in front of said film, auto-film-wind means for said film, and electronic circuitry means for operating the automatic functions of said camera;

    (b) light beam splitting means within the camera housing between said front lens means and said shutter means for passing a first portion of the image-forming light received by said front lens means to said shutter means for exposure of a frame of said film upon the opening of said shutter means and thereby recording a photographic image of said subject thereon and for directing a second portion of said image-forming light to the video charge coupled device within said camera housing, said video charge coupled device including an entry field lens for receiving the second portion of said image-forming light from said beam splitting means, a beam folding mirror for redirecting said imageforming light received from said entry lens, a relay lens for receiving said redirected image-forming light, and an electronic image array device for receiving said redirected image-forming light from said relay lens and creating an electronic image of the portrait subject;

    (c) a front projector within the camera housing and arranged to project illustrative matter to a high reflective screen situated behind the portrait subject as background scenic imagery for the portrait photography of the portrait subject, said projector including a focusing lens, light generating means and means for positioning a transparency slide containing said illustrative matter between said lens and the light generating means;

    (d) video display means associated with said automatic camera and interconnected to said charge coupled device as a viewfinder for optically displaying to the camera operator the electronic images directed to said device; and

    (e) microprocessor means in communication with the electronic circuitry means of said camera for controlling the automatic functions thereof and in communication with the video charge coupled device thereof for recording in the memory of said microprocessor means an electronic image of said subject at the instant of exposure of a frame of said film, said recorded electronic image corresponding exactly to the photographic image recorded on said film.

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