Microphotographic apparatus with automatic film format reflection

• US 4,983,997 A
• Filed: 09/15/1989
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wild Leitz GmbH Konzernstelle Patente + Marken Ernst-Leitz-Strasse D
• Original Assignee: Wild Leitz GmbH
• Inventors: Kraft, Winfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Brian W.
• Application Number:
  US07/407,944
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 354/79, 354/159
• US Class Current: 396/432
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/361 Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a microphotographic apparatus which superimposes one set of film format markings on an image recorded by a film type held by a camera attachment. Specifically, the apparatus has two opaque carriers with multiple sets of transparent markings. These carriers can be moved relative to one another such that only one set of markings on the first carrier is aligned with a corresponding set of markings on the second carrier and therefore, when light is projected through the carriers only one set of markings is superimposed on the recorded image.

Claims

1. A microphotographic apparatus, comprising:

a. a light source;

b. a first carrier positioned along the path of light from said light source which has multiple sets of markings on it;

c. a second carrier positioned along the path of light from said light source which has multiple sets of markings on it;

d. at least one camera attachment which holds at least one film format; and

e. a control apparatus coupled to said first carrier and coupled to said camera attachment, wherein said control apparatus moves said first carrier in response to the film format present in said camera attachment.

2. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first optical system which images an object plane into an image plane and a beam splitter which couples light from said light source into said first optical system.

3. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first carrier and said second carrier are opaque and have transparent markings.

4. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first carrier and said second carrier are opaque and have transparent markings.

5. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera attachment further comprises a control ring connected thereto, wherein a position of said control ring corresponds to the film format held by said at least one camera attachment.

6. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said camera attachments holds only one format of film and said control ring connected to each of said camera attachments has one fixed position.

7. A microphotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control apparatus further comprises a connection surface, a pin which is attached to said connection surface, a potentiometer connected to said pin and a control ring attached to each of said at least one camera attachments, wherein connection of said camera attachment to said connection surface positions said control ring such that it moves said pin which produces a signal corresponding to the film format of the camera attachment.

8. A microphotographic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a connection surface, a camera casing attached to said connection surface, electrical contact paths on said connection surface which are electrically connected to said control apparatus, contact pins on each of said camera attachments and an electrical circuit connected to said contact pins coupled to the film format in said camera attachment.

9. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said .first and said second carriers are positioned in a direct vicinity of a plane conjugated to the image plane.

10. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the area at the center of said first carrier is oval in shape and is of a size which corresponds to a displacement path of said first carrier.

11. A microphotographic apparatus comprising:

a. a first carrier having a first group of multiple sets of transparent markings;

b. a second carrier having a second group of multiple sets of transparent markings which correspond to said first group of multiple sets of transparent markings;

c. at least one camera attachment which holds at least one film format;

d. means for moving said first carrier and said second carrier relative to one another to align one set of markings on said first carrier with the corresponding set of markings on said second carrier in accordance with the attached film format; and

e. a first optical system imaging light which is projected through said first and second carriers to an image plane.

12. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a second optical system for imaging an object plane to said image plane and for imaging said image plane to said camera attachment.

13. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and said second carriers are mostly opaque.

14. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said moving means further comprises a connection surface coupled to at least one of said first or said second carriers and a control ring, which is part of said camera attachment, for identifying the film format held by said camera attachment when said camera attachment is connected to said connection surface.

15. A microphotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said moving means further comprises a connection surface, a camera casing attached to said connection surface, electrical contact paths on said connection surface which are electrically connected to said control apparatus, contact pins on each of said camera attachments and an electrical circuit connected to said contact pins for identifying the film format in said camera attachment.