Laser framefinder

• US 5,059,019 A
• Filed: 05/21/1990
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Greg R. Mccullough
• Original Assignee: Greg R. Mccullough
• Inventors: McCullough, Greg R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/526,287
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 352/170, 352/171, 352/131, 352/4, 352/172, 352/208, 352/89, 352/3, 352/48
• US Class Current: 352/131
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/06 with exposure meters or other indicators built into body but not connected to other camera members
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

The element of the laser framefinder comprise a laser beam generator, a shutter for pulsing a beam of laser light, a laser beam scanner, coupling elements joining a laser beam generator with a laser beam scanner, elements for manipulating a scanning device to produce a laser light pattern, a camera including elements for coupling a scanning device to a camera body, projecting device for aligning a laser light pattern with an optical axis of a camera, a device for optically transmitting a laser light pattern from the scanner to one projecting device, elements creating optical transparency to laser light in a substantially planar ground glass element used as the focusing element of a reflex viewing system, a feedback network utilizing a sensing element to couple laser beam pulsation with a positioning of an optical element of a scanning device, a feedback network utilizing a sensing device to couple a laser beam pulsation with a positioning of a projecting apparatus.

Claims

1. A photographic apparatus for indicating a field of view of an image recording device comprises the combination of:

a) a camera

b) a light emitter having a light source mounted therein for enabling the projection of a beam of light and means for attaching said light emitter to said camera;

c) a pattern generating means for altering said beam of light attached to the recording apparatus and disposed between said light emitter and said camera so as to generate a light pattern;

d) means for aligning the projected light pattern with said field of view of said image recording device so as to indicate objects lying within an image recorded by the device;

whereby said pattern generating means provides a projection of said light pattern along an optical axis independent of the axis of said image recording device;

yet aligned with said field of view;

e) a collimating lens assembly mating with an aperture in said pattern generating means and having means for aligning said beam of light with the pattern generator;

f) a fiber-optic cable interposed between two connectors thereon for propagating said beam of light along the full length of the fiber and means for attaching a first end of said fiber-optic cable to said light emitter and attaching an opposing second end thereof to said collimating lens.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said field of view is illuminated by said projection of said light pattern corresponding in dimensional aspect ratio to an optical frame of said image recording device.

3. An image recording apparatus of the type comprising a reflex viewing system, an objective having a field of view, a medium, and means for recording images thereon via said objective;

the improvement wherein said image recording apparatus comprises combination of;

a) a laser light emitter having an optical cavity mounted therein for enabling the projection of a coherent beam of laser light;

b) a light scanning device attached to said image recording apparatus disposed between said laser light emitter and said image recording apparatus having a reflective optical element mounted therein and means for altering the spatial orientation of said coherent beam of laser light so as to generate a light pattern; and

c) a beamsplitting element mounted within said reflex viewing system and associated with said light scanning device for receiving said light pattern generated thereby and optical means for coaxially aligning the pattern with the optical axis of said image recording apparatus.

4. The invention of claim 3, further including, in combination:

a) a collimating lens assembly mating with an aperture in said light scanning device and having means for aligning said coherent beam of laser light with said reflective optical element;

b) a fiber-optic cable interposed between two connectors thereon for propagating the beam of light along its full length and means for attaching one end of said fiber-optic cable to said laser light emitter and attaching an opposing end thereof to said collimating lens.

5. The laser light emitter of claim 3, further including, in combination:

a) a light valve attached to said laser light emitter and arranged substantially lying across the optical axis of said coherent beam of laser light so as to interrupt the beam; and

b) an electronic switching circuit is connected to said light valve providing regulating means for governing the rate of operation of said valve.

6. The invention as described in claim 5, further including, in combination:

a) a feedback network having a multiplicity of sensors located within said image recording apparatus and within said light scanning device and arranged proximate to said reflective optical element and said optical means;

providing a means for continuously determining a plurality of spatial positions thereof;

b) a synchronizing control unit is attached adjacent to said regulating means having a plurality of electronic circuits associated with said sensors and means for transmitting said spatial positions from said sensors to said synchronizing control unit via the circuits; and

c) an electronic means for sychronizing said regulating means with the spatial position of said optical means and said reflective optical element;

whereby, a pulsation of said coherent beam of laser light is synchronized with a multiplicity of positions of said reflective optical element to form various light patterns and synchronized with said optical means to insure alignment of said light pattern with the optical axis of said image recording apparatus so as to project the patterns upon photographic subject matter located within said field of view of said image recording apparatus.

7. The invention of claim 3, further including, in combination:

a) a ground glass having a substantially planar member lying at a focal plane of said objective and arranged along the optical axis of said reflex viewing system;

b) a holder located within the reflex viewing system surrounding and encasing the perimeter of said ground glass; and

c) optical means for providing transparency in said ground glass to said coherent beam of laser light.

8. The invention as described in claim 3 wherein said field of view is illuminated by said light pattern generated from said light scanning device and projected by said objective of said image recording apparatus so as to correspond in dimensional width to height aspect ratio to an optical frame of the recording device.

9. The invention as described in claim 8 wherein said light pattern comprises combination of:

a) a first rectangular projection having a 1.37;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture full aperture frame and to project a representation of the full frame upon a photographic object;

b) a second approximately rectangular projection having a 1.33;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common television broadcast optical frame and to project a representation of the broadcast frame upon said photographic object;

c) a third rectangular projection having a 1.85;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture optical frame and to project a representation of the frame upon said photographic object;

d) means for superimpositionally projecting three optical frames;

the full aperture frame, the television broadcast frame, and said common motion picture optical frame, from said image recording apparatus to the photographic object thereof and symmetrically arranged about the optical axis of said objective;

whereby, an observer could visually ascertain the spatial relationships of the superimpositionally projected frames.

10. A photographic apparatus for indicating an area to be recorded by a camera comprising the combination of:

a) an image comprising a plurality of photographic objects;

b) a plurality of optical frames comprising a selected area of said image;

c) a camera in spaced relationship to each of said plurality of photographic objects and having means for recording said image;

d) a light emitter comprising means for projecting a beam of light;

e) a light scanning device comprising optical means for scanning said beam of light; and

further including an optical element mounted within the scanning device;

f) a fastening means for coupling said light scanning device to said camera so as to align said beam of light with beam splitting means carried within the recording apparatus arranged substantially lying along the optical axis of a reflex viewing means;

g) optically transmissive means for coupling said light emitter with said light scanning device arranged between the emitter and the scanner so as to align said beam of light with said optical element;

h) manipulating means for oscillating said optical means adjacent thereof and arranged so as to alter a spatial orientation of said beam of light;

i) such that a light pattern is formed by said manipulating means interacting with said optical means thereby governing the action of the scanning means so as to cause a sequential alteration of the orientation of the beam; and

j) an optical projecting means for coaxially aligning said light pattern with said camera'"'"'s optical axis;

said optical projection means carried within said camera and arranged lying along the optical axis of said camera and between an objective and a focal plane thereof so as to project said light pattern upon said plurality of photographic objects;

whereby, an observer could visually ascertain said optical frames without reference to a viewing system of said camera by visually perceiving the pattern projected from said camera upon said plurality of photographic objects.

11. The camera of claim 10 wherein said means for recording is a body surrounding and encasing a photoresponsive emulsion affixed upon a base film located therein at said focal plane of said objective attached to said body.

12. The camera of claim 10 wherein said means for recording is a body surrounding and encasing a plurality of sensors photoresponsive to radiation of the visible electro-magnetic spectrum located therein at said focal plane of said objective attached thereto.

13. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said light emitter comprises a combination of:

a) an apertured body having an optical cavity mounted therein for enabling the projection of a coherent beam of laser light;

b) a light valve attached to said apertured body arranged substantially lying across the optical axis of said coherent beam of laser light so as to interrupt the beam; and

c) an electronic switching circuit connected to said light valve having regulating means for governing the rate of operation of the valve.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, further including, in combination:

a) a feedback network having a multiplicity of sensors located within said camera and within said scanner and arranged in proximity to;

said optical projecting means, said optical element, and said optical means providing a means for continuously determining a plurality of spatial positions thereof;

b) a synchronizing control unit attached adjacent to said regulating means having a plurality of electronic circuits associated with the sensors and means for transmitting an electrical signal indicating the spatial positions from said sensors to said synchronizing control unit; and

c) an electronic means for sychronizing said regulating means with the spatial position of three items;

said optical projecting means, said optical element, and said optical means;

whereby, a pulsation of said coherent beam of laser light synchronized with a multiplicity of positions of said optical element to form various light patterns and synchronized with said optical projecting means to insure alignment of said light pattern with the optical axis of said camera.

15. The invention as defined in claim 13, further including, in combination:

a) a multiplicity of filters;

b) a selected one of said multiplicity of filters located within said light scanning device and arranged substantially lying across the optical axis of said beam of light;

c) a filter holder surrounding and encasing the filter and means for interchanging said filters therein;

d) a first filter of said multiplicity of filters having means for polarizing said coherent beam of laser light;

e) a second filter of said multiplicity of filters having means for varying the optical power output of the beam; and

f) a third filter of said multiplicity of filters having means for determining the color of said coherent beam of laser light.

16. The light scanning device of claim 10 wherein said optical means comprises the combination of:

a) an apertured enclosing body having a cavity in which two mirrors are arranged, a first mirror associated with said beam of light incident thereto and a second mirror associated with said first mirror for receiving the beam reflected therefrom;

b) said first mirror having a substantially planar member arranged lying across the optical axis of said beam of light;

c) said second mirror having planar element arranged lying across the optical axis of the beam reflected from said first mirror;

d) a two coordinate system of points superimposed upon a perpendicular plane section of the projected pattern;

e) a first oscillating means for scanning said beam of light attached to said first mirror so as to generate a primary scan line across a reflective surface of said second mirror resulting in a reflected scan line oriented along one axis of said two coordinate system of points;

f) a second oscillating means for scanning the reflected beam incident upon said second mirror attached thereto so as to generate a secondary scan line oriented along the other axis of said two coordinate system of points; and

g) an electrical cable is interposed between the two oscillating means and a distally associated electronic means for governing the spatial positioning of said first mirror and said second mirror;

whereby, the alignment of said beam of light with any point lying within the two coordinate system is facilitated.

17. The light scanning device of claim 16 wherein said oscillating means comprises the combination of:

a) a first di-electric crystal;

b) a second di-electric crystal;

c) a piezoelectric means is attached to each of said first di-electric crystal and said second di-electric crystal so as to independently generate an oscillation therein; and

d) a levered means comprised of a plurality of elongated support members is interposed between said first di-electric crystal and said first mirror and between said second di-electric crystal and said second mirror so as to independently amplify and transmit said oscillation from each of the crystals to the associated mirror.

18. The invention as described in claim 16 wherein said oscillating means comprises the combination of:

a) a first stepper motor having a first drive shaft attached to an armature of the motor;

b) a second stepper motor having a second drive shaft attached to an armature of said second stepper motor; and

c) means for conveying oscillatory energy from each of the shafts to a selected one of the mirrors associated therewith.

19. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said light scanning device comprises the combination of:

a) a line generating lens having a refractive optical quality characterized by the conversion of said beam of light incident upon the lens into a triangular planar projection of light having a vertex near said line generating lens;

b) a rotatable retaining means for holding said line generating lens perpendicular to the incident beam so as to align the light beam with the lens at a mesial point of intersection;

c) means for conveying rotational energy to said rotatable retaining means so as to produce a conical shaped projection of light having a common vertex with said triangular planar projection of light;

d) a substantially planar holder surrounding and encasing a matte pattern is located within a slot positioned near the underside of the scanning device and arranged so that the holder is removable from said slot; and

e) said matte holder having said matte pattern mounted therein for blocking a portion of said conical shaped projection of light arranged lying along the path of the light cone so as to alter the shape of the light projection.

20. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said light scanning device comprises the combination of:

a) said optical element which is a right angle optical prism arranged lying along the optical axis of said beam of light so as to cause an angled reflection of the incident light beam;

b) a first cylinder coaxially aligned within a second cylinder arranged to provide for the controlled reciprocal movement of said first cylinder within said second cylinder and coupled to said prism by a plurality of elongated support members;

c) a mirror housing arranged rectangularly about said prism having a cavity resembling a four sided truncated equilateral pyramid with substantially planar sides comprised of a first mirror and a second mirror symmetrically opposed thereto in a fixed position upon opposing walls of said cavity arranged at a 45 degree angle to the normal of the incident beam and characterized by a reflective surface, and also having a moveable third side and a moveable fourth side with opposed substantially planar reflective surfaces arranged at a 45 degree angle to the normal of the incident beam, said mirror housing arranged so that the common vertex of the walls of said cavity equilaterally bisected by said beam of light;

d) means for laterally moving said third side and said fourth side;

e) mechanical mean for altering the angular inclination of a reflecting surface of the prism so as to alter the angle of reflection of said beam of light incident upon said right angle prism;

f) motorized means for rotating said right angle prism at a constantly variable velocity; and

g) a means for controllably transmitting a rotational energy from said motorized means to said right prism so as to scan said beam of light across said mirrored surfaces;

whereby, said beam of light first striking said rotating prism is scanned along the surface of said mirror housing projecting a substantially rectangular light pattern.

21. The invention described in claim 10, wherein said reflex viewing means comprises:

a reflex viewing optical pathway incorporated within said camera having a plurality of optical elements mounted therein.

22. The invention as described in claim 21 wherein said reflex viewing optical pathway comprises the combination of:

a) said objective having an optical axis coaxially oriented with the optical axis of said camera;

b) a shutter arranged substantially lying along the optical axis of said camera and interposed between said objective and said focal plane thereof having a substantially planar member at least a portion of which is characterized by a reflective surface and arranged so that said reflective surface coaxially aligns said beam of light with the axis of said objective;

c) a ground glass having a translucent planar element lying at said focal plane of said objective and arranged along the optical axis of said reflex viewing optical pathway characterized by optical transparency to a polarized beam of laser light; and

d) a body surrounding and encasing said shutter and said ground glass and attached to said objective.

23. The invention as described in claim 22, further including:

a prism disposed between said beamsplitting means and said ground glass for conducting said beam thereto.

24. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said light pattern is generated and projected having a dimensional width to height aspect ratio of 1.85:

1, so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture optical frame and to project a representation of the frame upon said plurality of photographic objects.

25. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said light pattern is generated and projected having a dimensional width to height aspect ratio of 1.33:

1, so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common television broadcast optical frame and to project a representation of the broadcast frame upon said plurality of photographic objects.

26. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said light pattern generated and projected having a dimensional width to height aspect ratio of 1.37:

1, so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture full aperture frame and to project a representation of the full frame upon said plurality of photographic objects.

27. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said light pattern comprises the combination of:

a) a first rectangular projection having a 1.37;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture full aperture frame and to project a representation of the full frame upon said plurality of photographic objects;

b) a second approximately rectangular projection having a 1.33;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common television broadcast optical frame and to project a representation of the broadcast frame upon said plurality of photographic objects;

c) a third rectangular projection having a 1.85;

1 dimensional width to height aspect ratio generated by said light scanning device so as to correspond with the aspect ratio of a common motion picture optical frame and to project a representation of the frame upon said plurality of photographic objects; and

d) means for superimpositionally projecting three optical frames;

the full aperture frame, the television broadcast frame, and said common motion picture optical frame, from said camera to the photographic object thereof and symmetrically arranged about the optical axis of said objective;

whereby, an observer could visually ascertain the spatial relationships of the superimpositionally projected frames.

28. The invention as described in claim 10 wherein said optically transmissive means comprises the combination of:

a) a collimating lens assembly mating with an aperture mesially located upon the upper surface of said light scanning device and having means for aligning said beam of light with said optical element; and

b) a fiber-optic cable interposed between two connectors thereon for propagating said beam of light along the full length of the fiber and means for attaching a first end of said fiber-optic cable to said light emitter and attaching an opposing second end thereof to said collimating lens.

29. A photographic apparatus for indicating a field of view of an image recording device comprises the combination of:

a) a camera;

b) a light emitter having a light source mounted therein for enabling the projection of a beam of light and means for attaching said light emitter to said camera;

c) a pattern generating means for altering said beam of light attached to the recording apparatus and disposed between said light emitter and said camera so as to generate a light pattern;

d) means for aligning said projected light pattern with said field of view of said image recording device so as to indicate objects lying within an image recorded by said device;

whereby said pattern generating means provides a projection of said light pattern along an optical axis independent of the axis of said image recording device;

yet aligned with said field of view; and

e) said aligning means includes an optical shutter means reflectively aligning and transmitting said projected light pattern about said field of view.

30. The invention as defined in claim 29 wherein:

said optical shutter means includes a mirror having a reflective surface directly receiving said projected light pattern so as to transmit said projected light pattern about said indicated objects.

31. The invention as defined in claim 30 wherein:

said light emitter is a laser generator producing a laser beam of light.