Corrective lens assembly

• US 5,640,613 A
• Filed: 04/14/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Howard, Robert A., Yuyama, Kazuhiko, Yan, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/422,043
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 354/195.12, 354/199, 354/219, 354/221, 354/222, 354/295, 354/126, 354/195.13, 354/149.11, 356/21, 348/341, 348/334, 396/71, 396/140, 396/141, 396/296, 396/377, 396/544
• US Class Current: 396/71
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/12 to compensate for change of camera lens or size of picture
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/14 to compensate for parallax due to short range
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/18 Focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/30 indicating depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/055 Clamp-on device, e.g. filter

Abstract

A lens assembly, image capturing device and a method for using a lens assembly with an image capturing device. The lens assembly comprises a first lens mounted on a holder which attaches the first lens to a viewing device of an image capturing device. A marking on the first lens is observable through the viewing device when the lens is attached to the viewing device such that the marking is capable of being used to position the lens assembly a properly focused distance from a target having a specified (predetermined) size. The relationship, as seen through the viewing device between the size of the object and the size of the marking may be used to properly position the camera relative to the target object.

Claims

1. A lens assembly comprising:

a first lens mounted on a holder, said holder for attaching said first lens to a viewing device of an image capturing device;

a marking on said first lens, said marking having a first size and being observable through said viewing device when attached to said viewing device such that said marking is capable of being used to position said lens assembly a first distance from a first object having a predetermined second size, wherein a relationship, seen through said viewing device, between said first size and said second size determines said first distance.

2. A lens assembly as in claim 1 wherein said viewing device comprises a viewfinder having a second lens and wherein said lens assembly further comprises:

a third lens mounted on said holder, said third lens modifying an optical path of light from said object, said third lens for being attached in optical communication with a fourth lens, wherein said fourth lens is in optical communication with an image capturing medium in said image capturing device.

3. A lens assembly as in claim 2 further comprising;

a fifth lens mounted on said holder, said fifth lens for modifying illumination from a light source.

4. A lens assembly as in claim 3 wherein said image capturing device is a camera and said image capturing medium comprises one of a semiconductor array and photographic film and wherein said marking is one of a bar, a pair of circles, a geometric outline or a pair of polygons.

5. A lens assembly as in claim 1 wherein said first lens provides a close-up view through said viewing device, and wherein said marking comprises two isosceles triangles having two vertices which specify said first size.

6. A lens assembly as in claim 2 wherein said first lens provides a close-up view through said viewing device and said third lens provides a close-up view upon said image capturing medium, and wherein said image capturing device is a fixed focus camera.

7. A method for using a lens assembly with an image capturing device, said method comprising:

viewing a first object through a viewing device, said viewing device being optically coupled to a first lens of said lens assembly;

matching a marking, which appears in a view through said viewing device, relative to said first object, said marking having a first size and said first object having a predetermined second size, wherein said step of matching causes said image capturing device to be positioned a first distance from said first object.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein a relationship between said first size and said second size determines said first distance.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein said image capturing device is positioned approximately said first distance from said first object within a range determined by a depth of field of said image capturing device.

10. A method as in claim 9 further comprising:

placing said lens assembly on said image capturing device;

moving one of said image capturing device and said first object relative to each other while viewing said first object through said viewing device.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said step of moving is performed while performing said step of matching.

12. A method as in claim 8 wherein said marking comprises two isosceles triangles having two vertices which specify said first size.

13. A method as in claim 8 wherein said lens assembly comprises said first lens and a second lens, and wherein said image capturing device comprises said viewing device having a third lens and comprises a fourth lens which is optically coupled to an image capturing medium, and wherein said first lens and said third lens are optically coupled and wherein said second lens and said fourth lens are optically coupled.

14. An image capturing device comprising:

a primary lens optically coupled to an image capturing medium;

a viewing lens optically coupled to a viewing device;

a first corrective lens optically coupled to said primary lens;

a second corrective lens optically coupled to said viewing lens, said second corrective lens having a marking which is observable through said viewing device such that said marking is capable of being used to position said image capturing device a first distance from a first object, said marking having a first size and said first object having a predetermined second size such that a relationship, as seen through said viewing device, between said first size and said second size determines said first distance.

15. An image capturing device as in claim 14 wherein said marking is selected from the group of a bar, a pair of circles, a geometric outline, or a pair of polygons.

16. An image capturing device as in claim 14 wherein said marking comprises a pair of isosceles triangles having a first isosceles triangle, the two equal sides of which form a first vertex, and a second triangle, the two equal sides of which form a second vertex, and wherein the distance between said first vertex and said second vertex determines said first size.

17. An image capturing device as in claim 14 further comprising:

a light source and a third corrective lens optically coupled to said light source.

18. An image capturing device as in claim 14 wherein said image capturing device is a camera and wherein said image capturing medium comprises one of a semiconductor charge coupled device array and photographic film, and wherein said camera has a fixed focus.

19. An image capturing device as in claim 14 wherein said image capturing device is positioned approximately said first distance within a range determined by a depth of field of said image capturing device.

20. An image capturing device as in claim 14 wherein said first corrective lens provides a focused close-field view upon said image capturing medium and said second corrective lens provides a focused close-field view through said viewing device.