Stereo camera

• US 5,778,268 A
• Filed: 08/12/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minoru Inaba
• Original Assignee: Minoru Inaba
• Inventors: Inaba, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/695,626
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 396/322, 396/324, 396/326, 396/329
• US Class Current: 396/326
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/10 having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system

Abstract

A stereo camera allows a rapid photographing and stereo effect correcting function to be compatible by providing a mechanism for automatically adjusting a distance between optical axes of photographing lenses and a manual adjusting mechanism. Lens shifting cams are provided symmetrically at a base frame of the stereo camera, and urged by a spring so that the inner surfaces of the lens shifting cams are pushed upon the right and left lens boards independent from each other. The lens shift cams are formed to automatically focus the photographing ranges of the right and left photographing lenses of a focal distance irrespective of the feeding amounts of the photographing lenses, and the distance between the optical axes are automatically adjusted being interlocked to the focal adjustment. If the subjects of remote range and close range are mixed, the manual adjusting lens shift knob is operated to move the lens boards in approaching direction by lens shifters to be finely adjusted to the optimum distance between the optical axes.

Claims

1. A stereo camera of the reflex type comprising a camera body of the structure that two optical systems of a single-lens reflex camera bodies are integrated, two photographing lenses, a focal point adjusting mechanism for adjusting a focal point by interlocking a pair of lens boards for mounting said photographing lenses in parallel with the optical axis direction of the lenses, and a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the optical axes for adjusting the interval of said pair of lens boards, wherein lens shifting cams are symmetrically provided at a base frame for supporting said lens boards and said focal point adjusting mechanism so that cam surfaces thereof are faced, engaging portions brought into contact with said lens shifting cams are provided at said pair of lens boards, said pair of lens boards are urged by a spring in an interval increasing direction so that said engaging portions are pushed onto said lens shifting cams to constitute a mechanism for automatically adjusting the distance between the optical axes to bring the visual fields of right and left photographing lenses at a focal distance into agreement at all times irrespective of the feeding amounts of the photographing lenses by said lens shifting cams, an expanding and contracting mechanism for switching the interval of a pair of lens shifters by means such as a feed screw or the like is provided, said pair of lens boards are disposed between said pair of lens shifters to constitute a mechanism for manually adjusting the distance between the optical axes.

2. A stereo camera according to claim 1, wherein a both eye finder unit having a pair of right and left pentaprisms mounted on a pair of right and left focal plates of said stereo camera and a single-lens finder unit having a composite prism for synthesizing one erect image by symmetrically inverting right side left the inner one-half pictures of the pair of right and left focal plates are formed to be interchanged.

3. A stereo camera of the reflex type comprising:

a camera body;

a first lens board;

a first photographing lens having a first optical axis mounted on said lens board;

a second lens board;

a second photographing lens having a second optical axis mounted on said lens board;

a focal point adjusting means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for adjusting a focus of said first and second photographing lenses;

a first roller moving with said first lens board;

a second roller moving with said second lens board;

a first lens shifting cam contacting said first roller;

a second lens shifting cam contacting said second roller, said first and second lens shifting cams shaped and positioned to adjust a distance between the first and second optical axes as a function of focus position of said first and second photographing lenses;

biasing means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for biasing said first and second rollers into contact with said first and second lens shifting cams;

manual adjusting means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for manually adjusting the distance between the first and second optical axes irrespective of the focus of said first and second photographing lenses,

whereby a photographer may make a complete parallax correction as required to provide an improved stereo image.

4. A stereo camera as in claim 3 further comprising:

an interchangeable finder unit.

5. A stereo camera as in claim 4 wherein:

said interchangeable finder unit comprises a binocular finder unit.

6. A stereo camera as in claim 4 wherein:

said interchangeable finder unit comprises a single lens finder unit.

7. A stereo camera as in claim 5 further comprising:

a first focal plate associated with said first photographing lens;

a second focal plate associated with said second photographing lens; and

collimation marks associated with said first and second focal plate.

8. A stereo camera as in claim 4 further comprising:

a first focal plate associated with said first photographing lens;

a second focal plate associated with said second photographing lens; and

wherein said single lens finder unit comprises a plurality of prisms for synthesizing one erect image by symmetrically inverting one-half images on said first and second focal plate.

9. A stereo camera as in claim 3 wherein:

said manual adjusting means comprises a shaft having a right hand screw and a left hand screw;

a first lens shifter threaded onto said right hand screw and a second lens shifter threaded on said left hand screw;

a first arm attached to said first lens board; and

a second arm attached to said second lens board; and

a knob attached to said shaft, wherein when said knob is rotated the distance between the first and second optical axes is manually adjusted.

10. A stereo camera of the reflex type comprising:

a camera body adapted to receive interchangeable finders;

a first lens board;

a first photographing lens having a first optical axis mounted on said lens board;

a second lens board;

a second photographing lens having a second optical axis mounted on said lens board;

a focal point adjusting means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for adjusting a focus of said first and second photographing lenses;

a first roller moving with said first lens board;

a second roller moving with said second lens board;

a first lens shifting cam contacting said first roller;

a second lens shifting cam contacting said second roller, said first and second lens shifting cams shaped and positioned to adjust the distance between the first and second optical axes as a function of focus position of said first and second photographing lenses;

biasing means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for biasing said first and second rollers into contact with said first and second lens shifting cams;

manual adjusting means, coupled to said first and second lens boards, for manually adjusting the distance between the first and second optical axes irrespective of the focus of said first and second photographing lenses;

a single lens finder unit adapted to attach to said camera body;

a binocular lens finder unit adapted to attach to said camera body and interchangeable with said single lens finder unit;

finder unit detector means, associated with said camera body, for detecting the finder unit attached to said camera body;

display means for displaying an alarm when said single lens finder unit is attached to said camera and said first and second rollers are separated from said first and second lens shifting cams,

whereby a photographer may take quick snapshots in an automatic mode, or make slower manual adjustments to correct for parallax providing an improved stereo image.