Apparatus and method for transmitting images to a remote location

• US 5,826,122 A
• Filed: 01/06/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shekel, Eyal
• Original Assignee: Shekel, Eyal
• Inventors: Shekel, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/779,345
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 396/429, 355/20, 355/21, 355/40, 348/552, 358/302, 358/487, 358/527, 386/42, 386/128, 386/130
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/003 Apparatus for photographing CRT-screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera

Abstract

A method for transmitting images to a remote location, including capturing an image from a network, local or global, displaying the image on a screen of a computer terminal and photographing the image as displayed on the screen, preferably while exposing a film for a duration on longer than a plurality of refreshes of the image on the screen.

Claims

1. Apparatus for photographing an image from a screen of a computer terminal, comprising:

a camera comprising;

a lens which projects said image on a film;

a shutter for selectively exposing said film; and

a shutter tripping mechanism which trips said shutter to allow exposure of said film for a duration longer than a plurality of refreshes of said image on said screen;

a hood manually abuttable against said screen, said camera being fixable to said hood such that said image may be projected on said film; and

graphics apparatus for controlling a size of said image being displayed on said screen.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood substantially blocks any light rays not emanating from said screen from reaching said lens.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said shutter tripping mechanism trips said shutter to allow exposure of said film for a duration longer than 1/60 of a second.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said shutter tripping mechanism trips said shutter to allow exposure of said film for a duration between 1/15 and 2 seconds.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood is collapsible.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood comprises a support device for maintaining said hood in a non-collapsed configuration.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood maintains said camera at a fixed distance from said screen.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said hood comprises frictional stops for substantially preventing sliding of said hood on said screen after placement thereagainst.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising graphics apparatus for creating a black background around said image being displayed on said screen.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising graphics apparatus for displaying on said screen hood position markers.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising graphics apparatus which provide color correction of said image being displayed on said screen.

12. A photography system comprising:

a computer terminal including a CRT display having a display screen of at least first dimensions;

a camera arranged to photograph an image on the CRT display;

p1 a hood arranged to be abutted to said screen at a location on said display screen within said first dimensions, thereby defining a hooded region on said display screen having second dimensions, less then said first dimensions; and

computer terminal operating software controlling the operation of said CRT display to cause said image to appear on said computer terminal within an image area within said hooded region, said image area having third dimensions less than said second dimensions.

13. A photography system according to claim 12 and wherein said camera and said hood are handheld during operation.

14. A photography system according to claim 12 and wherein said hood is collapsible.

15. A photography system according to claim 12 and wherein said hood comprise a support device for maintaining said hood in a non-collapsed configuration.

16. A photography system according to claim 12 and wherein said hood maintains said camera at a fixed distance from said screen.

17. A photography system according to claim 12 and wherein said hood comprises frictional stops for substantially preventing sliding of said hood on said screen after placement thereagainst.

18. A photography system according to claim 12 and also comprising graphics apparatus for creating a black background around said image being displayed on said screen.

19. A photography system according to claim 12 and also comprising graphics apparatus for displaying hood positioning markets on said screen.

20. A photography system according to claim 12 and Also comprising graphics apparatus for providing color correction of said image being displayed on said screen.

21. A photography system for use with a computer terminal including a CRT display having a display screen of at least first dimensions, the system comprising:

a camera arranged to photograph an image on the CRT display;

a hood arranged to be abutted to said screen at a location on said display screen within said first dimensions, thereby defining a hooded region on said display screen having second dimensions, less than said first dimensions; and

computer terminal operating software controlling the operation of said computer terminal to cause a said image to appear on said CRT display within an image area within said hooded region, said image area having third dimensions less than said second dimensions.

22. A photography system according to claim 21 and wherein said camera and said hood are handheld during operation.

23. A photography system according to claim 21 and wherein said hood in collapsible.

24. A photography system according to claim 21 and wherein said hood comprises a support device for maintaining said hood in a non-collapsed configuration.

25. A photography system according to claim 21 and wherein said hood maintains said camera at a fixed distance from said screen.

26. A photography system according to claim 21 and wherein said hood comprises frictional stops for substantially preventing sliding of said hood on said screen after placement thereagainst.

27. A photography system according to claim 21 and also comprising graphics apparatus for creating a black background around said image being displayed on said screen.

28. A photography system according to claim 21 and also comprising graphics apparatus for displaying hood positioning markers on said screen.

29. A photography system according to claim 21 and also comprising graphics apparatus for providing color correction of said image being displayed an said screen.