Dual-lens camera with shutters for taking dual or single images

• US 5,852,753 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 12/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Quochuy Lao, Lo, Allen Kwok Wah
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Quochuy Lao, Lo, Allen Kwok Wah
• Inventors: Lo, Allen Kwok Wah, Lao, Kenneth Quochuy
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/964,196
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 396/323, 396/324, 396/326, 396/327, 396/328, 396/378, 396/471
• US Class Current: 396/323
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/10 having single camera with stereoscopic-base-defining system

Abstract

A dual-lens camera which can be used to take single-frame images for 2D photography or dual-frame images for 3D photography. The camera has two taking lenses and two independently operable shutters. The unique feature of this dual-lens camera is that the camera comprises two shutter release buttons. On release button activates only the shutter associated with one taking lens to take a single-frame image. The other button activates both shutters to take a stereo image pair. A film advance mechanism is used to advance the film in accordance with the operating mode of the camera.

Claims

1. A dual-lens camera for taking pictures and recording images on a roll of photographic film, said camera comprising:

a first taking lens having therebehind a first image frame to define an exposing area on said film;

said first image frame having a width;

a first shutter associated with said first taking lens;

a first shutter release button for activating said first shutter to effect the exposure of an image formed by said first taking lens on said first image frame;

a second taking lens having therebehind a second image frame to define an exposing area on said film;

said second image frame having a width;

a second shutter associated with said second taking lens;

a second shutter release button for simultaneously activating said first and second shutters to effect the exposure of two images formed by said first and second taking lenses on the respective image frames;

a film advance mechanism;

said mechanism being caused by the action of the first shutter release button to advance said film by a length slightly greater than the width of said first image frame;

said mechanism being caused by the action of the second shutter release button to advance said film by a length slightly greater than the total width of said first and second image frames; and

a viewfinder.

2. The camera of claim 1 wherein the width of said second image frame is substantially equal to the width of said first image frame.

3. The camera of claim 1 wherein the width of said second image frame is smaller than the width of said first image frame.

4. The camera of claim 1 wherein the width of said first image frame ranges from 33 to 38 mm.

5. The camera of claim 1 wherein the viewfinder has therein a marking to indicate a field of view associated with said first taking lens.

6. The camera of claim 1 wherein the viewfinder has therein a marking to indicate a field of view associated with both the first taking lens and the second taking lens.