Multi-position lens mechanism for a scanner

• US 5,929,903 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Kiesow, Ronald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philippe, Gims S.
• Application Number:
  US08/805,600
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 348/96, 348/97-98, 348/100, 348/210, 348/376, 348/99, 348/552, 348/107, 348/76, 348/95, 358/59
• US Class Current: 348/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/393 Enlarging or reducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0408 Scanning film strips or rolls

Abstract

A scanner mechanism having a multi-position lens assembly for capturing images resident on an original includes an electronic camera for capturing the images and providing an image signal therefrom and a base assembly having a camera housing which supports the camera for movement relative to an optical axis in order to define plural fields of view. A lifting cam is mounted for pivotal movement from the base assembly, pivoting at one end thereof in spaced relation to the camera and engaging the camera at the other thereof for movement relative to the base assembly to define the plural fields of view, the lifting cam further having a contour cam surface on one side thereof. A slide is movable in relation to the base assembly and supports at least two lens assemblies in spaced relation relative to the optical axis of the camera. Since the slide has a surface element movable therewith for engaging the contour cam surface of the lifting cam, the slide is moved until the lifting cam positions the camera relative to a selected lens assembly in the optical axis of the camera.

Claims

1. A scanner mechanism having a multi-position lens assembly for capturing images resident on an original, said scanner mechanism comprising:

an electronic camera for capturing the images and providing an image signal therefrom;

a base assembly having a camera housing which supports the electronic camera for movement relative to an optical axis in order to define plural fields of view;

a lifting cam mounted for pivotal movement from the base assembly, said lifting cam pivoting at one end thereof in spaced relation to the camera and engaging the camera at the other end thereof for vertical movement of the camera housing relative to the base assembly to define the plural fields of view, said lifting cam further having a contour cam surface on one side thereof;

a slide movable in relation to the base assembly and supporting at least two lens assemblies, said at least two lens assemblies being movable with said slide and being in spaced relation relative to the optical axis of the camera, said slide having a surface element movable therewith for engaging the contour cam surface of the lifting cam; and

means for moving the slide with the surface element of the slide engaging the contour cam surface of the lifting cam until the lifting cam positions the camera relative to a selected lens assembly in the optical axis of the camera.

2. The scanner mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing includes means for detachably supporting the digital camera in the housing, whereby the digital camera may be removed from the housing.

3. The scanner mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least two lens assemblies modify the field of view of the digital camera to correspond to a conventional view of the film image and to a zoomed view of the film image.

4. The scanner mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface element on the lifting cam is a roller that engages the contour surface of the lifting cam.

5. The scanner mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lifting cam engages on side of the camera and the scanner mechanism further comprises a second lifting cam that engages the other side of the camera.

6. A film handling mechanism that captures developed images resident on a film and transmits the captured images to a computer, said film handling mechanism comprising:

an electronic camera for capturing the images and providing an image signal therefrom;

a base assembly having a camera housing which supports the camera for movement relative to an optical axis in order to define plural fields of view within a film gate;

a lifting cam mounted for pivotal movement from the base assembly, said lifting cam pivoting at one end thereof in spaced relation to the camera and engaging the camera at the other end thereof for vertical movement of the camera housing relative to the base assembly to define the plural fields of view, said lifting cam further having a contour cam surface on one side thereof;

a slide movable in relation to the base assembly and supporting at least two lens assemblies, said at least two lens assemblies being movable with said slide and being in spaced relation relative to the optical axis of the camera, said slide having a surface element movable therewith for engaging the contour cam surface of the lifting cam;

means for moving the slide with the surface element of the slide engaging the contour cam surface of the lifting cam until the lifting cam positions the camera relative to a selected lens assembly in the optical axis of the camera;

means for transporting the film through the film gate; and

means for illuminating the film gate and the film therewith.

7. The film handling mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing includes means for detachably supporting the digital camera in the housing, whereby the digital camera may be removed from the housing.

8. The film handling mechanism as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

an interface for communicating with the computer; and

means for sensing indica on the film and generating corresponding signals that are communicated to the computer through the interface.

9. The film handling mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least two lens assemblies modify the field of view of the digital camera to correspond to a conventional view of the film image and to a zoomed view of the film image.