Dual lens camera

• US 6,282,377 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Farcella, Martin P., Lawther, Joel S., Baker, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US09/481,820
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 396/72, 396/73, 396/76, 396/83, 396/74, 396/75, 396/323, 396/350
• US Class Current: 396/73
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets

Abstract

A dual lens camera has a lens carrier with a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens for alternatively positioning only one of the lenses at a picture-taking axis. A single aperture for each one of the lenses is movable forward and rearward along the picture taking axis. The lens carrier is movable forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with the aperture, and is movable relative to the aperture to position the shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position the longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.

Claims

1. A dual lens camera comprising a lens carrier with a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens for alternatively positioning only one of said lenses at a picture-taking axis, is characterized in that:

a single aperture for each one of said lenses is movable forward and rearward along the picture taking axis; and

said lens carrier is movable across the picture-taking axis to position said shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when said aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position said longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when said aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.

2. A dual lens camera comprising a lens carrier with a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens for alternatively positioning only one of said lenses at a picture-taking axis, is characterized in that:

a single aperture for each one of said lenses is movable forward and rearward along the picture taking axis; and

said lens carrier is movable forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with said aperture, and is movable relative to said aperture to position said shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when said aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position said longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when said aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.

3. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 2, wherein respective lens barrels contain said shorter and longer focal length lenses and are fixed immovably on said lens carrier, and said lens carrier is movable perpendicular to the picture-taking axis to change whichever one of said shorter and longer focal length lenses is positioned at the picture-taking axis to the other lens.

4. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 2, wherein one motion inducing cam is positioned to impart motion to said lens carrier when said lens carrier is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis, in order to begin movement of said lens carrier to position said shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis, and another motion inducing cam is positioned to impart motion to said lens carrier when said lens carrier is moved forward along the picture-taking axis, in order to begin movement of said lens carrier to position said longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis.

5. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 4, wherein an over-center spring is positioned between said motion inducing cams to complete movement of said lens carrier to position either one of said shorter focal length lens and said longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis.

6. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 4, wherein said lens carrier includes a lens plate supporting said shorter focal length lens and said longer focal length lens and having opposite cam follower ends one of which is positioned to cooperate with one of said motion inducing cams when said lens carrier is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis, in order to begin movement of said lens carrier to position said shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis, and another of which is positioned to cooperate with the other motion inducing cam when said lens carrier is moved forward along the picture-taking axis, in order to begin movement of said lens carrier to position said longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis.

7. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 2, wherein a selector lever is coupled with said aperture and is manually pivotable in opposite directions to move said aperture forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis.

8. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 2, wherein a main body part has an exposure chamber concentric about the picture-taking axis, and a light box includes said aperture and is movable into and out of said exposure chamber to move said aperture rearward and forward along the picture-taking axis.

9. A dual lens camera as recited in claim 8, wherein said lens carrier resides on said light box to be moved forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with said aperture and is movable on said light box to move relative to said aperture and change whichever one of said shorter and longer focal length lenses is positioned at the picture-taking axis to the other lens.

10. A method in a dual lens camera of changing whichever one of a shorter focal length lens and a longer focal length lens is positioned at a picture-taking axis to the other lens, comprising the steps:

pivoting a selection lever coupled with a single aperture for each one of the shorter and longer focal length lenses to move the aperture forward and rearward along the picture taking axis; and

moving a single lens carrier for the shorter and longer focal length lenses forward and rearward along the picture-taking axis in unity with the aperture, and simultaneously moving the lens carrier relative to the aperture to position the shorter focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved rearward along the picture-taking axis and to position the longer focal length lens at the picture-taking axis when the aperture is moved forward along the picture-taking axis.