Camera for indicating camera orientations on photographic film

• US 5,659,805 A
• Filed: 02/16/1996
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Furlani, Edward P., Bryant, Robert C., Barzideh, Bijan
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chizmar, John
• Application Number:
  US08/602,194
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 354/106, 324/207.2, 324/207.21, 324/207.23, 396/50
• US Class Current: 396/50
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/244 Magnetic devices

Abstract

A camera for containing film which captures an image and indication of camera orientations thereon, the camera has a camera housing having a magnet rotatably connected to it for rotating the magnet in response to orientations of the camera housing. A first, second and third sensor are attached to the camera body for sensing a magnetic field from the magnet. An electrical circuit generates a logic table which indicates orientations of the camera housing in response to a signal from the first, second and third sensors. A record head indicates on the film the orientation of the camera derived from the logic table.

Claims

1. A camera for containing film which captures both an image and an indication of camera orientations thereon, the camera comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) a rotatable magnet disposed within said camera housing for rotating in response to gravity and, consequently, orientations of said camera housing;

(c) first and second sensors attached to said camera body for sensing a magnetic field from said magnet;

(d) an electrical circuit for generating a logic table which indicates orientations of said camera housing in response to a signal from said first and second sensors; and

(e) a record head for indicating on the film the orientation of said camera.

2. The camera as in claim 1 further comprising a ring disposed within said camera housing for damping any tendency for the magnet to oscillate.

3. The camera as in claim 2, wherein said electrical circuit includes a microcontroller for generating the logic table.

4. The camera as in claim 2, further comprising a third sensor and wherein said first, second, and third sensors are Hall Effect sensors.

5. The camera as in claim 2, wherein said magnet includes two ends and one end is preloaded to a predetermined weight so that it weighs more than the other end.

6. The camera as in claim 3 further comprising a record head electrically connected to said microprocessor for imparting a coded pattern on the film indicating camera orientation.