US4973997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tele/pan applied to lowest cost camera uses passive optical encoding
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1990-01-16
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Granted: 1990-11-27
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Expires: 2010-01-16
Abstract
Abstract Camera with adjustable viewfinder mask having differently dimensioned openings for pseudo-photography, has light pipes to provide binary coding of film frames corresponding to mask positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald M. Harvey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/02; G03D13/08; G03D13/10; G03B2206/00; G03B2206/004; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243; G03B2217/246; G03B2219/00; G03B2219/02; G03B2219/04; G03B2219/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
In a photographic camera for making pseudo photographs on film exposure areas upon opening of camera shutter means, said camera including adjustable view finder means for selecting from a range of pseudo fields of view for exposures, the combination comprising: means for directing ambient light to a selected fiducial area of the film, means under the control of said viewfinder means for controlling ambient light passage by said directing means to provide a predetermined coded pattern of exposure of said fiducial area, and means blocking ambient light passage to said directing means except when the camera shutter is open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a photographic camera for making pseudo photographs on film exposure areas upon opening of camera shutter means, said camera including adjustable view finder means for selecting from a range of pseudo fields of view for exposures, the combination comprising: means for directing ambient light to a selected fiducial area of the film, means under the control of said viewfinder means for controlling ambient light passage by said directing means to provide a predetermined coded pattern of exposure of said fiducial area, and means blocking ambient light passage to said directing means except when the camera shutter is open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blocking means includes a movable element forming part of said shutter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for directing ambient light comprises light piping means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustable viewfinder means comprises a movable element having a plurality of differently shaped masking openings and an extension of varying width positioned so as to be movable to a plurality of positions as the viewfinder element moves, thereby to locate a portion of said extension in light blocking relation with the ambient light directing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a photographic camera for making pseudo photographs on film exposure areas upon opening of camera shutter means, said camera including adjustable viewfinder means for selecting from a plurality of pseudo fields of view for exposures, the combination comprising: light piping means for conveying ambient light to fiducial areas of the film. a movable masking element comprising part of said adjustable viewfinder means, said masking element having a plurality of differently dimensioned masking openings and being movable to bring selected openings into alignment with the viewfinder, said masking element further having an extension which has portions of different dimensions and positioned in the camera to provide a varying degree of blocking of said light piping means, depending upon the particular masking opening aligned with the viewfinder, and an element forming part of said shutter means and positioned to block passage of ambient light to said fiducial area except when said shutter means is open.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a photographic camera for making pseudo photographs on film exposure areas upon opening of camera shutter means, said camera including adjustable viewfinder means for selecting from a plurality of pseudo fields of view for exposures, the combination comprising: light piping means for conveying ambient light to fiducial areas of the film. a movable masking element comprising part of said adjustable viewfinder means, said masking element having a plurality of differently dimensioned masking openings and being movable to bring selected openings into alignment with the viewfinder, said masking element further having an extension which has portions of different dimensions and positioned in the camera to provide a varying degree of blocking of said light piping means, depending upon the particular masking opening aligned with the viewfinder, and an element forming part of said shutter means and positioned to block passage of ambient light to said fiducial area except when said shutter means is open.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 5, wherein said light piping means comprises at least one light pipe having one end positioned to direct light to an edge of the film outside the image exposure area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-26 | 1994-05-28 | 1994-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-26 | 1998-05-28 | 1998-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-26 | 2002-05-28 | 2002-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |