Camera

Details Camera Camera

1998-10-23

2001-09-11

Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)

Photography

With data recording

Optical

C396S332000, C396S544000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06289181

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera and a method for adding an image or pattern to a photograph image.
2. Description of Related Art
When a picture is taken, it is sometimes desirable to add or superimpose a desired image or pattern onto the picture to achieve advertising effects or simply to make the picture more attractive or appealing. The common methods to achieve this are:
1) Post-processing of the film to add an image, words or pattern onto the final photograph.
2) Use of a digital image processing technique together with use of a digital camera or other digitizing means.
3) Shooting of an object against a background screen with a pattern preprinted or projected onto it.
4) Installation of a filter pre-printed with the desired image or pattern in the camera such that when a picture is taken, light passes through the filter whereby the pre-printed image or pattern is printed on the film. In known cameras which use this arrangement, a number of filters are provided which are pre-printed with images or patterns and can be placed inside a central rectangular recess area of the internal compartment of the camera before mounting the film.
The first two methods, which rely on post-processing, have the disadvantages of being expensive to implement and inconvenient for casual picture taking. The third and the fourth methods both use pure optical methods to achieve the desired result. The third method has the disadvantage of being location dependent and inconvenient. Although the fourth method is inexpensive and convenient to use, it has the disadvantage that the filter cannot be conveniently replaced without replacing the whole roll of film, so that patterns cannot be changed at will within one roll of film.
In the known fourth method in which a filter (or slide) bearing an image or pattern is placed inside the camera between the lens and the film the following problems arise:
1) The pattern can intermix with the background of the object to be shot. If the pattern is colored, a color of the pattern will be changed if it is mixed with the color of the object background. One solution to this problem is to partition the ambient light into one portion for illuminating the pattern and another portion for illuminating the object to be shot.
Patent application No. EP-A-0499742 describes one method of doing this. It uses an area of translucent material placed near the camera aperture allowing only white light to pass through and a dividing structure to isolate the extracted white light from the light constituting the object to be shot.
2) In the method described by patent application No. EP-A-0499742, it is necessary to enlarge the aperture of a standard camera to accommodate and illuminate the translucent material. In so doing, due to the distance travelled by the shutter plate(s), exposure time varies across the film and the photograph so produced will be subject to non-uniform exposure which is undesirable. This problem in fact also occurs in a standard camera although it is generally not noticeable; the problem however is aggravated when the aperture is enlarged.
3) Where a translucent material or other means is used to extract white light from the ambient light, due to the extra dissipation of light energy during the extraction, the intensity of light illuminating the pattern may be insufficient to produce a desirable composite picture.
If a slide (or plate) bearing an image or pattern to be superimposed is placed outside the camera, the desired effect can also be achieved. Two problems need to be resolved in this method:
1) The pattern, being placed at an unusually close position to the lens, needs to be focused properly onto the film.
2) It is necessary to provide appropriate and uniform lighting to the pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a means for conveniently superimposing patterns onto a photograph using a pure optical method. The main advantage of this invention is that the pattern can be changed at any time during picture taking.
The present application relates to a camera capable of producing photographs which are composite pictures of the object to be shot and a pre-determined image or pattern. In general, the object to be shot would appear in the center part of the picture and the image or pattern would appear in the outer portions surrounding the center part.
The present invention also provides a means of improving the clarity of a pattern superimposed on an image being photographed.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera with an object lens, an aperture and guiding means for an image recording medium, the camera comprising: a means for providing generally scattered or white light to be incident on a first portion of the image recording medium, and a light adjusting means for varying the dissipation of the white or scattered light across the aperture.
Preferably, the means for providing generally scattered or white light is a light diffusing means in the form of a translucent filter. The light adjusting means may vary the dissipation of light in relation to the variation of time of exposure across the aperture. The light adjusting means may vary the dissipation of light in a manner corresponding to the path of a shutter across the aperture.
The camera preferably has an image bearing means, the image of which is to be recorded on the first portion of the image recording medium. The image bearing means may be disposed between the lens and the guiding means for the image recording medium.
The light adjusting means may be in the form of a translucent filter of varying thickness, the thickness varying in relation to the time of exposure accross the aperture.
The light adjusting means may be in the form of a translucent filter having a portion of the filter with a higher level of diffusion, the portion of the filter extending over a segment of the aperture corresponding to an area first exposed during the opening of a shutter across the aperture.
As another alternative, the light adjusting means may be in the form of a varying surface finish on a translucent filter, to vary the amount of light transmitted through the translucent filter.
As a further alternative, the light adjusting means may be in the form of a translucent fluid, the density or concentration of which is varied.
Preferably, the light diffusing means is in the form of a translucent filter with one of the following forms of diffusing means: a wave-formed surface, a layer of fluid, light focusing means for focusing stray light and out-focusing means.
Preferably, the camera includes a focusing means for focusing light on the light diffusing means.
Preferably, the camera includes a focusing means for focusing light on the image bearing means.
Further, the camera may preferably include a light enhancement means for enhancing the light incident on the first portion of the image recording medium.
The first portion of the image recording medium may be the surrounding portion, surrounding the object image bearing center portion.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device suitable for use with a camera, the device comprising a means for providing generally scattered or white light in a first portion and a light adjusting means for varying the dissipation of the white or scattered light across the first portion.
A device suitable for use with a camera with any of the features of the first aspect of the present invention. The device may be in the form of an attachment for a camera.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with an aperture and guiding means for an image recording medium, the camera having a lens system including an object lens for focusing light from an object to be photographed on an image recording medium and a second focusing means for focusing light from a member disposed in front of or behind the object lens on the image recording medium.
The lens system may be in the form of a single lens. Alter

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Camera does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Camera, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Camera will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2524029