MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR SWITCHING AN OPTICAL LENS FILTER FOR A CAMERA
A camera having a mechanical device for selectively inserting an optical lens filter housed therein. The lens filter may be a day optical filter and a night optical filter selectively inserted into an optical path of the camera in accordance with light intensity and/or a signal from a user or timer. The device for switching an optical lens filter may include a series of gears and a filter bracket slidably disposed within a housing, which moves between a first position and a second position in order to selectively insert at least one optical lens filter into the optical path of the camera.
This application claims priority to and is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/701,316, filed Feb. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,120,831, issued Feb. 21, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a device for switching an optical lens filter, and more particularly to a camera having a mechanical device housed therein for selective switching between at least one optical lens filter, such as between a day and night optical lens filter, between a first position and a second position in order to selectively insert the optical lens filter into an optical path of the camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Game cameras are typically associated with hunters and the pursuit of big game animals, such as elk and deer. Game cameras have evolved from 35 mm film cameras into 6.0 megapixel digital infrared cameras. The primary purpose of a game camera is too capture an image of a deer or other game without invading its habitat and spooking the animal, giving hunters the ability to tell where game is located for pre-season scouting. The information tells hunters where to best place their blind or tree-stand.
It is therefore desirable to provide a device for selective and/or automated switching an optical lens filter for a camera.
It is further desirable to provide a device for selective switching between at least one optical lens filter, such as between a day and night optical lens filter, between a first position and a second position in order to selectively insert the optical lens filter into an optical path of a camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera having a filter bracket with at least one optical lens filter and a motor having an axle. The filter bracket includes a linear series of teeth. A plurality of gears is engaged with the axle of said motor and the series of teeth of said filter bracket such that the rotational motion provided to the axle by the motor is converted to linear motion of the filter bracket in order to selectively insert the optical lens filter into an optical path of the camera. The optical lens filter may be any combination of optical lens filters, such as clear, ultraviolet, color correction, color subtraction, contrast enhancement, infrared, neutral density, polarizing, special effects, day and/or night optical lens filters. Furthermore, the motor may be disposed within a motor housing and can be secured to the motor housing a motor bracket. Also, the filter bracket may be slidably disposed within a recessed sliding channel of a lens filter housing, while the gears are disposed within a gear box housing.
A first gear can be engaged with a drive gear on the axle of the motor and engaged with a second gear, while the second gear may be engaged with axial series of teeth of the filter bracket. More particularly, an outer cog of the first gear may be engaged with the drive gear, and an inner cog of the first gear may be engaged with an outer cog of the second gear. An inner cog of the second gear can in turn be engaged with the series of teeth of the filter bracket. The filter bracket can include a rack-like channel having the series of teeth. The drive gear, the first gear and the second gear would have parallel axis of rotation, with the linear movement of the filter bracket being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive gear, the first gear and the second gear. The drive gear, the first gear and the second gear can be disposed within a recessed gear box enclosure of the housing.
Alternatively, a first gear may be engaged with a drive gear on the axle of the motor and with a second gear. The second gear may be engaged with an output gear, which in turn may be engaged with the series of teeth of the filter bracket. More particularly, an outer cog of the first gear can be engaged with the drive gear, while an inner cog of the first gear is engaged with an outer cog of the second gear. The second gear can include an axle having the output gear engaged with the series of projecting teeth of the filter bracket. The filter bracket can include a rack having the series of teeth. In addition, the drive gear, the first gear, the second gear and the output gear can have parallel axis of rotation, with the linear movement of the filter bracket being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive gear, the first gear, the second gear and the output gear.
Moreover, a gear box housing may be secured to the housing, with the gear box housing having a gear box case and a gear box cover. The drive gear, the first gear and the second gear can be disposed within the gear box case, with the motor being disposed within a motor housing in the gear box cover. The gear box case can further include a housing axle about which the first gear rotates, along with an opening through which the axle of the second gear extends through to the output gear. The filter bracket could include a rack having the series of teeth. In addition, a control circuit is electrically connected to the motor, with the control circuit having a directional driving circuit and a protection circuit.
In general, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a digital game scouting camera having a device for selectively inserting an optical lens filter into an optical path of the digital camera. The device includes a filter bracket having at least one optical lens filter and a series of teeth; a motor having an axle; a transmission engaged with the axle of the motor and the teeth of the filter bracket; and a control circuit electrically connected to the motor. The rotational motion provided to the axle by the motor is converted to linear motion of the filter bracket in order to selectively move the optical lens filter.
Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description, and from the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope.
While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the construction and the arrangement of the structural and function details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.
Referring to the figures of the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout the several views, and initially to
As can be seen from the exploded view of
During operation, the motor 72 rotates the axle 78 having the drive gear 106; the rotational energy of the drive gear 106 causes the spur gear 84 to rotate about the housing axle 88; the rotational energy of the spur gear 84 is transmitted to the spur gear 86, causing it to rotate about the housing axle 90; this rotational energy of the spur gear 86 is converted to linear movement of the filter bracket 70 within the slide channel 110 of the housing 94 between the first position illustrated in
Referring now to
A gear box housing 124, attached to the housing 112, includes a gear box case 126 and a gear box cover 128 secured thereto, such as by way of screws 130. The gear box case 126 includes a housing axle 152 about which a spur gear 144 rotates. In addition, the gear box case 126 includes an opening 154 which an axle 156 extends therethrough. Within the gear box cover 128, a motor bracket 132 secures a motor 134 to a motor housing 136.
The motor 134 includes an axle 138 having a drive gear 140. The drive gear 140 is engaged with an outer cog 142 of the spur gear 144, while an inner cog 146 of the spur gear 144 is engaged with an outer cog 148 of a spur gear 150. The axis of rotation of the spur gear 150 is secured to the axle 156, which extends from within the gearing box housing 124, through the opening 154 therein, and into the housing 112 where it includes an output gear 158. The output gear 158 is engaged with the rack 112 of the filter bracket 118.
During operation, the axle 138 of the motor 134 rotates the drive gear 140, causing the spur gear 144 to rotate, which in turn causes the spur gear 150 to rotate. The rotation of the spur gear 150 is transmitted through the axle 156 to the output gear 158. The rotational energy of the output gear 158 is converted by the rack 122 to linear movement of the filter bracket 116 along and within the sliding channel 118 of the housing 112. This linear movement of the filter bracket 116 of the device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera 10 enables the selective switching between the day optical lens filter 18a (
Referring now to
The device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera 10 may include an image sensor (not shown) that detects the environmental luminance. The image sensor is electrically connected to the control circuit 160, which may also include a suitable processor 174, such as a digital signal processor or micro-controller unit. If the detected luminance is greater than a predetermined value, the control circuit 160 will enter a daytime mode. In the daytime mode, the optical lens filter 18a may cover the opening 80/114 and be in the optical path of the camera (
The processor 174 will provide either a forward directional control signal (MF) or a reverse directional control signal (MR) according to the detected luminance. For example, the forward directional driving circuit 162 may be activated with MF=1 and MR=0, while the reverse directional driving 164 circuit may be activated with MF=0 and MR=1, with 1 representing the predetermined value for high luminance and 0 representing the predetermined value for low luminance. By way of further example, when MF=1 and MR=0, the transistors Q4 and Q6 are electrically disconnected, resulting in transistors Q2 and Q8 also being electrically disconnected, such that the reverse directional power switching circuit 172 is disconnected. Transistors Q3 and Q5 are electrically connected resulting in transistors Q1 and Q7 being electrically connected; in this state, the forward directional power switching circuit 170 is electrically connected resulting in a positive voltage between positive to negative terminals of the motor 72/134. This voltage causes the motor 72/134 to rotate in the forward direction and move the optical lens filter 18a into the optical path of the camera. Should MF=0 and MR=1, the transistors Q3 and Q5 would be disconnected, along with transistors Q1 and Q7, in order to disconnect the forward directional power switching circuit 170. Transistors Q4 and Q6 are electrically connected, resulting in transistors Q2 and Q8 to also be electrically connected so that the reverse directional power switching circuit 172 is active. A negative voltage is applied between the negative to positive terminals of the motor 72/134, causing the motor 72/134 to rotate in the reverse direction and move the optical lens filter 18b into the optical path of the camera.
If both MF and MR equaled 0, then the transistors Q1, Q3, Q5 and Q7 of the forward directional driving circuit 162 and the forward directional power switching circuit 170 and the transistors Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q8 of the reverse driving circuit 164 and the reverse directional power switching circuit 172 would be electrically disconnected resulting in no voltage between the positive and negative terminals of the motor 72/134 of the device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera 10. In this state, the motor 72/134 is in a non-working status and leaves the optical lens filter 18 in its existing position. The same may be true in an unusual status where both MF and MR equaled 1; in particular, transistors Q3 and Q5, along with transistors Q4 and Q6 would be electrically disconnected, deactivating both the forward and the reverse directional power switching circuits 170 and 172, respectively. No voltage would pass across the terminals of the motor 72/134 and the filter bracket 70/116 would remain in its existing position.
The protection circuits 166 and/or 168 illustrated in
It will be appreciated that the device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera 10 may include any type of optical lens filter 18 typically used in photography; for example and not by way of limitation, the optical lens filter may be clear, ultraviolet, color correction, color subtraction, contrast enhancement, infrared, neutral density, polarizing, special effects or other type of photography or videography optical filter or a combination thereof. For example and not by way of limitation, the device for switching an optical lens filter for a camera 10 may utilize a day and a night optical lens filter as discussed infra, a clear optical lens filter and a day optical lens filter, or a clear optical lens filter and a night optical lens filter.
Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A device for switching an optical lens filter for a digital camera, said device comprising:
- a filter bracket comprising at least one optical lens filter, said filter bracket comprising a linear series of teeth;
- a motor having an axle; and
- a plurality of gears engaged with said axle of said motor and said series of teeth of said filter bracket;
- wherein the rotational motion provided to said axle by said motor is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket in order to selectively insert said at least one optical lens filter into an optical path of said camera.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical lens filter is selected from the group consisting of a clear optical lens filter, an ultraviolet optical lens filter, a color correction optical lens filter, a color subtraction optical lens filter, a contrast enhancement optical lens filter, an infrared optical lens filter, a neutral density optical lens filter, a polarizing optical lens filter, a special effects optical lens filter, a day optical lens filter or a night optical lens filter.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a lens filter housing, said gears are disposed within a gear box housing, and said motor is disposed within a motor housing.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a recessed sliding channel of said lens filter housing.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first gear engaged with a drive gear on said axle of said motor, said first gear engaged with a second gear, and said second gear engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein an outer cog of said first gear is engaged with said drive gear, wherein an inner cog of said first gear is engaged with an outer cog of said second gear, and wherein an inner cog of said second gear is engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear have parallel axis of rotation.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said linear motion of said filter bracket is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear.
9. The device of claim 5 wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear are disposed within a gear box housing.
10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first gear engaged with a drive gear on said axle of said motor, said first gear engaged with a second gear, said second gear engaged with an output gear, said output gear engaged with said series of teeth of said filter bracket.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein an outer cog of said first gear is engaged with said drive gear, wherein an inner cog of said first gear is engaged with an outer cog of said second gear, wherein said second gear includes an axle having said output gear engaged with said series of projecting teeth of said filter bracket.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein said drive gear, said first gear, said second gear and said output gear have parallel axis of rotation.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said linear motion of said filter bracket is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said drive gear, said first gear, said second gear and said output gear.
14. The device of claim 10 further comprising a gear box housing, wherein said gear box housing has a gear box case and a gear box cover, wherein said drive gear, said first gear and said second gear are disposed within said gear box case, wherein said motor is disposed within a motor housing in said gear box cover, and wherein said filter bracket is slidably disposed within a lens filter housing.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein said gear box case further comprises a housing axle about which said first gear rotates.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein said gear box case further comprises an opening through which said axle of said second gear extends through to said output gear.
17. The device of claim 10 wherein said filter bracket further comprises a rack having said series of teeth.
18. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said motor.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein said control circuit comprises a directional driving circuit and a protection circuit.
20. A digital game scouting camera, said camera further comprising:
- a device for selectively inserting an optical lens filter into an optical path of said digital camera, said device further comprising a filter bracket having at least one optical lens filter and a series of teeth; a motor having an axle; a transmission engaged with said axle of said motor and said teeth of said filter bracket; and a control circuit electrically connected to said motor; and
- wherein the rotational motion provided to said axle by said motor is converted to linear motion of said filter bracket in order to selectively move said at least one optical lens filter.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 20, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2012
Inventor: BENNING QIAN (Ningbo)
Application Number: 13/400,483
International Classification: H04N 7/18 (20060101); G02B 5/22 (20060101);