Variable Aperture Size Patents (Class 352/216)
  • Patent number: 9581880
    Abstract: When a stepping motor is used as a driving source for a shutter device, if the stepping motor loses synchronization because of variations in load during driving or the like, it becomes unable to rotate a driving ring at that time, and this disables an exposure operation. In a first zone where a driven member is driven, but a light shielding member remains in a closed state or an open state, the motor drives the driven member in open-loop driving mode. In a second zone where the driven member is driven, and thus the light shielding member moves to the closed state or the open state, the motor drives the driven member in feed-back driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Aoshima, Masahiro Takayama
  • Patent number: 6865030
    Abstract: One or more optical slits of a variable optical slit assembly limit the widths of optical beams propagating through the optical slits. A frame assembly of the variable optical slit assembly operatively couples one or more encoded translators to the optical slits. In operation, rotations of the encoded translators alter the widths and/or positions of the optical slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Berto, Scott A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5223867
    Abstract: Control and regulation apparatus 16 for the control of the exposure and transport speed of a motion picture film with a motion picture camera whose film transport motor 26 is connected to a speed control apparatus 23 and which has a rotary shutter which can be adjusted by means of a servomotor 3 and which is connected to a potentiometer 6 as a position sensor. A setpoint for the shutter aperture of the adjustable rotary shutter is specified as a function of the current film transport speed by the control and regulation apparatus 16 via a converter 14 to a position controller 13, whereby the product of the film transport speed and the shutter aperture is always a constant value. Different film transport speeds, shutter apertures and transition times can be input to the camera in a programmer apparatus 19 or in a remote control apparatus 181, 182, and initiated sequentially by means of a program key 183.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Anh Nguyen-Nhu
  • Patent number: 5137346
    Abstract: In the disclosed moving picture camera with an adjustable rotary shutter, the shutter has a rotary shutter and an adjusting blade. The shutter adjusting blade is adjustable coaxially to the rotary shutter, which adjusts a shutter aperture angle. A transmission and a positioning motor adjust the adjusting blade relative to the rotary shutter. A potentiometer is connected to the shutter adjusting blade and to the rotary shutter, for measuring the position of the shutter adjustment blade in relation to the rotary shutter. The potentiometer generates a position signal indicating the actual position of the shutter adjustment blade in relation to the rotary shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventors: Fritz Sattler, Anh Nguyen-Nhu
  • Patent number: 5074657
    Abstract: A method and mechanism for adjusting the timing of a camera in the reverse mode while allowing for separate adjustment of the timing in the forward mode. In a preferred embodiment, an external switch is provided which when actuated switches the camera between the timing setting for the forward direction and the timing setting for the reverse direction. A helical driven gear which engages a drive gear driven by the motor is axially translatable between a first position corresponding to the forward direction and a second position corresponding to the reverse direction. Since it is a helical gear, the amount of axial translation adjusts the relative angular position of the shutter with respect to the frame advance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Panavision, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald G. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 5072162
    Abstract: A speed controller includes a drive source, an input device for inputting the driving speed information of the drive source, a driver for driving the drive source on the basis of the driving speed information input by the input device, a detector for linearly detecting the amount of movement of the drive source, an output device for outputting movement amount information obtained by the detector, and a corrector for correcting the driving speed information by the use of the movement amount information obtained by the detector, the corretor imparting new driving speed information as the corrected value to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Fumio Mochida
  • Patent number: 4889424
    Abstract: A shutter system for a movie camera or the like which controls the exposure of film including a main shutter wheel rotatably mounted on an axis and first and second adjustable shutter wheels positioned adjacent to and coaxially rotating therewith. The first and second adjustable shutter wheels may selectively pivot relative to the main shutter wheel in opposite angular directions so as to close off a portion or all of the arcuate apertures within the main shutter wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Panavision, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert K. Saiki
  • Patent number: 4743108
    Abstract: A dynamic shutter mechanism for use with a still or motion video camera which is operable at variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events. The shutter mechanism includes a pair of apertured shutter discs which are independently driven by separate motors. Phase lock loop control circuits lock the speed and phase of each disc to the vertical and horizontal sync rates of the video camera. The video signal produced by the video camera produces a control signal which is indicative of the intensity of light of a captured scene. The control signal controls the speed of the shutter mechanism by changing the relative rotational position of the shutters and consequently the relative exposure aperture. In a preferred shutter mechanism the shutter discs are mounted coaxially and are driven by coaxial disc motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Vogel, Mark D. Fiscella
  • Patent number: 4699483
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a video camera has a pair of disks rotated in the same direction about a common axis in synchronism with the raster scan blanking interval. The disks each have one or more openings which overlie one another to define a light admitting shutter aperture positioned to illuminate the video pickup device. An adjustment mechanism allows continuous adjustment of the shutter aperture while the disks are rotating. The adjustment mechanism has a slotted tube keyed to a pair of co-axial hub members which are adjustably rotated relative to one another when the slotted tube is moved axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Steven L. Swinehart
  • Patent number: 4695891
    Abstract: A compact video camera which is operable at continuously variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events which may be recorded and played back in slow motion for scene analysis. The video camera includes an image sensor, a zoom lens, and a rotating shutter which is continuously adjustable to different shutter speeds. The camera components are dimensioned and configured in a compact design for easy-to-use hand-held operation. The shutter includes a pair of rotating shutter discs having openings which are selectively adjustable relative to each other to vary the interval during which the imager sensor is exposed to a scene projected onto it by the zoom lens. The shutter discs are mounted on respective first and second holow shafts. The first shaft is rotatably and slidably mounted on a portion of the second shaft by a linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dean M. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4695887
    Abstract: A compact video camera which is operable at continuously variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events which may be recorded and played back in slow motion for scene analysis. The video camera includes an image sensor, a zoom lens, and a rotating shutter which is continuously adjustable to different shutter speeds. The camera components are dimensioned and configured in a compact design for easy-to-use hand-held operation. The shutter includes a pair of rotating shutter discs having openings which are selectively adjustable relative to each other to vary the interval during which the imager sensor is exposed to a scene projected onto it by the zoom lens. The shutter discs are mounted on a pair of spaced, hollow shafts. Adjustment of the relative rotational position of the two discs to control the size of the relative shutter opening is effected by a push rod linked to and slidably mounted within the hollow shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dean M. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4669841
    Abstract: A rotary shutter adapted to be used in an electronic still camera comprises a rotatable shutter having shutter openings which are variable in size. The shutter is rotated by an electric motor in order to open and close intermittently an exposure aperture of the camera. A phase detector for detecting the phase of rotation of the shutter member provides a series of phase signal, and cooperates with a signal generator for generating stop signals in synchronism with the phase signals when a particular shutter speed is selected and a circuit for braking the motor to stop the shutter member. Responsive to the particular shutter speed selecting operation, the shutter opening is opened to its maximum size and the rotary shutter is simultaneously stopped quickly in position so as to open fully the exposure aperture of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kaneko, Motohiko Horio, Naoki Kobayashi, Fujio Okada
  • Patent number: 4643548
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a video camera has a pair of disks rotated in the same direction about a common axis in synchronism with the raster scan blanking interval. The disks each have one or more openings which overlie one another to define a light admitting shutter aperture positioned to illuminate the video pickup device. The opening in at least one of the disks is counterbalanced during rotation by a recessed relief area which does not extend through the disk, or by a weighted plate attached to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Nisus Video, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven L. Swinehart
  • Patent number: 4592632
    Abstract: For a given shutter size, the effective illumination or light transmission period is increased by one half that of the angles subtended by the aperture. This increase is accomplished by providing, in addition to a first shutter having an opaque section in the case of a camera of at least 180.degree., a second shutter having an opaque section of an angle equal to that subtended by the aperture. The second shutter is coaxially mounted with the first shutter and caused to rotate at twice the speed of the first shutter. By initially aligning the leading edges of the shutters with the start of the aperture, the aperture is effectively covered and uncovered in half the time which would normally be required by using a single shutter providing the same film transport period alone. As a consequence, the period of illumination is increased by the referred to one-half of the angle subtended by the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Inventor: Walter Renold
  • Patent number: 4576456
    Abstract: An image sensing system having an image sensing part for sensing the image of an object to be photographed, two shutter blades which block image light, two motors arranged to drive the two shutter blades respectively and a control circuit arranged to keep a turning phase difference unvarying between the two motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Okino, Syuichiro Saito
  • Patent number: 4551763
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a video camera has a pair of disks rotated in the same direction about a common axis in synchronism with the raster scan blanking interval. The disks have openings which overlie one another and define a light admitting shutter aperture positioned to illuminate the video pickup. Each opening is bounded on first and second sides by lines emanating from a point on the disk which is offset from the disk's axis of rotation preferably by a distance equal to the length of the diagonal of the raster. This enables an even exposure of the video pickup, of equal areas at equal times, no matter where the pickup is positioned relative to the disk's axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Nisus Video Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven L. Swinehart, Werner H. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4547051
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a video camera has a pair of disks rotated in the same direction about a common axis in synchronism with the raster scan blanking interval, at a nominal rotational rate of 3600 rpm. The disks each have a single opening which overlie one another to define a single light admitting shutter aperture positioned to illuminate the video pickup once per revolution. Stop action or slow motion studies are greatly improved by the increase in shutter speed resulting from this single aperture shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Nisus Video Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven L. Swinehart
  • Patent number: 4545659
    Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a video camera has a pair of disks rotated in the same direction about a common axis in synchronism with the raster scan blanking interval. The phase relationship or relative angular positions of the disks can be continuously varied, while the disks are rotating in use, to vary the shutter speed or exposure time. Mechanisms for continuously varying the angular positions of the disks include mechanical linkages and hydraulic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Nisus Video Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven L. Swinehart, Werner H. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 4365876
    Abstract: A motion picture camera of the type which advances the film through a film gate in a stop-and-go motion and particularly designed for high speed operation, and comprising a film drive mechanism having a sprocket and two guide assemblies for forming and guiding a loop of film through the film gate, one of the guide assemblies being mounted on an eccentric for continuous rotation while moving the loop of film against a stationary registration pin in intermittent fashion, the registration pin being disposed for insertion through a perforation of the film when the eccentric crosses dead center, and the other guide assembly being a compact structure for cooperating with the first guide assembly to reduce any accumulation of the composite error in the perforations of the film; the camera is also constructed in two sections which are removably secured together by a release mechanism which is readily separable by one hand of the operator of the camera, one section of the camera containing a film supply reel and take-
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventor: Rouel R. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4257693
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a cine camera in which the exposure time is accurately maintained by detecting the time during which the film is actually exposed and, upon occurrence of a difference of this detected value from the set value, by varying the shutter open angle to compensate the exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritsugu Hirata, Hiroyuki Takimoto
  • Patent number: 4157570
    Abstract: The TV-cine conversion projector adapted to carry out the ordinary film projection of the projector at the feeding rate of the film frames of substantially 24 frames/sec. and 18 frames/sec., while, in cooperation with a TV camera tube such as a vidicon, it can convert the projected images of the film at the feeding rate of the film frames of substantially 24 frames/sec. and 18 frames/sec. into TV pictures scanned at the scanning rate of 60 fields/sec. or 50 fields/sec. comprises a main shaft driven at a constant speed, a sound sprocket driven by the driving shaft for rotation at a speed corresponding to the rate of intermittent feeding of the film, a shutter driven by the main shaft for synchronizing the rate of interruption of the projection light with the actuation of an intermittent film feeding claw driven by the driving shaft at a speed of substantially 24 frames/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: Yamawa Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Kenichi Atsumi
  • Patent number: 3951531
    Abstract: A rotary shutter of a motion picture camera comprises a pair of fan-shaped sectors which are capable of changing the angle of opening formed thereby. The sector shaft is rotated through a gear train by a claw driving shaft which in turn is rotated by a driving motor. The gear train comprises a pair of gear train means either of which is selectively used to transmit the rotation of the claw driving shaft to the sector shaft. The ratio of the rate of revolution of one shaft to that of the other is changed by changing the gear train means. A switchover means is provided to switchover the gear train from one to the other. The switchover means is associated with means for changing the angle of opening formed by the sectors. In the mode of the prolonged time exposure, the speed of revolution of the sector is reduced to the half of that of the sector in the mode of the normal motion picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakai, Tetsuo Nishizawa, Ziro Sekine