GB2316183A

GB2316183A - Camera

Info

Publication number: GB2316183A
Application number: GB9712071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ching Miao Wang; Quan Jiang
Original assignee: Ginfax Development Ltd; Ginfax Dev Ltd
Current assignee: Ginfax Development Ltd; Ginfax Dev Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-10
Filing date: 1997-06-10
Publication date: 1998-02-18
Also published as: GB9712071D0; HK1001358A2; JPH1115073A; TW335910U

Abstract

A camera (1) with nine lenses (40) disposed in a three by three arrangement. The camera (1) can take nine photographs in a single frame of film. The film can be developed in the normal way and each photograph can be divided in to nine smaller photographs. A single shutter is provided with nine apertures (50) Figure 7, not shown, corresponding to the nine lenses (40). The operation of the shutter allows light to enter the lenses (40) and reach the frame of film which is divided by nine sub-exposure chambers.

Description

CAMERA This invention relates to a camera for taking two or more pictures of the same object at one time.

Know prior art cameras include a disposal camera as described in US patent no. 5,264,882. The product described in this US patent is a disposal camera having eight apertures and eight lenses. The lenses are formed in two squares of plastic material each square comprising four lenses. The eight apertures are arranged so that light entering each of the eight apertures will impinge on a single frame of film. Thus, eight separate images will be produced on a single frame of film. Each aperture is provided with its own shutter. The shutters, by a gearing system, open and shut at different times on a single depression of the picture taking button. The shutters are designed to open and shut in quick succession so that a moving image will be captured in different poses as it moves from one position to another. This type of camera can be used, for example, with golf in mind so that a person may be able to analyze their golf swing by taking eight shots of the swing in quick succession.

Other known prior art cameras include a camera which is a professional camera with four high quality multiple lenses for taking four passport sized professional quality photographs.

According to the present invention there is provided a camera comprising: a camera body housing an exposure chamber for a film frame, wherein the exposure chamber is divided into plurality of sub-exposure chambers; a plurality of lenses disposed in front of the plurality of sub-exposure chambers; and a shutter with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of lenses.

Preferably, there are nine lenses disposed in a three by three arrangement and the shutter has nine apertures disposed in a three by three arrangement corresponding to the lens arrangement. Preferably, the exposure chamber is also divided into nine sub-exposure chambers.

Preferably, the camera operates with 35mm film.

Optimally, the foci of the lenses are a distance of 8mm apart in a first direction and 12mm apart in a second, perpendicular, direction.

The plurality of lenses may be provided in the form of a plurality of individual lens components. Alternatively, the plurality of lenses may be provided in the form of a single component.

Preferably, the lenses are disposed between a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may have a plurality of apertures corresponding in position to the centres of the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

The second plate may have a plurality of apertures of generally the same size as the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

Preferably, one of the first or second plates has recessed areas for retaining the plurality of lenses.

Most preferably, the shutter has apertures which are of sufficient size to allow light to enter the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is operated and to prevent light from entering the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is in a closed position.

Preferably, the camera also includes a view finder arranged to direct the centre lens of the nine lenses at the object to be photographed.

An embodiment of a camera in accordance with the present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front prospective of the camera; Figure 2 is a front view of the lenses of the camera; Figure 3 is a portion of a film showing a single frame divided into nine sub-frames as exposed by the camera; Figure 4 is a section through the camera; Figure 5 is a front view of the camera showing the lens and shutter arrangement with the camera body shown in phantom; Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of the winder and release mechanism of the camera; Figure 7 is a front view the shutter of the camera; Figure 8 is a side view of the shutter mechanism and the lenses of the camera; and Figure 9 is a front view of the lens and shutter arrangement of the camera with the lenses shown in phantom.

Referring to the drawings, a camera 1 is provided with a camera body 2, a view finder 4 and a shutter release button 6. The camera body 2 has a hinged back cover 8 with a release catch for providing access to the film carrying compartment for loading and unloading a film 12.

The camera 1 can optionally be provided with an automatic flash 14 or a manually operated flash 14. The camera 1 also has a frame counter 16 for indicating the number of exposed frames of the film 12. A winding mechanism 18 is also provided which can be manually operated or automatic. The winding mechanism 18 advances the film 12 a distance of a single frame after the previous frame has been exposed. The camera 1 is provided with -a film rewinding facility which can be manual, with a rewind crank 60, or automatic. The camera 1 is also provided with a lens cover 20 for protecting the lenses when the camera 1 is not in use.

The camera 1 also has a battery compartment 22 with a hinged lid 24 in which batteries can be inserted for powering the operation of the camera 1.

In this embodiment the camera 1 is adapted to use 35mm film.

When the back cover 8 of the camera 1 is opened, access is provided to a cavity 26 into which a film roll is insertable. The cavity 26 has a film rewind shaft 28 on which the film roll is placeable. There is also provided a sprocket wheel for guiding the film 12 across the exposure chamber 32. The film is wound onto a film take-up drum 34.

The exposure chamber 32 is divided in to nine sub-exposure chambers 36 by dividing walls 38. The exposure chamber 32 is adapted to correspond to a film frame of 24mm x 36mm.

The nine sub-exposure chambers 36 are each of dimension 8mm x 12mm.

Nine lenses 40 are provided arranged in a three by three arrangement. The nine lenses 40 are identical with a focal length of 24mm and an Fll aperture. The lenses 40 are plastic optical lenses. The nine lenses 40 are positioned with their foci 12mm apart horizontally and 8mm apart longitudinally as shown in Figure 2. The lenses 40 may be separate and independent from each other or may be embedded in a single plastic part produced by plastic injection.

The lenses 40 are held in position by a plate 42 with recesses in which the lenses 40 sit. A cover plate or frame 46 is placed on top of the first plate 42 to retain the lenses 40.

A shutter 48 of dimensions 24mm x 36mm, which dimensions correspond to the size of a 35mm film frame, has nine apertures 50 arranged in the same spacing as the lenses 40, namely 8mm longitudinally and 12mm apart horizontally, see Figure 7.

A spring means 52 and lever device 54 (see Figure 8) are provided at both ends of a first side 56 of the shutter 48 to ensure the smooth even movement of the shutter 48 across the lenses 40. Two parallel lateral guiding means 58 are provided on each side of the shutter 48 guiding its movement to ensure simultaneous and even exposure of each of the nine sectors of the film 12 exposed in the sub-exposure chambers 36.

In use, a film 12 is loaded into the camera 1 by opening the back cover 8 of the camera 1 and inserting the film 12 in its fully rolled position into the cavity 26 with the film 12 positioned on the film re-wind shaft 28. The end of the film 12 is advanced and positioned on the sprocket wheel such that the film 12 is lead towards the film take-up drum 34. In this way, the film 12 is positioned across an exposure chamber 32 which is the size of a single frame of film. In the case of a 35mm film, the frame is 24mm x 36mm.

The back cover 8 of the camera 1 is closed and the film advance wheel 58 is turned until it stops. The shutter release button 6 is then depressed until the film 12 is in the correct position for a photograph to be taken.

The picture is then composed by the operator looking through the view finder 4 and the shutter release button 6 is depressed to take the photograph. After taking the photograph, the film-advance wheel 58 is turned until it stops. The number of photographs taken will appear in the frame counter 16.

When the shutter release button 6 is depressed, the shutter 48 is moved across the lenses 40 such that the apertures 50 are moved into alignment with the lenses and the subexposure chambers 36 for a given time interval. The shutter 48 then returns to its original position preventing light reaching the frame of film 12 in the exposure chamber 32.

During the time that the apertures 50 of the shutter 48 are aligned with the sub-exposure chambers 36, light enters the camera 1 through the lenses 40 and exposes the frame of film 12 which is in the exposure chamber 32. The sub-exposure chambers 36 ensure that light entering through a single lens 40 reaches the area of film 12 of dimension 8mm x 12mm corresponding to each sub-exposure chamber 36.

In this embodiment, no facility of adjustment of focus or aperture is provided in order to keep costs down and operation of the camera 1 simple.

When the last frame of the film 12 has been used, the film 12 can be re-wound manually or automatically. The re-wind crank 60 can then be extended and turned to re-wind the film. Once the film 12 has been fully re-wound, the back cover 8 can be opened and the film 12 removed.

The film 12 can be developed in the normal way and each standard size of photograph will contain nine substantial identical pictures in a three by three arrangement. The photographs can be cut in to nine separate small photographs and used individually.

The present invention relates to a mechanical single element lens pin hole camera 1 aimed at achieving the purpose of providing identical pictures within the same photograph but ensuring that the camera is economical to produce and simple to operate. The aim of the camera 1 is to produce a plurality of identical photographs within a single frame of camera film which can be developed in the normal way.

Standard sized prints of 72m x 108mm can be developed providing nine identical pictures. The arrangement of nine lenses 40 has been found to provide the best possible use of a single frame of 35mm film whilst providing an acceptable image. However, it is envisaged that it is possible to provide an alternative number of lenses 40 such as for example 12.

As the pictures are taken at the same time under identical conditions, same lighting, shutter speed, and aperture position, the pictures should be substantially identical.

Improvements and modifications can be made to the foregoing without the departing from the scope present invention.

Claims

1. A camera comprising: a camera body housing an exposure chamber for a film frame, wherein the exposure chamber is divided into plurality of sub-exposure chambers; a plurality of lenses disposed in front of the plurality of sub-exposure chambers; and a shutter with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of lenses.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are nine lenses disposed in a three by three arrangement and wherein the shutter has nine apertures disposed in a three by three arrangement corresponding to the lens arrangement.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, wherein the exposure chamber is divided into nine sub-exposure chambers.

4. A camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera operates with 35mm film.

5. A camera as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the foci of the lenses are a distance of 8mm apart in a first direction and 12mm apart in a second, perpendicular, direction.

6. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of lenses are provided in the form of a plurality of individual lens components.

7. A camera as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of lenses are provided in the form of a single component.

8. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lenses are disposed between a first plate and a second plate.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plate has a plurality of apertures corresponding in position to the centres of the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

10. A camera as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second plate has a plurality of apertures of generally the same size as the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

11. A camera as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein one of the first or second plates has recessed areas for retaining the plurality of lenses.

12. A camera substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter has apertures which are of sufficient size to allow light to enter the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is operated and to prevent light from entering the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is in a closed position.

13. A camera as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 12, wherein the camera also includes a view finder arranged to direct the centre lens of the nine lenses at the object to be photographed.

14. A camera substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A camera comprising: a camera body housing an exposure chamber for a film frame, wherein the exposure chamber is divided into a plurality of sub-exposure chambers; a plurality of lenses consisting of nine lenses disposed in a three by three arrangement in front of the plurality of sub-exposure chambers; a shutter with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of lenses; wherein the camera includes a view finder arranged to direct a centre lens of the nine lenses at the object to be photographed.

2. A camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exposure chamber is divided into nine sub-exposure chambers.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the camera operates with 35mm film.

4. A camera as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the foci of the lenses are a distance of 8mm apart in a first direction and 12mm apart in a second, perpendicular, direction.

5. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of lenses are provided in the form of a plurality of individual lens components.

6. A camera as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of lenses are provided in the form of a single component.

7. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lenses are disposed between a first plate and a second plate.

8. A camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first plate has a plurality of apertures corresponding in position to the centres of the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

9. A camera as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the second plate has a plurality of apertures of generally the same size as the respective one of each of the plurality of lenses.

10. A camera as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein one of the first or second plates has recessed areas for retaining the plurality of lenses.

11. A camera as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the shutter has apertures which are of sufficient size to allow light to enter the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is operated and to prevent light from entering the sub-exposure chambers when the shutter is in a closed position.