GB2525094A

GB2525094A - A device for the attachment of a camera behind an eyepiece, especially of a telescope

Info

Publication number: GB2525094A
Application number: GB1505486.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norbert Mueller; Gerd Polzer
Original assignee: Airbus DS Optronics GmbH
Current assignee: Hensoldt Optronics GmbH
Priority date: 2014-04-07
Filing date: 2015-03-31
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-31
Also published as: DE102014104900A1; DE102014104900B4; GB2525094B; GB201505486D0

Abstract

A device for the attachment of a camera 7 behind an eyepiece 3 e.g. of a telescope 1 is provided with a base element 4 and with a camera mounting 6. An articulated joint is arranged between the camera mounting 6 and the base element 4 in such a manner that the camera 7 can be pivoted away from the eyepiece 3 of the telescope 1. The articulated joint is embodied as a swivel joint 5 capable of being pivoted downwards in a vertical direction. The camera mounting 6 is arranged at the front end of the swivel joint 5. The articulated joint may have a hinge pin 11, which is guided in elongated slots 12. A spring element 13, possibly a tension spring, may be present in the articulated joint mechanism. The attachment mechanism may be provided with an extendable rail, and may have a locking pin 9.

Description

A device for the attachment of a camera behind an eyepiece, especially of a telescope The invention relates to a device for the attachment of a camera behind an eyepiece of a telescope, with a base element and with a camera mounting, wherein the base element is arranged in a fixed position relative to the telescope by means of an attachment device, and wherein an articulated joint is arranged between the camera mounting and the base element in such a manner that the camera can be pivoted away from the eyepiece of the telescope.

A device of this kind is suitable, for example, for additionally providing a camera mounting for a tripod-mounted spotting scope, in particular, a monocular observation telescope, through which photographs can be taken through the telescope with a camera in the manner of a super-telephoto lens.

A device of this kind is described in greater detail in DE 102 44 669 Al.

With the device of the prior art, the possibility is provided for the user to remove the camera arranged behind the eyepiece of the telescope rapidly if required, so that the user can look through the telescope her/himself. To achieve this, the camera mounting is arranged on a base element which can be pivoted away from the eyepiece of the telescope via an articulated joint in a horizontal direction.

The present invention is based upon a further improvement of this object and, in fact, such that the mechanism is embodied in a lighter and cost-optimised manner. Fnrthermore, the possibility is provided that different types of camera can also be used with this device.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the joint is embodied as a swivel joint capable of being pivoted downwards in a vertical direction, and that the camera mounting is arranged at the free end of the swivel joint.

A downward pivoting of the base element via the swivel joint according to the invention can be realised in a simple manner without great effort and with few parts, so that the device can also be lighter in weight.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a spring element for the swivel joint is hinged onto the base element. Tn this context, in an advantageous further development of the invention, if the spring element is embodied as a tension spring or is provided with a tension spring, defined movements can be achieved with precise locking at the end positions.

This applies, in particular, if the tension spring is clamped between a locking pin on the swivel joint and a pin which is mounted in the base element. This is particularly advantageous in the photographing position, because the spring can then draw the swivel joint, for example, into a recess in the base element, which accordingly forms a stop, thereby achieving a resistance to vibrations. At the same time, this ensures that, with multiple swivelling of the swivel joint, the same position for the camera is adopted rapidly and securely in every case. Accordingly, a readjustment need not be implemented every time after a swivelling.

For matching with different camera types, video cameras, night-vision devices and so on, the swivel joint can also be provided with an extendable rail, on which the camera mounting is then arranged.

Advantageous further developments and embodiments are specified in the following in the remaining dependent claims and in the exemplary embodiment described in principle on the basis of the drawings.

The drawings show; Fig. 1 a lateral view with a telescope; Fig. 2 view from below the device according to the invention (without telescope and camera) Fig. 3 a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with swivel joint pivoted down.

Devices for the attachment of a camera behind an eyepiece of a telescope and tripod mountings for this purpose are generally known, for which reason only those parts essential for the invention will be described in greater detail in the following.

Fig. 1 shows a lateral view of a monocular telescope 1 (spotting scope) with an objective lens 2 and an eyepiece 3.

The telescope 1 is attached to the device according to the invention in a manner not illustrated in greater detail.

The device is provided with a base element 4 and with a swivel joint 5 at the free or respectively front end of which a camera mounting 6, which is therefore disposed in front of the eyepiece 3, is arranged. The camera mounting 6 can be embodied arbitrarily. In a simple manner, it is provided with a screw connection for a camera 7 to be mounted on the camera mounting 6. The base element 4 is provided with a spotting-scope attachment 8 for attachment on a tripod, which is not illustrated.

The swivel joint 5 is provided with a locking pin 9 which can engage in a groove-like recess 10 at the front end of the base part in the photographing position. The rear end of the swivel joint 5 is provided with a hinge pin 11 which is guided in elongated slots 12 of the base element 4 which is formed by two rails 4a and 4b arranged side-by-side parallel to one another.

A spring element in the form of a tension spring 13 is arranged between the two rails 4a and 4b of the base element 4. The tension spring 13 is clamped between the locking pin 9 and a pin 14 which is mounted in the two rails 4a and 4b of the base element 4 and arranged behind the hinge pin 11.

The swivel joint S is provided with an extendable extension rail 15 which allows the possibility of displacing the base element 4 with the swivel joint 5 in the longitudinal direction and therefore adapting to different camera types. A clamping screw 16 between the swivel joint S and the extendable rail 15 serves for looking at the desired length.

The extendable rail 15 can be adjusted continuously in the direction of the arrow 17.

As is evident, Fig. 1 shows the device according to the invention in the photographing position for the camera 7. Fig. 3 shows the pivoting of the swivel member 5 in a vertical direction downwards, corresponding to the direction of the arrow 18, so that the user cau look through the telesoope 1 her/himself, in order, optionally, to implement corrections as required -As a result of the tension spring 13, a secure mounting is achieved in the end positions of the swivel joint 5. This applies especially for the photographing position illustrated in Fig. 1, because, in this position, the tension spring 13 draws the swivel joint 5 precisely into the recess 10 of the base element 4.

A clamping lever 19 on the device serves for the rapid attachment of the device to the telescope 1 on a tripod in a manner not illustrated in greater detail.