US3794422A - Method and apparatus for photographing by artificial illumination - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for photographing by artificial illumination Download PDFInfo
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- US3794422A US3794422A US00260583A US3794422DA US3794422A US 3794422 A US3794422 A US 3794422A US 00260583 A US00260583 A US 00260583A US 3794422D A US3794422D A US 3794422DA US 3794422 A US3794422 A US 3794422A
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- shutter
- camera
- reflected light
- illumination
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B15/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
- G03B15/02—Illuminating scene
Definitions
- ABSTRACT This invention relates to method and apparatus for simultaneously photographing near and distant objects by means of artificial illumination so as to obtain substantially uniform reflected illumination from such objects on the film of the camera.
- the invention resides broadly in a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near objects than from the distant objects.
- the present invention relates to photography by artificial illumination, and more particularly to method and apparatus for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously under the influence of such light so as to provide for substantially uniform reflected illumination from said objects upon the film of the camera.
- a method for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination so as to produce images upon the film of a camera having substantially uniform brightness values comprising regulating the shutter of said camera in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of the source of illumination so as to effect a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near objects than from the distant objects.
- apparatus for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination so as to produce images upon the film of a camera having substantially uniform brightness values comprising a camera having a shutter, a source of artificial illumination, and means for regulating said shutter in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of said source of illumination so as to effect a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to said camera from the near objects than from the distant objects.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of conventional flash camera apparatus
- FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a plot of a single pulse of light output vs. time
- FIG. 5 is a plot of reflected or diffused light from near and distant objects returned to the shutter of the camera in accordance with the generation of illumination as shown in FIG. 4 and not employing the concept of the invention;
- FIG. 6 is a plot of shutter actuation vs. time in accordance with the concept of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a plot of reflected light from near and distant objects returned to the film of the camera utilizing the shutter control depicted in FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is a plot of light output from a series of pulses vs. time
- FIG. 9 is a plot of reflected light from near and distant objects returned to the shutter of the camera in accordance with the generation of illumination as shown in FIG. 8 and not employing the concept of the invention.
- FIG. 10 is a plot of sinusoidal shutter actuation vs. time in accordance with the concept of the invention.
- FIG. 11 is a plot of reflected light from near and distant objects returned to the film of the camera utilizing the shutter control illustrated in FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 is a plot of light output from a modulated long duration pulse
- FIG. 13 is a plot of reflected light from near and distant objects returned to the shutter of the camera in accordance with the generation of illumination as shown control shown in FIG. 14;
- FIG. 16 is a plot similar to that of FIG. for the reflectedlight returned to the film of the camera from the distant object;
- FIG. 17 is a plot of light output from a light source which is modulated by a sinusoidal wave-form
- FIG. 18 is a plot of reflected light from near and distant objects returned to the shutter of the camera in accordance with the generation of illumination as shown in FIG. 17 and not employing the concept of the invention;
- FIG. 19 is a plot of sinusoidal wave-form shutter actuation vs. time in accordance with the concept of the invention.
- FIG. 20 is a plot of reflected light from a near object returned to the film of the camera utilizing the shutter control shown in FIG. 19;
- FIG. 21 is a plot similar to that of FIG. 20 for the reflected light returned to the film of the camera from the distant object.
- conventional artificial lighting means may cmprise a camera 1 having a shutter 2, flash illumination means 3 generally including a light reflector 4 and flash bulb means 5.
- flash illumination means 3 generally including a light reflector 4 and flash bulb means 5.
- means may be provided (not shown) for automatically controlling the flash illumination or shutter duration in order to obtain the proper exposure for an object at a particular distance from the camera. It will be observed that the light output at the flash propagates waves which travel to both the near and distant objects and are thence reflected back to the shutter of the camera.
- I the intensity of illumination measured generally in foot-candles
- K is a constant dependent upon the particular flash lamp and reflector employed
- d is the flash-to-object distance.
- I the intensity of illumination measured generally in foot-candles
- K is a constant dependent upon the particular flash lamp and reflector employed
- d the flash-to-object distance.
- FIG. 2 of the drawings there is shown a camera 1 provided with an electro-optic shutter 6.
- a shutter of this character is considered essential to the invention since the attenuation of reflected light must be carried out within a time span measured in nanoseconds, and conventional mechanical shutters are not capable of meeting such time limitations.
- FIG. 2 depicts the flash illumination means 30 as being a modulated source, other light sources are contemplated. For example, a laser may be employed, or an electronically modulated light source may be used.
- the electro-optic shutter 6 may be made integral with the camera or it may be in the form of an attachment thereto.
- FIG. 3 shows a modification of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. '2 in that an electro-optic modulator 7 is utilized with flash illumination means 3 in order to provide the desired modulation of light.
- electro-optic modulator 7 is utilized with flash illumination means 3 in order to provide the desired modulation of light.
- various types of light modulators are readily available on the market such as Pockels cells and Kerr cells manufactured by Lasermetrics Inc. of Rochelle Park, New Jersey, and laser modulators such as manufactured by Datalight Incorporated of Bloomfield, Connecticut.
- the present invention is not limited to the use of any particular type of light modulating device.
- FIG. 4 of the drawings plots the output of a single pulse of light.
- a substantial portion of the total light generated travels to both the near and distant objects within the field of the camera, and a significant portion thereof is reflected back to the camera.
- the light reflected back to the camera from the near object has taken one half the time as that of the light being reflected backfrom the distant object. Its intensity, therefore, as may be computed from the second formula set forth above, is four times as great as that of the reflected light from the distant object.
- the reflected light from the near object is attenuated by regulating the shutter opening such that it is only partially open initially while the reflected light from the near object is'beginning to reach the shutter, whereas it is gradually and progressively opened wider.
- the aperture is larger, thereby permitting a higher proportion of the reflected light from the distant object to enter the camera and from its image upon the film.
- the reflected light from the near object has been attenuated to a greater extent than has the reflected light from the distant object.
- the brightness values of the images upon the film from the near and distant objects respectively have been made substantially uniform.
- a photograph printed from such film will show correct exposure for all of the objects being simultaneously photographed regardless of distance from the camera.
- the maximum flash energy even with the shutter fully open, may be insufficient to provide adequate exposure for objects that are very distant whereas objects which are too close may be out of focus. Consequently, a practical range for proper exposure of both near and distant objects is, for example, 3 to 12 feet or 4 to 20 feet.
- FIG. 8 there is shown the light output from a series of light pulses in which the pulses are continuously repeated for relatively short periods of time.
- the pulses may be spaced ll l0 9 seconds apart over a total duration of 0.001 second. During this time interval, therefore, 10 pulses can be emitted.
- FIG. 9 indicates graphically the magnitude of the reflected pulses of illumination from the near and distant objects respectively as returned back to the shutter of the camera. It can be clearly observed that there is a marked difference in the amount of light being reflected back to the shutter.
- the shutter opening is regulated in accordance with a sinusoidal wave-form between the open and closed positions. The results of such shutter control are shown in FIG. 11 where the film illumination can be seen as being substantially equal for both near and distant objects utilizing the light source illustrated in FIG. 8.
- FIG. 12 there hasbeen recorded the light output from a source where pulses are emitted at an extremely rapid rate, e.g. of the order of l0"7 seconds (100 nanoseconds) per cycle.
- the reflected light returned to the camera is shown in FIG. 13 from which it can be concluded that there is still a marked difference between the quantity of light returned to the camera from the near object as contrasted with that amount of light returned from the distant object.
- the shutter may be regulated according to a square wave-form whereby theshutter is sequentially completely open and then completely shut.
- the shutter since the shutter, when fully open, is slightly out of phase with the time period during which light from the near object is being returned to the shutter, the reflected light from the near object is attenuated.
- the shutter is completely open during the entire time that reflected light from the distant object reaches the shutter. The result is a more uniform image intensity upon the film than without the shutter regulation depicted in FIG. 13.
- the regulation of the shutter may also be effected by means of triangular or repetitive exponential wave-form control alternatively to the square waveform (FIG. 14) or sinusoidal wave-form (FIG. 10).
- FIGS. 17-21 are similar to those of FIGS. 12-16 except that sinusoidal wave-form illumination and shutter control are substituted for the square wave-form regulation.
- This particular technique possesses an inherent practical advantage in that since only sinusoidal waves are utilized the operative costs are kept to a minimum since sinusoidal waves are relatively inexpensive to produce.
- the same sinusoidal wave-form is applied both to the shutter and light source; however, the modulation is delayed in phase from each other.
- FIG. 19 shows that the shutter is approximately 50 nanoseconds out of phase with the intensity of the flash. Maximum illumination of the film is provided when the return illumination is delayed to the extent that the light reflected and the shutter are in phase. Consequently, a distant object (see FIG.
- the light propagated by the light source may be any form of artificial light, although the presently preferred form is the flash lamp. It is also generally preferred at presentto employ a pulsating light source although a constant light source may be utilized. Such constant light source may or may not be modulated by means of one of techniques described above.
- a method for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination so as to produce images of substantially uniform brightness upon the film of a camera comprising regulating the electro-optic shutter of said camera in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of the source of illumination by continuously varying the shutter opening between predetermined relatively closed and open positions so as to admit a first proportion of the reflected light returned from a first object and a greater proportion of the reflected light returned from a second more distant object, whereby a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near object is effected than of the reflected light returned to the camera from the more distant object.
- a method for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination so as to produce images of substantially uniform brightness upon the film of a camera comprising regulating the electro-optic shutter of said camera in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of the source of illumination by sequentially opening and closing the shutter in predetermined phased time relationship with the emission of illumination by said source of artificial illumination so as to admit a first proportion of the reflected light returned from at first object and a greater proportion of the reflected light from a second more distant object, whereby a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near object is effected than of the reflected light returned to the camera from the more distant object.
- Apparatus for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination so as to produce images of substantially uniform brightness upon the film of a camera comprising a camera having an electro-optic shutter, a source of artificial illumination, and means for regulating said shutter in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of said source of illumination, said regulating means being adapted to vary the shutter opening between predetermined relatively closed and open positions so as to admit a first proportion of the reflected light returned from a first object and a greater proportion of the reflected light returned from a second more distant object, whereby a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near object is ef-v fected than of the reflected light returned to the camera from the more distant object.
- Apparatus for photographing near and distant objects simultaneously by means of artificial illumination having an electro-optic shutter, a source of artificial illumination, and means for regulating said shutter in predetermined synchronization with the actuation of said source of illumination, said regulating means being adapted to sequentially open and close the shutter in phased time relationship with the emission of illumination by said source of artificial illumination so as to admit a first proportion of the reflected light returned from a first object and a greater proportion of the reflected light returned from a second more distant object, whereby a greater attenuation of the reflected light returned to the camera from the near object is effected than of the reflected light returned to the camera from the more distant object.
- Apparatus according to'claim 9 wherein said shutter is adapted for regulation such that the opening thereof can be sequentially varied in accordance with a wave-form pattern selected from square, sinusoidal, repetitive exponential and triangular wave-forms.
- Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein'said source of illumination is a modulated light source adapted to be modulated in accordance with a waveform pattern selected from square, sinusoidal, repetitive exponential and triangular wave-forms.
Abstract
Description
Claims (15)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US26058372A | 1972-06-07 | 1972-06-07 |
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US3794422A true US3794422A (en) | 1974-02-26 |
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US00260583A Expired - Lifetime US3794422A (en) | 1972-06-07 | 1972-06-07 | Method and apparatus for photographing by artificial illumination |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4188103A (en) * | 1978-04-21 | 1980-02-12 | Polaroid Corporation | Range synchronized flash photographic apparatus and method for achieving optimum flash exposure |
US4317624A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-03-02 | Polaroid Corporation | Strobe camera having range correlated scanning blade endoding |
USRE31034E (en) * | 1978-04-21 | 1982-09-21 | Polaroid Corporation | Range synchronized flash photographic apparatus and method for achieving optimum flash exposure |
US20040141196A1 (en) * | 2002-11-14 | 2004-07-22 | Jensen Elmer William | Image reproduction system |
US20060098242A1 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2006-05-11 | Shih-Yen Chang | Image processing system and related method for scanning and generating an image |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3294002A (en) * | 1960-07-07 | 1966-12-27 | Vitkine Alexandre | Apparatus for viewing or photographing objects |
US3380358A (en) * | 1965-08-24 | 1968-04-30 | Don B. Neumann | Range gated imaging system |
-
1972
- 1972-06-07 US US00260583A patent/US3794422A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3294002A (en) * | 1960-07-07 | 1966-12-27 | Vitkine Alexandre | Apparatus for viewing or photographing objects |
US3380358A (en) * | 1965-08-24 | 1968-04-30 | Don B. Neumann | Range gated imaging system |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4188103A (en) * | 1978-04-21 | 1980-02-12 | Polaroid Corporation | Range synchronized flash photographic apparatus and method for achieving optimum flash exposure |
USRE31034E (en) * | 1978-04-21 | 1982-09-21 | Polaroid Corporation | Range synchronized flash photographic apparatus and method for achieving optimum flash exposure |
US4317624A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-03-02 | Polaroid Corporation | Strobe camera having range correlated scanning blade endoding |
US20040141196A1 (en) * | 2002-11-14 | 2004-07-22 | Jensen Elmer William | Image reproduction system |
US20060098242A1 (en) * | 2004-11-03 | 2006-05-11 | Shih-Yen Chang | Image processing system and related method for scanning and generating an image |
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