Combination shutter and attenuator disk for an imaging apparatus
AssigneeDavid A. Novais, Eastman Kodak Company
InventorChristopher M. Downs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination shutter and attenuator disk assembly for use in an imaging apparatus includes a circular disk that has a circular attenuation portion which surrounds a rotational axis of the disk, and circular shutter portion that surrounds the circular attenuating portion. The circular attenuation portion is divided into at least a variety of attenuating sections. The assembly also includes a movement device that includes a shutter cylinder for linearly moving the disk between shuttered and attenuated positions, and a rotatable motor that is adapted to rotate the disk to a desired attenuation section of the disk.
Claims15
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
- a circular disk which includes a circular attenuating portion that surrounds a rotational axis of the disk, said circular attenuating portion being divided into at least a first light attenuating section which provides a first amount of light attenuation when the first light attenuating section is placed at an optical path of a light source, and a second light attenuating section which provides a second amount of light attenuation which is different from the first amount of light attenuation when the second light attenuating section is placed at said optical path of the light source;
- said circular disk further including a circular shutter portion which surrounds said circular attenuating portion, said shutter circular shutter portion blocking light from said light source when the circular shutter portion is placed at said optical path.
A combination shutter and attenuator disk assembly for use in an imaging apparatus, the disk assembly comprising:
- a circular disk which includes attenuation means for providing at least a first and a second amount of light attenuation for light from a light source, and a shutter means for blocking the light from the light source;
- first moving means for moving said circular disk between a first position in which said attenuation means is at an optical path of an optical assembly, and a second position in which said shutter means is at said optical path;
- and
- second moving means for rotating said circular disk to a desired attenuation position when said circular disk is in said first position.
A combination shutter and attenuator disk for use in an imaging apparatus, the disk comprising:
- a circular attenuating portion that surrounds a rotational axis of the disk, said circular attenuating portion comprising a plurality of attenuating sections having different light attenuating properties;
- and
- a circular shutter portion which surrounds said circular attenuating portion and is adapted to block light.
A method of alternatively attenuating and blocking light from a light source in an imaging apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
- linearly moving a circular disk having a plurality of attenuating sections with different light attenuating properties to an attenuating position in which one of the attenuating sections is at an optical path of an optical assembly and a light source, said circular disk further comprising a shutter portion which surrounds said attenuating sections;
- rotating the circular disk until a desired one of said attenuating sections is aligned with said optical path to provide for a desired amount of light attenuation;
- and
- linearly moving the circular disk between said attenuating position and a shuttering position in which the shutter portion of said circular disk is at said optical path to block light from the light source.
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- a light source;
- an optical system having an optical axis which extends along an optical path, said optical system focusing light from said light source;
- and
- a combination shutter and attenuator disk positioned between said light source and said optical system, said combination shutter and attenuator disk comprising:
- a circular attenuating portion that surrounds a rotational axis of the disk, said circular attenuating portion comprising a plurality of attenuating sections having different light attenuating properties for attenuating light from said light source;
- and
- a circular shutter portion which surrounds said circular attenuating portion and is adapted to block light from said light source.
A combination shutter and attenuator disk assembly for use in an imaging apparatus, the disk assembly comprising:
- a circular disk which includes a circular attenuating portion, said circular attenuating portion being divided into at least a first light attenuating section which provides a first amount of light attenuation when the first light attenuating section is placed at an optical path of a light source, and a second light attenuating section which provides a second amount of light attenuation which is different from the first amount of light attenuation when the second light attenuating section is placed at said optical path of the light source;
- said circular disk further including a circular shutter portion, said shutter circular shutter portion blocking light from said light source when the circular shutter portion is placed at said optical path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.