Large format camera systems

Camera mounting apparatus, comprising:

• a camera carrier;
• at least one outrigger connected rigidly to and extending outwardly from the camera carrier;
• a swinger bar pivotally connected to the camera carrier;
• and
• a damper connected between the outrigger and the swinger bar.

A method of controlling a camera, comprising:

• attaching an outrigger bar to extend rigidly outward from a camera carrier and attaching the camera to the camera carrier;
• pivotally connecting a swinger bar to the camera carrier;
• connecting a damper between the outrigger and the swinger bar;
• mounting an acceleration sensor on the outrigger for sensing vibrations or other movements of the outrigger;
• and
• operating the camera only when the acceleration sensor output is within a predetermined tolerance.

A method of acquiring a large area image of a large area object, comprising:

• acquiring a plurality of small area electronic images of divers portions of the large area object by:
• (i) positioning at least three focusing systems with the same focal length in fixed, immoveable relation to a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements in the focal plane of the at least three focusing systems, with the focusing systems being coplanar but not aligned with each other in a straight line;
• (ii) sequentially focusing at least three overlapping divers portions of the large area object onto the array of photosensitive elements through respective ones of the at least three focusing systems to sequentially expose the array of photosensitive elements to the at least three overlapping divers portions of the large area object;
• and (iii) reading electronic signals indicative of spatial and radiometric distribution of light from the overlapping divers portions of the large area object out of the photosensitive elements;
• forming a mosaic of the small area electronic images by merging the small area electronic images together in such a manner that overlapping areas of adjacent small area electronic images register with each other;
• and
• converting the mosaic of small area images to the large area image of the large area object.

A method of acquiring a large area image of a large area object, comprising:

• acquiring a plurality of small area electronic images of divers portions of the large area object by:
• (i) positioning four focusing systems with the same focal length in fixed, immoveable relation to a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements in the focal plane of the four focusing systems and in a coplanar, polygon configuration so that the focusing systems are not aligned with each other in a straight line;
• (ii) sequentially focusing four overlapping divers portions of the large area object onto the array of photosensitive elements through respective ones of the four focusing systems to sequentially expose the array of photosensitive elements to the four overlapping divers portions of the large area object;
• and (iii) reading electronic signals indicative of spatial and radiometric distribution of light from the four overlapping divers portions of the large area object out of the photosensitive elements;
• forming a mosaic of the small area electronic images by merging the small area electronic images together in such a manner that overlapping areas of adjacent small area electronic images register with each other;
• and
• converting the mosaic of small area images to the large area image of the large area object.

Camera apparatus comprising:

• at least three focusing systems, each of which has the same focal length and is positioned to have a focal plane that is coplanar with the focal plane of each of the other focusing systems to focus at least three different, but overlapping small area portions of the large area object onto a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements positioned in the focal plane of the focusing systems, said at least three focusing systems being coplanar but not aligned in a straight line relation to each other;
• a shutter on each of the focusing systems;
• and
• a shutter control system that actuates the respective shutters sequentially to expose the array of photosensitive elements sequentially to the respective different, but overlapping small area portions of the large area object.