US 3,953,869 A · Stereoscopic photography apparatus

Abstract

In the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed, autostereoscopic pictures are produced by taking a series of two-dimensional views of an object field and projecting them in an enlarger onto lenticular print film. Adjustable-focus and fixed-focus cameras are provided for taking the two-dimensional views, either simultaneously or sequentially, in a manner which automatically accounts for the effect of variation of the camera-to-object distance on the configuration of the enlarger-lenticular print film system, thereby allowing the parameters of the enlarger-print film system to be held constant. The number of enlarging lenses employed may correspond to the number of two-dimensional views to be projected, by virtue of which the stereoscopic picture may be composed in a single projection step, or a single enlarging lens may be used to project the two-dimensional views in sequence. As another feature of the invention, substantially uninterrupted and non-overlapping lineiform image bands of high image quality are formed on all areas of the lenticular film by scanning the projected images from each two-dimensional view over a predetermined distance along the photosensitive surface.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for producing stereoscopic pictures, comprising:

a camera for recording a plurality N of two-dimensional views of an object field, said camera including a corresponding plurality N of lenses aligned in a straight path with their optical axes substantially equidistantly spaced apart and substantially in parallel and film support means for positioning unexposed film in image-recording relation to said N lenses;
means in said camera for adjusting the spacing between the optical axes of adjacent lenses as a function of the distance from said lenses to a selected element of the object field to maintain the image of said selected object field element formed by each lens at substantially the same predetermined location on the associated two-dimensional view;
means for projecting respective ones of the two-dimensional views from a corresponding plurality N of predetermined projecting lens locations, with the projected image from each two-dimensional view of said selected object field element in substantial registry with a predetermined reference point, said projecting lens locations being aligned in a straight path and substantially equidistantly spaced apart by a distance which is related by a substantially constant factor to the distance between said image locations on adjacent two-dimensional views;
a lenticular screen of lenticule width w positioned opposite said projection locations with a lenticule thereof in substantial alignment with said reference point;
and
a photosensitive surface positioned at the rear face of said lenticular screen.

3 more elements

Apparatus for composing a stereoscopic picture of the type including a multiplicity of image bands, each of said image bands comprising a plurality N of condensed images from a corresponding plurality N of two-dimensional views of an object field taken from spaced vantage points, and a lenticular screen having a corresponding multiplicity of lenticules aligned with the image bands, comprising:

means including at least one projecting lens for projecting respective ones of said N two-dimensional views from a corresponding plurality N of projecting lens locations with the projected image of a selected element of each view in substantially registry with a reference point;
means for positioning a lenticular screen of lenticule width w opposite said projecting lens locations with a lenticule thereof in substantial registry with said reference point;
and
means for changing the angle of projection of each two-dimensional view by a predetermined amount during the projection thereof while maintaining the projected image of said selected element thereof in substantial registry with said reference point, said angle changing means comprising means for simultaneously shifting the positions of any two of said N two-dimensional views, said projecting means and said lenticular screen so as to change the angle of projection by the predetermined amount while maintaining the relationship of the distance between said selected element of each two-dimensional view and its projecting lens and the distance between such projecting lens and the lenticular screen substantially constant.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Stereoscopic photography apparatus

Life of this patent

Stereoscopic photography apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21