Anti-flare structure for photographic optical system

A photographic apparatus comprising:

• means for defining an image plane at which a film unit having a photosensitive area of given dimensions may be positioned for exposure;
• an objective lens assembly, having a given field in object space, for directing image-bearing light rays from a scene being photographed onto the entire photosensitive area of the film unit is positioned at said image plane, to record an image of the scene thereon, said objective lens assembly and the photosensitive area of the film unit cooperating to define a field of view of said photographic apparatus which is smaller than said field of said objective lens assembly;
• and
• an opaque enclosure structure having an outlet aperture disposed in optical alignment with the film unit's photosensitive area and an inlet aperture disposed in optical communication with said objective lens assembly, said objective lens assembly being configured and arranged with respect to said opaque enclosure structure so that unwanted image-bearing light rays originating within said field of said objective lens assembly but outside said field of view of said photographic apparatus enter said opaque enclosure structure through its said inlet aperture, said enclosure structure comprising internal wall surfaces including a plurality of serrated wall surfaces comprising juxtaposed converging wall surfaces for reflecting therebetween certain of such unwanted image-bearing light rays, the serrations in said serrated wall surfaces extending alongside and generally parallel to the bundles of extreme rays entering said enclosure structure and defining the limits of said field of view of said photographic apparatus and in directions extending generally lengthwise of said bundle of extreme rays defining said field of view of said photographic apparatus.

An exposure chamber for use in a photographic apparatus including an image plane at which a film unit having a photosensitive area of given dimensions may be positioned for exposure, an objective lens assembly, having a given field in object space, for directing image-bearing light rays onto the entire photosensitive area of the film unit when the film unit is positioned at the image plane to record an image of the scene thereon, the objective lens assembly and the photosensitive area of the film cooperating to define a field of view of the apparatus which is smaller than the field of the objective lens assembly, said exposure chamber comprising:

• an opaque enclosure structure having an outlet aperture disposed in optical alignment with the film unit's photosensitive area and an inlet aperture in optical communication with said objective lens assembly, said objective lens assembly being configured and arranged with respect to said opaque enclosure structures so that unwanted image-bearing light rays originating within said field of said objective lens assembly but outside said field of view of said photographic apparatus enter said enclosure structure through its said inlet aperture, said enclosure structure comprising internal light-absorbing specularly reflective wall surfaces including portions located and oriented to initially intercept substantially all such unwanted image-bearing light rays and to redirect initial reflections of substantially all such unwanted image-bearing light rays in predetermined directions so that they either do not impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit or only impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit after undergoing a plurality of additional reflections from said internal wall surfaces sufficient to dissipate their energy to a point below which they will not adversely affect the photographic quality of the image recorded thereon, said internal wall surfaces including a plurality of serrated wall surfaces comprising juxtaposed converging wall surfaces for reflecting therebetween certain of such unwanted image-bearing light rays to dissipate their energy.

An exposure chamber, for use in a photographic apparatus, including an image plane at which a film unit having a photosensitive area of given dimensions may be positioned for exposure, an objective lens assembly, having a given field in object space, for directing image-bearing light rays onto the entire photosensitive area of the film unit when the film unit is positioned at the image plane to record an image of the scene thereon, the objective lens assembly and the photosensitive area of the film cooperating to define a field of view of the apparatus which is smaller than the field of the objective lens assembly, said exposure chamber comprising:

• an opaque enclosure structure having an outlet aperture disposed in optical alignment with the film unit's photosensitive area and an inlet aperture in optical communication with said objective lens assembly, said objective lens assembly being configured and arranged with respect to said opaque enclosure stuctures so that unwanted image-bearing light rays originating within said field of said objective lens assembly but outside said field of view of said photographic apparatus enter said enclosure structure through its said inlet aperture, said enclosure structure comprising internal light-absorbing specularly reflective wall surfaces including portions located and oriented to initially intercept substantially all such unwanted image-bearing light rays and to redirect initial reflections of substantially all such unwanted image-bearing light rays in predetermined directions so that they either do not impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit or only impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit after undergoing a plurality of additional reflections from said internal wall surfaces sufficient to dissipate their energy to a point below which they will not adversely affect the photographic quality of the image recorded thereon, said internal wall surfaces having an average surface finish no rougher than ten microinches.

Photographic apparatus comprising:

• means for defining an image plane at which a film unit having a photosensitive area of given dimensions may be positioned for exposure;
• an objective lens assembly, having a given field in object space, for directing image-bearing light rays from a scene being photographed onto the entire photosensitive area of the film unit when the film unit is positioned at said image plane to record an image of the scene thereon, said objective lens asembly and the photosensitive area of the film cooperating to define a field of view of said photographic apparatus which is smaller than said field of said objective lens assembly;
• and
• an opaque enclosure structure having an outlet aperture disposed in optical alignment with the film unit's photosensitive area and an inlet aperture in optical communication with said objective lens assembly, said objective lens assembly being configured and arranged with respect to said opaque enclosure structure so that unwanted image-bearing light rays originating within said field of said objective lens assembly but outside said field of view of said photographic apparatus enter said enclosure structure through its said inlet aperture, said enclosure structure comprising internal light-absorbing specularly reflective wall surfaces including portions located and oriented to initially intercept all such unwanted image-bearing light rays and to redirect initial reflections of all such unwanted image-bearing light rays in predetermined directions so that they either do not impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit or only impinge upon the photosensitive area of the film unit after undergoing a plurality of additional reflections, from said internal wall surfaces, sufficient to dissipate their energy to a point below which they will not adversely effect the photographic quality of the image recorded thereon, said internal wall surfaces including a plurality of serrated wall surfaces comprising juxtaposed converging wall surfaces for reflecting therebetween certain of such unwanted image-bearing light rays, the major portion of said internal wall surfaces being positioned outside of and spaced from the bundle of extreme rays entering said enclosure structure and defining the limits of said field of view of said photographic apparatus and another portion of said wall surfaces extend inwardly from said major portion of said wall surfaces to positions locates substantially at the edge of said bundle of extreme rays of said field of view of said photographic apparatus and intermediate said inlet and outlet apertures, said major portion of said wall surfaces being formed in a section of said opaque enclosure structure consisting of a single injecton molded plastic member and at least part of said other portion of said wall surfaces being formed in a section of said opaque enclosure structure consisting of another injection molded opaque plastic member, said injection molded opaque plastic members being further formed with complementary structure serving to effect a snap-fit connection therebetween.