US 4,358,189 AGranted

Photometric sensing module

OwnerJohn P. Nylanderinventor

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Abstract

A photographic sensing module comprises a substantially rigid frame having legs diverging away from a camera mount; and an outer enclosure excludes the camera lens from exposure to external light while evenly diffusing the light from an internal light source mounted within the module, the legs serving as markers for the instrument. A portion of the frame defines the angle of view of the camera lens and diffuses the light evenly over the subject plane while excluding it from direct exposure to the camera lens. The subject plane is divided into generally rectangular grid segments of predetermined size, and a camera is spaced in relation to each segment such that the angle of view corresponds to the size of the grid segment. Special reference markers identify the periphery of each grid segment to be photographed, the camera is successively positioned to photograph each grid segment, and the images of the grid segments are reassembled into a photomosiac of the subject area.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A photometric sensing module comprising:

a portable rigid frame having a camera mount and a plurality of legs diverging away from said camera mount in equally spaced relation to one another such that the divergent ends of said legs are adapted to rest upon a subject plane which is to be photographed, and connecting means in the form of an open frame which provides a free unobstructed view of said subject plane while rigidly interconnecting said legs in equally spaced relation to one another, at least one of said legs being adjustable in length, said connecting means disposed intermediately between said camera mount and said subject plane and defining the angle of view of said camera lens while cooperating with said enclosure means to exclude said camera lens from direct exposure to artificial light within said enclosure means,
an artificial light source mounted within said frame,
a camera mounted on said camera mount provided with a lens having its optical axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis through said frame equidistant from said legs,
enclosure means fully enclosing said frame and said camera lens from direct exposure to external light, said enclosure means provided with an internal light diffusing surface whereby to diffuse the light from said light source evenly over a subject plane upon which the outer divergent ends of said legs rest,
fiducial marker means adjacent to the outer divergent end of each leg and located at predetermined, equal distances from said camera mount to represent the outer peripheral limits of each grid segment to be photographed, said fiducial marker means being arranged such that the image of said fiducial marker means is within the field of view of said camera, and
means for reflecting each said image onto the camera lens to represent the location of each respective outer divergent end of a leg on the photographic image of the subject plane being photographed.

3 more elements

A photometric sensing module comprising:

a portable rigid frame having a camera mount and a plurality of legs diverging away from said camera mount in equally spaced relation to one another such that the divergent ends of said legs are adapted to rest upon a subject plane which is to be photographed, and connecting means in the form of an open frame which provides a free unobstructed view of said subject plane while rigidly interconnecting said legs in equally spaced relation to one another, at least one of said legs being adjustable in length,
an artificial light source mounted within said frame,
a camera mounted on said camera mount provided with a lens having its optical axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis through said frame equidistant from said legs,
enclosure means fully enclosing said frame and said camera lens from direct exposure to external light, said enclosure means provided with an internal light diffusing surface whereby to diffuse the light from said light source evenly over a subject plane upon which the outer divergent ends of said legs rest, and
fiducial marker means adjacent to the outer divergent end of each leg and located at predetermined, equal distances from said camera mount to represent the outer peripheral limits of each grid segment to be photographed, said fiducial marker means being arranged such that the image of said fiducial marker means is within the field of view of said camera, including a fiducial marking on each leg adjacent to its outer divergent end, means for reflecting each marking onto the camera lens to represent the location of each respective outer divergent end of a leg on the photographic image of the subject plane being photographed, and said reflecting means defined by a plurality of mirrors adjustably mounted on said connecting means, each of said mirrors adapted to be moved between a position reflecting the fiducial marking on one of said legs onto said camera means and an out-of-the-way position to permit photographing of the outer divergent end of each leg with respect to the subject plane.

2 more elements

A photometric sensing module comprising:

a camera support including a portable rigid frame having a camera mount and a plurality of unitary legs diverging away from said camera mount in equally spaced relation to one another such that the distal ends of said legs are adapted to rest upon a subject plane which is to be photographed, and connecting means rigidly interconnecting said legs in equally spaced relation to one another, each of said legs being adjustable in length, enclosure means fully enclosing said frame and said camera lens from direct exposure in external light, said enclosure means provided with an internal light-diffusing surface adapted to diffuse the light from a light source evenly over a subject plane upon which the distal ends of said legs rest;
an artifical light source disposed within said camera support;
a camera mounted on said camera mount provided with a lens having its optical axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis through said frame equidistant from said legs;
connecting means providing a free unobstructed view of said subject plane while excluding artificial light from direct exposure to said camera lens within said enclosure means;
and
a fiducial marking on each leg adjacent to its outer divergent end, means for reflecting each marking onto the camera lens to represent the location of each respective distal end of a leg on the photographic image of the subject plane being photographed, said reflecting means including a plurality of mirrors adjustably mounted on said connecting means, each of said mirrors adapted to be moved between a position reflecting the fiducial marking on one of said legs onto said camera means and an out-of-the-way position to permit photographing of the outer divergent end of each leg with respect to the subject plane.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.