Dual focal length camera
AssigneeMobi, LLC
InventorStephen D. Fantone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.
Claims5
A compact camera with telephoto lens and folded optical path comprising:
- a compact housing having an aperture in a wall of thereof;
- a telephoto lens mounted in optical registration with said aperture;
- a image medium support for positioning an image receiving surface of an image recording medium;
- and
- a plurality of reflecting surfaces for providing a folded optical path between said telephoto lens and said image receiving surface, said optical path having an optical axis which is in a plane perpendicular to the center of said image medium support, said plurality of reflecting surfaces comprising a first rear reflecting surface and a second rear reflecting surface arranged with respect to each other so that a portion of said axis of the optical path between them passes behind the center of said image support medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.