A monitoring camera having a compound window arranged in a frame of a camera housing, and a camera head arranged inside the housing, is disclosed. The compound window has an inner transparent plate, closest to the camera head, and an outer protective window, arranged in a plane parallel to the transparent plate, on an outside thereof, and the compound window further comprises a heating arrangement arranged and configured to supply thermal energy to peripheral areas of the transparent plate. The transparent plate has a greater heat conductivity than the protective window and is arranged in close proximity to the protective window, so thermal energy will be transferred from the heating arrangement to the transparent plate and then efficiently transferred to the protective window.

A monitoring camera having a compound window arranged in a frame of a camera housing, and a camera head arranged inside the housing, is disclosed. The compound window has an inner transparent plate, closest to the camera head, and an outer protective window, arranged in a plane parallel to the transparent plate, on an outside thereof, and the compound window further comprises a heating arrangement arranged and configured to supply thermal energy to peripheral areas of the transparent plate. The transparent plate has a greater heat conductivity than the protective window and is arranged in close proximity to the protective window, so thermal energy will be transferred from the heating arrangement to the transparent plate and then efficiently transferred to the protective window.

A monitoring camera having a compound window arranged in a frame of a camera housing, and a camera head arranged inside the housing, is disclosed. The compound window has an inner transparent plate, closest to the camera head, and an outer protective window, arranged in a plane parallel to the transparent plate, on an outside thereof, and the compound window further comprises a heating arrangement arranged and configured to supply thermal energy to peripheral areas of the transparent plate. The transparent plate has a greater heat conductivity than the protective window and is arranged in close proximity to the protective window, so thermal energy will be transferred from the heating arrangement to the transparent plate and then efficiently transferred to the protective window.

A view camera system that uses an adjustable adapter assembly to attach a relatively-inexpensive film camera body or digital camera sensor to the view camera. The adapter assembly includes a C-shaped support arc and an L-shaped cantilevered camera mount that is removably attached to the arc. The camera mount can be attached to the support arc at three orientations: portrait, 45 tilt, or landscape. A digital camera body can be attached to the camera mount with a thumb screw. The view camera system can have dual, 5-axis movements that allow for tilt, swing, rise and fall, shift, and micro-focus adjustments.

The invention is an improved mercury vapor apparatus for developing daguerreotype photographs and modified daguerreotype methods for the production of holograms and etched semiconductor masks, or other types based on the daguerreotype process. The improved mercury vapor apparatus uses 99.99% less mercury by weight than the traditional inverted pyramid apparatus used by those skilled in the art. This is accomplished by replacing liquid mercury with a metal plate amalgamated with mercury to serve as the source for mercury vapor, providing improved convenience for chemical handling and safety. The mercury vapor apparatus is easily transported and eliminates any risks due to spilled mercury. Furthermore, the mercury vapor apparatus is adapted for developing daguerreotype plates, and other types based on the daguerreotype process, while in the camera plate holder, effectively blocking actinic light from spoiling the plate and eliminating the need for darkroom facilities.

The disclosed technology relates to an electronic device configured to use the device's own display to provide an illumination source for front-facing image sensors and to a method of using the same. An electronic device for capturing a digital image using a front-facing image sensor and a digital display device includes a command input module configured to receive a command to capture the digital image, an illumination adjustment module configured to adjust the display device to an imaging illumination condition in response to the command, and a front-facing image sensor module configured capture the digital image using the front-facing image sensor under the predetermined illumination condition.