UNIVERSAL DEVICE FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE OPTICAL PLANE AND THE FOCAL PLANE OF A LENS AND A CAMERA

Abstract

It consists of a frame (1) for fixing the camera body (2), from whose sides emerge two forks (5) that end in respective articulations (6) for a bridge (7-7′) with an inverted “U” configuration, so that the imaginary axis that joins the two joints coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the camera (2). The articulations (6) include means for regulating the inclination of the bridge (7-7′), as well as guiding means (9) for axial displacement of the lateral arms (7′) of the bridge, while the beam (7) has longitudinal guiding means (11) for a carriage (12) that is associated below a rotary base (14), whose axis of rotation coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the chamber (2). The rotary base (14) has guide means for a support (17) on which the lens (18) is fixed.

Claims

1. A universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, characterized in that it is constituted from a frame (1) that fixes the body of the camera (2), from whose sides emerge forks (5) that end in respective joints (6) for a bridge (7-7′), with an inverted “U” shape, so that the imaginary axis that joins the two joints (6) coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the camera (2); and wherein the joints (6) include means for regulating the inclination of the bridge (7-7′) as well as guiding means (9) for the axial displacement of the side arms (7′) of the bridge, the beam (7) of said bridge having longitudinal guiding means (11) for a carriage (12) that is connected under a rotating base (14), whose axis of rotation coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the camera (2), the rotating base (14) in turn having guiding means for a support (17) on which the lens (18) is fixed.

2. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that a flexible envelope is disposed between the camera and lens.

3. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for regulating the inclination of the bridge (7-7′) consist in a transmission associated with a control (8), or else said means can be electronically controlled.

4. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means (9) for axial displacement of the side arms (7′) of the bridge consist in a transmission associated with a control (13), or else said means can be electronically controlled.

5. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal guiding means (11) for the carriage (12) include a transmission associated with a control (10), or else said means can be electronically controlled.

6. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating base (14) includes a control (15) for angular regulation, or else said angular regulation can be controlled electronically.

7. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that in correspondence with the guides (16) micro-adjustment means (19) are included to adjust the collimation.

8. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes locking means (20) for the device regulation means.

9. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a target and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridge can be assisted by at least one damper (21) established between the upper branch (7) of the bridge and the joint (6) with the fork (5).

10. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes counterbalancing means.

11. The universal device for the relative displacement between the optical plane and the focal plane of a lens and a camera, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a display or screen (22) with information on the relative position between camera and lens.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] To complement the description to be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, wherein, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

[0052] FIGS. 1a-1b show a schematic representation of the conventional focusing method of a camera, and the effect that is achieved when the lens is tilted with respect to the camera sensor.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a latero-superior perspective view of a universal device for the displacement between the lens and the focal plane of a lens and a camera made according to the object of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an opposite perspective view of the device of FIG. 2.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device of the invention according to a simpler embodiment variant.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 4.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the device in FIG. 4.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the camera and the lenses installed on the device.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows, finally, a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 7.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0060] In view of the figures above, it can be seen how the device of the invention is constituted from a frame (1) acting as a base on which the body of the chamber (2) is fixed, through the classic system of rods (3) insertable into orifices (4) made in said frame (1), which presents a flattened configuration, where from the sides thereof emerge two oblique branches of inverted “V” configuration defining a fork (5), at the upper end of which articulations (6) are established for a bridge (7-7′) with an inverted “U” configuration, so that the midpoint of the imaginary axis that would join the two articulations of the bridge over the fork coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the camera (2).

[0061] Said articulations 6 include means for regulating the inclination of the bridge 7-7′, which in the chosen embodiment are embodied in a control 8, but which could also be embodied in electronically controlled motor means.

[0062] In the joints (6), guide means (9) are established for axial displacement of the lateral arms (7′) of the bridge; this displacement can be carried out through a transmission that can be actuated by means of an upper manual control (10), established on the beam (7) of the bridge, or electronically controlled.

[0063] As mentioned above, longitudinal guiding means (11) are established in the bridge beam (7) for a carriage (12) displaceable by means of a lateral control (13) or electronically, the carriage (12) being connected at the bottom to a rotary base (14) whose axis of rotation coincides with the focal plane or sensor of the chamber (2), and where, as in the previous cases, the displacement can be controlled manually, by means of a rear control (15), or electronically controlled.

[0064] The rotary base has a pair of guides (16) on which a support (17) is displaceable and lockable, on which the objective (18) is finally fixed.

[0065] These guides (16) allow the focal distance between the lens and the camera sensor to be adjusted, and may include micro-adjustment means (19) at said distance for adjusting the collimation.

[0066] With this structure, by acting on the controls (10 and 13) one can adjust the displacement of the lens on the axes (X and Y), i.e., control the “Shift”, while by acting on the controls (8 and 15) one can adjust the inclination of the lens with respect to the focal plane, i.e., the “Tilt” and “Swing”.

[0067] All these controls (10,13, 8, 15,19) will have locking means (20) for stabilizing the mechanisms associated with them.

[0068] As mentioned above, since the lenses (18) to be supported could have a considerable weight, it has been foreseen that the bridge can be assisted by at least one damper (21) established between said upper branch of the bridge and the joint with the fork.

[0069] In the embodiment variant of FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen how the device can optionally incorporate a display or screen 22 in which to show the different parameters of the relative position between the camera and lens in millimeters and degrees.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the development of the device, as could not be otherwise, requires linking some tilting and displacement means with others as it advances in its development from a first means of displacement or tilting, having to choose a “starting point”, in this case having chosen the horizontal axis of tilting, to finally obtain each and every one of the preset movements, which are really the objective of the invention, so that it would be evident to a person skilled in the art to develop an equivalent device starting from another “starting point”, for example the vertical axis, as the main structure and from it implementing the rest of the mechanisms that offer the degrees of freedom object of the present invention.