CA2901030A1

CA2901030A1 - Digital twin lens reflex system (dtlrs) for film tlr cameras

Info

Publication number: CA2901030A1
Application number: CA2901030A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sandu Baciu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-14
Filing date: 2015-08-14
Publication date: 2017-02-14

Abstract

The invention provides an improved way of converting a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) film camera into Digital Twin Lens Reflex (D-TLR) camera, by using an assembly combination of a minicomputer with a digital sensor (CCD or CMOS) system and a power bank, all interconnected inside the film camera. The above components, together with wireless devices with technologies for transferring data between devices and optionally with data-sharing apps of the user's choice, make the film camera capable of providing input for digital imaginary. Using the film camera's electrical and optical input does the synchronization of the film camera with the sensor for its readiness for capturing digital images.

Description

Digital Twin Lens Reflex System (DTLRS) For Film TLR Cameras This invention provides an improved assembly of electronic devices that can be inserted into film TLR cameras. By using the lenses, electric input for flash and mechanism native to the film camera, the assembly can produce and store digital images. Digital images obtained using this assembly are dependent by the imagine sensor characteristics (size, type (CCD or CMOS), crop sensor ratio) and functions, but overall will provide a digital imagine that have similar optical characteristics as those obtained by traditional film exposure techniques.
Background Of The Invention Imagine sensors are currently largely used for digital cameras, being one of the largest market application, but very rare are used for the TLR cameras, especially for the film ones. Historically, the first digital cameras added to a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) film camera body a separate assembly attached on the back, which contained a digital sensor and electronics for processing the sensor input. Typical, only SLR film cameras have been used as a base for making Digital Single Reflex Cameras (D-SLR).
Another segment market is for digital back, commonly used for medium format cameras, and due to the sensor size and the technologies involved, those are extremely expensive.
With the advancements in microelectronics, the size of crop sensor being affordable, nowadays the technologies allows the insertion of a imagine capturing system (hardware, sensor and power assemblies) inside an old camera without the need for physical alteration of the camera itself. That will convert an old film camera into a virtual digital camera, combining characteristics and capabilities of the mirrorless cameras and digital backs. The current patent presents an improved way to perform this conversion.
The relevant related technologies are shown in the following United States of America and Japan patents:
US 6365950 B1 II-Young Sohn US 4977584 A Akiyoshi Kohno, Atsushi Mikoshiba US 3356858 A F.M. Wanlass US 696788 A Clile C Allen US 2495355 A Stahl Rodolphe US 2644381 A Mendelsohn Samuel US 2766658 A Gerhard Schwesinger US 2967471 A Sommermeyer Friedrich US 2990756 A Richard Weiss

2 US 3067664 A George H Winslow US 3143052 A Prochnow Claus, Weiss Richard US 4704023 A Kenneth J. Curran 2012-242615 Nikon US 20070122146 A1 Jim Ryu US 20080079830 A1 Gerald Lepage US 20120218450 A1 Prebesh Pavithran, Yeow Thiam Ooi, How Chyn Cheng, Hung Khin Wong, Khen Ming Goh US 20130308047 Chun-Ming Chen, Di Wu US 20140014818 A1 Young Sung CHO, Dong Jae Lee, Tae Chan Kim, Tomer LIVNEH
US 201500042843 A1 lkizyan, Ike Aret; Sorek, Noam Though ideas of converting film cameras have achieved successes by using external assemblies that required physical modifications or alterations of the film camera, there has been a continuing need for improving and widening the field of applications for internal assemblies without modifying the initial design of the film camera itself. This invention provides one of the possible solutions.
Summary Of The Invention This invention is useful in the respect that it combines the old film camera's design with new digital sensors and electronic assemblies that can be inserted inside of a film TLR
camera without performing modifications to the cameras body itself. By using the basic optical and electric signals of a vintage TLR film camera, one obtains a digital image with the same visual properties as one obtains by using the traditional film process. It will require the use of the film camera's flash triggering signal, cable or wireless signal transmission a digital sensor with corresponding hardware module, and a power bank supply. The image signal is captured by the digital sensor and processed by the hardware module, and the image data is saved on a SD card or is wirelessly transferred to an app that has several image processing and online data sharing capabilities.
Detailed Description Of The Invention

3 The design of the assembly of devices for a TLR film camera is detailed and the functions are explained. The way in which the above objective for the overall assembly is achieved is best explained with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2.
In Figure 1, a common film TLR camera 1 inner part allows the space for an assembly of several devices: a power bank device enclosure 2 inside of the film housing 3 of the TLR camera 1, a sensor assembly 4 with data capturing process hardware 5. All are to be placed into the TLR film camera body, including the bottom and the back of the TLR, which is shown with the back cover 6 open. The resulting in-camera assembly provides digital imaginary that can be shared wirelessly to other devices or media sharing services. The basic optics characteristics of the TLR camera are set-up by the photographer and with the help of an app the settings are synchronized with the sensor.
The capturing of the digital image is using the film camera optical assembly 7 that is brought into focus by adjusting the focus knob 8 once the photographer is observing the imagine from taking lens through the viewer 9. This is how any TLR camera works.
For transferring the film lenses optical signal to the image capturing devices assembly same instructions for taking a film photography are followed by photographer:
define aperture, shutter speed and adjust the focus; the sensor is set-up to capture the optical input. Once the set-up is performed on the camera, a similar set-up is done in an app that is in sync with the sensor. Once the shutter is released the signal for the sensor is release via flash signal, and the optical signal (light) is captured by the sensor and processed by the data processing unit, filtered and refined, and ultimately getting stored on a micro-SD as a image data file, or wirelessly shared/saved on a network.
In order that the entire assembly to work the following is required at the minimum: a power source 2, hardware electronics including the sensor 4 and data processing unit 5, a synchronizing system, an app and a wireless connection to a network.
Figure 2 presents the assembly for the basic required electronics. This is comprised by a power bank source 2, commonly being a 5 volt (5V) power bank supply (or alternative which varies due to whichever sensor or hardware are being used), as power source for the embedded electronics.
The power bank enclosure device 11 is an assembly of a coverlid 13 that connects with its main battery, connected to the sensor baseboard 14 with a ribbon interface cable 12. Additional electronics for power regulators can be included into the power supply 2 assemblies, including the capability for data storage on a micro-SD card 10.

4 The sensor module comprise: the image sensor 4, the sensor baseboard 14 and multiple modular devices 16 (RAM, GPS, WiFi, power regulators), that connects to the sensor's baseboard via GPIO pins or other electronics plug connector parts.
The modular devices are independent from the general assembly and can be added by the users during time once upgrades and updates are performed. That will include, but not limited to, increase in RAM for processing the data, GPS capabilities for location data acquisition, WiFi to local or private networks, wireless synchronization to shutter release by link to flash release input signal or other potential enhancements of the system, like custom made filters FX data image processing. Additional independent microcomputers can be added that will work in sync with the data imagine processing unit 5.
The data processing unit 5 is link to the sensor's board 14 with a ribbon cable interface 17 and includes electronics for processing the sensor data into an image data file. It uses processors 18 and is connected to additional RAM 16 from sensor's baseboard.
Additionally, an USD 19 connection and power supply connector 20 that plugs to a standard power cord can be available and used for other peripherals that could connect to the system, and to the TLR camera itself.
All those electronics gets link wirelessly to an app that control the camera sensor functions and capabilities, as a camera control module.
Camera module control at the app level performs the basic image settings control:
image resolution, image format, white balance, exposure time (shutter speed), aperture, or filters (FX) settings. Those are the settings that are defined for the sensor prior to capture the image, and synchronized with the physical settings on the TLR
camera prior to the exposure. Once the image capture is performed, the image data file can be shared wirelessly on a network or could be saved on the micro-SD card.

Claims

The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege Is Claimed Are Defined As Follows:

1. For a film TLR camera, initially designed to capture an image using a photosensitive material, the use of internal space originally designed to provide holding and traveling path of the film is to be re-used for providing space for additional assemblies of devices: digital twin lens reflex system, comprising hardware, digital sensor and power solutions, all this without presenting physical modification to the original design of the film camera body itself.

2. Use of Digital Twin Lens Reflex System (DTLRS) for film TLR cameras that comprise a sensor unit, hardware and electronics that syncs with film TLRs camera signals and optics to produce digital images.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, including single minicomputer device or multiple modular devices or assemblies that enhance the system capability (RAM, GPS, WiFi, sensors or filters).

4. The use of a flash sync signal of a film camera for providing data input for triggering the capture release signal for a DTLRS or system assembly or devices for capturing a digital image placed inside of a film camera body.