Camera adapter design for image magnification including lens and illuminato

Moffitt, F. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

REPLY TO 
ATTN OF: GP 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMlNlSTRATlON 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20546 / 
* dB 
TQ 8 %&on Division 
no M i s s  Winnie Pa. 
FROKr G P / O f f i c e  of Assis tant  General Counsel fo r  
Patent  Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned U. S.  Patents  i n  STAR 
I n  accordance w i t h  the procedures agreed upon by code GP 
and Code U S I ,  the attached NASA-owned W. S.  Patent  is being 
forwarded f o r  abs t rac t ing  and announcement i n  NASA STAR. 
The following information is provided: 
U. S. Patent  No. 8 
Government o r  
Corporate Employee t 
Supplementary Corporate 
Source ( i f  applicable) t 
SA Pa ten t  C a s e  No, 3 
NOTE - If  t h i s  pa ten t  covers an invention made by a corporate 
of a NASA Contractor,  the mg is applicable: 
Yes NO 
Pursuant t o  Sect ion 305s) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space A c t ,  the name of the  Administrator of A appears on 
the f i r s t  page of the patent ;  however, the name of the ac tua l  
inventor (author appears a t  th  eading of Column No, b of 
- the  Specif icat ion following the  sds o ( o  e with respect to 
an invention of m 
Enc bosure 
sf Patent  cited abovc 
- E 
=! 2 (NASA CR OR TMX OR AD NUMBER) 
u. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710016998 2020-03-17T03:05:49+00:00Z
IMAGE MAGNIFICATION ADAPTER FrJR CAMERAS 
Filed Dec. 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet : 
l7/ 
F IG.  I 
F R E D  L MOFFITT  
B y  Q&-C 
W + d  H . S  
ATTOR 
F. Lo MOFFITT 3, 
IMAGE MAGNIFICATION A D A P T E R  FOR CAMERAS 
Filed Dec. 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 
69 
FIG. 3 
INvENroR.  
FSED L MOFFITT  
ate 
the print, additional delay is sometimes experienced in 
realizing the necessity for retaking of the photograph. 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present inven- 
s,+nor to the united tion to provide an improved means for making magnified 
d by the Admihistrator 5 pictures- 
of the National A e r ~ ~ a ~ t i ~ s  and Space A d ~ ~ ~ a t i o n  A more specific object of the invention is to provide a 
means for quick, easy and economical production of 
sharp, clearly defined, magnified pictures of the surface 
2 elaims of a material under inspection or of defects in such 
surface. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an 
adapter which may be readily combined with a standard 
An adapter unit for attachment to a camera, such as camera, such as a Polaroid type camera, permitting such 
a Polaroid type, which permits the camera to produce camera to  produce clearly defined magnified pictures. 
magnified photographic views of subject matter of which 15 Another object of the invention is to provide a highly 
enlarged views are desired. The adapter carries its own COmpaCt and portable camera device that may be 
magnifying lens as well as its own illumination source maneuvered and operated in close and confined areas to 
and may be attached to or removed from a camera with- produce high quality magnified pictures in a quick, easy 
out any modification being required of the camera. In andeconomicalmanner. 
operation, the front end of the adapter will ordinarily be 20 These and other objects and advantages of the inven- 
positioned in contact with or very near the subject matter tion will become apparent upon reference to the following 
being photographed and the illumination passes from a specification, attendant claims and drawings: 
lighting compartment within the adapter to the subject FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a camera equipped 
matter being photographed with no external lighting with an image magnification adapter. 
source being required. FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the image mag- 
nification adapter of FIGURE 1 taken in the direction 
of the arrow 2. 
The invention described herein was made by an em- FTGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the image mag- 
ployee of the U.S. Government and may be manufactured nifiCatiOn adapter taken dong line 3-3 of FIGURE 1. 
and used by or for the Government for governmental 30 Briefly described, the invention comprises an adapter 
purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or for attachment to a standard commercially available 
therefor. camera, such as a Polaroid type camera, that imparts to 
The present invention relates generally to photography the camera the ability to produce magnified pictures of 
and more particularly to  an image magnification adapter extraordinary clarity and definition. The adapter includes 
for attachment to a camera, such as a Polaroid type 35 a housing box that supports a magnifying lens near one 
camera. end of the housing box and has an opening at the other 
In many situations in industrial and scientific work it end thereof. The subject matter to be photographed is 
is required or desired to obtain permanent visual records ordinarily very close to or in contact with the open end 
of magnified images of certain surfaces or objects. In the of the housing, and the adapter carries its own source of 
fields of entomology and geology, for example, perma- 40 illumination in a compartment offset from but communi- 
nent enlarged views of insects and rocks, respectively, cating with the line of sight between the lens and the 
are needed, and one of the principal uses of magnified opening SO that light travels from the illumination com- 
images is in the field of quality control where defects in partment on to the subject matter being photographed. 
materials, such as textiles, plastics and metals, being manu- A means for adjusting the amount of light proceeding 
factured or assembled, are photographed so that a per- 45 from the light source to the subject may also be provided. 
manent magnified view of the defects will be available for Referring now to FIGURE 1, there in is illustrated a 
present and future analysis. Polaroid type camera 11 combined with an image magni- 
In the aerospace field, where quality and reliability fication adapter 13 having an illumination compartment 
considerations are extremely important, minute defects in 15 connected to a power source 17 through wires 19. A 
missile and rocket components are often magnified and 50 detailed description of the camera 11 will not be included 
recorded by photography. For example, defects such as herein since the camera per se represents a well known 
extremely small cracks in weldments joining metallic commercially available type camera the details of which 
components of propellant tanks are magnified and re- form no part of the present invention. 
corded by photography, and the magnified views are As shown in FIGURE 3, the adapter 13 comprises a 
studied as an aid in determining the nature, cause and 55 housing 21 having a substantially pyramidal shaped body 
seriousness of the defects. 23 and a tubular portion 25 with its longitudinal axis 
Previously, magnified photographic views of minute extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the 
weld cracks and other surface defects have been obtained body 23. 
by making a negative print of the particular surface where Formed at the smallest end of the body 23, as an in- 
a defect has been found or suspected, and subsequentJy 00 tegral part thereof, is an open ended cylindrical part 27 
making enlargements from the negative print. This pro- in which is mounted lenses 29 and 31, these lenses are 
cedure involves considerable delay in developing and being separated by an annular spacer 33. The cylindrical 
enlarging the prints as well as the requirement for setting part 27 has an externally threaded projecting end 35 that 
up relatively elaborate and cumbersome camera and threadedly receives a ring 37, and fitted over the ring 37 
lighting equipment. Also, since the clarity of the photo- 65 is a second ring 39 that is connected to the ring 37 by 
graph cannot be determined until after development of circumferentially spaced pins 41 extending through slots 
3,472 140 
Filed Dec. 12,1966, Ser. No. 601,229 
Eat. CI. 603b 3/00 
U.S. CB. 95-44 
ACT OF 
25 
3,472,140 
3 in the ring 39. The width of the ring 39 exceeds that in contact with or very near to the subject being photo- 
of the ring 37 to €om a socket 45 that mates with and graphed with the particular subject matter being encom- 
receives a front projecting portion 47 of the camera I11 passed within the opening 63. 
which portion contains a front lens 49. When making a picture the best camera settings, such as 
The adapter is secured to  the camera 11 by set screws f stop, shutter speed and focal distance, may vary depend- 
ckcumferentially spaced around the second ring 39, ing on the particular type of camera being used and the 
while set screws 53 are used to fix the ring 39 to  the ring magnification power of the lens in the adapter. The best 
37 after the ring 39 is fitted against a shoulder 55 of the settings for a particular camera and lens power are easily 
When the adapter 13 is fitted to the camera 111 and expeditiously determined by experience, however, and 
of the camera barely contacts the lens 29 of 10 it was found that with a Polaroid type camera (Models 
11 OA and 11 OB), when using a 7 x lens in the adapter, 
At the largest end of the body 23 of the adapter 13 is a best results were obtained with the following settings: f 
mask 57 that fits in recesses 59 (FIGURE 2) formed in stop, 16 to 32; shutter speed, 8; focal distance, either of 
the end edge of the body 23 with an adhesive 61, such as the extremes of 3 feet or infinity. 
epoxy resin, retaining the mask in place. The mask has a 15 By trial and error the light and the depth of field can be 
central opening 63 therein, and openings 65 remain be- thoroughly optimized rapidly by adjusting the shield IO 
tween the body 23 and the upper and lower edges of the and increasing or decreasing the number of laminae 7' 
mask 57. of the mask 57' to  produce magnified photographic views 
The mask 57 comprises a relatively thick element 67, the of extraordinary clarity. It has been found that the ad- 
front surface of which is substantially aligned vertically 20 justment arrived at will be the optimum adjustment for 
with the end surface of the body 23, and a laminated ele- the paricular camera for future photographs of the same 
ment 69 comprising laminae 71, that is bonded to the or similar circumstances and, therefore, no future adjust- 
element 67 and projects beyond the end surface of the ments are necessary unless a different camera or subject 
body 23. The thickness and number of laminae 71 of the matter of a different type is involved. 
element 69 may be varied to  provide a very fine depth of 25 When the illumination has been adjusted properly the 
field adjustment as will be explained more fully herein- shield may be bonded to the lens 99 and the surface 105. 
after. It is apparent from the preceding description that the in- 
The line of sight of the adapter 13 coincides with the vention provides a quick, easy and economical means for 
longitudinal axis of the body 23, extending from the lens producing magnified photographic views. The photographs 
29 to the opening 63, and the line of sight of the adapter 30 obtained are extremely sharp and clear, providing an ex- 
coincides with the line of sight of the camera 11 when at- cellent permanent record. 
tached thereto. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the 
An illumination lamp 73 is screwed into a socket 75 present invention are possible in light of the above teach- 
mounted within the tubular portion 25 of the adapter, the ings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the 
socket being supported by a bracket 77 connected by 35 scope of the attendant claims the invenion may be prac- 
screws 79 to a plug element 81 that fits in the tubular por- 
tion 25. The plug $1 is retained by a sleeve 83 that screws 
on tubular portion 25 engaging threads 85 and having an 
inturned flange 87 that bears on a stop 89 of the plug 81. 
A terminal 91 is mounted within the plug 81 by a rivet 93 40 
which also secures a contact lug 95, the latter abutting 
against the base of the lamp 73. 
One of the wires 19 is connected to the terminal 91 and 
the other wire is connected to  the socket 75 and both 
wires pass out of the plug 81 through an aperture 97 45 
and extend to the power source 17. 
In order to provide for optimum adjustment of light 
emission and diffusion from the lamp 73 into the body 
23 of the adapter and through the opening 63, a diffusing 
lens 99 is adjustably positioned between the illumination 50 
5 and the body 23. The rear edge of the 
a slot 101 and the front portion of the lens 
rests on a wedge-shaped opaque shield 103 that is support- 
ed on a surface 110s of the body 23. The lens 99 diffuses 
the light and keeps it from concentrating at one p i n t  on 55 
the subject being photographed. 
Movement of the shield 103 determines the amount of 
light permitted to pass through the lens 99 and also varies 
the angle of the lens slightly to affect the diffusion of the 
light. When the shield has been properly adjusted for a 60 
particular photograph situation the shield may be secured 
to  the lens 99 as by adhesive, and the shield may also be 
adhesively secured to the surface 1105. 
Referring to FIGURE 1, the power source 17 comprises 
a small case 107 that contains appropriate batteries and a 65 
power switch 109. The case 107 i detachably connected 
to  the camera 11 by a bracket 11 and a screw (not 
shown) that extends through the bracket and screws in the 
tripod mounting hole in the camera. 
adapter 13 and the associated power source 17 are very 
quickly and easily attached to the camera 11, it being 
noted that no camera modification is required for it to 
receive the adapter or power source. The front end of the 
adapter, specifically the mask 57, is normally positioned 75 
When it is desired to make a magnified photograph, the 70 
ticed other than as specifically described. 
What is claimed is: 
1. An adapter for attachment to  a camera comprising: 
(a)  a body portion having a line of sight passing from 
one end of said body portion to the other end there- 
Of; 
(b) an illumination compartment offset from said line of 
sight and communicating with said line of sight so 
that light may pass from said compartment into said 
body portion; 
(c)  a source of light within said illumination compart- 
iment; 
(d) a diffusion lens between said light source and said 
line of sight; 
(e) means for adjusting light passing through said dif- 
fusion lens; 
( f )  a magnification lens mounted in said body portion 
adjacent one end of said body portion; 
(g) means at  said one end of said adapter for attaching 
said adapter to a camera; 
(h)  a mask element at the end of said adapter opposite 
said attaching means; 
(i) said mask element comprising a plurality of laminae 
whereby the number of said laminae may be varied 
to adjust the depth of field for taking a photograph. 
2. An adapter for attachment to  a camera comprising: 
(a)  a body portion having a line of sight passing from 
one end of said body portion to  the other end thereof; 
(b) an illumination compartment offset from said line 
of sight and communicating with said line of sight 
so that light may pass from said compartment into 
said body portion; 
(c) a source of light within said illumination compart- 
ment; 
(d)  a diffusion lens between said light source and said 
line of sight; 
(e) means for adjusting light passing through said dif- 
fusion lens; 
( f )  a magnification lens mounted in said body portion 
adjacent one end of said body portion; 
3,472,140 
(g) means at said one en said adapter for attaching 
said adpter to a camera; 
(h) said light adjusting means comprising a movable 
opaque shield adjacent said diffusion lens for varying 
the amount of light admitted through said lens. 
eferences Cited 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
3,195,431 7/1965 Augustin et al. _ _ _  240-1.3 X 
3,198,097 8/1965 Hine _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  95-11 10 
3,330,193 7/1967 Kaess _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  88-24 
3,385,188 5/1968 Ellman ____________-_ 88-24 
3,005,391 10/1961 Ragan et al. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  95-1 1 
2,959,097 11/1960 Mollring _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  240-1.3 X 
NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner 
R. L. MOSES, Assistant Examiner 
US. C1. X.R. 
240-1.3; 355-55 


Image magnification adapter for cameras Patent

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