Counterbalanced Image Stabilizer
Counter-Balanced image Stabilizer
This camera-shake compensating mechanism works passively and requires no electrical power, gyros or warm-up time. Developed by Steve Hines in 1977. U.S. Pat. 4,290,684 assigned to Eastman Kodak.
The image stabilizer in a clear camera body, showing the lens, film and holder, and three parallel support rods. The rods are supported by an intermediate frame. The lens and film counter balance each other on opposite ends of the three rods which are the same length as the focal length of the camera lens, so as to not over or under correct image smear.
|
Pitch or yaw |
Defocus*, mm standard mechanism (smaller is better) |
Defocus*, mm this mechanism (smaller is better) |
0° | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1° | 1.15 | 0.015 |
2° | 2.3 | 0.061 |
3° | 3.46 | 0.137 |
4° | 4.62 | 0.224 |
5° | 5.9 | 0.381 |
*Based on a 100mm focal-length lens.
What it provides:
Pitch and yaw camera motions have the most serious effect on image smear. Tipping a camera down 1°, has the effect of lifting an object at 50 feet, 10 inches. This shake-mechanism compensates for five times this amount in both the pitch and yaw directions.
This mechanism can withstand, but is not affected by, translational motion (being bumped).
The mechanism connects the rods to the lens board and film holder with agile cone-and-cup supports (the 2-axis version of a knife-edge hinge).
The mechanism is caged when not taking a picture, allowing the mechanism to float during exposure but otherwise be locked.
The concept applied to a 110-format camera:
The film is stationary and the lens is counterbalanced with an offset added weight.
This is not a product for sale. This project is shown only as an example of past engineering by Steve Hines who offers consulting in the area of opto-mechanical equipment design, and a variety of licensable technologies.
USA
email: Steve@HinesLab.com
ph.: 818-507-5812