Dynamic lens filter and illuminated filter tray assembly
View Patent ↗A dynamic lens filter and illuminated filter tray assembly for use with a camera having a matte box includes a rotatable lens filter having an effects medium that reflects light and an illuminated filter tray having light sources that shine light onto the effects medium. Various lighting effects may be controlled and achieved by aligning the illuminated filter tray with the lens filter within the matte box such that light emanating from the illuminated filter tray strikes the effects medium while images are being captured. The lens filter includes a pair of lenses that seal the lens filter to form a cavity containing the effects medium. The lens filter is coupled to a rotating mechanism that rotates the lens filter to create changing visual effects in images captured by the camera. The illuminated filter tray includes a wireless transceiver coupled to the light sources for controlling the light sources remotely.
1 . A dynamic lens filter assembly with an illuminated filter tray for use with a camera having a camera lens and a matte box positioned in front of the camera lens, comprising:
a lens filter comprising a front, a rear, and a body including a sidewall defining a lens filter opening extending between the front and the rear, the lens filter further comprising a front lens attached to the sidewall at the front and a rear lens attached to the sidewall at the rear forming a cavity disposed inside of the body, the cavity being capable of retaining a fluid effects medium; and
an illuminated filter tray comprising a filter tray housing including a front plate, a rear plate, a filter tray opening extending through the housing, the filter tray opening including a light source, the light source selectively emanating light toward the filter tray opening;
wherein the illuminated filter tray is aligned with the lens filter in the matte box such that light emanating from the illuminated filter tray is configured to strike a fluid effects medium placed in the lens filter, thereby generating a visual effect.
2 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , further comprising a lens filter housing in which the lens filter is capable of being positioned, the lens filter housing including a rotating mechanism coupled to the lens filter that selectively rotates the lens filter with respect to the housing.
3 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein the illuminated filter tray comprises an illumination module including the light source, a power source coupled to the light sources, a control unit coupled to the light source, and a light control input for manually controlling the light sources.
4 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 2 , wherein the rotating mechanism includes a rack-and-pinion-type actuator, whereby rotation of the pinion in one direction rotates the rack and the lens filter in the opposite direction.
5 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 4 , wherein the lens filter housing comprises a rear plate, a front plate, and a housing opening extending between the rear plate and the front plate for positioning the lens filter, the rack positioned around the opening, the lens filter housing enclosing the rack and lens filter therein, the pinion protruding out of the lens filter housing to be accessible for manual actuation.
6 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 3 , wherein the illumination module includes a module opening including a light source positioned therearound, the module opening including substantially the same diameter as filter tray opening, the filter tray opening aligned with the housing opening.
7 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 3 , wherein the light control input includes a light source intensity control input for controlling the intensity and brightness of the light source and a power control input for powering the light source on and off.
8 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein:
the body includes an aperture extending through the sidewall for providing access to the cavity; and
the lens filter comprises a cap for sealing the aperture to prevent egress of the effects medium from the cavity.
9 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the lens filter incudes an interior surface having a shoulder extending therearound, the shoulder preventing further insertion of the front lens and the rear lens into the opening of the lens filter.
10 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein the illuminated filter tray is positioned within the matte box between the lens filter and the camera lens.
11 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 10 , wherein:
the light source emanates light toward the filter tray; and
the light source emanates light either away from the camera lens or towards the camera lens.
12 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 3 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the light source for controlling the light source remotely.
13 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes the effects medium, and the effects medium comprises a homogeneous or heterogeneous fluid mixture configured to distort, refract, reflect, absorb, or bend light.
14 . The dynamic lens filter assembly with the illuminated filter tray of claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes the effects medium, and the effects medium includes a solvent and a material selected from the group consisting of a food coloring, a dye, a fluorescent dye, micro pigments, fishing line, film strips, paraffin, glitter, and glass.
15 . A dynamic lens filter, comprising:
a lens filter including a front, a rear, a body including a sidewall defining a lens filter opening extending between the front and the rear, a front lens attached to the sidewall at the front, and a rear lens attached to the sidewall at the rear forming a cavity inside of the body extending between the front lens, the rear lens, and the sidewall, the cavity including a fluid effects medium therein, the body further including an aperture extending through the sidewall for providing access to the cavity, the lens filter further including a cap for sealing the aperture; and
a lens filter housing including a rotating mechanism coupled to the lens filter that selectively rotates the lens filter with respect to the housing.
16 . The dynamic lens filter of claim 15 , wherein the rotating mechanism includes a rack-and-pinion-type actuator, whereby rotation of the pinion in one direction rotates the rack and the lens filter in the opposite direction.
17 . The dynamic lens filter of claim 16 , wherein the lens filter housing comprises a rear plate, a front plate, and a housing opening extending between the rear plate and the front plate for positioning the lens filter, the rack positioned around the opening, the lens filter housing enclosing the rack and lens filter therein, the pinion protruding out of the lens filter housing to be accessible for manual actuation.
18 . The dynamic lens of claim 15 , wherein the sidewall of the lens filter incudes an interior surface having a shoulder extending therearound, the shoulder preventing further insertion of the front lens and the rear lens into the opening of the lens filter.
19 . The dynamic lens filter of claim 15 , wherein the effects medium includes a solvent and a material selected from the group consisting of a food coloring, a dye, a fluorescent dye, micro pigments, fishing line, film strips, paraffin, and glass.
20 . The dynamic lens filter of claim 15 , wherein the effects medium is a homogeneous or heterogeneous fluid mixture configured to distort, refract, reflect, absorb, or bend light.