AUTOMATIC PARALLAX CORRECTION IN DEPLOYING LENS CAMERA

A camera which comprises a camera housing (11), containing a viewfinder system (12) and a back wall (40). The camera further comprises a deployable objective lens (38), having an optical axis that is substantially normal to the back wall (40) of the camera housing throughout lens deployment. The objective lens (38) is spaced apart from the viewfinder system (12) in at least a lateral dimension and from the back wall (40) in at least a forward dimension. A deployment assembly (22), supported by the camera housing (11), deploys the objective lens (38) between a compact storage position (56) and a range of operational focus positions. The deployment assembly (22) is positioned, configured and dimensioned to produce an arcuate deployment path (78) that approximates a theoretical lens path, for simultaneous parallax correction and focus adjustment, between an infinity focus position (76) and a near focus position (80). The deployment assembly (22) includes a carriage (36), to which the objective lens (38) is mounted. The carriage (36) has a first side and an opposite side separated by a transverse dimension. The carriage (36) is supported by the camera housing (11) by means of front and rear support links (44, 48), having equal lengths. Each support link (44, 48) is pivotally connected to the camera housing (11) at a proximal end, and to the front side of the carriage (36) at a distal end. The rear support link (48) is spaced apart from the front support link (44) by a predetermined bearing distance in the forward dimension. The arcuate deployment path (78), produced by the deployment assembly (22), has a radius of curvature equal to the length of the support links (44, 48). Un appareil photographique comprend un boîtier (11) contenant un système de viseur (12) et une paroi arrière (40). L'appareil photographique comprend en outre une lentille d'objectif déployable (38) ayant un axe optique sensiblement normal à la paroi arrière (40) du boîtier de l'appareil photographique sur toute la distance de déploiement de la lentille. La lentille d'objectif (38) est espacée du système de viseur (12) dans au moins une dimension latérale et par rapport à la paroi arrière (40) dans au moins une dimension vers l'avant. Un ensemble de déploiement (22) supporté par le boîtier (11) de l'appareil déploie la lentille d'objectif 938) entre un position de stockage compact (56) et une plage de positions de focalisation ou mise au point opérationnelle. L'ensemble de déploiement (22)