Stereoscopic universal digital camera adapter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stereoscopic single digital camera adapter in the form of a quick-snap center sliding plate and guide adapter with built-in leveling jacks, a horizontal level vial and dead-end stops between a distance of 55 mm similar to the average distance between the center of two human eyes. This pocket-sized universal adapter is for use with digital cameras to better facilitate quickly and easily captures very precise quality still pair of images of a scene or a subject by any person. The invention helps to capture a stereo pair of images, one that emulates a left eye view of the intended subject and another that emulates a right eye view of the same scene or subject. The two image pairs can then be downloaded into a computer and/or printed on paper through printing devices or viewed in any desired stereoscopic anaglyph or interlaced viewing formats.

1 . A compact small pocketsize sliding plate/track guide apparatus comprising: 
 a compact horizontal track guide member ranging from 10 cm×4 cm×1.5 cm or smaller to 20 cm×5 cm×2.5 cm (L×W×H) with a travel distance of 55 mm for the smaller size (as shown in the drawings) and dead-end stops on both the left and right sides;    means on said member for attaching said member to a tripod;    means on said member for self-equilibrating without a tripod by use of built-in horizontal level vial and leveling jacks;    a small sliding plate member with a middle screw to attach said member to the bottom of any digital camera that comes with a threaded socket for use with tripod;    means for attaching said member above the track guide in a quick snap tilt motion;    means on track guide member to quick-lock/quick-release for selectively and realeasably attaching a digital camera to said track guide.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  using the sliding plate by means of standard screw can attach to the bottom of any digital camera equipped with a threaded tripod socket.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus claim of  2  including means to tilt-quick snap onto the track guide through the center opening of the guide under the quick0-lock/quick-release thumb cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus claim of  3  including means to level said digital camera/plate/guide horizontally and in parallel on either a flat surface or any uneven surface by use of any standard tripod or if on a slightly uneven surface by use of the built-in leveling jacks and built-in level vial attached to said track guide.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus claim of  5  including means to position digital camera to a left or right first position to capture the first pair of a stereo pair of images for the purposes of future viewing in various three dimensional formats. Said sliding plate and attached camera is slid to a desired position, then stopped by turning the quick-lock/quick-release thumb cylinder to the lock position and locking the digital camera in place a first photograph can be taken with the digital camera.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus claim of  6  including means of then turning the thumb cylinder to the release position, then sliding said plate and attached digital camera to the second desired left or right position on the track guide, then stopped and lock with the quick-lock/quick-release thumb cylinder to capture second image and complete capture of the pair of stereoscopic images on to the digital camera memory.  
   
   
       7 . Said apparatus in  claim 1  is first time highly compact sliding plate/guide mechanism intended for use with digital cameras.  
   
   
       8 . Said apparatus in  claim 1  is designed to take two separate left and right views of an intended subject with a distance separation from 0.1 mm to 55 mm resembling the average distance separation of two human eyes.  
   
   
       9 . Said apparatus in  claim 1  is intended for use with any digital camera in all its mode of operations including but not limited to various macro, zoom or wide angle modes/or attachable lenses. Also said apparatus in  claim 1  has means to select two default pre-set right and left view locations but due to the flexible quick-lock/quick-release locking and releasing mechanism, the distance may also be adjusted freely based on variable distances the digital camera is away from the scene, or if the lens is in macro, zoom, or wide angle use.  
   
   
       10 . Said apparatus in  claim 1  is the fastest and most accurate process to move a digital camera from the default left position to the right position. It is the first and only compact/pocket size mechanism that allows for a normal human eves separation of 55 mm and features closed dead-ends which serve to stop the sliding plate from running off the guiding track. This is incredibly important for it allows the user to quickly position the digital camera to the far left, capture a left-eye view photo of the scene or subject. This makes the apparatus in  claim 1 , the fastest stereoscopic adapter ever created for a single camera lens to capture an accurate pair of left-to-right or right-to-left eye views and making it the most suitable for stereoscopic photography of human portraits by a single digital or SLR camera.