Abstract:
A method of photographing forensic evidence comprising the placing a frame on a stable surface is disclosed. An item of evidence is placed on the frame frame, followed by adjusting the position of said item of evidence; mounting a light source to said frame; adjusting the position of said light source; mounting a camera on said frame; adjusting the position of said camera; and actuating said camera to take a photograph.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/611,772, filed Sep. 21, 2004 directed to FORENSIC LIGHT AND PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPORT, the priority of which is hereby claimed.  
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     (Not applicable.)  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to support devices for supporting cameras and light sources for forensic examination.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The use of various types of light sources for illuminating evidence is widespread. Typically, evidence is placed on a support surface and photography performed using a hand-held camera or tripod. At the same time, a forensic light source, generally hand-held, it is used to illuminate the evidence at an angle and with a wavelength of light which is calculated to achieve a desired photographic result. Typically, filters are used in connection with the camera, and filters may be used in connection with the light source.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one aspect, the invention provides a method for photographing forensic evidence which comprises the steps of placing a frame on a stable surface; placing the item of evidence on the frame; adjusting the position of the item of evidence; mounting a light source to the frame; adjusting the position of the light source; mounting a camera on the frame; adjusting the position of the camera; and actuating the camera to take a photograph.  
         [0006]     Pursuant to one embodiment of the invention, forensic evidence is photographed, and the positions of the camera and/or the light source are varied relative to the evidence. Multiple pictures can be taken at various relative positions.  
         [0007]     Desirably, the forensic evidence is photographed, and the positions of the camera and/or light source are varied by motors under computer control.  
         [0008]     In a further aspect, the invention provides a forensic photography stand, which comprises a support base; a first track defined on the support base; a vertical support member riding on the first track; an evidence support track defined on the support base; an evidence support member which rides on the evidence support track whereby the position of the evidence may be varied; light source support brackets mounted on the vertical support member; a camera support bracket mounted on the vertical support member whereby the position of the camera and the vertical support member may be varied. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention may be understood from the following drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate one embodiment of the inventive stand; and  
         [0011]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate alternative options for supporting evidence in the inventive stand.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a forensic light and photography support  10  is illustrated. Support  10  comprises a base section  12 , a vertical section  14  secured to base section  12 , a light support section  16  secured at the sides of vertical section  14 , and a camera support section  18  secured to the top of vertical section  14 . Either or both light support sections may be used to support one or more light sources.  
         [0013]     Base  12  comprises a pair of longitudinal support members  20  and  22 , which are securely joined to foot supports  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 , for example by using threads on the ends of members  20  and  22 , friction fitted pins, bolts or the like. Foot supports  24 - 30  rest on a support surface  32 . Each of the foot supports  24 - 30  has a rubber foot  33  secured to its bottom, as illustrated most clearly in  FIG. 2 . Foot supports  24 - 30  may be made from any suitable material, such as metal, metal alloy, or a suitably rigid and durable polymer plastic material.  
         [0014]     A first longitudinal rail  34  is secured between foot supports  24  and  26 . A second longitudinal rail  36  is secured between foot supports  28  and  30 . A trolley  38 , riding on a pair of blocks  40  and  42  comprises supporting a platen  44 . Trolley  38  rides on rails  34  and  36 , moving in the directions indicated by arrows  46  to rest in any desired position. Trolley  38  is mounted to frictionly and slidingly engage longitudinal rail  34  and  36  thus allowing it to be moved into any position and rest there unless sufficient force is applied to move it out of position. Alternatively, if desired, set screws may be provided with large knobs to lock the same in position.  
         [0015]     Blocks  40  and  42  have holes  48  drilled in them. Holes  48  receive and conformingly engage rails  34  and  36 , allowing trolley  38  to slide in the directions indicated by arrows  46 .  
         [0016]     Platen  44  supports evidence  49  to be photographed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a scale indicating length may be engraved in the platen  44  in order to provide a reference for the photography of evidence  49  resting on platen  44 .  
         [0017]     Base section  12  is made rigid (to adjust the position of the light source) by a transverse support member  50  which is rigidly secured to foot supports  26  and  30 . Such securement may be implemented through the use of set screws, rivets, friction-fitted pins, or the like.  
         [0018]     A pair of a vertically extending support rods  52  and  54  are secured to supports  51  and  53 , respectively which slide with a minimal amount of friction due to slight lubrication on longitudinal support members  20  and  22 . Supports  51  and  53  may be secured in place by a wing bolt or the like. Vertically extending support rods  52  and  54  are, in turn, secured by four screws  56  or friction fitted pins, or the like to a camera support plate  58  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Camera support plate  58  includes three support holes  60 ,  62  and  64 . The use of a pair of screws on each of the vertically extending support rods  52  and  54  contributes to the rigidity of the system.  
         [0019]     Forensic light source support section  16  comprises a support crossbar  66  ( FIG. 1 ) which may be secured by a pair of screws to vertically extending support rods  52  and  54 . A pair of arms  68  and  70  ( FIG. 4 ) are, in turn, secured to support crossbar  66  by tightening bolts  72  and  74 . Tightening bolts  72  and  74  terminate in large plastic knobs  76  and  78 , respectively allowing them to easily be tightened. If desired, lock watchers may be used, or suitable mechanical serrations or the like included in the arms and/or support crossbar  66 . Tightening bolts  72  and  74  extend through holes in arms  68  and  70 . Tightening bolts  72  and  74  are threaded to matingly engage tapped holes in support crossbar  66 , as illustrated most clearly in  FIG. 4 . The ends of arms  68  and  70  terminate, respectively, in holes  80  and  82 .  
         [0020]     Holes  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  80  and  82  may be provided with tightening bolts of the type typically found on camera tripods. This enables the stand to be used to secure a camera, or a forensic light source provided with a tapped hole type camera mounting.  
         [0021]     When it is desired to use the inventive system, a camera  84  may be mounted on camera support plate  58  using any one of holes  60 ,  62  or  64 , in the manner conventional by employed with camera tripods. Evidence  49  may be placed on platen  44  and the position adjusted in the directions indicated by arrows  46 .  
         [0022]     For example, camera  84 , (which may include an image intensifying lens) may be positioned in hole  64  for the purpose of taking a photograph of evidence  49  located on platen  44 . If one wishes to obtain a slightly larger picture, camera  84  may be placed in hole  60  or  62 .  
         [0023]     In connection with this, it is noted that the angular position of camera  84  and the light sources may be varied in the directions indicated by arrows  86 ,  88  and  90 . Likewise, camera  84  may be mounted on an arm of any of the type described in this specification for the purpose of varying its position and angle, thus providing flexibility for the photography of images which may benefit from varying positions and angles of attitude for the camera and illumination, as more fully appears below.  
         [0024]     More particularly, one or two forensic light sources may be mounted in either of holes  80  and  82 , with their angles varied by rotation in the directions indicated, respectively, by arrows  88  and  90 .  
         [0025]     Such adjustment in the directions indicated by arrows  88  and  90  and further adjustment of arms  68  and  70  in the directions indicated by arrows  92  and  94  provides a wide range of flexibility in the adjustment of the angle of illumination of light output from a forensic light source, such as forensic light sources  96  and  98  mounted in holes  80  and/or  82 . In accordance with the invention, the position of the arms, the angular position of the light sources and the position on the camera may be maintained by tightening the respective knob associated with the source and/or camera which one wishes to secure in place.  
         [0026]     In accordance with an alternative embodiment the invention, arms  68  and  70  may be replaced by articulated arms, such as articulated arm  168 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for the purpose of varying angle and distance (and thus illumination intensity). Articulated arm  168  includes a pair of arm members  169  and  171 , which are secured to each other by a threaded pin  173  which is tightened by and integral with a knob  175 . Pin  173  is threaded and matingly engages a tapped hole  177  in arm  169 .  
         [0027]     It is noted that while knob and tapped hole securements are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , any suitable securement may be used, such as a ball and socket. Alternatively, malleable wires may be used in place of the illustrated arms, or arms  68  and  70  may be replaced by a spiral interlocking structure (or “gooseneck”) of the type used to secure the position of reading lamps. Ball and socket joints may be used to attach camera and/or light sources.  
         [0028]     Likewise, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, trolley  38  may be replaced by a rotatably mounted platen  238 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0029]     In accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the invention, a circular platen of the type illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be mounted on a ball and socket support  338 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This allows complete freedom in the placement of and orientation of a specimen being illuminated, such as a sample of a fingerprint, blood stain, questioned document, or the like. For example, such specimen may be rotated in the directions indicated by arrows  346 , and  347 , as well as the direction indicated by arrows  349  which are in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by arrows  347 .  
         [0030]     Still yet another alternative is the use of a telescopic member for supporting a specimen of evidence, or the light sources or camera.  
         [0031]     In accordance with yet another alternative of the invention, arms  68  and  70  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may have a linkage mechanism which causes holes  80  and  82  to define a line parallel to the support surface defined by foot supports  24 - 30 .  
         [0032]     In accordance with the present invention, movement of the trolley, or any of the other specimen support surfaces, as well as the motion of the arms and position of the camera support may be motorized and, for example, computer-controlled. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a computer may be programmed to execute the photography of a specimen using a preselected set of camera positions, camera orientations, light source positions, light source orientations, and/or other variables in order to automatically produce a wide variety of images under different conditions.  
         [0033]     Such images may, further, be submitted to automatic computerized image analysis in order to amalgamate features which are viewable under various conditions. Such amalgamation would entail the normalization of views taken from different distances, at various angles, and with lenses of various focal lengths to a standard image. Artificial intelligence software may be used to identify features, map their locations and assemble a composite or amalgamated image. Because such multiple imaging is performed using a computer, it is cost effective and a large number of images may be obtained and integrated in this matter.  
         [0034]     In addition, the variables associated with a computerized imaging sequence may include illumination wavelength, the introduction of filters to filter the output of the forensic light sources, and the introduction of filters to filter the light input into the camera.  
         [0035]     In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated that the inventive system may be used in conjunction with digital cameras, as well as with photographic film cameras. In the case of using a film camera, the developed image may be push-processed or otherwise processed to bring out desired features. Likewise, chemically developed images may be scanned into PDF or other suitable image format for use by the computer in a mapping process.  
         [0036]     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, plate  58  may be replaced by an articulated member or a rail or rails secured to a support plate.  
         [0037]     Preferably, the inventive device is painted with a flat black paint or other similar finish, in order to reduce reflection.  
         [0038]     The base consists of 4 poles parallel to each other. Each set of poles form a track. An inner track  24 , which slides and adjusts the evidence tray  20  and an outer track  22 , which slides and adjusts the A-arm support  14 .  
         [0039]     The inventive stand  10  may be used to support a scope, camera, or viewer. Stand  10  may also include an adjustable vertically oriented slider, or track, on which a scope, camera, or viewer can be mounted. This allows the user to vary the distance from the evidence. The fixed position can be varied and sit at an up/down position fixed on y-axis.  
         [0040]     Grooved surfaces may be provided on the various knobs (e.g. knob  78 ) and the surfaces on which they bear in order to have the position more stably fixed. The UV light source is mounted on the ends of the arms in order to provide a light source for the evidence at the base.  
         [0041]     Either one or two UV or thin light sources can be used. Both can be adjusted at different heights or a leveler device may be used to keep the arms at the same height on both sides. This allows the cameras to be set at equal heights, while allowing their angles to be adjusted.  
         [0042]     As noted above, the base has a plurality of guide rails. One pair of guide rails provides a track for the scope and the UV light source.  
         [0043]     The braces and guide rails serve dual purposes. It supports the main structure of the embodiment and it also guides the arms and evidence.  
         [0044]     The slide guides also hold the A-arm, are guided on the poles of the base, which have slight lubrication. The slide guides also may have a screw in order to keep the position desired by the operator. The screws can be the knob type or butterfly head in order to be easy to adjust.  
         [0045]     If desired, separate vertical supports may be used for the light sources and for the camera resulting in a pair of A-frame shaped supports for the light sources and the camera, allowing separate adjustment of the position of both camera and light sources.  
         [0046]     While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is, of course, understood that various modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Many such modifications are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.