IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- ·STRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES AN IMPROVED PANORAMIC
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Sutton, of Saint Brelade, in the Island of
Jersey Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
·STRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, CONSISTING
Sealed the 15th November 1859, and dated the 28th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Sutton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th September 1859.
I, THOMAS SUTTON, of Saint Brelade, in the Island of Jersey, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES CONSISTING
OF AND ENTITLLD AN IMPROVED PANORAMIC LENS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC
PICTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a compound lens for taking
photographic pictures wherein an unusually wide angle of view or extent of field
is to be included. The compound lens is composed of two single concavo-
convex lenses, the curved surfaces of which are portions of concentric spheres.
They are secured to a suitable mount in such a manner and position that the
curved surfaces of both of them are concentric, their common centre being a
point in the axis of the compound lens, and the lenses having their concave
surfaces opposite to each other. In the space or cavity between the concavo-
convex lenses is contained a transparent fluid of lower refractive and dispersive
power than glass, of which the lenses are made, the compound lens being thus
rendered achromatic and convex so as to produce real images of objects. It
is also provided with a suitable apparatus for producing equality of illumina-
tion; and also for increasing the sharpness of the definition when objects at

page_text: different distances from the lens are included in the view. Between the lenses
and in the fluid above referred to is an opaque diaphragm, having a circular
opening made therein, the centre of which is also the centre of the concentric
spherical surfaces of the lenses. This opening is fitted with a circular re-
volving disc of metal having an opening in its centre, the size of which is
capable of being increased or diminished at pleasure to admit more or less
light as required.
Another method of accomplishing the same objects is as follows:-It consists
of a series or system of opaque thin plane partitions fitted within a conical
box, which is open at each end, and the narrow end of which is applied against
the front surface of the compound lens when in use. These partitions radiate
from that point which is the common centre of the curved surfaces of the
lenses, and are placed at right angles to each other so as to form by the mutual
intersections of their planes hollow frustra of pyramids open at each end, in
When this
order to allow the light to pass through without obstruction.
apparatus is employed I dispense with the perforated diaphragm herein-
before referred to.
In order to avoid the cost of using large glass concavo-convex lenses in large
instruments, I propose to use in their stead cases made of thin glass or other
suitable material, having the same curved surfaces as the glass lenses, and
filled with a transparent fluid of suitable refractive and dispersive power, such
as Canada balsam..
The photographic pictures taken with my lens should be produced upon
tablets, forming either a segment of a sphere or segment of a cylinder so
placed in the camera as to have the same centre as the curved surfaces of the
lens. I claim no novelty in the use of tablets of the above form for photo-
graphic purposes.
The novelty of my Invention consists in the use of concavo-convex lenses
having concentric spherical surfaces in combination with a fluid, so as to render
the compound lens achromatic, together with the use of a revolving central
diaphragm or external system of tubes, so as to produce equality of illumina-
tion and increased sharpness of definition.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Sutton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SUTTON, of Saint Brelade, in the Island of Jersey, Gentleman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Sutton, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Sutton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Sutton, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES,
CONSISTING OP AND ENTITLED "AN IMPROVED PANORAMIC LENS FOR TAKING
PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Sutton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six. calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Sutton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
$
My Invention relates to the construction of a compound achromatic lens for
taking photographic pictures wherein an unusually wide angle of view or
extent of field is to be included. The compound lens is composed of two
single thick concavo-convex lenses made of glass, the curved surfaces, of which
are portions of concentric spheres. They are secured to a suitable mount.in.
such a manner and position that the curved surfaces of both of them (that is
to say; all the four curved surfaces) are concentric, their common centre being
a point in the axis of the compound lens, and the lenses having. their concave
surfaces opposite to each other. In the space or cavity between the concavo-
convex lenses is contained a transparent fluid of lower refractive and dispersive
power than the glass of which the lenses are made. Water is a suitable and
convenient fluid to employ. By assigning proper radii to the surfaces of the
glass lenses, the compound lens is rendered achromatic and convex, so as to
produce real images of objects. The two glass lenses may be made of the
same kind of glass, and equal in all respects, but that is not a necessary

page_text: condition. By using lenses made of different kinds of glass, and giving their
concentric surfaces suitable. radii computed according to known principles of
optics, the compound lens can be made achromatic, and at the same time its
spherical aberration can be reduced. The compound lens is provided with a
central diaphragm, having a central circular aperture of suitable size in order
to give sharp definition when objects at different distances from the lens are
included in the view. This diaphragm is placed between the lenses and within
the fluid in such a position that the centre of its circular aperture is at the
common centre of the spherical surfaces of the lenses.
In order to avoid the cost of using large glass concavo-convex lenses in
large instruments, I propose to use in their stead cases made of thin glass or
other suitable material, having the same curved surfaces as the solid glass
lenses, and filled with a transparent fluid of suitable refractive and dispersive
power, such as Canada balsam.
The photographic pictures taken with my lens should be produced upon
tablets, forming either a segment of a sphere or a segment of a cylinder so
placed in the camera as to have the same centre as the curved surfaces of the
lenses; but I claim no novelty in the use of tablets of the above form for
photographic purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
I shall refer to the Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both Figures..
0
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the simplest form of panoramic
lens and mount wherein the glass lenses A, B, are both alike in all respects,
and made of the same kind of glass. When this construction is adopted and
the internal cavity C is filled with water, the lens will work with sufficient
accuracy for most practical purposes, if the following dimensions are employed,
namely, if the lenses are both composed of the same light flint glass, their
inner radii may be one-half the length of their outer radii if they be made
of the same colorless crown or plate glass, their inner radii may be two-
fifths of their outer radii. Figure 2 represents a sectional Diagram of another.
form of panoramic lens constructed on the principle herein-before laid down,
but composed of two concavo-convex lenses A and B of different radii, the
curves, however, being struck from one common centre c in the space between
the two lenses, as is requisite in all lenses constructed according to my
Invention.
I do not confine myself to any particular form of mount, but the one shewn
in Figure 1 will be found to answer well in practice. According to this form.

page_text: of mount, each lens is fitted into a metal ring D, provided with an external
screw thread for the purpose of screwing them fluid-tight into the intermediate
ring or zone E provided for that purpose with internal screw threads at each
end. This zone E slides freely within the boss of the flange F, by which the
entire lens is secured to the woodwork of the camera, the sliding motion
serving to facilitate the adjustment of the focus. The cavity C between the
lenses A, B, is filled with water or other suitable fluid, the ring E being
provided for that purpose with stoppered inlet and outlet apertures at G
and H.
I have not illustrated in my Drawings the perforated diaphragm, which may
be placed between the two lenses, and in the plane of the common centre c, as
I lay no special claim to the use of such diaphragm. When a rigorous
accuracy is desired, either in the simple form of lens shewn at Figure 1, or in
the more complex one illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the lenses are of
different radii, and composed of different kinds of glass, the calculations for
the radii must be based upon the data furnished by the ascertained refractive
and dispersive powers of the glass, proceeding on the condition that the
spherical aberration is to be reduced to a minimum, and if possible three lines
Cof the spectrum united in the focus. These calculations are made according
to well-known formulæ in optics, and involve no new principle, being such as
every skilful optician is in the habit of making.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the constructing of compound
lenses for photographic purposes of two concavo-convex lenses in combination
with a fluid, the inner and outer curved surfaces of both lenses being con-
centric, and struck from one common centre in the manner herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Sutton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
THOMAS SUTTON. (L.S.)