How Thomas Edison's Kinetographic Camera Captured Early Motion Pictures
An 1897 patent by Thomas Edison for a camera mechanism designed to capture sequential images on a moving film strip to create the illusion of motion.
Original patent title: “Kinetographic camera”
An 1897 patent by Thomas Edison for a camera mechanism designed to capture sequential images on a moving film strip to create the illusion of motion. Granted to Thomas A. Edison in 1897.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The Kinetographic camera uses a specialized mechanism to move a strip of film past a lens in precise, rapid increments. It synchronizes the shutter with the film movement to expose individual frames one by one. This process allows the device to record a series of still photographs that, when played back in sequence, simulate fluid movement for the viewer.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover digital image sensors or electronic image capture
- Does not cover audio recording or synchronization with sound
- Does not cover color film processing or multi-strip color systems
- Does not cover non-mechanical or non-film-based image storage
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the intermittent motion mechanism, which ensures the film remains perfectly still while the shutter is open, then advances it rapidly before the next exposure.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Early Kinetoscope parlors
Edison's Black Maria film studio
Early silent film production cameras
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents a foundational step in the birth of the motion picture industry. It provided the technical framework for the Kinetoscope, which allowed early audiences to view moving images, effectively launching the era of cinema.
Granted
August 31, 1897
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern digital cinema camera manufacturers like ARRI and RED build on the fundamental principles of frame-based capture and shutter synchronization established by early pioneers like Edison.
Market impact
This technology enabled the creation of the film industry, transitioning entertainment from static photography and stage plays to the mass-market medium of motion pictures.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The Kinetographic camera uses a specialized mechanism to move a strip of film past a lens in precise, rapid increments. It synchronizes the shutter with the film movement to expose individual frames one by one. This process allows the device to record a series of still photographs that, when played back in sequence, simulate fluid movement for the viewer.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the intermittent motion mechanism, which ensures the film remains perfectly still while the shutter is open, then advances it rapidly before the next exposure.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover digital image sensors or electronic image capture
- Does not cover audio recording or synchronization with sound
- Does not cover color film processing or multi-strip color systems
- Does not cover non-mechanical or non-film-based image storage
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$2K – $7K
Midpoint $5K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(1897). How Thomas Edison's Kinetographic Camera Captured Early Motion Pictures (U.S. Patent No. 589,168). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/589168/motion-picture-camera-kinetograph
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US589168"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4405829 · 1983
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 4575330 · 1986
How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid
This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.
UVP Inc
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 388850 · 1888 · George Eastman
George Eastman's Original Box Camera Design
US 90646 · 1869 · Thomas A. Edison
Edison's First Patent: An Electric Vote Recorder
US 4131919 · 1978 · Eastman Kodak Co
The First Digital Camera's Core Technology
US 200521 · 1878 · Thomas A. Edison
How Thomas Edison Improved Early Phonograph Recording
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Thomas Edison's Kinetographic Camera Captured Early Motion Pictures cover?
An 1897 patent by Thomas Edison for a camera mechanism designed to capture sequential images on a moving film strip to create the illusion of motion.
Who owns patent US 589168?
Thomas A. Edison owns this patent, granted in 1897.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents a foundational step in the birth of the motion picture industry. It provided the technical framework for the Kinetoscope, which allowed early audiences to view moving images, effectively launching the era of cinema.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover digital image sensors or electronic image capture
Same assignee
More from Thomas A. Edison
Patent monitoring