Abstract: A camera power supply system includes a controller that reduces power consumption by modifying the operation of the camera system clock circuit after the completion of each exposure taking sequence. The clock circuit operation is modified either by bypassing current drains, thereby reducing the accuracy of the clock circuit as well as its power consumption, or by reducing the frequency of the clock pulses produced by the system clock. Modifying the operation of the system clock in this way does not adversely affect operation of systems such as information displays, but does reduce power consumption. The clock circuit operation is restored at the beginning of an exposure sequence.

Abstract: A leader card attachable to a photographic filmstrip having a lead end with at least one aperture. The leader card includes (1) a piece of material having a tab portion and (2) at least one hook secured to the material. The hook is sized to be extendible through the aperture to secure the leader card and lead end of the filmstrip together. The tab portion inhibits the hook from being removed from the aperture.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a camera having a movable lens mount for supporting a taking lens. The improvement includes at least one light blocking shield which is movable between (1) a panoramic position in which light passing through the taking lens is partially blocked from reaching a photographic film such that a vertically reduced panoramic image can be recorded on the photographic film and (2) a normal position in which light passing through the taking lens is not blocked by the light blocking shield such that a normal image can be recorded on the film. The light blocking shield is automatically moved towards the normal position as the movable lens mount is being retracted into a storage position such that the movable lens mount can be fully retracted into the storage position without interference from the light blocking shield.

Abstract: A processing rack for holding a plurality of exposed film cartridges from which the respective filmstrips of each cartridge may be unwound to provide full extension thereof to facilitate processing and wound back into the cartridges by selective operation of a reversible drive mechanism that engages the spool of each film cartridge. The rack comprises a plurality of cartridge engaging clamps and elongated guide rods for receiving the respective plurality of cartridges in driving relation with the drive mechanism for unwinding and winding the respective filmstrips from and into each such cartridge. The cartridge engaging clamps are also loosely attached to respective weighted clips which engage the leading end of each of the filmstrips as each such leading end is unwound from the cartridge and are released by thrust forces applied by the leading ends of the filmstrips as they are unwound.

Abstract: Apparatus for making an electrical interconnection between first and second, parallel, spaced apart, circuit bearing, substrates or boards and a flex circuit formed on a flexible film. At least one of the substrates or boards has at least one terminal pad formed on the surface thereof, and the flex circuit has at least one terminal pad formed on a surface thereof through an assembly. The apparatus includes resilient, elastomeric spacer means for being positioned between and cushioning the spaced apart, circuit bearing, substrates or boards at least adjacent the terminal pad on the at least one substrate of board and retainer means for compressing the elastomeric spacer means between the first and second, parallel, spaced apart, circuit bearing, substrates or boards and against the flexible circuit. The flexible circuit terminal pad overlies and is in contact with the terminal pad on the at least one printed circuit bearing substrate or board.

Abstract: An optical system including first and second lens groups disposed for relative movement along an optical axis and coupled together by a cam and follower mechanism for controlling such relative movement to change the focal length of the optical system. The system is characterized by a mechanism for offsetting relative movement between the lens groups along the optical axis caused by lateral movement of the lens groups essentially normal to the axis, thereby to maintain the focal length constant in the presence of the lateral movement.