Abstract: An electric motor which can drive the objective of a slide projector or which can adjust the blade or blades of a diaphragm receives signals from the output of an operational amplifier which receives first and second signals from a photosensitive transducer and a differentiating capacitor. The (second) signals from the capacitor are modified (first) signals from the transducer, and the combined intensity of first and second signals is such that the signals at the output of the amplifier reach a value which they would normally reach only when the component has already assumed a predetermined position before the motor can complete the movement of the component to such position.

Abstract: Radially successive annular electrodes disposed in a general plane define between themselves intermediate annular zones in which is confined electrooptic material. Selected annular zones are rendered transparent by applying to pairs of selected annular electrodes potential differences which extend through the electrooptic material in the direction in which the general plane extends, not perpendicular to the general plane. The annular zones are rendered transparent in cumulative succession proceeding radially outwards, and have surface areas such that, as each next annular zone becomes transparent too, the transparent area of the arrangement doubles each time. A control circuit includes a counter whose outputs are connected to the inputs of a gating network, the latter having outputs connected to various ones of the annular electrodes, establishing the rate at which the cumulatively successive changes of state of radially outwardly successive annular zones proceeds.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter is disclosed which utilizes a successive approximation register. The operation of the successive approximation register is so controlled that any analog signal within a dynamic range requiring more bits than the successive approximation register can hold can nonetheless be accurately converted within a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically controlling the shutter in a camera in accordance with ambient scene light level. While the shutter is opening, incident light is weighted at only one-half the value at which it is weighted after the shutter has been fully opened. A switchable voltage divider is utilized to accomplish the weighting function in accordance with shutter blade position.

Abstract: A single transducer is used to emit acoustic radiation towards the subject and receive the reflected-back radiation to generate a received-back signal. Upon emission, a switch becomes conductive to initiate charging of a timing capacitor, the charging terminating in response to the received-back signal. The capacitor charges through a variable resistor coupled to the focus adjuster, at a slower rate for longer subject-distance setting and at a faster rate for shorter subject-distance settings. Because the duration of capacitor charging is longer for longer actual subject distance, the voltage achieved by the capacitor at the termination of capacitor charging always has approximately the same value, no matter what the subject-distance setting, if the subject-distance setting is in fact correct, and thus this voltage constitutes a quality-of-focus signal. The latter signal is applied to one input of a subtractor whose other input receives a desired-quality-of-focus signal.

Abstract: A projection and scanning system for synchronization of photographic film projection with vertical sync pulses is taught. In this system, developed photographic film is advanced into a projection gate which is larger than the vertical height of an individual photographic frame. As a given film frame passes through the projection gate, it is repeatedly scanned by a mirror and the projected image reflected onto a charge-coupled image sensor which can be used to provide information for a video signal. Perforations on the film enable pulses to be developed at a photocell which are a function of film speed. By processing these pulses, along with vertical sync pulses and appropriate control waveforms, accurate scanning of the film can be achieved, enabling video signals resulting in flickerless television transmissions to be generated.

Abstract: A mechanical film drive utilizes a rotatable drive shaft which abuts a flat surface of motion picture film to be driven. The film is pinched between the drive shaft and a rubber idler roller, and the drive shaft can be coupled to and uncoupled from a speed-regulated drive motor by means of an electrically-operable clutch. A flywheel is driven by the motor. Since the inertia of the flywheel is much greater than the inertia of the drive shaft, clutch operation has only a negligible effect on drive speed, enabling film movement to be accomplished with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: Light is directed from a source through a developed and travelling motion-picture film, to pass through a reproduction lens. This light is intercepted by a tilting mirror which reflects it back through the lens where it is intercepted by a stationary mirror and reflected onto an opto-electronic receiver for conversion into signals which permit showing of the film images on a television screen.

Abstract: A first pulse train whose pulse repetition frequency varies in dependence upon scene light, and a second pulse train whose pulse repetition frequency does not vary in dependence upon scene light, are counted by digital counting circuitry, and a terminate-exposure signal is produced when the digital counting circuitry reaches a predetermined count. The second pulse train serves to establish an upper permissible limit for the duration of the exposure to be performed.

Abstract: A sheet of exposed and developed instant-camera film is discharged from an instant camera and then inserted by the user into a film-holding structure on the back of the camera which very accurately positions the film sheet, such that upon removal and reinsertion of the film sheet into the holding structure the film sheet will always assume a predetermined position. The camera is provided with a multihead magnetic head unit mounted for reciprocating motion along a magnetic strip or coating provided at a marginal portion of the inserted film sheet. During first-direction travel of the head unit, one head records, and during second-direction travel of the head unit a different and differently located head records onto a further segment of the magnetic strip. After recording, the recorded information, e.g., spoken words identifying the subject just photographed, can be reproduced, and if desired erased.

Abstract: During the ongoing course of the exposure, the aperture area increases linearly to a maximum value and then stays at the maximum value, the instantaneous amount of exposure light therefore changing correspondingly, even if the ambient-light level remains constant during the exposure. A pulse generator includes a photodetector exposed to ambient light and generates a pulse train of light-dependent repetition frequency, the pulses of which are counted by a light-totalizing counter which eventually generates a terminate-exposure signal. Ideally, the repetition frequency should increase steplessly and linearly, for maximum accuracy, or second best increase stepwise in small steps to approximate to a stepless linear increase, but in order to use an extremely low number of stepwise frequency changes, without loss of system accuracy, no attempt is made to per se keep the light-indicating repetition frequency accurate.

Abstract: During the course of an exposure, the camera's exposure aperture progressively increases in size and then is blocked to terminate the exposure in response to a terminate-exposure signal. A light-dependent pulse generator including a photoelement exposed to scene light generates a pulse train whose pulse repetition frequency varies as a function of scene light. A light-totalizing counter receives and counts pulses of such pulse train during the course of an exposure and generates a terminate-exposure signal when a predetermined number of pulses has been counted. A frequency-modifying circuit is operative as the exposure aperture progressively increases in size during an exposure for effecting a corresponding and compensatory progressive increase of the light-dependent repetition frequency of the pulses counted by the counter means.

Abstract: An infrared measuring beam is emitted from the camera towards the subject, and reflected back as a tiny light spot projected, by an optics which transversely shifts in dependence upon exposure-objective subject-distance setting, onto one, the other or both of two infrared photodiodes. The signals from the two photodiodes are transmitted in processed form to two output flip-flops through the intermediary of a single, shared signal-processing stage, employing time-division-multiplexed transmission of the two photodiode signals, to assure that the signal processing of the two photodiode output signals be as identical as possible.

Abstract: A semiconductor switch connected in the motor current path is controlled by a clocked flip-flop having a switch-ON and a switch-OFF state, capable of changing states only in response to a clock pulse. RPM is selected by establishing the initial count on a downwards counter having a carryover output at which a carryover signal appears when zero count is reached. A first higher-frequency pulse train is counted by the counter. A second lower-frequency train of set pulses has a repetition frequency dependent upon motor speed. The leading end of each set pulse starts the counter counting. An unclocked flip-flop responds to the carryover signal by assuming a motor-speed-too-low state. The clocked flip-flop when clocked responds to the state of the unclocked flip-flop. The trailing flank of the set pulse clocks the clocked flip-flop so that the latter can respond to the state of the unclocked flip-flop and slightly thereafter sets the unclocked flip-flop to the motor-speed-too-high state.

Abstract: A photographic camera has an exposure objective and a focus adjuster device for changing the subject-distance setting of the exposure objective, as well as a transducer generating actual-setting signals dependent upon the setting of the focus adjuster device. An evaluating circuit, operative for ascertaining camera-to-subject distance on one basis or another, produces digital required-setting signals, expressed using a first encoding scheme, whereas the actual-setting signals generated by the aforementioned transducer are expressed using a different, second encoding scheme. The actual-setting signals are applied to the first input of a comparator stage, whose second input receives a transformed version of the required-setting signals, transformed from the first to the second encoding scheme, i.e.

Abstract: The output of a bridge circuit which is unbalanced when the quantity of light falling on a light-sensitive element is less than or more than a predetermined light quantity is applied to a differential amplifier circuit whose output varies from a minimum amplitude to a maximum amplitude. The output of the differential amplifier is connected to a first and second threshold circuit whose threshold values are symmetrical to the output value of the differential amplifier when the bridge is in balance. The gain of the differential amplifier is adjusted so that the differential output signal has an amplitude exceeding the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value for variations of light within an allowable range. Within this range the first threshold circuit furnishes an output signal and the second threshold circuit does not.

Abstract: A high speed light measuring circuit utilizing a photodiode is combined with a high speed exposure terminating circuit utilizing two polarized filters and a liquid or ferroelectric crystal placed between the polarized filters to constitute an exposure control circuit operative without modification for both daylight and flash exposure.

Abstract: The film is provided with an audio track comprised of recorded sections alternating with unrecorded sections. An adjustable mixer having first and second inputs is connected to the input of the sound-reproducing unit. A first signal-transmission path extends from the output of the audio head for the audio track to the first input of the mixer. A second signal-transmission path extends to the second input of the mixer and transmits a second audio signal thereto. A control head located upstream of the audio head senses the presence or absence of recorded information on the audio track and controls the operation of an attenuator connected in the second signal-transmission path. The control head is connected to the attenuator via a time-delay circuit which introduces a time delay corresponding to the distance between the two heads.

Abstract: Photographic apparatus for use with cassettes wherein one side of the film is contacted by the carbon layer of a backing strip has two spaced-apart contacts which engage the other side of the film in line with the perforations. The contacts are connected with a signal generating circuit having a diode which emits light or ceases to emit light when both contacts simultaneously engage the carbon layer whose ohmic resistance is high and which then constitutes one resistor of a voltage divider. The contacts also engage the carbon layer behind the trailing end of the film whereby the diode furnishes a signal which indicates that the apparatus has exposed the last film frame. Alternatively, the apparatus has three electric contacts which bear against the other side of the film and two of which serve to effect the generation of a first signal in response to detection of a perforation.

Abstract: An adjustable diaphragm is driven by an adjusting motor. A first light sensor is positioned behind a first light attenuator, and a second light sensor behind a second light attenuator. The attenuators are likewise driven by the adjusting motor. A negative-feedback control circuit actuates the adjusting motor to keep the amount of light incident upon the first light sensor negative-feedback-regulated. As the position of the motor output element changes, the fraction of incident scene light transmitted by the first light attenuator, that transmitted by the second light attenuator, and that transmitted by the diaphragm, vary. The variations in the fraction of light transmitted by the second light attenuator are the same as those in the fraction of light transmitted by the diaphragm, but different from the variations in the fraction of light transmitted by the first light attenuator.