Abstract: A method of producing an optical element forming die, includes the steps of: cutting a base member to form a base optical surface of the base member while rotating the base member; cutting an outer circumferential surface of the base member so that an optical axis of the base optical surface is identical to a rotation center of the outer circumferential surface of the base member while rotating the base member; forming an optical surface having a predetermined pattern onto the base optical surface of the base member; forming an electroforming mold having an optical transfer surface complementary to the optical surface of the base member by electroforming wherein the electroforming is conducted with the base member; and cutting an outer circumferential surface of the electroforming mold on the basis of the outer circumferential surface of the base member.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical element forming die, includes the steps of: cutting a base member to form a base optical surface of the base member while rotating the base member; cutting an outer circumferential surface of the base member so that an optical axis of the base optical surface is identical to a rotation center of the outer circumferential surface of the base member while rotating the base member; forming an optical surface having a predetermined pattern onto the base optical surface of the base member; forming an electroforming mold having an optical transfer surface complementary to the optical surface of the base member by electroforming wherein the electroforming is conducted with the base member; and cutting an outer circumferential surface of the electroforming mold on the basis of the outer circumferential surface of the base member.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for converting a subject image to an image signal and storing the image signal in a memory. An optical unit for focusing the subject image on a focal plane is fixed to obverse surface of a circuit board concentric to an opening of the circuit board that is formed as an optical path through the depth of the circuit board, and an image sensor is fixed to reverse surface of the circuit board concentric to the opening. A sensing surface of the image sensor is directed to the optical unit and is coincident with the focal plane of the optical unit.

Abstract: There is presented an optical screen suitable for taking a picture by placing it between the object and a photosensitive material. The optical screen has a specific means for controlling the difference in transmission density in an optically heterogeneous pattern and/or the specific area of the lower transmission density portions, typically an electrochromic display device. By use of such a single optical screen having a variable optically heterogeneous pattern, cumbersome operations for displacing one screen for another in the prior art can be obviated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the automatic focussing of a video camera having a camera circuit for generating electric image signals corresponding to the brightness of an object, a circuit for sampling at least two sampling signals from the electric image signal, an A/D converter for obtaining at least one inclination value corresponding to at least one pair of the sampling signal, and a stop for stopping a focussing lens when at least one of the inclination values exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention generally concerns an automatic exposure camera and, more particularly, one incorporating a so-called AE locking device or circuit. In such a camera, the proper or optimum exposure values are automatically determined by electronic circuitry and the exposure operation is controlled in accordance with that determination. In addition, the control circuitry by which the exposure operation is accomplished is "locked" during the exposure so as to hold--as in a memory device--the proper exposure values determined immediately prior to the exposure operation by automatically actuating the AE locking device. The present invention provides for connection between the AE locking circuit and the warning device so as to inhibit the output of the warning device--and prevent an erroneous indication by the indicating unit--on actuation of the AE locking circuit.

Abstract: A camera having a microprocessor made receptive of various photographic informations through interrupt processing. The information at a higher priority level of said various photographic informations such as a release signal, a photometry start signal and a photometry introduction signal is fed to said microprocessor by the interrupting operation having a shorter period than that of the information at a lower priority level. The interrupt processing are periodic ones, and wherein an inequality of m<n holds when the information at the higher priority level of said various photographic informations is fed with a period m times as long as an interrupt period whereas the information at the lower priority level is fed with a period n times as long as said interrupt period.

Abstract: A film feeding method wherein film is fed by a film feed motor according to pulses generated per unit moving amount of film, characterized in that the overrun amount of the film feed motor is estimated from the supply voltage obtained at starting of the film feed motor or another electrically-operated drive machine fed with power from the same power source as the film feed motor operated prior to feeding of film. The drive of the film feed motor is controlled in expectation of the estimated overrun amount, or the calculated overrun amount of the film feed motor.

Abstract: An automatic film winding mechanism and method generates a series of pulses for each unit movement amount of the film, computes the speed of the film advancing movement, compares the speed to a stored look-up table for determining the precise point at which power to the film drive motor should be shut off, in order to have the advancement of the film come to a complete stop at a predetermined film transport distance. The invention thereby allows the film to be advanced to the exact transport distance regardless of the output and voltage fluctuation of the film drive power source, or of the film variation or load variation of the motor caused by a change in ambient temperature or other conditions.

Abstract: In a photographic device, there are provided (a) a means for measuring luminous intensity distribution on an object and (b) a screen means for controlling gradation of an image to be formed on a photosensitive material in accordance with the luminous intensity distribution and/or maximum/minimum luminous intensity difference of the object measured by the means (a).

Abstract: A program type exposure controlling device comprising, a circuit for generating an object brightness information, an aperture setting circuit for setting a preset stepwise aperture in accordance with the object brightness information, and a shutter speed determining circuit for determining a shutter speed in accordance with the object brightness information and the aperture information from the aperture setting circuit. The circuit for generating the object brightness information generates either an object brightness information or an object brightness information, which is prepared by correcting the former information in accordance with another exposure information. The program type exposure controlling device comprises a decoder circuit DEC for determining a shutter speed and an aperture value by decoding the digital brightness information.

Abstract: A camera which includes a liquid crystal focusing screen and an exposure control circuit that measures light reflected from the subject to be photographed after its passage through the liquid crystal screen is further provided with a circuit for compensating the light value determined by the exposure control circuit when operating voltage is not applied to the focusing screen so as to thereby compensate the amount of light measured through the screen when the nonapplication of operating voltage to the focusing screen causes the screen to transmit light therethrough less readily than when operating voltage is applied thereto.

Abstract: A camera may contain a plurality of operable elements such as small motors for actuating mechanisms such as a mirror, shutter, diaphragm, film, transport, etc., supplied with power from a self-contained battery. Because of the low power of the battery certain of the operable elements are actuated sequentially whereas parallel operation thereof would be preferable. The present invention provides circuitry which automatically changes the sequential operation of the elements to parallel operation whenever the self-contained source of power is replaced by an external power source.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a series of interchangeable lenses each provided with a source of information preferably in the form of a variable resistor, which is indicative of the type of lens. The camera body is provided with a source of power and an information processing unit. The variable resistor in each lens is connected to the camera body through an electrical contact and provides information to the camera not only of the type of lens attached, through a stepped range of voltages, but secondary information variable according to focal length, etc. in increments smaller than the individual steps in the voltage range.

Abstract: A photographic camera having an integral timepiece includes a case adjustable between an open condition for use as a camera capable of recording data and a collapsed condition in which the camera elements are concealed from view and only an external time display is visible.

Abstract: A programed exposure control device for changeable lens type camera of the type in which the object brightness information is corrected in accordance with other exposure informations including the open F value and the corrected brightness information is ranked to permit the determination of the aperture value in accordance with the rank in a stepped manner and the determination of the shutter speed in accordance with the rank and the brightness information. Said device is further including at least one comparison circuit to compare whether the open F value is greater than the smallest aperture value corresponding to the rank or not.

Abstract: A film magazine is provided with a peripheral surface carrying at least one photoelectrically discriminatable strip-like mark indicative of the sensitivity of film contained within the magazine, and a photographic camera having a shutter operating circuit automatically adjustable in accordance with the sensitivity of photographic film contained within such a film magazine inserted into the camera includes photoelectric discriminating means located in the camera for discriminatably reading the at least one strip-like mark on the film magazine when placed in the magazine chamber.

Abstract: Battery voltage level warning is made according to the output signals of two detecting circuits. A first detecting circuit detects the power supply voltage having lowered to a value somewhat above the lower limit of the operation power supply voltage of an electronic system. The output thereof supplies weak battery warning. The second detecting circuit detects the power supply voltage having lowered to the lower limit level of said operation power-supply voltage. The output thereof prohibits the operation of said electronic system. Thereby, desirable battery-replacement times becomes clarified and the malfunction of said electronic system is prevented.

Abstract: A camera in which the automatic exposure control is conducted on the basis of measured light information obtained in accordance with the illumination of an object to be photographed. In the camera, a type of exposure control information that is predetermined irrespective of measured light information is supplied as first exposure control information into an exposure control circuit including an analog to digital converter. Subsequently, measured light information obtained through the operation of a shutter release of the camera is supplied thereinto as second exposure control information.

Abstract: A method of controlling the exposure of a camera comprising steps of measuring the luminance of an object on each surface section thereof by a plurality of photoelectric elements widely arranged on the image forming plane of the camera and where the light from the object to be photographed is received, of gaining the maximum and the minimum values of the outputs provided by any one of the photoelectric elements and detecting whether the difference between the maximum and the minimum values exceeds a predetermined value, and of converting the mode for determining the exposure by the detecting signal.