Abstract: A belt clip is suitable for use with a camera that includes a pair of front and rear cover parts, a main body part between the front and rear cover parts, and a particular device on the main body part that needs electrical energy to be able to operate and has a power switch with a movable switch element that is moved to change the power switch from a normal state to a working state in order to provide electrical energy to the device. The belt clip has a clip portion for holding one's belt between the clip portion and the rear cover part, an actuating portion for moving the movable switch element to change the power switch from its normal to working state, and an intermediate portion between the clip and actuating portions.

Abstract: A belt clip is suitable for use with a camera that includes a pair of front and rear cover parts, a main body part between the front and rear cover parts, and a particular device on the main body part that needs electrical energy to be able to operate and has a power switch with a movable switch element that is moved to change the power switch from a normal state to a working state in order to provide electrical energy to the device. The belt clip has a clip portion for holding one's belt between the clip portion and the rear cover part, an actuating portion for moving the movable switch element to change the power switch from its normal to working state, and an intermediate portion between the clip and actuating portions.

Abstract: A camera comprising a particular device such as an electronic flash that needs electrical energy to be able to operate and has a power switch capable of being changed from a normal state to a working state in order to provide electrical energy to the device, and an activating member supported to be manually moved to change the power switch from its normal to working state, is characterized in that the activating member is a belt clip constructed to be placed on and removed from one's belt and supported to be pivoted against the power switch to change the power switch from its normal to working state as the belt clip is removed from one's belt, whereby when the belt clip is removed from one's belt the device will be made ready to operate.

Abstract: A camera comprising a particular device such as an electronic flash that needs electrical energy to be able to operate and has a power switch capable of being changed from a normal state to a working state in order to provide electrical energy to the device, and an activating member supported to be manually moved to change the power switch from its normal to working state, is characterized in that the activating member is a belt clip constructed to be placed on and removed from one's belt and supported to be pivoted against the power switch to change the power switch from its normal to working state as the belt clip is removed from one's belt, whereby when the belt clip is removed from one's belt the device will be made ready to operate.

Abstract: An EL backlight device drive circuit useful with a camera LCD display. The backlight device is connected to the flash storage capacitor of the camera flash circuit for its energy source. Pulsing of the DC voltage from the storage capacitor is accomplished by a switching transistor coupled across the EL backlight device driven from a fixed duty cycle pulse source via an AC coupled pulse differentiating circuit. The AC coupled circuit reduces the On time duty cycle of the transistor relative to the pulse train duty thereby increasing the ON time duty cycle of the EL backlight device to increase its light output operating efficiency. With increased operating efficiency, a higher value coupling resistor is inserted between the EL backlight device and flash storage capacitor to thereby limit the AC current through the EL backlight device to a predetermined safety operating level.

Abstract: A camera comprising an electronic flash unit capable of providing a pre-flash light emission for reducing a common phenomenon known as the red-eye effect and a main flash light emission for illuminating a subject during a flash assisted exposure, and a control connected to the electronic flash unit for making a judgement based on the subject brightness and the camera-to-subject distance to cause the electronic flash unit to omit the pre-flash light emission when a flash assisted exposure is to be made, is characterized in that the control is adapted to cause the electronic flash unit to omit the pre-flash light emission when the subject brightness is low enough for the red-eye effect to occur, but the camera-to-subject distance is greater than a maximum distance beyond which the pre-flash light emission is inadequate to reduce the red-eye effect.

Abstract: A photographic, digital or video camera (10) includes a housing (12); optionally at least one sensor (18, 20, 25, 30, 36, 39, 40, 50) supported by the housing for detecting a condition of the camera or of a scene to be captured by the camera, or both, and for producing a signal; a viewfinder (38) supported by the housing, the viewfinder including a holographic element 64, 90); a source (68) of light having a wavelength of a color to be displayed in the viewfinder; a collimator (70) for receiving a beam from the source and producing an output beam; an optical system (72-80) to horizontally and vertically raster scan the output beam across the holographic element; and a controller (44) for operating the optical system and modulating the output beam in response to the signal, thereby to cause scanned images to be produced by interaction between the output beam and the holographic element, the scanned images displaying information related to use of the camera.

Abstract: A photographic camera uses photographic film of the type having a magnetic recording layer. The camera includes a piezoelectric film drive for advancing the film in the camera in periodic steps; and a magnetic recording subsystem for writing information on the magnetic recording layer of the film during film advance, the magnetic recording subsystem being synchronized with the periodic steps of the piezoelectric film drive.

Abstract: A camera for taking pictures, comprises a viewfinder masking device having three different format mask configurations; a manual picture-format selector having three different format selection settings which correspond respectively to the three different format mask configurations in order to select any one of the three different format mask configurations; and a default reset for returning the selector to a predetermined one of the three different format selection settings and returning the viewfinder masking device to a corresponding one of the three different format mask configurations, when the selector is in any one of the selection settings that is not the predetermined one, after a picture is taken and before another picture is taken.

Abstract: A photographic camera (10) includes a film supply chamber (14); a film takeup chamber (16) and a film exposure gate (18) positioned between the chambers. The gate defines a maximum exposed image width (W) in a direction of film travel between the chambers and a maximum exposed image height (H) in a direction transverse to the direction of film travel. A plurality of mask members (24, 26) extend transverse to the direction of travel, each mask member being configured for masking only a portion of the maximum exposed image width. There is no mask in the camera configured for masking a portion of the maximum exposed image height. A mechanism (88-94) moves the mask members toward or away from a center of the exposure gate to reduce or increase only a final exposed image width (W.sub.e), without masking the maximum exposed image height. As a result, the final width of the exposed image indicates a required enlargement of exposed image to produce a pseudo telephoto print.

Abstract: Apparatus (118) for printing photographs from a processed photographic filmstrip having images having different widths measured longitudinally of the filmstrip and having heights measured transversely of the filmstrip, using a photographic printer having a zoom lens (122) and a printing mask (130) to provide printed images having a selected print width and a selected print height, the apparatus including a device (134, 136) for measuring the width of an image on the processed filmstrip; a device (124, 136) for adjusting magnification of the zoom lens in proportion to the measured width so that the width of a projected image matches the selected print width at the printing mask; and a device (120) for projecting the image on the processed filmstrip through the adjusted zoom lens to expose a photographic medium (128) at the printing mask to produce on the medium an image having the selected print width and selected print height. A corresponding method is taught.

Abstract: A flash circuit for a low cost camera in which a voltage dependent resistor is employed as a flash capacitor charge voltage sensing device to perform a control effect in the flash circuit, such as turning on a flash ready indicator light or activating a oscillation terminating device to arrest self oscillations in a flash charging circuit.

Abstract: Scene intensity measuring and illumination source detection apparatus for determining scene illuminant and appropriate exposure settings for an image capture device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a diffractive optical element including an off-axis segment for dispersing incident scene illumination into its spectral components and for focusing the incident scene illumination, a structure responsive to the spectral intensities of the spectral components of the incident scene illumination for producing detection signals corresponding to such spectral components, a structure coupled to the sensing means for producing digitized detection signals, and a structure responsive to the digitized detection signals for determining the scene illuminant and the appropriate exposure settings for the image capture device.

Abstract: A camera uses an organic thin film of electroluminescent material to expose photographic film, in predetermined positions outside scene frames, to patches of light in three complementary colors, either additive or subtractive. According to one feature, the patches are exposed in predetermined locations interspersed with film perforations or located in a known relationship with the exposed frames, permitting a printer to establish the orientation of film relative to the camera during the exposure. The patches also confirm that a picture was taken.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loading and unloading a photographic camera (426) of a type including an external housing (428, 478) having a movable closure (484) giving access to a film guide track (566) within the camera, the guide track extending between an unexposed film chamber (562) and an exposed film chamber (564), the apparatus including a light tight housing (12, 14, 18); a source (24) for unexposed photographic film positioned within the light tight housing; a nest (74) for receiving a camera within the light tight housing; film loading device (72) extending between the source and the nest for guiding film from the source into the film guide track within the camera; a film unloading device ((82) for guiding film from the camera; a cutter (84) for cutting exposed film unloaded from the camera; a device (292, 708, 710, 878) for driving film from the source, along the loading device and into the camera; and a device (584, 602, 708, 710, 874) for driving film from the camera along the unloading means to th

Abstract: A photographic camera, including an electrically responsive camera feature, includes an electrical circuit in communication with the camera feature, the electrical circuit being actuable to operate the feature. A pressure/force sensor having electrical resistance variable in response to pressure application is disposed in the camera electrical circuit such that the application of pressure on the force sensor controls the operation of the feature.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a filmstrip to be successively exposed in the camera is characterized in that frangible members in the camera operate in conjunction with successive exposure of the filmstrip and are capable of being incrementally destroyed after each exposure of the filmstrip to prevent reuse of the frangible members, when the filmstrip is completely exposed, and a breaking device independent of the frangible members incrementally destroys the frangible members after each exposure of the filmstrip.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for loading a photographic camera (426) of a type including an external housing (428, 478) having a movable closure (484) giving access to a film guide track (566) within the camera, the guide track extending between an unexposed film chamber (562) and an exposed film chamber (564), the apparatus including a frame (12); a source (24) for unexposed photographic film positioned on the frame; a nest for receiving the camera supported on the frame; a film loading device (72) extending between the source and the nest for guiding film from the source into the film guide track within the camera; a film unloading device (82) extending away from the camera; and means for driving film from the source, along the loading device and into said camera and for driving film from the camera along the unloading device. Corresponding methods also are taught.

Abstract: Apparatus (610) is disclosed for opening and closing a photographic camera (426) of a type including an external housing (428, 478) having a slidable closure (484) giving access to a film guide track (566) within the camera, the closure including an externally accessible slot (636), the guide track extending between an unexposed film chamber (562) and an exposed film chamber (564). The apparatus may include a frame (12); a nest (74) supported on the frame for receiving a camera; and a door opening mechanism (612-646) supported by the frame, the mechanism including a member (632, 634) for engaging the slot and an actuator (616, 628) for moving the member to open the closure.

Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a display including organic electroluminescent material energizable in patterns representing camera information. The patterns are defined by electrically isolated illumination elements that are controlled to emit light by selectively applying a voltage to the elements forming the desired pattern. The material may be chosen to emit light in different colors representing levels of concern associated with camera conditions. Certain features provide a display having an in-line array of alpha-numeric character generators comprising a matrix of closely spaced illumination elements and a control for energizing selected combinations of the elements to emit light collectively defining alpha-numeric characters. Display brightness can be adjusted by changing the applied power as a function of the ambient light conditions to enhance viewability of the display.