Abstract: An electronic flash device for a camera includes a flash emitting component, substantially quadrilateral, having vertical and horizontal side lines, for emitting flash light. A light reducing plate is disposed in front of the flash emitting component, extended in a vertical direction, and has a predetermined width in a horizontal direction. The predetermined width is shorter than the horizontal side lines. The light reducing plate intercepts a central portion of the flash emitting component. First and second lateral portions of the flash emitting component remain uncovered for illumination with a restricted amount of the flash light.

Abstract: A camera frame assembly or other apparatus has a flash unit having a self-oscillating charging circuit. The camera frame assembly is used with a filmstrip and a battery. The camera frame assembly has a film scrolling chamber and a battery compartment joined to the film scrolling chamber. The flash unit is joined to the chamber, in the camera frame assembly. The flash unit has near and far battery contacts coupled to the circuit. The contacts define an active battery station within the compartment configured to receive the battery in electrical series with the circuit via the contacts. At least one of the battery contacts is biased inwardly to restrain the battery within the active battery station. A battery grip is disposed in the compartment exterior to the near battery contact. The battery grip defines a standby battery station that is spaced from the near contact sufficiently to isolate the standby battery station from the circuit.

Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit including a main body; a photographic film, pre-loaded in the main body; an electronic flash unit; a shutter unit; a camera lens; and a diaphragm. In the lens-fitted film unit, a guide number of the electronic flash unit, a T-number determined from the camera lens and the diaphragm and a shutter speed of the shutter unit are determined so that A is not more than 8.5 when A represents an EV value of a reference exposure amount of the lens-fitted film unit under a stroboscopic photographing state minus 1.5; and intensity of a latent image, formed on the photographic film under the condition that a reference reflection panel being placed at a predetermined distance between 2-3 m from the lens-fitted film unit is illuminated by the electronic flash unit without other lights in the stroboscopic photographing state, corresponds to intensity of a latent image obtained under a photographing condition of photographing luminance not more than A+5.0 in EV value.

Abstract: In a camera having a camera body which includes a film cartridge compartment, a spool compartment, an exposure unit including a lens barrel, and a sheath component that covers the camera body, a flashlight emission unit and an electric circuit unit for activating the flashlight emission unit are both attached to the sheath component.

Abstract: A flash camera has an extendable arm mechanically coupled to a flash on/off switch. The arm extends from the camera body when the switch is on the “on” position, and automatically retracts and returns the switch to the “off” position if the extended arm is bumped or touched. The arm also serves to provide a visual indication that the flash switch is in the “on” position.

Abstract: A tamper resistant electronic flash unit comprising a pair of first and second flash circuit boards arranged parallel to one another in order to have respective inner sides that face towards each other and respective outer sides that face away from each other, an electrical component positioned on the outer side of the first flash circuit board, conductive connections connecting the electrical component to the first flash circuit board and having respective portions exposed on the inner side of the first flash circuit board, and a plurality of spacers holding the first and second flash circuit boards spaced from one another to maintain a narrow gap between the inner sides of the flash circuit boards that is narrow enough to discourage access to the portions of the conductive connections exposed on the inner side of the first flash circuit board, whereby it is difficult to reach the portions of the conductive connection in an attempt to short-circuit the electrical component.

Abstract: A dry battery having a relatively heavy weight and a main capacitor are held by a holder provided in a grip portion of a camera. Weight of the camera is biased toward the grip portion. When the photographer holds the grip portion, the whole of the camera is stably kept so that camera movement is almost prevented. Thus, when the photograph is taken in a state that the camera is held by a hand, camera movement blur is reduced. A location of the holder is more outer than a film cartridge chamber so that a size from the grip portion to a taking lens becomes larger. A finger holding the camera is prevented from being put on the taking lens. Thus, photographing is prevented from failing, although the whole size of the camera is small.

Abstract: An optical transmission element according to the present invention, includes a light transmitting portion that has a plurality of optical elements that are arranged so as to be separated by air gaps, and the air gaps. And, light that is incident upon the light transmitting portion along a predetermined direction is transmitted through the light transmitting portion while reflecting on reflecting surfaces constituted by boundary surfaces that are defined between the optical elements and the air gaps.

Abstract: A camera flash unit for illumination of an associated target surface comprises a linearly symmetric flash light source providing light defined as light rays, a reflector directing the light rays from the flash light source towards the associated target surface and a refractive/TIR (Totally Internally Reflective) condenser lens element. The reflector is located adjacent to one side of the flash light source. The refractive/TIR condenser lens element has optical power in two orthogonal directions and is located adjacent to another side of the flash light source. The refractive/TIR condenser lens element has two surfaces--a back surface facing the light source and a front surface. One of the two surfaces is a hybrid refractive/TIR surface, the other of the two surfaces is a refractive surface.

Abstract: A camera having a viewfinder for viewing a subject to be photographed, and a flash unit for illuminating the subject which is supported for movement between an operative position in which the flash unit faces the subject and a storage position in which the flash unit does not face the subject, is characterized in that the viewfinder has an image-reflecting mirror that is arranged on the flash unit for movement with the flash unit to reflect an image of the subject when said flash unit is moved from the storage position to the operative position.

Abstract: A flash device comprises a light source and an optical system for projecting light emitted from the light source onto an object, the optical system having a transparent member which is tapered toward the light source. The transparent member has an entrance surface, an exit surface opposed to the entrance surface, and a reflecting surface lying between the entrance surface and the exit surface. Part of the light emitted from the light source is made incident on the entrance surface and then exits from the exit surface after having been reflected at the reflecting surface.

Abstract: A strobe circuit for use in a lens-fitted film unit is composed of a metallic thin plate punched in a circuit pattern; and insulating plate materials covering both obverse and reverse surfaces of the metallinc thin plate; wherein a part of the metallic thin plate is used as a component of the strobe circuit.

Abstract: A flash circuit board has a resilient integral portion that urges a flash reflector against a flash tube and urges a triggering electrode against the flash reflector in order to enable the flash tube to be fired. Also, the resilient integral portion of the flash circuit board urges the flash reflector against a flash cover-lens in order to properly seat the flash reflector relative to the flash cover-lens.

Abstract: A low cost, low power photometric circuit suitable for use in a low end camera includes a first counter for counting successive pulses produced by a first oscillator having a substantially constant oscillation frequency and a second counter for counting successive pulses produced by a second oscillator having an oscillation frequency which varies in accordance with ambient brightness. The ambient brightness is judged according to outputs of the counters so that even if the oscillation frequency of the second oscillator varies only slightly due to a change in ambient brightness, the slight variation is easily detectable as an accumulated count value. Accordingly, costly, high-precision components are not needed. The low cost photometric circuit requires no microcomputer, analog/digital converter or comparator and can be fabricated in a single integrated circuit operated at a low voltage of 1V or less, and is thus suitable for incorporation into a low end camera.

Abstract: An improved camera comprising a strobe circuit, a strobe, a shutter mechanism and an actuating mechanism are disclosed. A finger engageable portion of the shutter mechanism operates the shutter. A shield is movable between a first blocking position for blocking the finger portion against engagement to prevent accidental actuation of the shutter mechanism, and a second position exposing the finger portion for engagement to actuate the shutter. An assembly operatively interconnecting the shield and the strobe circuit to energize the strobe circuit when the shield is in the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera comprising a camera main body composed of a plurality of units including at least a lens barrel unit, a spool chamber unit and a Patrone chamber unit, a strobe unit including a strobe light emitter which is movable to a light emission possible position where strobe light emitter projects from the camera main body and an accommodating position where it is accommodated in the camera main body and a drive mechanism supported by the spool chamber unit or the Patrone chamber unit and driving the strobe unit.

Abstract: In a camera equipped with a zoom lens for forming an image of an object onto a film surface, the camera is equipped with a front lens group composed of a first lens group, adjustable aperture blades, a second lens group, and a second lens group-holding member; a back lens group provided; and an actuator to drive the adjustable aperture blade. The actuator is provided on the object-side from a space between the second lens group and the back lens group.

Abstract: A camera having a substitute shake amount calculator 51e that, where flash light is emitted while integration is being performed by a shake sensor, seeks a substitute shake amount using past shake amounts stored in a memory 56 instead of the shake amount sought from the image data obtained during this integration period.

Abstract: A flash camera comprising a main body part and an electronic flash unit connected together, is characterized in that the main body part has a mount for the flash unit that is provided with an engageable portion and at least one locator portion, and the flash unit has an engageable portion for engaging with the engageable portion of the mount that projects rearwardly from the flash unit and at least one locator portion for mating with the locator portion of the mount that projects rearwardly from the flash unit, parallel to and farther than the engageable portion of the flash unit, to permit the locator portion of the flash unit to mate with the locator portion of the mount before the engageable portion of the flash unit can engage with the engageable portion of the mount.

Abstract: A camera comprises an exposure counter for indicating the number of frames of a film load that have been exposed or remain to be exposed, and a flash illumination light source for illuminating a subject being photographed. The exposure counter has a phosphorescent substance that becomes luminescent due to the absorption of radiation and continues with an afterglow some time after the radiation has stopped, to permit one to read the exposure counter in dimly lit or dark ambience. A light pipe directs illumination from the light source to the phosphorescent substance. Thus, the exposure counter can be read in dimly lit or dark ambience after the light source has been used.

Abstract: A camera flash comprises a flash light source providing light, a and a condenser lens element. The reflector is located adjacent to one side of the flash light source and has a trough with a reflective surface oriented towards the flash light source. The reflective surface partially encloses the flash light source and extends no more than 2 millimeters beyond the flash light source towards the target surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-use camera comprising a mechanism for repetitive flashing not connected to shutter operation.

Abstract: A one-time-use flash camera comprising a camera housing that contains a cartridge chamber holding a film cartridge and a film roll chamber holding an unexposed film roll on which a predetermined maximum number of exposures can be made, and a flash device, is characterized in that the flash device has a total number of flash lamps that is equal to the predetermined maximum number of exposures that can be made on the unexposed film roll, and is connected non-removably to the camera housing in order that the flash device must be broken off the camera housing to separate the flash device from the camera housing, whereby once each one of the flash lamps is used there will not be any exposures that can be made and the one-time-use flash camera must be discarded.

Abstract: A combined fill-flash/flash-defeat switch of simple and inexpensive design does not require the use of mechanical fasteners. Specifically, a camera is provided that includes a camera body, a circuit board attached to the camera body, an electronic flash unit attached to the camera body; and a fill-flash/flash-defeat control switch assembly that is retained in position by the electronic flash unit. The fill-flash/flash-defeat control switch assembly includes an electrical contact mounted to a carrier assembly, and a fill-flash/flash-defeat switch element pivotally mounted to the camera body, wherein a top portion of the carrier assembly is retained by the electronic flash unit. Guide ribs are provided on the camera body that extend through guide openings in the carrier assembly.

Abstract: A camera provided with a pop-up strobe arranged such that the pop-up strobe is popped-up by pushing an operation button in a direction that is inclined with respect to a pivoting axis of the pop-up strobe. In particular, the operation button is mounted on a wall that is inclined with respect to the pivoting axis of the pop-up strobe and the direction in which the operation button is pushed is perpendicular to a surface of the inclined wall.

Abstract: A camera having a barrier which is rotatable around a shaft substantially parallel to an optical axis of a lens and between a closing position in which a lens barrel, an electronic flash and optical elements are covered by the barrier and an opening position in which the barrier uncovers those elements.

Abstract: A strobe light which emits light by supplying a flash discharge tube with the electric charge stored in a main capacitor uses an aluminum-electrolytic capacitor having a dissipation factor (tan.delta.) of 0.03 or lower, and has voltage controlling means for setting the charge completion voltage of the aluminum-electrolytic capacitor at a predetermined value within 265.+-.35 V.

Abstract: An optical data recording device is mounted in a lens-fitted photographic film unit with a built-in flash device. The optical data recording device is provided for optically recording a number of dots on the photographic film, as print format data for designating a print format of photo-prints to be made from a picture frame of a constant size. A light source of the optical data recording device is mounted to a printed circuit board of the flash device so as to be supplied with a battery of the flash device and to be driven in synchronism with a shutter release operation. Light from the light source is transmitted through a light guide toward a plurality of openings which face the photographic film. The number of dots recorded per picture frame is changed by operating a format selection knob.

Abstract: A kit for modifying a digital camera of the type including a built in flash, to perform close-up photography includes a mounting plate attached to a camera around a camera lens, a lens plate having a secondary lens selectively attachable to the mounting plate so that light entering the camera lens is first magnified by the secondary lens. A bracket assembly is selectively attachable to each lens plate to indicate the location of the focal plane and the size of the image frame. A flash attachment adapted for close-up photography includes a flash output window, a power switch, a mode switch and a flash intensity switch. The flash attachment is secured to the camera and wired thereto so that the mode switch may control which flash unit, the flash of the camera or the close-up flash, activates. The flash intensity switch is a rheostat and controls the amount of light emanating from the flash source to the subject, according to the distance between the camera and the subject.

Abstract: A single use camera having an electronic flash assembly including a flash charging circuit and a flash illumination circuit is provided with one or more access openings in the camera cover. The access openings are aligned with contact terminals in the flash charging circuit to allow insertion of a shorting device that acts to disable operation of the flash charging circuit. This is useful during a film loading operation to prevent charging of the flash capacitor which might otherwise be caused by electrostatic start up of the flash charging circuit. Preventing operation of the flash charging circuit in preference to shorting of the flash capacitor directly preserves battery power and assures the flash charging transistors will not be damaged by attempting to charge into a short circuited flash capacitor.

Abstract: A telescoping flash unit for a camera helps substantially reduce "red-eye" by extending the flash head to a position far enough away from the objective lens such that the angle of incidence from the flash unit to the subject's eyes is too great for the light to be reflected from the subject's eyes directly back into the objective lens. The compact nature of the camera is maintained when the flash unit is not being used, by either retracting the flash unit back into the body of the camera, or detaching it from the camera. The flash unit is easily separable from the camera body or the external bracket should the flash unit need to be repaired or replaced.

Abstract: A camera is provided in which the body is downsized as far as possible and which enables the incorporation of a large capacity power supply battery to be accomplished efficiently and compactly. A space portion in the camera body which is surrounded by a cartridge chamber, a film take-up spool chamber and a photographing optical path chamber between a photo-taking lens and an aperture portion is used as a power supply battery chamber. A power supply battery substantially equal to the lengthwise direction of a photographing image field is contained in the power supply battery chamber. Capacitors for the light emission of an electronic flash device are disposed in the containing space of the spool chamber in the camera body which is opposite to the cartridge chamber, along a side portion of the spool chamber.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention has an arrangement that a film is discharged to a side toward a subject after a picture has been taken, the instant camera comprising a grip portion formed on a right portion of a camera body when viewed in a normal photography state and from a position of a photographer operating the camera, an optical system disposed on a left portion of the camera body when viewed from the said position of the photographer and including at least a photographing lens, and a film cartridge loading portion which is capable of loading a film cartridge into a position between the grip portion of the camera body and the optical system in such a manner that an exposure surface of the film accommodated in the film cartridge faces the optical system.

Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a light emission diode which emits light toward a photographic film loaded in the photographic camera in response to shutter release, and a mark recording mechanism which records marks on the film by light emitted from the light emission diode in a number which is changed in response to movement of an external control member which is operated to designate an aspect ratio of a print. The mark recording mechanism includes a light-shielding plate member which is provided with a plurality of windows and is fixed in the camera body with the windows opposed to the photographic film and a rotary light-shielding plate which is disposed between the light-shielding plate member and the light emission diode and is rotated to selectively close and open the windows in response to movement of the external control member.

Abstract: A camera having a strobe and a strobe condenser electrically connected to the strobe. The strobe condenser consists of a plurality of condensers, some of which are accommodated in a grip portion integrally formed with a camera body of the camera. The remainder of the plurality of condensers are accommodated outside the grip portion in the camera body.

Abstract: A camera having an electronic flash equipment includes a body case having a generally rectangular shape in a front elevational view. A photographing lens is provided near the center of a front surface of the body case. A strobe mounting arm is pivoted, at a base end thereof, to an upper portion of the body case, to be rotatable between inoperative and operative positions. When the strobe mounting arm is in the inoperative position the strobe mounting arm extends along and on the body case. When the strobe mounting arm is in the operative position, a front end portion of the strobe mounting arm projects outward from a lateral edge of the body case adjacent to the pivotal connection of the body case to the strobe mounting arm. The strobe mounting arm is provided on the front end portion with a strobe light emitter which faces toward a subject to be photographed when the strobe mounting arm is in the operative position.

Abstract: A camera comprises a shutter-flash synchronization contact, a pair of battery contacts, a flash capacitor, and a flash circuit board conductively connected to the shutter-flash synchronization contact, the pair of battery contacts and the flash capacitor. A holder which holds the flash capacitor is conductively connected to the flash circuit board and is integrally united with the shutter-flash synchronization contact and the pair of battery contacts to conductively connect the shutter-flash synchronization contact and the battery contacts to the flash circuit board. As a result, the camera can be made relatively compact.

Abstract: A lens shutter type of camera with a retractable strobe device has a rectangular camera body with one side longer than the other. A mechanism pops the retractable strobe out from the shorter side of the camera body to an operative position. A mechanism varies an illuminating angle of the retractable strobe device in accordance with a zooming operation of a zoom photographing lens when the strobe device is in the operative position. The popping out mechanism and the illuminating angle varying mechanism are arranged such that the retractable strobe device pops out from the shorter side surface of the camera.

Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit equipped with a built-in electronic flash device having a printed wiring board, formed with a flash circuit thereon and an aperture therein, which is located between a film roll receiving chamber located on one side of an exposure mechanism unit and a front casing section so as to receive partly the film roll receiving chamber in the aperture.

Abstract: A camera including a built-in strobe light generating unit having a strobe capacitor and a red-eye reduction lamp to reduce red-eye phenomenon. The red-eye reduction lamp is positioned between the strobe light generating unit and the strobe capacitor. The strobe capacitor, red-eye reduction lamp and the strobe light generating unit are arranged in the vertical direction within the camera body. To provide a compact camera, the red-eye reduction lamp is located above the strobe capacitor in a space between a pair of terminals projecting from the strobe capacitor, and below the strobe light generating unit, in a cut-away portion of a strobe reflector.

Abstract: A camera having a built-in first flash light emitting unit located directly above a photographic lens on the front surface of the camera body, and a second flash light emitting unit located at an upper corner of the front face of the camera body. The camera has autofocus capabilities, and reduces shadows created during close-up photography and reduces the "red eye" phenomenon created during far away photography through the control of each of the two flash light emitting units.

Abstract: A tension sensing device for motion picture projection equipment is intended for use in a platter feed system. The device is mounted upon a column of a platter system, having a pivoting arm and a stationary or limiting arm. The film is fed over a roller on the pivoting arm, which rests on a micro-switch. The presence of tension in the film feed will cause elevation of the pivot arm, triggering a signal from the micro-switch to a control box. A timing sequence is initiated; if a pre-determined time interval is reached, the power to the projector equipment is interrupted. This device allows for more precise determination of true headwrap condition, avoiding false conditions, and offers a more durable and reliable sensing device.

Abstract: A camera equipped with an illuminating optical system for illuminating a phototaking range of a phototaking lens is configured so that the illuminating optical system includes a light source and a direction unit for directing a light beam from the light source to illuminate the phototaking range, and so that the direction unit composed of includes a Fresnel lens having a cylindrical envelope plane.

Abstract: An anamorphic lens (10) having a first surface (14) which has either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature, and a second surface (16) having either a cylindrical or an acylindrical radius of curvature. Each surface has a primary longitudinal axis (22, 24,) which is preferably but not necessarily orthogonal to the optical axis (18) of the lens (10); and the longitudinal axes are crossed. Preferred applications for the anamorphic lens include non-image forming illumination systems wherein independent illumination control in two coplanar directions at the object is desired. A process for recycling a single use camera having such an anamorphic lens is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package with a flash unit and a viewfinder optical system, which is thin and contributes to effective and economical automatic recycling operations. The taking lens system of the film package is accommodated in a lens holder incorporated in a photo-taking unit having photo-taking mechanisms, and is held immovably in the lens holder by a lens cover removably fitted on the lens holder by snap-in engagement. The viewfinder optical system is also incorporated in the photo-taking unit. The photo-taking unit is removably attached to a main body of the film package, and the flash unit is removably attached to the main body with its printed circuit board disposed between the photo-taking unit and a front surface of a film supply chamber. A light emitting portion of the flash unit is secured to a lateral side of the printed circuit board, so as to be disposed above the film supply chamber.

Abstract: A camera comprising a photographic optical system; an aperture formed behind the photographic optical system in order to limit a range of subject light irradiated to a film surface; a cartridge chamber lying on one side of the aperture so as to accommodate a small-sized film cartridge containing film that is smaller than rolled film of 35 mm width, in which a film cartridge is stowed so that a built-in take-up axis thereof is oriented substantially in parallel with the height of the camera; a take-up chamber lying on the other side of the aperture so as to wind in a portion of film that has been fed from the film cartridge stowed in the cartridge chamber in the lateral direction of the camera and has passed behind the aperture; a light projecting optical system lying above the take-up chamber to distribute light to be used for range finding toward an object to be photographed; and a light receiving optical system lying below the take-up chamber to receive light having emanated from the light projecting optica

Abstract: A camera information setting device temporarily sets a shutter speed during flash photography. The original camera shutter speed is automatically recovered without further operation from the photographer. A first display is disposed within the viewfinder of the camera for displaying a warning if the camera shutter speed presents a risk of image blur due to camera shake and second display is disposed external to the camera for indicating that a flash device will limit the set shutter speed of the camera. The device cooperates with a removable flash device. A manual setting member performs a shutter speed setting which is then stored in a first memory unit. A first display unit and a second display perform display of the shutter speed. A change unit determines the presence or absence of the flash device, performs a change of the shutter speed and stores it to a second memory unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a device which is capable of holding and fixing a trigger lead with firmness and reliability to a reflector without fixing by soldering or screws. This device forms an opening portion in the back surface of a housing for holding the reflector. In this opening portion there is provided an elastic interposing member, and the core wire of the trigger lead is interposed between this interposing member and the reflector. According to this, the core wire can be held firmly by the elastic interposing member, and also the connection state of the core wire to the reflector can be checked. Also, a holding member comprising bar-shaped projections is provided near the interposing member, and the firm fixation state of the trigger lead can be obtained by winding and fixing the trigger lead to this holding member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera enabling effective use of parts retrieved from a used lens-mounted film. Members retrieved from a lens-mounted film and responsible for film feed and release operation; such as, a sprocket, a sprocket axis with a charge cam attached, a drive lever, and a locking lever are mounted in a camera as they are. A release mechanism is included to release a frame stop state set for frame-by-frame film feed and a state in which the turn of a film wind knob is disabled, whereby film rewind is enabled. A strobe circuit board containing a strobe flashing unit and a control circuit is recycled for a camera permitting film rewind. In this case, a flashing capacitor mounted on the retrieved strobe circuit board is angled at lead wires so that the flashing capacitor can be placed in any state different from the one in a lens-mounted film.

Abstract: A strobe incorporated camera having a strobe light emitter which emits strobe light, a light emitter driving mechanism which moves the light emitter between a retracted position in which the light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which the light emitter emits the strobe light, a photometering device for obtaining an exposure factor when a first switch is turned ON, and an exposure device for performing a predetermined exposure when a second switch is turned ON. The camera includes a strobe judging device for determining whether the strobe should be used, in accordance with the exposure factor, and a strobe controller for moving the strobe light emitter to the operative position when the strobe judging device determines that the strobe should be used when the first switch or the second switch is turned ON.