Abstract: Switching power supplies made in accordance with the disclosed technology drive flash lamps of dermatologic treatment devices to emit a sequence of relatively small light pulses that are aligned with particular locations within the waveform of the AC line source. Such power supplies not only enable sufficient light energy in aggregate to therapeutically heat target chromophores in a skin region without causing undesired damage to surrounding tissue, but also provide the added benefit that the corresponding electrical energy need not be substantially drawn from any charged capacitor. The disclosed power supply further compensates for performance degradation of the flash lamps during their usable life, by modifying its operation based on predetermined values that are indicative of flash lamp aging/efficiency characteristics. The flash lamps and their associated stored values are preferably incorporated into a replaceable cartridge that facilitates user maintenance of the dermatologic treatment device.

Abstract: Sheet media package system includes a cartridge or other packaging for containing a plurality of sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transponder which stores relevant digital data associated with the cartridge or other packaging.

Abstract: This invention discloses a shutter and lens apparatus including a lens housing for receiving a multi-function support. The multi-function support includes a lens seat fitting with a lens and two solenoid valves attached on its bottom. A shutter slice and a diaphragm are mounted on the top surface of multi-function support, and pivot around a shaft projected thereon. Two movable rods of the solenoid valves are coupled with the shutter slice and diaphragm to drive them passing a light path, an axis through the lens, for controlling time and quantities of light projected through the lens. A housing cover encases the lens, the multi-function support, and a spring into the lens housing.

Abstract: An apparatus using a film cartridge having an IC memory unit. The IC memory unit is arranged beneath a side of a cartridge shell of the film cartridge, and a positioning hole is formed on the side of the cartridge shell. In order to read/write information from/to the IC memory unit, an arm of a contact unit is rotated towards the cartridge shell, so that a positioning pin provided at the arm end engages the positioning hole to position the cartridge shell, and contact pins provided at the arm end are brought into contact with terminals of the IC memory unit.

Abstract: A camera adapted to receive any one of a plurality of film loads having different film speeds includes a film speed sensing device for sensing the particular film speed of a film load in the camera, an aperture setting device adjustable to effect different-diameter film exposing apertures, a shaped memory alloy (abbreviated to SMA) wire which when subjected to electrical current for different durations corresponding to the respective film speeds of the film loads is heated to undergo corresponding shape changes to adjust the aperture setting device to the respective film exposing apertures, and a current supplying circuit connected to the SMA wire and to the film speed sensing device that subjects the SMA wire to electrical current for any one of the durations in accordance with the particular film speed of a film load in the camera.

Abstract: An image data recording method for recording, in an IC memory mounted in a film cartridge, image data of one or more desired frames on developed photographic film stored in the film cartridge is provided. The image data recording method comprises the steps of: determining the residual capacity of IC memory, changing the quantity of image data of one or more desired frames to be recorded in the IC memory or erasing the data recorded in the IC memory in accordance with the determined residual capacity of IC memory, and recording the image data of one or more desired frames in the residual capacity of the IC memory.

Abstract: A film unit has image capture media and a radio-frequency identification transponder affixed to the image capture media. The image capture media can be photographic film.

Abstract: In a case in which simultaneous printing is to be carried out, thumbnail image data is recorded onto an IC chip which is provided at a cartridge loaded in a camera. A control section reads the thumbnail image data from the IC chip and outputs the data to a personal computer via an I/F section. A user designates order information for each frame image while viewing an order information setting screen of the personal computer. Designated order information is transmitted to the camera via a serial port of the personal computer. The control section records received order information onto the IC chip. In a case in which reprinting is to be carried out at a laboratory, a printing process is performed on the basis of the order information recorded on the IC chip. With this arrangement, a customer need not designate order information at a shop.

Abstract: A system for photographic film processing adapted to access stored information that is related to film processing. An electrically programmable read/write memory contained in a transponder is integrally attached to the film container used at each stage in the film processing chain. The transponder is capable of receiving a first RF frequency electromagnetic field and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second RF frequency electromagnetic field in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory. A transceiver is disposed within the processing apparatus, connected with an antenna and support components for polling each transponder. As instructed by a control logic processor, the transceiver communicates with the transponder to both read stored data from the transponder, such as manufacturing data for the film, and store usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in memory.

Abstract: A latched film unit has a support, a filmstrip held by the support, and a latch mounted to the support. The latch is reversibly switchable between a first state and a second state and can enable or disable an access right of a memory element in the film unit. A latching device operates the film unit.

Abstract: In a production process of a photo film cartridge, data relating to respective components and data obtained during the production process is written in an IC memory that is mounted to a cartridge shell of the photo film cartridge. The data written in the IC memory is read out at later stages of the production process for use in controlling production of the photo film cartridge. The data is at least partly maintained stored in the IC memory after the shipment, for use in tracing production history of the photo film cartridge. When a photo film cartridge having an IC memory is for use in a lens-fitted photo film unit, unit type data indicating the type of the film unit are written in the IC memory before loading the photo film cartridge in the film unit. The unit type data is read out from the IC memory to choose a proper type of packaging materials for the film unit before a unit body of the film unit is wrapped and packed in the packaging materials.

Abstract: An apparatus using a film cartridge having an IC memory unit. The IC memory unit is arranged beneath a side of a cartridge shell of the film cartridge, and a positioning hole is formed on the side of the cartridge shell. In order to read/write information from/to the IC memory unit, an arm of a contact unit is rotated towards the cartridge shell, so that a positioning pin provided at the arm end engages the positioning hole to position the cartridge shell, and contact pins provided at the arm end are brought into contact with terminals of the IC memory unit.

Abstract: A photographic device includes a film cassette that has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. The filmstrip coiled within said film space. A memory module is loosely retained in the module slot. The photographic device has a terminal block that orients and holds the memory module when the film cassette is loaded.

Abstract: A camera has a body, an image capture assembly mounted in the body, and at least one radio-frequency identification transponder mounted within the body, said transponder is unshielded by the body. The transponder can be an inlay transponder.

Abstract: A film cassette has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. A filmstrip is coiled within the film space. A memory module is loosely-retained in the module slot. The memory module is reversibly separable from the shell. A photographic apparatus includes the film cassette and a photographic device. The photographic device has a body having a cassette station defining a site for a locator of the film cassette; a film transport disposed in operative relation to the cassette station; and a terminal block disposed in the cassette station. The terminal block is biased toward the contact site. The terminal block includes a plurality of leads and a cam unit having at least one cam surface. The cam unit is aligned with the site for the locator.

Abstract: A camera has a back cover movable between a closed state and an open state to enable a film case to be installed in and removed from the camera. A detector detects the transition of the cover between the closed state and the open state. A data register stores control data, and a control circuit receives the control data from the data register for controlling operation of the camera. The control data is transferred temporarily from the data register to an EEPROM when the back cover makes the transition from the closed state to the open state. The control data is then transferred back from the EEPROM to the data register when the back cover makes the transition from the open state to the closed state.

Abstract: A memory module reader has a body having a module socket. The module socket defines a cylindrical contact site and a site axis. A terminal block is joined to the body. The terminal block includes a plurality of leads and a cam unit having at least one cam surface. The cam unit is aligned with and biased toward the contact site. An assembly includes the memory module reader and a memory module removably retained in the module socket. The memory module has a flexible support and a memory element fixed to the support.

Abstract: A device for processing digital data receives digital data with a number of original digital data being reduced in a predetermined manner, discriminates whether a predetermined reference part of the received digital data meets a predetermined condition, sets a value corresponding to a remaining part of the received digital data, and modifies the value in a predetermined way if the reference part meets the predetermined condition.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a camera, comprises a detection device which detects an index of a film cartridge, and a control device which performs predetermined control in accordance with the detection device detecting that the index of the film cartridge does not exist in indices of a recognized film cartridge for photography but is an admitted, predetermined index.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit contains a cartridge shell into which an IC memory is incorporated, and a roll of photo filmstrip having a magnetic recording layer. Unit ID data and date-of-manufacture data are written in the IC memory in the factory. A data recording circuit is provided on a flash circuit board. The data recording circuit is connected to the IC memory through a printed circuit board mounted to a cartridge chamber of the film unit. A finder mask and a photo sensor for detecting the position of the finder mask are mounted in the film unit. The photo sensor is connected to the data recording circuit, to write photographic data corresponding to the output of the photo sensor in the IC memory at each exposure. Before printing, the data written in the IC memory is read to be recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the photo filmstrip by use of an external recording device which is connectable to the IC memory through an interface terminal which is exposed to an exterior of the film unit.

Abstract: Apparatus (10; 800) is disclosed for loading of film into a photographic camera (106), the camera including an external housing (320) having at least one movable closure (322, 324) which, in an open position of the closure, enables a discrete filmstrip (332) to be loaded from an exterior of the camera into the camera; the camera further including a memory feature (344) for storing and communicating information about at least one type of film appropriate for the camera, the apparatus including a frame (40-50); a station (14, 138, 142; 804) supported by the frame for a camera to be loaded; means (109, 148) supported by said frame for communicating with a camera to receive from the camera a first signal corresponding to a type of film appropriate for the camera; a source (150, 168) supported by the frame for unexposed photographic film, the source including at least one type of unexposed photographic film; a film loading member (522) supported by the frame and extended between the source and the station for guid

Abstract: A film cartridge control device is provided for controlling a film cartridge provided with a data disk which rotates in association with a cartridge spool and indicates given information depending upon a position at which the data disk is stopped when a film is completely rewound in the film cartridge. The film cartridge control device includes a drive device that drives and rotates the cartridge spool, a control circuit that performs stop control for causing the drive device to stop the data disk at a predetermined position, and a storage circuit that stores stop control information that indicates that the stop control is being performed. The stop control information is set when the stop control is started and reset when the stop control is finished. The control circuit restarts the stop control after the cartridge spool is rotated by a predetermined amount by the drive device, if the stop control information is set in the storage circuit when the film cartridge control device is started.

Abstract: Adhesive label for an article to be labeled, in particular for a film cartridge, the adhesive label coding machine-readable properties of the article, in particular of a film in the film cartridge, by the position of at least one boundary between an electrically conductive layer and an electrically nonconductive layer lying thereover, wherein the conductive layer is covered by a further conductive, in particular oxidation-inhibiting, protective layer.

Abstract: A release switch is directly activated by a self-timer button, and a shutter release button first activates a photometric switch, then the release switch. The self-timer operation is carried out in response to the activation of only the release switch, a photometric operation is carried out in response to the activation of only the photometric switch, and a shutter release operation is carried out in response to the secuential activation of both the photometric switch and the release switch.

Abstract: An external input/output device has a plug-in unit having the same shape as a photographic film cassette. The plug-in unit is insertable in a cassette chamber of a camera having a reflective photo-sensor for reading bar codes from a bar code disc of the photographic film cassette. The plug-in unit has a reflective photo-sensor whose light projecting element and photoelectric element are opposed to a photoelectric element and a light projecting element of the photo-sensor of the camera when the plug-in unit is inserted in the cassette chamber. After setting the camera in a data I/O mode, a keyboard of the input/output device is operated to enter control value data to be written in an EEPROM of the camera, or commands for monitoring control value data stored in the EEPROM. The data or command is inputted as light pulses in the camera through the light projecting element of the input/output device and the photoelectric element of the camera.

Abstract: A film magazine includes a spool which is supported for rotation in a magazine body and around which the roll film is wound, and a data disk which carries bar codes representing information inherent to the film magazine such as the ISO sensitivity, the number of exposure frames and the like of the film and is rotated together with the spool. The spool is held in a predetermined position when the film is completely in the magazine body so that the angular position of the spool relative to the magazine body represents the condition of use of the film. A photosensor is disposed in a fixed position to read the bar codes while rotating the spool and the condition of use of the film is distinguished on the basis of an angle by which the spool is rotated by the time the photosensor reads a predetermined particular point on the bar codes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing electronic devices in a vehicle. A ventilation duct is provided beneath the instrument panel for conveying air in the vehicle. The ventilation duct includes an outer surface. An overlay substrate is laid upon and secured against the outer surface or acts as the wall of the duct, and is adapted for carrying electronic devices thereon. This design improves packaging efficiency within the vehicle. This invention can also be applied to other automotive applications such as on door panels, instrument panels and package trays.

Abstract: A camera capable of communicating with an external device, such as an adjustment device for performing camera testing, checking and adjustment operations. The camera includes a cartridge compartment having a wall member to accommodate a film cartridge, the wall member including a recessed portion, e.g., a hole or concavity, in the inner wall surface of the cartridge compartment to accommodate communication contact points which electrically connect the external device to the camera. A control unit which controls camera operations receives signals from the external device via the communication contact points and performs a predetermined camera operation based upon the received signals. The cartridge compartment also includes film sensitivity contact points, the film sensitivity contact points including a standard potential film sensitivity contact point which is also used to connect the adjustment device.