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: A film door restraint and camera used with a film door having a tappet movable between latched and unlatched positions, a film cartridge having a filmstrip and an active light lock movable between open and closed states, and a cartridge spool driver movable in first and second directions of rotation to rotate a spool of said cartridge. The film door restraint has a toggle, a rotational member, and a follower. The toggle is coupled to the active light lock and is capable of tripping between an open position, in which the active light lock is open, and a closed position, in which the active light lock is closed. The toggle is tripped by the tappet when the toggle is in the open position and the tappet is moved from the latched position to the unlatched position. The rotational member is joined to the spool driver for rotation with the spool driver. The rotational member defines primary and secondary guideways.

Abstract: A mechanism which makes it possible to unlock a cartridge compartment cover manually from a body of a camera, when an electric source is short of power, the cover of which is normally unlocked electrically therefrom. An opening is formed in a wall, forming the battery compartment, which is usually shut up from outside by a battery compartment cover that can be opened manually if necessary. One end of a locking nail, the other end of which locks/unlocks a cartridge compartment cover which is unlocked electrically from the camera body at normal use, extends inside the opening. When the battery is short of electric power, the cartridge compartment cover can be opened to take the cartridge out, by opening the battery compartment cover manually first, by taking the battery out of the battery compartment, and by operating the locking nail from inside of the battery compartment manually.

Abstract: A switch of simple and compact design has a current capability sufficient to enable use in a flash control circuit of a camera. In a preferred embodiment, a camera is provided that includes a camera body, a circuit board attached to the camera body, and a switch attached to the circuit board. The switch includes a leaf spring switch element having a first end coupled to the circuit board and a second end shaped to form a first electrical contact point and a second electrical contact point. A bridge contact is also provided that includes first and second ends attached to the circuit board, wherein the bridge contact extends over the second end of the switch such that the second end is located between the bridge contact and an electrical contact pad located on a surface of the main circuit board. The leaf spring switch element is biased so that the first electrical contact point comes into contact with the bridge contact.

Abstract: A camera structure includes a multiple function shutter button assembly that is capable of performing multiple functions in combination with other camera elements. More specifically, the camera includes a camera body, a circuit board attached to the camera body, a shutter button assembly including a sliding member movably coupled to the camera body, wherein the sliding member comprises a shutter button arm, a shutter actuation arm, and an electrical contact arm, and a biasing mechanism for biasing the sliding member to an initial position. The shutter actuation arm includes a shutter actuation member that activates a shutter release mechanism of the camera when a force is applied to the shutter button arm to move sliding member from the initial position to a shutter actuation position.

Abstract: A single-use camera which is loaded with a film cartridge having a light-shielding cover on a film gate thereof. The single-use camera includes: a cover for covering the film cartridge when the cover is at its closed position, a closing member for closing the light-shielding cover of the film cartridge, a stopper for keeping the cover member at the closed position, and a stopper release for releasing the stopper so as to allow the cover to be open while the light-shielding cover is being closed by the closing member.

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 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 sequential activation of both the photometric switch and the release switch.

Abstract: An efficient camera structure permits electrical components to be incorporated within a minimum amount of space. Specifically, a camera is provided that includes a main camera body, a main circuit board attached to a front portion of the main camera body, a dual sided auxiliary circuit board attached to a top portion of the main camera body, a switch element located between the main camera body and the auxiliary circuit board, and at least one electrical component located on a top surface of the auxiliary circuit board. In operation, the switch element contacts an electrical contact located on a bottom surface of the auxiliary circuit board. Electrical components can be attached to the top surface of the auxiliary circuit board. In a preferred embodiment, battery leads are located in slots formed in the auxiliary circuit board. The slots can be sized to create a mechanical snap fit between the battery leads and the slots.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera comprising means to emit a smile sound.

Abstract: A switch for a camera includes a switch button. While being urged toward a flange section of a switch-button holding member by an urging member, the switch button is held so as to be movable in the pushing direction of the switch button and a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction. When one end of the switch button is pushed, the height to which the other end is raised can be lowered. Accordingly, the appearance of the camera is prevented from deteriorating. The switch is also advantageous in reducing the size of the camera.

Abstract: A camera with a lens barrier is provided with a slide member, which moves together with the lens barrier over a certain range of motion. A locking portion for keeping a strobe button locked and a stopper for limiting the push-down movement amount of the strobe button are integrated in the slide member. When the lens barrier is positioned at a position other than an opening position, the locking portion prevents the strobe button from being pushed down. When the lens barrier is positioned at the opening position, the locking portion moves away from the strobe button so that the strobe button can be pushed down, and the stopper limits the push-down movement amount of the strobe button. Thus, the locking portion for keeping the strobe button locked and the stopper for limiting the push-down movement amount of the strobe button are integrated so that the number of parts can be decreased to simplify the structure and lower the production cost.

Abstract: An opening and closing apparatus for opening and closing a light blocking door provided at a film feed slot of a film cartridge comprises a drive device that drives the light blocking door to open and close, a single switch that outputs a signal with a specific pattern with a light blocking door opening and closing operation of the drive device and a control device that controls the drive device based upon the output signal from the switch. The switch, for instance, includes a switch pattern that is integrated with a rotating member constituting the drive device and a brush that slides on the switch pattern as the rotating member rotates.

Abstract: In a camera for displaying a plurality of control contents such as set values and functions controlled by a plurality of operation members on an LCD device, there are provided a plurality of display areas which constitute the LCD device and are formed by dividing the LCD device so as to correspond to the respective control contents of the operation members. An operation section is constituted of the operation members and disposed such that the divided shape of the display areas is the same as, or similar to, a divided shape of the operation section constituted of the operation members. According to a preferred embodiment, in a camera for displaying a plurality of control contents such as set values and functions controlled by a plurality of operation members on an LCD device, there are provided a plurality of display areas which constitute the LCD device and are formed by dividing the LCD device so as to correspond to the respective control contents of the operation members.

Abstract: A camera provided with a rear surface switch includes a pressure plate. The pressure plate maintains film in a flattened alignment within a film exposure region of the camera. An external cover encloses a rear of the pressure plate. A switch includes a movable operational member that protrudes from the cover. An electrical conductive member is attached to the rear of the pressure plate. An electrical signal is output in accordance with the movement of the operational member. The operational force resulting from the movement of the operational member is supported by the pressure plate.

Abstract: A camera, an apparatus, or a device adapted for the camera or the apparatus, arranged to use an image recording medium cartridge, is provided with a cover for closing an opening part from which the cartridge is to be removed from the camera or the apparatus, a first part arranged to automatically return an image recording medium to the cartridge loaded on the camera or the apparatus, and a second part arranged to change at least between a first state in which no force is imparted to a member for moving the image recording medium and a second state in which a force is allowed to be imparted to the member for moving the image recording medium and to allow the image recording medium to be returned to the cartridge without using the first part when the second part is in the second state, the second part being changeable at least between the first state and the second state when the opening part is closed with the cover.

Abstract: A camera is capable of forming different photographic image plane frames by causing a light blocking member which is movable in at least a photographic optical path to block part of a photographic light flux. The camera is provided with an urging member for imparting an urging force to the light blocking member, the direction of the urging force being changed when the light block member is located at a particular position in its movement course, a switching member arranged to switch its state at a point in a process in which the light blocking member moves from its maximum retracted position where the smallest amount of light flux is blocked to the particular position, and a display member for visually displaying the state of movement of the light blocking member, i.e., which of the photographic image plane frames has been formed, in accordance with the state of the switching member.

Abstract: A method of making a single-use camera with an electronic flash unit from previously used camera parts, comprising the steps of loading an unexposed-film cassette into a cassette-receiving chamber of a used main body part, locating an electrically conductive area of the film cassette against a pair of spaced electrical contacts of a flash circuit of the flash unit to cause the conductive area to bridge the spaced contacts to complete the flash circuit, and positioning a used rear cover part on the main body part to make the main body part light-tight for unexposed film withdrawn from the cassette. The method discourages unauthorized recycling of the single-use camera.

Abstract: A film cartridge loading mechanism includes a cartridge chamber into which a film cartridge is loaded, an eject member capable of traveling between a housing position at which the loaded film cartridge is held inside the cartridge chamber, and a take-out position at which a portion of the film cartridge projects out of the cartridge chamber, that travels to the housing position as the film cartridge is loaded and travels to the take-out position by an eject operation, a pressure applying member which presses the film cartridge which has been completely loaded in the cartridge chamber, in the direction of the longitudinal axis, to regulate a movement of the film cartridge, and a toggling force applying mechanism that applies a force to the eject member.

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 sequential activation of both the photometric switch and the release switch.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprises a resistive heating element positioned to apply sufficient heat to a critical component of the camera, such as a plastic taking lens, to permanently damage the component when a battery in the camera is connected to the heating element, and a normally open switch which is closed to connect the battery and the heating element after the last available frame of a filmstrip in the camera has been exposed.

Abstract: A moving body position detecting device is provided with at least three contacts and at least three conductors which are in contact respectively with the three contacts, connected in series to each other and disposed in parallel to each other, for detecting the position of a moving body according to the relative positional relationship between the three contacts and the three conductors.

Abstract: A switch assembly for a camera with a zoom lens including a shutter release switch for effectuating a photographic operation of the camera, a telephoto switch for effectuating the movement of the zoom lens to a telephoto position, and a wide-angle switch for effectuating the movement of the zoom lens to a wide-angle position in which the telephoto and wide-angle switches are adjacent and surround the shutter release switch.