Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a fully automatic exposure control system for determining the camera-to-subject range either directly by sonic ranging or indirectly by sampling reflected flash light immediately subsequent to the firing of a source of artificial illumination and for automatically responding to either the sonically determined subject range or the sampled flash light to provide either a shortened maximum exposure interval time out period under conditions where the photographic subject is located far enough from the camera as to be just beyond the effective range of the flash or within the effective range of the flash but without sufficient reflectance to effect the termination of exposure solely as a function of scene light integration or an extended maximum exposure interval time out period under conditions where the photographic subject is located far enough from the camera as to be far beyond the effective range of the flash where there is likely to be little or no reflected flash ligh

Abstract: Audio signals with opposite relative phases are recorded on two tracks. A dual track head reproduces the signals from the two tracks and introduces another phase reversal of one signal relative to the other. Noise which was not present in the record circuit, but enters the system at the playback head, is out of phase in the signals which the playback head applies to the playback circuit. Combining the out-of-phase noise components of the two signals substantially cancels the noise.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for sampling a digital pulse train signal and providing a replication in place thereof during a selected holding period includes a binary counter and register for counting and storing a clock pulse of substantially higher frequency than the sampled digital pulse train together with control gates for inhibiting the counter from rolling over in the event that the period of the sampled digital pulse train becomes so long that the maximum binary count capacity of the counter is reached. The sampled digital pulse train signal is preferably provided by the scene light detecting and integrating circuit of a photographic camera apparatus and the holding period during which the digital pulse train signal is substituted by the replicated signal corresponds to the flash fire duration of a strobe.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter charges a capacitor connected to the secondary of a transformer having a primary connected to a low-level power supply through an input control circuit which, when triggered, connects the power supply to the primary for only a predetermined time interval whereby current flows in the primary establishing a magnetic field that stores energy derived from the power supply. When the current in the primary is interrupted, the field collapses, inducing current to flow in the secondary thereby transferring energy from the field to the capacitor. The control circuit is triggered by a voltage sensor that detects the collapse of the field to zero. The voltage sensor includes a sensor inductively coupled to the magnetic field for developing a sensed voltage having a first level during collapse of the field and a second level after the field collapses to zero, the breakpoint between the levels defining the instant at which the field collapses to zero.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a projected image in response to input signals corresponding to the components of the commanded position of the image along a pair of orthogonal axes. The apparatus employs a pair of servo loops that position a projector mechanism along the respective axes. In each loop position feedback is provided by a capacitive transducer. A dielectric member is disposed between a pair of planar electrodes and moves back and forth in correspondence with movement of the projector mechanism. Consequently the area of the plates covered by the dielectric member, and thus the capacitance of the transducer, corresponds to the position of the mechanism. The capacitance of the transducer is converted to a dc signal by incorporating the capacitance in a conversion circuit that emits a series of pulses whose duty cycle is proportional to the capacitance.

Abstract: In a photographic exposure control system of the type which provides a flash fire signal at an appropriate follow focus aperture value corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance range, the ambient scene light intensity is measured prior to exposure and thereafter utilized to progressively vary the follow focus aperture value within determinate limits in inverse corresponding relation to the progressive variation of the detected ambient scene light intensity prior to exposure.

Abstract: A multi-flash lamp array includes a plurality of flash lamps interconnected in pairs so that the second flash lamp of each pair is fusably connected to fire during the next exposure in response to the firing of the first flash lamp of that pair. If the first flash lamp of the pair should fail to fire and thereby fail to fusably connect the second flash lamp of the pair, there is provided a redundant fusing arrangement whereby the second flash lamp of the pair is subsequently fused in connection to fire during the next exposure in response to the firing of the first flash lamp in the next succeeding pair of flash lamps to be fired.

Abstract: A photographic exposure and flash fire control system initially measures ambient scene light and subsequently utilizes the results of that measurement to control the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval. The initial measurement of ambient scene light below a first select level provides for a maximum flash output while conversely the initial measurement of ambient scene light above a second select level greater than the first select level provides for minimum flash output. The initial measurement of ambient scene light between the aforementioned first and second levels provides for a flash output which progressively varies between the aforementioned minimum and maximum outputs in inverse corresponding relation with respect to the progressive variation of measured ambient scene light between its first and second select levels.

Abstract: An electric solenoid having a bobbin structure on which a coil may be wound by machine and providing a plug-in connector with leaf-like contact terminals to which at least one end of the coil wire may be electrically connected by machine wrapping of the wire end about the terminals. The bobbin has a spool portion and a terminal block portion having a projecting formation to be positioned adjacent to the terminals, so that wire extending from the coil under tension may be wrapped first about the formation and then about the terminal to be wrapped to secure the terminal to the formation prior to subsequent wraps of the wire around the terminal.

Abstract: A recorder for the recording and the playback of analog information on a movable magnetic medium, e.g. a magnetic tape, has a limiter for reducing the gain of the record section in response to excessive input amplitudes, has a playback section that cancels noise which the transducer unit picks up, and has a muting circuit that diminishes playback gain during certain operations.The recorder applies the limiting function to the compressor portion of a dynamic compandor and applies the muting control to the expandor portion of the compandor.The noise cancellation introduces a relative phase reversal to noise present with different playback signals, and sums selected portions of those signals to cancel the noise.

Abstract: An automatic camera apparatus includes an integrated exposure control system comprising a sonar rangefinder for first determining camera-to-subject range and then setting the objective lens focus condition to correspond to the determined camera-to-subject distance and thereafter firing an electronic flash at an appropriate exposure aperture also corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance in a manner providing for a proportional fill-in flash under conditions of high ambient scene light intensity.

Abstract: An infra-red auto-ranging system for a photographic camera or the like includes a ranging sensor that directs a portion of the light energy from the subject of principal interest through a diffraction device that diffracts the radiation into central and higher order spectral lines that are then passed through an infra-red filter. An infra-red responsive sensor, such as a photo-responsive reticon array, is positioned to receive the radiation from a selected one of the spectral lines with the position of the imaged spectral energy on the sensor varying as a function of the angle of incidence of the light from the subject and of the range to the subject. The diffraction device may take the form of a conventional transmission-type diffraction grating, a replica, or an acousto/optical diffraction cell responsive to an excitation energy source.

Abstract: A photographic exposure control system provides for the termination of an exposure interval as a predetermined function of the scene light detected during the exposure interval wherein at least one parameter of the predetermined function is varied as another function of the ambient scene light detected prior to the exposure interval. The predetermined function may comprise the integration of the detected scene light to a selected level wherein the selected level of integration is the one parameter varied as a function of the ambient scene light detected prior to the exposure interval.

Abstract: A dual mode range responsive exposure and flash fire control system operates as a function of the photographic subject being located in either a near distance or a far distance range from the camera. For photographic subjects located within a near camera-to-subject distance range, a flash fire signal is normally provided during the exposure interval at the instant when the blade mechanism defines an aperture size generally corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance to ignite the flash and provide a determinate amount of illumination. For photographic subjects located within a far camera-to-subject distance range, a flash fire signal is normally provided subsequent to the shutter blades reaching a maximum aperture defining position with the flash output being subsequently quenched as a function of scene light detection and integration.

Abstract: An exposure control system for a photographic camera apparatus of the type preferably having a fixed focus and a built-in electronic flash includes a scanning type shutter blade arrangement wherein the shutter blade elements have especially configured scene light admitting apertures which generally scan to an intermediate sized aperture during the predominantly ambient scene lighted mode of operation to provide a correspondingly increased depth of field and which scan to a maximum size aperture during the predominantly artificial scene lighted mode of operation to provide for a maximum effective range for the flash.

Abstract: In an exposure control system in which the instant in which the scene light is first admitted to a film plane from a shutter blade mechanism at the commencement of an exposure interval must be precisely and accurately determined for subsequently controlling the instant of flash fire and/or other exposure control functions utilizing digital scene light integrating techniques, there is provided an arrangement for prebiasing the light integrator to provide an output therefrom within an operative range of voltages immediately prior to detection of first light at commencement of the exposure interval in order to eliminate any potential errors which might otherwise result in the detection of first light at the commencement of the exposure interval or any other scene light related measurement resulting from the integration lead time required for the digital type of light integrating arrangement to reach its operative range of voltages.

Abstract: An electronic flash adaptable for releasable connection to a camera of the type having an exposure control circuit automatically switchable from an ambient mode of operation to a flash mode of operation, includes an on/off power control switch adapted for automatically switching the camera control circuit to a flash mode of operation in correspondence with the powering up of the electronic flash. The electronic flash is powered by way of an extendable grip type switch which may be either stowed out of interfering relation with the position normally grasped by the camera user to accommodate use of the camera in an ambient mode of operation or extended into interfering relationship with the position normally grasped by the camera user to accommodate a flash exposure mode of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for projecting a highlighting spot on a projected image. When an operator uses an actuator for controlling the position of the highlighting spot, position control signals are applied to a servomechanism to position the highlighting spot in two axes. Simultaneously, the apparatus converts the control signals into a second form suitable for recording on a tape or other media in a control track simultaneously with an oral program on an audio track. The recorded control signals are converted back into a form corresponding to signals from the actuator thereby to control slide changes and the highlighting spot position.

Abstract: An exposure control circuit for a photographic camera is provided for determining the camera-to-subject range directly by sonic ranging and for automatically responding to the sonically determined subject range to provide either a shortened maximum exposure interval time out period under conditions where the photographic subject is located far enough from the camera as to be just beyond the effective range of the flash or within the effective range of the flash but without sufficient reflectance to effect the termination of exposure solely as a function of scene light integration or an extended maximum exposure interval time out period under conditions where the photographic subject is located far enough from the camera as to be far beyond the effective range of the flash where there is likely to be little or no reflected flash light.