Abstract: An electronic flash unit attachable to the top of a camera shutter housing is provided with a switch control apparatus which connects with the flash unit and is positioned on the camera so as to be readily reachable by the photographer's camera-operating hand when it is in a normal position to operate the shutter and flash switch of the camera. Engagement of the switch control apparatus by the photographer's hand effects the closing of a charging switch to apply power to the flash unit and release of the switch control apparatus automatically effects the opening of the charging switch. The shutter and flash switch can be operated by the so-positioned hand as soon as the flash unit is charged.

Abstract: A photometer for use in combination with a camera determines the optimum film exposure interval with the exposure interval corrected for differences in illuminance between a subject of principal interest in the central portion of the scene to be photographed and the subjects of secondary interest in the foreground and background portions of the scene. The photometer includes a photo-responsive array divided into three light receiving segments each having a field of view that generally corresponds to, respectively, the central portion, the foreground portion, and the background portion of the scene.

Abstract: A photometric device for determining the exposure interval for a scene to be photographed includes a photometric array having a plurality of individual photocells that are each adapted to receive light reflected from a selected portion of the scene. Each photocell provides a signal output that is proportional to the light from the scene incident upon the cell. The outputs are each time integrated from the initiation of the exposure interval with the integrated results compared to a predetermined value representative of the desired exposure parameters for the film. A logic array terminates the exposure interval when a majority or median number of the time-integrated results indicate that the film exposure parameters for the respective portions of the scene have been met. The exposure interval is advantageously determined as a function of the median value of the light reflected from the scene rather than the average value and the exposure interval is thereby less affected by extreme variations in brightness.

Abstract: A wire terminal connection by which a leaf-like contact may be electrically joined with a stripped end portion of a wire lead retained by a non-conductive mounting structure for the contact. As disclosed, the connection is embodied in a battery contact assembly of a photographic camera in which all electrical components are assembled as an interior module to be pretested for operational reliability prior to assembly of the module with an exterior housing. The retention of the wire leads by the non-conductive contact mounting facilitates module assembly and pretesting prior to applying the battery contacts.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus is provided for a record/playback device to provide control signals to actuate the device for recording, for playing back or retrieving, and for reversing or rewinding operations. The control signals are derived from separate switches and transmitted along a single signal conductor. A logic circuit responds to the signals on the single conductor to activate different output lines selectively for the different operations. The record/playback device typically is of the type that records and plays back audio information, or that records and projects visual information.

Abstract: In an apparatus for analog recording having a dynamic compressor for amplifying an analog input signal wherein the gain varies in response to an applied control signal, there is provided an improved limiter for providing a gain reducing influence to the applied control signal to control the gain to a generally single-valued function of the analog input signal for analog input signals having an amplitude within a select range.

Abstract: A photographic camera exposure and flash fire control system provides for a proportional fill flash by firing an electronic flash or strobe at an aperture appropriate for the camera-to-subject range. The flash is fired during the closing movement of the shutter blade mechanism and subsequent to the integration of ambient scene light to a select proportion of the optimum film exposure value whereby the remaining proportion of the optimum film exposure value is provided by the artificial illumination from the flash during the closing of the shutter blades.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a polychromatic optical beam for display on a color television receiver employs an optical splitter that divides an incident beam into a sub-beam responsive to luminance and into two single-color sub-beams. The splitter employs a beam splitting element, a reflective filter, and an absorbent filter. Converter elements convert the three sub-beams into corresponding electrical signals, and electronic circuits combine them to produce a composite signal having the format of chrominance and of luminance signal components standard for color television display.A consumer product for the home display of motion pictures on a color television receiver advantageously employs the foregoing construction.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator has a motor that indexes an armature element repeatedly by one step from a rest position, and has an electromagnetic clutch coupled with the armature element to increment an optical element that controls light according to relative position. In adjustable polarizing sunglasses, the actuator incrementally rotates a polarized element in each lens in response to the brightness which a sensor receives through the sunglasses. An electrical control circuit compares, in each operating cycle, the sensor signal with high and low reference values to select the motor drive signal.

Abstract: A photographic exposure control system is provided for controlling the firing of an electronic flash of the quench type so as to automatically provide a proportional fill flash under conditions of substantial ambient scene light intensity. The photographic exposure control system may also control the firing of electronic quench flash under conditions of negligible ambient scene light intensity wherein the proportion of the exposure value attributable to the artificial scene light automatically increases in correspondence with the decrease in the ambient scene light intensity.

Abstract: A photographic camera apparatus includes an improved exposure and electronic flash fire control system comprising a single light source for providing a visual indication to the photographer of electronic flash charging and a control light detectable by the exposure control system as an indicator of the commencement of an exposure interval.

Abstract: A fully automatic and integrated focusing and exposure control system for a photographic camera includes a combination latch and actuator mechanism that operates to normally latch a shutter blade arrangement in its scene light blocking position and to unlatch the shutter blade arrangement in anticipation of an exposure cycle. The combination latch and actuator mechanism also operates during the unlatching of the shutter blades to actuate the focusing apparatus so as to automatically focus the camera objective lens in synchronism with the shutter blade being unlatched.

Abstract: A quench strobe includes a light integrator circuit with an anticipation network which enables the quench to be anticipated by a predetermined time corresponding to the reaction time of the strobe quenching circuitry so as to avoid overexposure under conditions where the photographic subjects are close to the camera or under conditions of relatively high scene light reflectance.

Abstract: A photographic camera apparatus includes an improved exposure and electronic flash fire control system comprising a single photoresponsive element. The system provides a scene brightness measurement prior to a photographic exposure interval, an exposure influencing event during the exposure interval responsive to the photoresponsive element providing an indication of the commencement of the photographic exposure interval and an exposure terminating signal responsive to the photoresponsive element detecting a selected amount of scene light corresponding to the exposing scene light admitted during the exposure interval.

Abstract: A control system senses variations in the size of a buffer loop introduced in a magnetic recording tape or other flexible strip between a point of intermittent advance and a point of uniform advance. The control system maintains the size of the buffer loop at a selected measure by controlling the speed of the drive means which advances the tape uniformly. The control system has two response characteristics which cause the control system to react to variations in loop size either quickly or slowly depending on which response characteristic is chosen. During a first mode of operation, the faster response characteristic is chosen to establish the loop size quickly, while audio reproduction is muted. The control system then switches to a second mode of operation with the slower response characteristic which is compatible with audio reproduction. The control system employs an integrator responsive to an input signal indicative of loop size.

Abstract: An electrical regulator for operating a photographic illuminating lamp provides two controls on the triggering of a phase-controlled power switch. One control employs a differential switch in a feed-forward loop that adjusts the potential at which a timing capacitor triggers the power switch. The other control is a feedback loop which controls the rate at which the timing capacitor is charged. The regulator combines the feed-forward and feedback controls to regulate the mean square of the lamp voltage for a wide range of input voltage amplitudes and frequency.

Abstract: A sensor for producing an electrical signal parameter responsive to the mean square of an applied alternating voltage has a rectifier element, and has a zener diode element electrically in series with a light-emitting diode element across the direct voltage which the rectifier element produces. The polarity of the direct voltage applies reverse voltage to the zener diode element and applies forward voltage to the light-emitting diode element. A photoconductor is optically coupled to receive electroluminescense which the light-emitting diode element emits.

Abstract: A photographic camera apparatus includes an automatic exposure control arrangement having scanning shutter blade elements which are accelerated to a determinate velocity and thereafter released for movement through a range of progressively varying sized apertures at the determinate velocity to define a photographic exposure cycle. A uniform trim control is provided to give the photographer a degree of overriding personal control through which he may slightly vary film exposure by simultaneously varying the determinate velocity at which the shutter blade elements traverse the aperture range and the amount of scene light transmitted to a photoresponsive control system which automatically controls film exposure.

Abstract: A photographic camera control system is provided for varying the time at which a source of artificial illumination is energized subsequent to the commencement of a photographic exposure interval in accordance with variations in the ambient scene light intensity and the camera-to-subject range. The control system operates to energize the source of artificial illumination at later times and hence larger aperture values under conditions of insignificant ambient scene light intensity than under conditions of substantially higher ambient scene light intensity for identical camera-to-subject distances.

Abstract: Electronic flash apparatus for a camera having automatic focusing with sonic ranging has a charge control system which inhibits charging of the flash tube capacitor during at least the automatic focusing operation of the camera. The flash apparatus thus schedules capacitor charging to occur at times other than the sonic ranging for automatic focusing, and thereby avoids the likelihood that spurious radiation from the capacitor-charging oscillator interferes with the sonic ranging operation.