Abstract: An electronic strobe light which can either be built into or detachably connected with a photographic camera to provide a preferred illumination distribution over the field of view of the camera in order to maximize flash range and improve the quality of illumination for flash pictures. The strobe light includes a reflector that is bilaterally symmetric about the horizontal having a shape represented by a 6th order polynomial and a strobe tube which has its center offset with respect to the plane of symmetry of the reflector. This arrangement provides a vertically asymmetric distribution in the intensity of illumination over the picture area with higher intensities occurring at the central upper part of the picture area. Side-to-side illumination intensity is generally symmetric about the vertical and is controlled by a cylindrical Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A reflector having a cross-sectional shape in the form of a 7th order polynomial which, when used with an artificial source of illumination of predetermined geometry, projects a beam of illumination having uniform intensity within a given solid angle. The polynomial shape is especially selected to provide a reflected, defocused source image, whose size increases with increasing angular divergence of light rays within the beam to compensate for natural losses in illumination which would otherwise occur as a function of angular divergence of light rays from the source when used without the reflector.

Abstract: Photographic scene light detecting apparatus particularly suitable for use with a camera of the type which includes an electronic control system for receiving an input signal and controlling the firing of an electronic flash at a predetermined time after the initiation of an exposure interval. The apparatus includes a photodetector and an optical system by which scene radiation can be collected from a predetermined field of view and directed along an optical path onto the photodetector which operates to provide an output signal for use as the input signal to the camera electronic control system. A blade apparatus operates to selectively block and unblock the optical path to the photodetector such that the photodetector receives scene radiation from one region of the scene prior to the firing of the electronic flash and from another region of the scene in correspondence with the firing of the electronic flash.

Abstract: Photographic camera apparatus for use with a camera having an optical path along which film can be positioned for exposure. The apparatus comprises a scanning type shutter blade arrangement displaceable during an exposure cycle to define a progressively increasing aperture in alignment with the optical path to facilitate film exposure and a variable focus optical system coupled with the shutter blade arrangement such that the focus of the optical system is continuously changed in response to displacement of the shutter blade arrangement. The apparatus is structured so that the optical system focuses for predetermined subject distances as predetermined sizes of the shutter blade arrangement aperture occur.

Abstract: A plastic optical element having especially selected spectral transmission characteristics is structured to collect and direct radiation from a photographic scene onto the surface of a photodetector which operates to generate an output signal that can be used to predict an exposure value for the scene as based on the magnitude of the output signal. In combination with the photodetector, which is preferably a silicon photodiode, the optical element defines a photoelectric radiometer which has a preferred relative spectral sensitivity in the visible and near infrared region of the spectrum. The preferred spectral sensitivity of the radiometer is particularly suitable for evaluating the exposures required in high contrast scenes.

Abstract: A method for assembling photographic processing systems of the type for advancing integral, self-processable film units to the exterior of a camera while simultaneously spreading a fluid processing composition in a uniformly thin layer between selected layers of a film unit. A number of processing rollers which comprise the system are provided with a partially textured surface by using an electric discharge machining process having predetermined conditions, and then a number of test processing systems are assembled with these rollers and other pieceparts randomly selected from lots of all other pieceparts which comprise the system. Characteristic film units are processed through the test processing systems, and the fluid layer thickness in each of these film units is afterwards measured and compared with a predetermined standard.

Abstract: Camera apparatus of the type having an objective taking lens and an electronic flash movable between an erect operative position and a folded storage position is provided with a built-in, close-up lens arrangement for extending the focus range of the objective lens thus enabling a user to take pictures at nearer distances than would otherwise be possible using the camera objective lens alone. The close-up lens arrangement is structured for manual movement between a first position in which a close-up lens is in a storage location and a second position in which the close-up lens is captured and optically registered with the camera objective lens. The close-up lens can be released either manually or in response to movement of the electronic flash into its storage position. Upon release, the close-up lens automatically returns to its storage location.

Abstract: Photographic camera apparatus for use with a camera having an optical path along which film can be positioned for exposure. The apparatus comprises a scanning type shutter blade arrangement displaceable during an exposure cycle to define a progressively increasing aperture in alignment with the optical path to facilitate film exposure and a variable focus optical system coupled via an epicyclic gear train with the shutter blade arrangement such that the focus of the optical system is continuously changed in response to displacement of the shutter blade arrangement. The apparatus is structured so that the optical system focuses for predetermined subject distances as predetermined sizes of the shutter blade arrangement aperture occur.

Abstract: A photographic camera having either a built-in or detachably connectable electronic strobe light which provides a preferred illumination distribution over the field of view of the camera in order to maximize flash range and improve the quality of illumination for flash pictures. The strobe is provided with a reflector that is asymmetrically shaped about the horizontal plane having optical power which decreases at different rates about the horizontal plane. This arrangement provides a vertically asymmetric distribution of illumination over the picture area with the peak illumination occurring at the central upper part of the picture area. Side to side illumination of the picture is generally symmetric about the vertical axis and is controlled by a cylindrical Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A photoelectric radiometer structured to generate an output signal that can be used to predict an exposure value for a photographic scene as based on the magnitude of the radiometer output signal. The radiometer is provided with a preferred relative spectral sensitivity in the visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum to minimize exposure errors which otherwise can occur with certain types of high contrast scenes which contain objects that have widely different visible reflectivities. A positive lens collects radiation from a scene and directs it onto the surface of a silicon photodiode which in turn provides the output signal. The spectral sensitivity of the photodiode is suitably altered, e.g., with a filter, to provide the radiometer preferred relative spectral sensitivity.

Abstract: A method and optical apparatus by which a camera initially adapted to utilize a zooming optical system of the type which includes a variable focus, afocal zoom lens section and a prime lens section is adapted to utilize only the prime lens section of the zooming optical system.

Abstract: Photographic camera apparatus is provided by which a camera having a light sensing system which measures scene brightness to facilitate automatic exposure control can be utilized to photograph an image of an object, under circumstances where the image is presented to the camera objective lens but is hidden from the view of the camera light sensing system, in a manner whereby the automatic exposure control feature of the camera is advantageously preserved.

Abstract: A zoom lighting device for projecting a generally rectangular illumination pattern whose size can be selectively changed. The device comprises a paraboloidal reflector and an artificial light source which cooperate to provide a collimated to nearly collimated beam of light which is circular in cross-section. The circularly-shaped light beam is intercepted by a pair of movably mounted crossed lenticular screens that are optically structured to change the circularly-shaped beam to a diverging generally rectangularly-shaped beam whose angles of divergence can be selectively changed by moving the screens relative to one another.

Abstract: A photographic camera of the type having an automatic exposure control system which regulates the exposure delivered to a film of predetermined speed and which includes a manually operable exposure trim mechanism which varies the control of the exposure control system in accordance with the trim mechanism's position is provided with apparatus by which a visual indication of the status of the trim mechanism is displayed in the camera viewfinder.

Abstract: Lens testing apparatus and method by which the focus of a lens can be set to sharply image a distant object in a select focal or reference plane. The apparatus comprises a conventional television camera on which a lens can be mounted in a predetermined manner to focus light from a collimated light beam onto the photosensitive surface of the television camera tube. As the lens is adjusted, the area of the pattern of illumination formed by the lens on the photosensitive surface changes in accordance with the state of focus of the lens. The television camera scans the illuminated area and produces a video signal which is received by electronic circuitry that is operative to indicate the size of the area of the pattern of illumination as the lens state of focus is changed. The smallest area indicated corresponds to the best focus adjustment for the lens. Lens focal length also can be determined with the apparatus by making appropriate measurements when the smallest area is indicated.

Abstract: An adapter is provided by which a self-contained automatic camera can be coupled to an optical viewing device such as an endoscope to view and photograph an image formed by the viewing device while advantageously preserving an automatic exposure feature of the camera to control exposure.

Abstract: For use in an afocal, periscopic viewfinder system of the type having four spaced apart elements, all equi-convex with aspherized surfaces and identical in pairs, and a central stop, there is provided a novel central reimaging system that is structured to increase the overall length of the viewfinder system without substantially changing the other characteristics or optical performance of the viewfinder system.

Abstract: An adapter by which a self-contained camera having an objective lens can be optically and mechanically coupled with a well-known endoscope of the type having an especially designed eyepiece adapted to be changed between a viewing mode and a photographic mode, in which the eyepiece operates as an objective lens for forming an object image in a plane located a predetermined distance behind the eyepiece. The adapter of the invention is structured to mechanically and optically couple the self-contained camera to the endoscope and to change the endoscope eyepiece from its viewing mode to its photographic mode. Provided in the adapter is a negative lens which optically nullifies the objective lens function of the endoscope eyepiece of collimating convergent image forming rays therefrom so that the self-contained camera can be used to photograph the image formed by the endoscope with the camera objective lens focused at infinity.

Abstract: Photographic indicator apparatus is provided for use in a folding type camera with a collapsible viewing device to provide a signal which is visible through an eyelens of the camera viewing device and which indicates that available scene light is below a threshold value which requires the use of an artificial light source to provide supplemental illumination of the scene or which will cause blurred pictures if the camera is hand held and no artificial light source is used. The low available scene light signal originates from an LED which is made visible through the eyelens by a specially configured prismatic optical element that defines a deviated optical path between the eyelens and the LED.