Abstract: A parallax corrected image capture system and method for capturing images using such an apparatus. The system has a first camera and a second camera, at least one of which has a variable focus objective lens the focus of which can be adjusted by a first drive. A range finder supplies a distance signal indicating the distance from the capture system to an object in a scene to be captured while a parallax corrector adjusts the angle between an optical axis of the first camera and an optical axis of the second camera. A processor system controls the first drive and the parallax corrector in accordance with the range finder distance signal.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for placing a contact print slide (134) in a photographic printer (10) having a platen (54) for supporting a photographic paper (32) during exposure of an image (88, 90) onto the paper at a paper print gate (36) at the platen.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with an electronically sharpened edge. The method uses an image writing medium to form an image on a substrate. The image is printed using a range of writing medium exposures greater than a standard range. The standard range is the range required to insure that macroscopic areas of the substrate exhibit the full density range of the substrate between Dmin and Dmax. Such printing provides that sharpened edges of the image will be printed with reduced clipping of sharpened edge density. An apparatus for executing the method is also provided.

Abstract: An index print includes a recording sheet having positive images corresponding to respective images on an image recording medium and being right-side-up or up-side-down on the recording sheet. The index print further includes eye-readable means on the recording sheet which relate to the positive images. The invention is characterized in that the eye-readable means is positioned relative to the positive images to permit at least a portion of the eye-readable means to be read without being up-side-down on the recording sheet when viewing the positive images right-side-up on the recording sheet, whether the positive images are recorded right-side-up or up-side-down on the recording sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus (10; 800) is disclosed for loading 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 apparatus including a frame (40-50); a station (14, 138, 142; 804) supported by the frame for a camera to be loaded; a customer interface (18-30) supported by the frame for inputting a first signal corresponding to a type of film desired for a 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 guiding film from the source into a camera at the station; a mechanism (176, 246, 248) supported by the frame for driving film from the source, via the film loading member, and to a camera at the stati

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for scanning photographic film includes a scan gate (14, 16, 18, 26-30) having a film track (14) to guide a filmstrip (50) longitudinally in a direction of travel, a film guide surface (26) in the film track, and an elongated scan aperture (28) through the guide surface, the scan aperture being extended transverse to the film track; an image scanning device (18) positioned opposite the scan aperture, the scanning device including a housing (20) with a window (36), the housing enclosing an elongated array (44)of sensors faced through the window toward the film track opposite the scan aperture, the array of sensors having a length (L) and being spaced from the film guide surface; the scanning device further having a transparent cover (42) between the sensors and the film guide surface; the array and the cover being extended transversely to the film track, whereby a passage (48) for a filmstrip (50) is defined between the cover and the film guide surface; a conduit (78, 80)for delivering pressuriz

Abstract: A method for forming an integral image on an image receiving medium which image is aligned or alignable with an integral lens sheet having a back side and a plurality of separate lens elements on a front side, and apparatus which can perform such a method. The method includes: directly sensing the location of each of a plurality of reference elements on the lens sheet which reference elements are separated in a same direction the lens elements are separated; and writing portions of the lenticular image on the image receiving medium each of which is associated with a corresponding lens element, in accordance with the sensed positions of the reference elements; wherein each of a plurality of image portions is written at a position which is a function of the directly sensed location of at least one selected reference element, the functions for at least some of the plurality of image portions being based on at least one different reference element.

Abstract: A camera for recording motion sequences which may be selected for forming an integral image. The camera includes an image capture device for capturing a scene action as a motion sequence of image frame signals; and a first storage device for storing the motion sequence. A comb subset of the motion sequence is selected; and a second storage device which may be the same or different from the first storage device, stores the selected comb subset of the motion sequence. A method of obtaining in a camera such as the foregoing camera, a set of images from which a lenticular motion image can be formed, is further provided.

Abstract: An album (50) for photographic prints includes a front cover (52); a back cover (54); a binder member (56) attached between the front and back covers; an elongated, partially cylindrical shell member (78) attached to the binder member, the shell member having opposite ends (80, 82) and opposed longitudinal edges (90, 92), the longitudinal edges being attached to the binder member; and at least one album page (94) movably attached to the shell member, the page having opposed portions (96, 98) which extend around the opposite ends, whereby the page can be moved circumferentially around the shell member from a first position near one of the covers to a second position near another of the covers. The album may include a sensing device (30, 32) to detect movement of the at least one page and a produce a signal; and a system (124-160), responsive to the signal, for playing back sound messages or displaying text messages, or both, associated with photographic prints carried by the at least one page.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber. An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.

Abstract: A method for forming a film scroll and assembling the film scroll into a non-lighttight camera body begins in a darkroom by winding a filmstrip into a film feed roll from a filmstrip source, such as a stockroll onto a winding quill after attaching a formed leading portion thereto. According to the present invention, an outer end of the film feed roll is attached to a film spool of a film cartridge to form a prewound scroll and cartridge assembly for loading into respective chambers of the non-lighttight camera body section. A cover is then fixed to the camera body section to make the camera lighttight.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a core made of a soft magnetic material, a permanent magnet located between a pair of ends of the core, the permanent magnet being supported for movement, and an electrically conductive coil wrapped about a portion of the core. The reluctance of the core is adjustable to alter movement of the permanent magnet as a function of time upon application of electrical current to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: Apparatus (10, 800) is disclosed for loading film into and vending photographic cameras (106), the cameras 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 apparatus including a frame (40-50); a station (14, 138, 142; 804) to support a camera to be loaded, or unloaded, or vended; a first source (60; 826) supported by said frame for a plurality of cameras to be loaded, or vended, or both; a guide (66; 806) for moving a camera from the first source to the station; a second source (150, 168) supported by the frame for at least one type of unexposed photographic film; a film loading member (522) supported by the frame and extended between the second source and the station for guiding film from the second source to a camera; and a mechanism (176, 246, 248) supported by the frame for driving film from the second source, via the film loading

Abstract: A head-to-medium backer device (37) includes a rigid frame (38) supporting an elastically deformable leaf spring (40) for engaging a magnetic medium (16) to urge the medium into contact with a magnetic head (14). The rigid frame supports a pair of attachment elements (42, 44; 52; 54) which secure respective opposite ends (46, 48) of the leaf spring, the attachment elements being configured so that, when the leaf spring is installed therebetween, the leaf spring flexes to form a continuous arc (50) which is convex away from the rigid frame with the opposite ends of the leaf spring being secured against rotation relative to the rigid frame, whereby when the magnetic head is forced against a center portion of the arc, the center portion can be flexed toward the rigid frame while the opposite ends of the leaf spring remain fixedly secure against rotation relative to the frame.

Abstract: A camera having a touch sensitive control with first and second positions spaced apart along a surface of the camera, and a shutter. A processor is connected to the touch sensitive control and the shutter, so that as a user slides a finger from the first to the second positions, the shutter is operated. The sliding shutter control inhibits vibration during picture taking while allowing a two-position shutter control. The touch sensitive control may particularly be a touch sensitive screen and icons controlling other camera functions can be presented thereon. These camera control icons can be re-positioned or re-sized on the screen to suit user preferences and/or physical limitations.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for placing a contact print slide (134) in a photographic printer (10) having a platen (54) for supporting a photographic paper (32) during exposure of an image (88, 90) onto the paper at a paper print gate (36) at the platen.

Abstract: A camera having a microphone for detecting sound in a bi-directional manner. The microphone, for example a first order gradient microphone, is placed within a camera body and is in communication with two apertures extending from the front and rear surfaces of the camera body. Background noise is reduced and sound from the scene being photographed and the user of the camera is preferentially detected by the microphone. Preferably, the microphone is mounted in a substantially resilient and acoustically opaque material to reduce stray noises, such as from the motors of the camera.

Abstract: A device for controlling a stepper motor that drives a plurality of shutter blades. The movement and position of the movement of the rotor of the stepper motor is monitored to determine when the next step of the stepper motor should be stepped so that the rotation of the rotor will be known to cause the shutter blades to form the correct aperture size. The device may also be used to drive an automatic focusing mechanism and/or zoom.

Abstract: A shutter intended for use with a light-sensitive material. The shutter includes a light-blocking disk having a light-passing portion through which light can pass to reach a light-sensitive material. The disk is rotated to locate its light-passing portion in line with the light-sensitive material to allow light passing through the light-passing portion to advance towards the light-sensitive material. The shutter also includes a capping element which is moved between a light-blocking position and a non-light-blocking position relative to the light-sensitive material and the light-passing portion of the disk. A single sensor is used to detect a predetermined rotational position of the disk and in response thereto the capping element is moved from one of its light-blocking and non-light-blocking positions to the other.

Abstract: A real image viewfinder includes an objective lens, a variator, an image reflecting optic unit, and an eyepiece lens that define a first optical path in which a first real image plane is located between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens, and can be viewed through the eyepiece lens. The reflecting optic unit is movable to compensate for variations in the position of the first real image focal plane such that the real image focal plane moves simultaneously with movement of the reflecting optic unit and also is adapted to define a second optical path through the viewfinder such that a second real image plane is located at the focal plane of the eyepiece lens, where an information display can be located.