Patents Represented by Attorney Roger A. Fields
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Patent number: 4583831Abstract: A photographic camera enables pseudo telephoto and pseudo panoramic prints to be obtained from normal exposures coded to identify the selected type print. In the camera, an objective lens is adjustable to vary its angular field of view within a field range having a wide angle limit and a telephoto limit. A manually operated member is movable to a plurality of positions corresponding to respective fields of view within the field range of the lens, for adjusting the lens to a selected field of view. Also, the manually operated member is movable to other positions corresponding to respective pseudo telephoto or pseudo panoramic fields of view outside the field range of the lens, when the lens is adjusted to the telephoto limit or the wide angle limit.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1985Date of Patent: April 22, 1986Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Donald M. Harvey
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Patent number: 4578727Abstract: In a head-to-disk stabilizing unit of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a flat air bearing surface surrounds an elongate opening to a negative pressure cavity. A record and/or playback head is arranged in the cavity with its transducer means (e.g., a magnetic gap) disposed at the opening in substantially coplanar relation with the air bearing surface. If a flexible magnetic disk is rotated at a relatively high speed to move successive radial portions of the disk over the air bearing surface and the opening, the surface will stabilize each portion of the rotated disk by damping out any flutter before a negative pressure formed in the cavity pulls the disk portion substantially into contact with the transducer means, thereby ensuring a constant and intimate transducer-to-disk magnetic coupling.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1984Date of Patent: March 25, 1986Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Robert G. C. Hills
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Patent number: 4565431Abstract: In a multilamp flash assembly adapted for attachment to a camera having a flashlamp firing circuit, the respective flashlamps are advanced sequentially to a firing position. A lamp advancing member in the flash assembly is made of an electrically conductive material and is disposed to form an integral part of the firing circuit when the flash assembly is attached to the camera. The advancing member is movable to establish an electrical connection with the respective flashlamps, one at a time, and to advance a flashlamp electrically connected with the advancing member to the firing position. Thus, the advancing member operates as an electrical contact for a flashlamp, as well as for advancing the lamp to the firing position.In an alternate embodiment, the advancing member is disposed in the camera.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1984Date of Patent: January 21, 1986Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Charles J. Henley, Frederick W. Harvey
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Patent number: 4564279Abstract: In a photographic camera, closing sliding movement of a camera back moves a film-engaging member mounted on the back to thread a film leader from a film cartridge to a take-up drum. At the completion of closing movement of the camera back, a separator disengages the film-engaging member from the leader. This permits the take-up drum to advance an unexposed section of the film from the cartridge and to wind an exposed section of the film onto the drum, each time the drum is rotated. A rewind member is provided for rewinding the exposed film into the cartridge by rotating a film spool connected in the cartridge to an end portion of the film. An actuator on the camera back moves the rewind member into engagement with the spool in response to closing movement of the camera back. The engagement secures the cartridge in place during advancement of the film to the take-up drum, and permits the rewind member to rotate the spool to rewind the film into the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1984Date of Patent: January 14, 1986Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Klaus Sitzler, Kurt Steisslinger
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Patent number: 4557571Abstract: A photographic camera includes a built-in electronic flash unit which is pivotable with respect to the camera housing. The flash unit pivots between an inactive folded position in which it forms an integrated part of the camera housing to cover a taking lens, and an operative erect position in which it is sufficiently removed from the lens to permit picture-taking substantially without any red-eye effect. The lens is movable along its optical axis to a taking position extended from the camera housing and to a storage position retracted in the housing, in response to pivoting the flash unit to its operative and folded positions, respectively. With the flash unit in its folded position and the lens in its storage position, the camera is relatively compact.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1984Date of Patent: December 10, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Michael Reibl
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Patent number: 4557578Abstract: An autofocus camera has an optical viewfinder for composing a scene to be photographed, and an autofocus frame in the viewfinder for framing the focus (main) subject in the scene. Electrically activated means, such as a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's), are provided for highlighting the autofocus frame, especially in a dim or moderate light situation, to prominently call attention to whether or not the focus subject is within the autofocus frame. Manually operated means, including a shutter release, activate the highlighting means before the scene can be photographed.In a preferred embodiment, the autofocus frame includes a plurality of indicator marks disposed in spaced relation about the center of the viewfinder. The LED's are arranged in the viewfinder to be seen at the respective spaces between the indicator marks. When the shutter release is partially depressed, the LED's combine with the indicator marks to define the autofocus frame, thereby highlighting such frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1984Date of Patent: December 10, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Neil G. Seely
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Patent number: 4556303Abstract: A small size camera is adapted for use with various types of flash units, such as a compact multi-lamp flash and a larger flip-flash. The various flash types are to be located in respective operative positions relative to the camera body to space them at least a minimum distance from the camera lens to substantially avoid red eye, and have distinguishable means indicative of their respective positions. The camera includes a flash holder movable to a plurality of positions, corresponding to the operative positions of the various flash types, to locate a flash unit received by the holder at least the minimum distance from the lens. Sensing means in the camera distinguishes between the indicative means of the various flash types to determine the position of the flash holder for locating a flash unit in its operative position.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1984Date of Patent: December 3, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: William A. Martin
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Patent number: 4547054Abstract: In a photographic camera, a finger pressure sensitive member extends substantially around the optical path of a taking lens. The pressure sensitive member is supported for movement to a plurality of positions in response to finger pressure at respective locations around the optical path. If a finger is inadvertently placed over the taking lens at any angle, it will move the pressure sensitive member to a corresponding one of the positions. A sensing device extends around the optical path in a manner similar to that of the pressure sensitive member for sensing movement of the member to each of its positions. An indicator connected to the sensing device alerts the camera user before the user takes a picture that a finger may be blocking the taking lens, whenever the sensing device senses movement of the pressure sensitive member to any one of its positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1984Date of Patent: October 15, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Mark E. Bridges
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Patent number: 4515457Abstract: In a camera of the type having (a) an adjustable diaphragm for reducing the effective size of an exposure aperture and (b) a shutter including an opening blade for uncovering the exposure aperture and a closing blade for re-covering the exposure aperture, a single electromagnet is used in conjunction with an ambient light-regulated circuit to control the diaphragm and the shutter in relation to the intensity of ambient light. The electromagnet is energized only once for each film exposure, at alternative times corresponding to relatively dim and relatively bright ambient light. During dim light, the electromagnet is energized before the diaphragm can reduce the effective size of the exposure aperture, to retain the diaphragm with the closing blade removed from the exposure aperture during shutter opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1984Date of Patent: May 7, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Donald M. Harvey
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Patent number: 4497553Abstract: Opening and closing blades of a shutter are actuated substantially simultaneously with flash firing means igniting a chemical flash lamp. However, initial opening of the shutter is delayed after flash ignition to synchronize full opening of the shutter with the peak intensity of the ignited flash lamp. In operation, the actuated blades are moved in a forward direction, jointly, to prevent shutter opening, and are returned in a reverse direction, successively, with the opening blade moving ahead of the closing blade, to open the shutter for a relatively short exposure time.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1983Date of Patent: February 5, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: David C. Smart
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Patent number: 4493547Abstract: A data recording camera, which records information on unexposed film concomitant to taking a picture, uses a light source to record the information and for initiating a camera operation related to picture taking, such as firing an electronic flash. A photoelectric sensor in the camera, for example a phototransistor or a photodiode, responds to incident light from the light source and to the discontinuation of such light by undergoing respective electrical changes. A triggering element connected to the photoelectric sensor initiates the camera operation in response to the photoelectric sensor undergoing a particular one of its electrical changes. In the example of an electronic flash, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) is connected to the photoelectric sensor. The SCR renders the flash circuit conductive, to fire a flash tube in synchronization with opening of the camera shutter, in response to the photoelectric sensor undergoing an electrical change after the shutter uncovers the light source.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1983Date of Patent: January 15, 1985Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Mark E. Bridges
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Patent number: 4471397Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a protective envelope located within the cartridge housing for enclosing a magnetic disk. the envelope prevents dust and other contaminants from reaching the disk surfaces and provides a rigid interior enclosure for the flexible disk, which supplements the housing in protecting the flexible disk from being folded or otherwise damaged. Loading the cartridge in a disk recording and/or playback apparatus actuates means in the cartridge for rotating the envelope within the housing to position a head-access opening and a backer-access opening in the envelope substantially in registration with corresponding openings in the housing. Removal of the cartridge from the apparatus causes the envelope to be rotated to position the envelope across the respective openings in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1983Date of Patent: September 11, 1984Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Robert P. Cloutier
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Patent number: 4469423Abstract: The back of a camera has a window through which an information area on a film cartridge may be viewed. One of the ends of an elastic opaque strip is connected to the camera back at a location between the window and a film pressure plate supported on the camera back. When the other end of the strip is moved to draw the strip taut, partially about the cartridge, the strip transversely shifts against the cartridge and positions an opening in the strip, aligned with the window, over the information area on the cartridge. The strip thus forms a light-tight connection between the camera back and the cartridge, which prevents light entering the window from fogging film advanced out of the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1983Date of Patent: September 4, 1984Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Richard J. Bresson
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Patent number: 4407576Abstract: In a camera, a piezoelectric generator is struck by a hammer to produce an electrical pulse for flash firing. A firing spring carrying the hammer engages a shutter blade to drive the blade as the spring is moved to impact the hammer against the crystal. When the firing spring is stopped by the hammer striking the crystal, the shutter blade is catapulted from the firing spring to uncover an exposure aperture in synchronization with the resulting flash illumination.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1982Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Brian J. Joseph
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Patent number: 4397535Abstract: In a camera, a film threading apparatus operates to feed a film leader extending out of a film cassette from a supply chamber to a take-up chamber. The film cassette is loaded in the supply chamber with the film leader positioned in a film passageway between the supply and take-up chambers. A film threading member is located adjacent the leader, with a non-film engagable section of the threading member confronting, though spaced from the leader. When a camera door is closed, a drive mechanism causes the threading member to be revolved, moving a film engagable section of the threading member to engage and advance the film leader to a film capturing mechanism in the take-up chamber. The threading member is stopped with its non-engagable section again confronting the film leader to prevent the threading member from interfering with subsequent film advance.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1982Date of Patent: August 9, 1983Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Donald M. Harvey
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Patent number: 4384780Abstract: In a bottom-loaded camera, a light seal is located between a loading chamber adapted to receive a film cassette and a window in the camera back for viewing film-related information on the loaded cassette. The light seal is movably connected to the camera back in light-sealing engagement therewith and shields film from the cassette against light entering the window. Manual operation of an exterior member, moves the light seal away from the chamber to provide space for loading the cassette in the chamber, and against the cassette to effect a lighttight connection between the camera back and the cassette.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1982Date of Patent: May 24, 1983Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Richard J. Bresson
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Patent number: 4299466Abstract: In a photographic camera, an electrically powered memory device stores data obtained by sensing detectable means on a filmstrip, but loses stored data upon a power diminution below a minimum level necessary for memory retention. When electrical power is resumed above such minimum level to a predetermined higher level, a film drive is operated to rewind the filmstrip at least until the detectable means previously sensed during film advance have been returned past the sensing device. Then, the film drive is operated to re-advance the filmstrip substantially the same distance it was rewound. During re-advance, the sensing device again senses the detectable means to restore lost data to the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1980Date of Patent: November 10, 1981Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Donald M. Harvey
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Patent number: 4248564Abstract: An opening method and apparatus for opening a frangible cartridge containing a disk of exposed film, makes use of a punch and die assembly for punching the film disk out of the cartridge. Opposed wall members of the cartridge, between which the film disk is located, are punched away from the remainder of the cartridge along with the film disk. In this way, the wall members shield the film disk from any fragments which may be produced during cartridge opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1979Date of Patent: February 3, 1981Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Ralph Gentile, John S. Lercher
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Patent number: D271979Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1981Date of Patent: December 27, 1983Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Ralph M. Vigna
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Patent number: D276761Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1982Date of Patent: December 18, 1984Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Vincent F. Lang