Abstract: An autofocus camera includes an electronic flash and a piezoelectric focus motor that are both powered by a moderately high voltage power supply. The camera includes an automatic focus detector that senses a scene and produces a focus signal representing the required focus adjustment for the scene. A focus motor drive circuit responsive to the focus signal supplies a controlled amount of power from the power supply to the piezoelectric focus motor to drive a movable lens element to effect the required focus adjustment.

Abstract: Processing circuitry for discrete-sample-type-color-video signals performs an interpolation along a scan row or line to define intermediate signal levels between signal "updates" for the individual primary colors. In a preferred implementation, using green, red, and blue as primary colors, green samples occur more frequently than red or blue and interpolated green samples are specially combined to produce a "slow" green signal that is matched to the frequency ranges of the red and blue signals. The difference between the full green signal and the slow green signal is then used for producing a signal to represent high frequency luminance detail.

Abstract: A solid state image sensing device comprises an array of picture sensing elements which are MOS transistors formed on a bulk of semiconductor material. The transistors are of a V-MOS configuration and have respective sources, V-shaped gates, and drains. The source-to-bulk diode of a V-MOS picture sensing element functions as a photodiode and is disposed near the surface of the array to receive a respective portion of imagewise illumination. In a preferred embodiment, the drain of the V-MOS picture sensing element is buried in the bulk directly beneath its respective source. The source, in conjunction with its gate, acts as a multiplex switch for the photodiode.

Abstract: A camera having an adjustable mechanism to set an exposure aperture, a shutter to control the duration of an exposure and a member movable in a first range to initiate adjustment of the mechanism and movable in a second range to actuate the shutter to open the exposure aperture, includes a single electromagnet effective to become energized and subsequently de-energized to control the mechanism to set a desired exposure aperture and effective to be energized during an open condition of the shutter to hold the shutter open until de-energization thereof. The electromagnet is connected in a control circuit that has a photosensor exposed to scene brightness and switches controlled by the movable member to operatively connect the photosensor to the electromagnet.

Abstract: A camera having a self cocking shutter with a shutter actuating member for initiating exposures and a piezo-electric flash device with a flash firing spring that is cocked in concert with film advance, includes a double exposure prevention latch that disables the shutter actuating member when the flash firing spring is not cocked.

Abstract: A camera shutter having a light-responsive circuit that regulates movement of the shutter to effect an exposure of duration related to actual scene brightness, an exposure-limiting device that operates to limit the duration of the exposure to correspond to a predetermined scene brightness, means for selectively disabling the exposure-limiting device, and shutter reset apparatus that, if the exposure-limiting device is disabled during an exposure, reenables the device when the shutter is reset.

Abstract: A camera adapted to make exposures of a scene illuminated by substantially constant or transient (flash) light includes exposure control apparatus having a photosensor to effect an exposure of duration related to the intensity of the light, a focus control and first and second light attenuating elements mounted to be selectively positioned in and out of the optical path of the photosensor. The attenuating elements are biased to move toward the optical path; and for exposures in substantially constant light, the first attenuating element is held out of the optical path. For exposures in flash light, the first attenuating element is positioned within the optical path while the second attenuating element is moved out of the optical path while the second attenuating element is released to move into the optical path to an extent determined by the focus control.

Abstract: An exposure control circuit that produces a variable exposure interval depending upon scene brightness or a constant exposure interval proportional to a predetermined scene brightness, by providing a photocurrent proportional to the level of actual scene brightness and a reference current proportional to the predetermined scene brightness and, preferably automatically, selectively integrating the photocurrent or the reference current depending upon the relative magnitude of the currents. The integrated current provides a signal to produce a variable exposure interval related to actual scene brightness when the photocurrent is greater than the reference current, or provides a signal to produce a constant exposure interval when the photocurrent is less than the reference current. The selective integration may be disabled to permit only the photocurrent to be integrated over all scene brightness and thus produce an exposure interval related to actual scene brightness beyond the predetermined brightness.

Abstract: An improved exposure control apparatus for use in a camera having a shutter mechanism utilizing a setting member with first and second positions corresponding to first and second exposure time setting positions of the shutter mechanism. A spring linkage is provided to urge the setting member towards its first position. The spring linkage, upon manual movement of the setting member to its second position, cooperates with structure within the camera to releasably retain the setting member in its second position. A release member, actuated by the preparation of the camera for the next exposure, releases the spring linkage simultaneously with increasing the restoring force exerted on the setting member by the sprink linkage.

Abstract: An improved shutter mechanism of the sliding blade-type for synchronizing the firing of a flash device with the movement of one of the shutter blades to effect an exposure. During movement of the blade, an abutment surface on the blade momentarily closes the contacts of a switch to activate an electrically-fired flash device. A second abutment surface, located on either the shutter blade or a cover blade, prevents closing of the switch contacts during recocking of the shutter mechanism.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for reducing noise in a video signal, the low-frequency component is extracted from the video signal by filtering; the low-frequency component is then subtracted from the video signal to yield a high-frequency component; the high-frequency component is cored to remove the low-amplitude portions therefrom; and the cored high-frequency component is combined with the low-frequency component to produce a video signal having reduced noise.

Abstract: A battery checker for checking the condition of batteries under a simulated load includes a timer that automatically disconnects the load from the batteries a predetermined time after the check has commenced.

Abstract: A housing for a piezoelectric crystal comprising an outer shell, preferably formed of nylon, in which are assembled two anvils and a piezoelectric crystal. The outer shell is heated and spun over to retain the anvils and crystals within the housing. Also disclosed is a mount for retaining the housing within a photographic camera and for providing electrical connections to the crystal.

Abstract: A heat seal film splicer having a reciprocating heated splice head movable along a guide track between a first position wherein the splice head is adapted to cooperate with the guide track to cut off a length of heat activated splice tape and to apply heat and pressure to a splice and a second position away from the first position is provided with a means for thermally decoupling the splice head from the guide track when the splice head is in its second position.

Abstract: A pressure roller assembly for use in a camera of the type adapted to expose and process self developing film units includes a pair of rollers held in juxtaposed relation within a frame having open ended slots for receiving the ends of the rollers. Unimpeded radial displacement of the rollers away from each other is limited by a pair of bearing blocks blocking the open ends of the roller receiving slots. The bearing blocks are urged toward the rollers by a bow shaped spring having arms adapted to engage the frame to hold the spring under tension against the bearing blocks. The ends of the bow shaped spring bear against the bearing blocks at a point contact.

Abstract: A mechanism in which a latch is movable between a latching and an unlatching position. The latch includes a first arm engageable by a shutter actuator to move the latch to its unlatching position, a second arm for retaining a piezoelectric firing spring in a latched position when the latch is in its latching position and a third arm movable into engagement with a film advance mechanism to prevent short stroke operation during movement of the piezoelectric firing spring to its latched position.

Abstract: A firing mechanism is provided in photographic apparatus for striking a pizoelectric crystal to generate electrical energy. energy. The mechanism includes a firing spring and mount, with the firing spring being assembled and retained between two fulcrum edges in the mount. The firing spring is movable to a latched position and, when released, the firing spring moves to cause a hammer to strike the piezoelectric crystal.

Abstract: A light source suitable for use in optical sound recording and reproduction apparatus includes a light emitting diode and a thin sheet of transparent material containing a fluorescent dye used to concentrate the output of the light emitting diode to a fine line.

Abstract: A firing spring cocking mechanism including a surface on a film advance slide, movable into engagement with a piezoelectric crystal firing spring during movement of the film advance slide, to move the firing spring to a latched position. A latch is provided to maintain the firing spring in its latched position prior to operation of the body release lever.

Abstract: A mechanism for minimizing electrostatic flashing of a lamp in a flash array by providing a short circuit across the camera socket terminals until flash firing is desired. The mechanism includes an electrically conductive piezoelectric firing spring connected to one socket terminal and an electrically conductive firing spring latch connected to another socket terminal. A short circuit is provided by engagement of the piezoelectric firing spring and firing spring latch until the piezoelectric firing spring is released to move to its piezoelectric crystal striking position.