Abstract: A camera viewfinder reflector for directing light from an indicator outside the line-of-sight of the viewfinder into the viewfinder is provided. The reflector may be combined with an existing element of the camera assembly, such as a leaf spring, or may comprise a separate, distinct reflector component. Light from an indicator on the pc-board of the camera is reflected from a portion of the reflector that is located in the viewfinder at the periphery of the viewfinder lens assembly in fixed optical alignment with the ocular lens of the viewfinder.

Abstract: A holder for a portable device is disclosed. The holder has a housing and garment attachment clip. The housing retains the portable device using three retaining arms, leaving the top open so that the portable device can be removed and replaced easily without obstruction. Further, an opening through the back of the housing permits a prong on the garment attachment clip to cooperate with a protuberance on the portable device to maintain the portable device more securely in the holder. If desired, the protuberance may additionally bias the prong away from the surface of the holder. This facilitates placement of the holder on a garment or belt. The holder may be styled to cooperate with additional surface features of the portable device for a close fit with the device.

Abstract: An APS single use camera has a cover with an aperture that provides access to the film sensor and the light lock door driver via a tool adapted to be received into the aperture. The tool is used to open the light lock door and push the film sensor out of the film path so as to enable film from the APS film cassette to be scrolled into the film path. The structure permits pre-loading of film outside of a darkroom, and such a method is disclosed. The camera also employs a brake that prevents the film sensor from sensing for the presence or absence of film except during a brief sensing interval that occurs during a film advance operation.

Abstract: An APS camera having means for limiting removal and replacement of the film cartridge to those designated to do so. The camera includes an access door to provide access to a film cartridge receiving compartment. A latch disposed on the exterior sidewall of the camera main body, adjacent the film cartridge receiving compartment, secures the access door in the closed position. A lock mechanism, comprising an outer housing and an inner lever disposed within the outer housing, is secured to an exterior sidewall of the camera casing over the latch. The lever is structured for movement from a first blocking position, wherein the latch is inaccessible, to a second open position, wherein the latch may be accessed and the access door opened. The lever includes a pair of outwardly extending locking pins structured for mating engagement with corresponding holes in the housing so as to retain the lever in the first blocking position.

Abstract: An apparatus for alternating between two field frames in a camera viewfinder. The mask has a foldable mask with an aperture, with the mask being movable between two positions. In the first position, the mask is unfolded and interposed in the light-path of the viewfinder, thereby framing the viewfinder image in the shape of the aperture. In the second position, the mask is folded and stored compactly alongside the viewfinder, thereby not interfering with the image in the viewfinder.

Abstract: The camera of this invention includes an improved shutter system that has the same shutter waveform when a flash is employed and when a flash is not employed. In a preferred embodiment, the shutter system includes a shutter that is rotatably mounted to the camera and a shutter opening over which the shutter blade is disposed. A slidable plate in which a first aperture and a second aperture are disposed is coupled to the camera, so that the first aperture is disposed between the first shutter opening and the lens of the camera prior to taking a picture with the camera. The first aperture is preferably smaller than the second aperture. When a picture is taken, the shutter blade moves to uncover the shutter opening, and when the shutter opening is uncovered the shutter blade causes the slidable plate to slide with respect to the shutter opening so that the second larger aperture is disposed between the shutter opening and the camera lens.

Abstract: Objective lenses employing three lens units U1, U2, U3 having a negative (or weak positive); positive; negative optical power configuration are disclosed. The lenses have a total field coverage of at least 50 degrees with a relative aperture of less than f/5. They employ small lens elements having aspherical surfaces and are designed for mass production, particularly using plastic optical materials. Designs for these lenses do not exist in all-spherical form, because the aberrations, particularly distortion, cannot be sufficiently corrected; however, by using a sufficient number of aspherical surfaces, not only can the aberrations be corrected to a higher degree than a conventional aspherized triplet design, but the sensitivity of the design to manufacturing deviations can also be minimized.

Abstract: An APS camera having various mechanical features that simplify film pre-loading, especially in single use APS cameras, is disclosed. The disclosed camera employs the film advance mechanism to open and close the APS film cassette's light lock door, and also employs a film sensor to disable the film advance mechanism from operating the light lock door when film is present in a film path of the camera. Camera size is kept to a minimum by a feature that defines a battery compartment within a film spool of the camera.

Abstract: Optical systems for use in digital cameras are provided. The systems can be switched between three optical paths (1,2,3): a first path (1) for through-the-lens (TTL) viewing; a second path (2) for recalling previously taken pictures from a microdisplay (16); and a third path (3) in which pictures are taken using an electronic sensor (15), e.g., a CMOS sensor. The optical systems employ a zoom objective lens unit (10), e.g., a 3:1 zoom, an erector lens unit (12), and an eye lens unit (13). They can also employ an image size adjusting lens unit (11) for equalizing the TTL and recalled images presented to the user.

Abstract: The camera of this invention preferably includes a combined film advance/rewind mechanism for advancing film from a film cassette to a film path and to a film spool and for rewinding film into the cassette after the film has been exposed within the film path. The combined film advance mechanism preferably thrusts film from the film cassette in order to begin the loading process and then pulls the film to wind it around the film spool after the film has been thrusted to the film spool. Preferably, the combined film advance/rewind mechanism is manually operated and can be operated either to advance film or rewind film. Further the combined film advance/rewind mechanism preferably has an interlock that prevents thrusting of the film when the combined film advance/rewind mechanism is in a rewind position and rewinding film the combined film advance/rewind mechanism is in an advance position.

Abstract: A compact through-the-lens digital camera comprising an objective lens unit, an image sensing device, an internal display device, an eye lens unit, an optical system, control and processing circuitry, function select controls, and an external interface. The optical system is switchable between an image framing mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the objective lens unit to the eye lens unit, an image capture mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the objective lens unit to the image sensing device, and an image review mode optical path, wherein light is directed from the display device to the eye lens unit.

Abstract: A camera having means for pre-winding unexposed film, in non-darkroom conditions from a film cartridge to a take up spool and limiting removal and replacement of the film cartridge to those designated to do. A latching member includes a pair of slots structured to slidingly engage a pair of guide pins disposed on the main body side wall and a pair of hooks structured to matingly engage a pair of hooks extending out from the rear door to prevent the camera door from being opened. A pair of outwardly biased locking pins, extending out from the main body side wall, are structured for movement from a first extended position, wherein the pins extend through a pair of corresponding holes in the latching member, thereby retaining the latching member in a first upper, locking position, to a second depressed position, wherein the latching member may be slid downward to a second lower, unlocking position, thereby permitting the rear door to be opened.

Abstract: The camera of this invention may include a first viewfinder lens disposed in the front of the camera and a second viewfinder lens disposed in the back of the camera. Preferably, these viewfinder lenses are affixed to the camera and are non-moveable. A camera of this invention may further include a flash that is moveable between a stored position and an operable position. The stored position is preferably defined by a viewfinder air space and is defined at least in part by a space between the first and second viewfinder lenses. In its operable position, the flash moves relative to the viewfinder air space so that a camera user can focus on an object whose picture is being taken through the viewfinder lenses. The camera may further include a lens and a lens cover. The lens cover is preferably moveable between a covered position, in which it covers the lens and an uncovered position, in which it does not obstruct the path of light through the lens.

Abstract: The camera of this invention includes a parking mechanism that ensures a visual exposure indicator of an APS film cassette is in the parked position prior to removing the film cassette from the camera. The camera may include a rotatable wheel that rotates in order to move the film between a film cassette compartment, a film exposing area and a film spool. In a preferred embodiment, the parking mechanism includes a pin that engages the rotatable wheel after the film has been rewound into the film cassette and the wheel has been rotated sufficient distance to ensure that the visual exposure indicator moves to the parked position. When the pin engages the rotatable wheel, the pin prevents further rotation of the rotatable wheel. This indicates to the camera user that the visual exposure indicator is in the park position. The wheel may include a cam slot into which the pin travels as the film is being rewound into the film cassette.

Abstract: The camera of this invention preferably includes a rewind interlock that prevents the double exposure of film. Preferably, the camera of this invention is an Advanced Photo System (APS) camera that employs APS film. Such APS film may be contained in a film cassette that has a light lock door. The rewind interlock prevents thrusting or pulling a frame of film from the film cassette after that frame of film has been exposed and rewound into the film cassette. This prevents the accidental double exposure of a frame of film. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the rewind interlock prevents thrusting or pulling film from a film cassette after all of the film has been rewound into the film cassette. Preferably, the rewind interlock prevents the thrusting or removing of exposed film from a film cassette.

Abstract: A camera has a barrier assembly that comprises an integrated lens cover/light hood, and a rotatable door. The assembly is movable between an open and a closed position. The assembly functions as a protective barrier for the camera's picture-taking lens when disposed in the closed position. The door is located within an aperture defined by the lens cover/light hood when the assembly is closed. The door rotates away from the aperture as the assembly translates to the open position. The aperture is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the picture-taking lens as the assembly reaches its open position, thereby allowing ambient light to reach the picture-taking lens. The lens cover/light hood isolates the lens from ambient light outside the field of view of the lens when the assembly is in its open position.

Abstract: A flash camera has an extendable arm mechanically coupled to a flash on/off switch. The arm extends from the camera body when the switch is on the “on” position, and automatically retracts and returns the switch to the “off” position if the extended arm is bumped or touched. The arm also serves to provide a visual indication that the flash switch is in the “on” position.

Abstract: A camera for making pseudo-photographic images has a series of viewfinder masks that define various fields of vision and a series of light-pipe masks that selectively block the passage of light through two light pipes disposed within the camera. The selective blockage causes various patterns of encodement marks to be placed on the edge of the camera's photographic film. The masks are rotatably disposed around the optical axis of the camera's picture-taking lens. The masks are manually rotated by the camera user via a lever and gear assembly disposed on the camera's front cover.

Abstract: An APS camera having various mechanical features that simplify film pre-loading, especially in single use APS cameras, is disclosed. The disclosed camera employs the film advance mechanism to open and close the APS film cassette's light lock door, and also employs a film sensor to disable the film advance mechanism from operating the light lock door when film is present in a film path of the camera. Camera size is kept to a minimum by a feature that defines a battery compartment within a film spool of the camera.

Abstract: A method of pre-loading a camera with film and a battery, and specifically a single use camera, is disclosed. According to the disclosed method, the camera is pre-loaded by withdrawing film from a film cassette into a film spool compartment. The battery is then inserted inside the film spool compartment such that the film surrounds the battery.