Abstract: There is disclosed herein a compact flash camera or flash unit including a red-eye reduction lamp on or near the front of the camera to shine light toward the subject being photographed to minimize or eliminate the red-eye problem. The camera includes a conventional electronic flash system, along with a flash ready light to provide an indication when the flash system is sufficiently energized to fire the flash tube thereof. The red-eye reduction lamp and the flash ready lamp, whether two separate lamps or a single lamp, are turned on and off together so that the red-eye reduction lamp is on and emitting light toward the subject to be photographed whenever the flash is ready to fire. This system minimizes the care the photographer needs to exercise when composing and taking a photograph. The principal applies to both built in flashes and detachable flashes.

Abstract: A zoom lens having a range of equivalent focal lengths (EFL) which extend from a dimension above the diagonal of the film plane of the lens to a telephoto focal length, where the lens comprises three groups of which two are movable to vary the EFL.

Abstract: An automatic focusing zoom lens which comprises a first positive group, a second variator group, a third compensator group, and a relay lens including an autofocus detector which receives a portion of the light entering the fourth group and controls a motor which drives the compensator group to maintain focus of the lens as well as compensating or the shift in focal plane due to movement of the variator group to change the equivalent focal length of the lens.

Abstract: A system and method for adapting a multi-purpose electronic flash for use with an automatic exposure control camera is disclosed. The system responds to a ready signal from the multi-purpose flash and a reference signal from the automatic exposure control camera by providing a signal representative of the correct aperture for a given film speed (ASA) and range of flash to subject distances. Film speed is provided to the system by setting one portion of a variable resistance, while range is provided to the system by setting another portion of the variable resistance which is associated with a graded density optical filter located in front of the photosensor. A bipolar range about the reference signal is established to permit positive or negative signal excursions about the reference signal for indication of correct aperture. A scaling amplifier may also be provided for signal conditioning to ensure compatibility with the camera.

Abstract: A zoom lens having a range of equivalent focal lengths extending from a range below the dimension of the diagonal of the image frame to a dimension substantially above and having a zooming range of up to six to one or greater where the lens has a plus, minus, plus, plus lens unit configuration with a strongly negative second lens unit and a fourth lens unit designed to have a given power and telephoto ratio to compensate for a remote aperture stop located in the third lens unit.

Abstract: A zoom lens having a range of equivalent focal lengths from a dimension below the diagonal of the image frame to above with a zoom ratio of substantially three to one or greater having a second negative lens unit of relatively strong optical power where the second lens unit comprises a negative component, a positive meniscus concave to the object and a doublet including a positive element convex to the object and the optical power of the positive element of said doublet is substantially greater than the optical power of said positive meniscus.

Abstract: An internal focusing lens comprising from the object end a first positive group, a second positive group and a third negative group, the second group being axially movable to focus the lens.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a rechargeable battery pack for use with electronic devices, such as electronic flash units used in photography, and wherein the battery pack has a pair of exposed electrical terminals. At least one of the terminals is constructed in the form of a switch such that when the battery pack is removed from its case, the terminal will assume a switched state so as to eliminate any electrical shock hazard. The battery pack comprises rechargeable batteries, a DC/DC converter for converting the relatively low voltage of the rechargeable batteries to the relatively high output voltage of the battery pack, and includes a voltage monitor and limiting circuit which provides voltage regulation and provides a low battery voltage limit during discharge of the rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A catadioptric lens where the primary and secondary lenses are fixed in relation to the image plane and focusing of the lens is accomplished by movement of a refractive lens group positioned subsequent to the mirror system in relation to the object end of the lens.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a battery charger, such as for use with compact low voltage batteries of the type used in consumer electronic products. The charger can sense both voltage and temperature to prevent either an over voltage condition or over temperature condition from damaging the battery being recharged. The charging circuit has fast and slow charge rates, and the circuit oscillates or automatically switches from one rate to the other without requiring the user to manually select or operate a switch for selecting a particular charge rate. The user merely inserts the battery into the charging circuit at a time when it is in the fast mode or slow mode which is indicated by a suitable visual or other indicator device so as to provide a "time selection" of charge rate. The circuit can use a thermal oscillator or an electronic oscillator for switching between the fast and slow rates.

Abstract: A system and method for adapting a multi-purpose electronic flash for use with an automatic exposure control camera is disclosed. The system responds to a ready signal from the multi-purpose flash and a reference signal from the automatic exposure control camera by providing a signal representative of the correct aperture for a given film speed (ASA) and range of flash to subject distances. Film speed is provided to the system by setting one portion of a variable resistance, while range is provided to the system by setting another portion of the variable resistance which is associated with a graded density optical filter located in front of the photosensor. A bipolar range about the reference signal is established to permit positive or negative signal excursions about the reference signal for indication of correct aperture. A scaling amplifier may also be provided for signal conditioning to ensure compatibility with the camera.

Abstract: A zoom lens which will continuous close focus to a magnification of 1:4, comprising three groups where the third group from the object end is stationary, the second group moves axially to vary the equivalent focal length, and the first group moves axially in predetermined relation to the second group to compensate for the variation in focal length, and is also independently movable axially to focus the lens.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an electronic flash unit and camera combination wherein the angle of the cone of light emitted by the flash unit is automatically varied as a function of the focal length of the camera lens. In one embodiment the camera lens may be a zoom lens, and means is provided for generating a signal which is a function of the selected focal length position of the lens. This signal is received by a circuit of the electronic flash unit. The electronic flash unit may include a zoom head employing a Fresnel lens or the like for changing the angle of the cone of light emitted by the flash unit. A suitable electromagnetic device, such as a small servo motor and control circuit, responds to the signal indicating the selected focal length of the lens and controls the position of the zoom head of the flash unit. The system is particularly useful with zoom lenses of the type wherein the zooming focal length change is accomplished by moving a zoom ring or "pump" in and out along the axis of the lens.

Abstract: A zoom lens having a large zoom ratio and capable of close focusing comprising a first positive grouping movable axially for focusing, a second negative grouping, and a third positive grouping movable simultaneously with the second grouping, but in opposite directions to vary the equivalent focal length of the lens. The third grouping may have sub-groupings movable at different rates in the same direction.

Abstract: A lens of variable equivalent focal length where two lens groups located on either side of an aperture defining means move relative to the aperture defining means, and a lens group of positive power is positioned close to the aperture defining means. The aperture defining means and the associated positive power group may either be stationary or move with change in equivalent focal length.