Abstract: A double-exposure prevention system for a still camera having a cockable spring-biased linear movable shutter-actuating slider operable between a cocked condition and held thereat by a latch movably responsive to a manually operated release member and thereafter upon release of the latch to a shutter-actuating position is provided with means for allowing one end of the slider to be rotated out of and away from the axis of the shutter-actuating movement throughout most of the subsequent rewind operation. While in this second angular position, the slider disables the operation of the release member, preventing accidental tripping of the latch after a cocking condition has been restored. During a small terminal portion of the film advance and after the preceding frame has been safely advanced so as to be out of the way, the film advance mechanism then rotates the slider back to its initial position.

Abstract: A film speed correction circuit for electrically controlled cameras having aperture or shutter speed controlled responsively to ambient light sensings from a photosensor features a controllable multi-stage amplifier preferably interposed between the photosensor and the aperture or shutter control means. The amplifier features a plurality of cascaded stages, each stage being operated to two different gain values according to a sensing signal provided thereto, the sensing signals for each stage being derived from coded insulating and conducting areas on the outer surface of the film cassette. Use of active stages interposed between passive attenuating stages substantially eliminates interstage loading and allows the use of standard resistance values to provided proper gain values for each stage.

Abstract: An electrically operated flash camera employs an infrared pre-flash reflected light signal stored in a single memory storage to control focus and aperture. Two comparators serve to govern both operations, sensing potentiometrically derived analog position indicating signals representing lens position and aperture setting as the lens and aperture control elements are scanningly driven through their ranges of settings. Comparison of these analog signals with the stored signal is used to terminate scanning to set focus and aperture. A visible light photosensing means controls aperture and inhibits the exposure flash if ambient illumination is adequate.

Abstract: A lens system for a disc camera features a plurality of objective lenses of different focal lengths carried on a turret support that can be rotated into different stable positions in front of the framing area of the film disc to bring a selective lens into picture-taking position. An associated viewfinder adjusting system ganged for operation with the turret support projects a different framing mark pattern into the field of view, the projected pattern corresponding to the image field produced by the objective lens currently in position. A shutter releases inhibitor bars actuation of the shutter release unless an objective lens is properly positioned for exposure.

Abstract: A still camera includes a housing having a film chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a film leader with the chamber defining a film path communicating with an edge of the housing through a channel. The film chamber also has a cavity at one end of the film path for drop-in loading of the cartridge in the direction of the plane of the film and a cavity at the opposite end housing a take-up spool. An imaging area is located at one side of the film path and a pressure plate is generally aligned with the imaging area on opposite side of the film path and biased towards the imaging area. A mechanism is provided for moving the pressure plate away from the imaging area to accommodate film loading and unloading, as well as film rewind.

Abstract: A still camera includes a housing having a film chamber that is open to one side of the camera housing and is designed for drop-in loading of the film cartridge and leader. A channel leads from this side of the camera to the film path and a cavity is located at one end of the film path for receiving the film cartridge while a cavity is located at the other end of the film path which houses a take-up spool. The take-up spool has a slot for receiving the film leader and the camera incorporates drive mechanism for automatically aligning the slot of the take-up spool with the channel when the chamber door is opened. The drive mechanism forms part of the film transport system.

Abstract: An electronic shutter mechanism for a still camera comprises a shutter blade, preferably carrying a solenoid armature, urged by a first spring into an initial lens aperture closing position. An initially latched actuating member for moving the shutter blade to a lens aperture exposing position carries a normally energized solenoid coil to attract the shutter blade carried armature thereto so that the shutter blade moves with the actuating member until the coil is deenergized. When the actuating member is unlatched, a second spring urges the actuating member and the shutter blade magnetically attached thereto into a lens aperture opening position against the return force of the first spring. Upon the unlatching of the actuating member a timing circuit establishes a timing period depending upon the amount of ambient light, after which the solenoid coil is deenergized so the first spring returns the shutter blade quickly to a lens aperture closing position.

Abstract: A camera is provided with flash lamp means, preferably a single flash lamp, useful for both range-determining purposes, for automatic focus control and/or flash lamp light exposure control, and in response to depression of the shutter release control, generates an initial range-determining flash of light and then a film exposure flash of light if flash exposure is desired. Before the shutter is opened, the range-determining flash of light reflected from the object involved is detected by a light sensor feeding the inputs of one or more signal level detectors respectively responsive to different peak levels of the reflected flash lamp light profiles indicating object distances falling within different adjacent range zones by being triggered into a given state. In the automatic focus control form of the invention, the outputs of the signal level detectors are scanned sequentially in the order where the signal level detectors responsive to profiles of objects in the nearest range zone are scanned first.

Abstract: A still camera of the type wherein film is prewound onto a takeup spool within the camera body and thereafter advanced toward and into the film cassette as successive exposures are made includes a final rewind mechanism to prevent the exposed film leader from being positioned in the camera's imaging area. A pair of switches, arranged in series, actuate an electric motor to effect final rewind when sufficient film has been advanced from the takeup spool. One of the switches is actuated responsive to the presence of tensed film on the takeup spool, while the remaining switch is actuated responsive to the presence of film in the camera's imaging area.

Abstract: In a camera adapted to receive a disc-shaped magazine and including a housing with front and rear walls having a lens window exposed on the front wall near one side margin of the housing and front and rear viewfinder windows exposed on the front and rear walls on the same side of the housing as the lens window, a hollow handle is provided having spaced front and rear walls defining therebetween an open housing side-receiving recess. The handle is much narrower than the width of the housing so as to fit over only the side of the housing containing the lens and viewfinder windows.

Abstract: A disc camera advances a film disc by an oscillating pawl engaging the disc film notches previously used for indexing. The pawl is carried on a member pivotably mounted on the side of the rear film chamber wall remote from the chamber and passing through an opening in this wall. The limits of movement of this member are determined by the height of a lobe of a rotating cam driving the pawl system and by other mechanical limit stops. An end-of-film sensing pin is provided which passes through the rear film chamber wall of the camera and engages the face of the film disc hub directly. When the pin drops into the film disc hub, the film advance motor circuit is rendered inoperative. A single printed circuit board placed near and parallel to the side of the film chamber wall remote from the film chamber carries the DC motor, shutter-cocking and the pawl-oscillating mechanism. The pawl carrying member is pivoted on this wall.

Abstract: An electrically driven automatic film advance camera with automatic transition to rewind without external actuation is described. Film advance after each exposure occurs automatically after release of the shutter actuating button by means of an integral electric drive motor preferably contained within the film take-up spool. The end of film condition during film advance is signalled by a sudden onset in film tension, which actuates a switching system to reverse motor drive polarity and power the motor until the film is completely rewound into the cassette, whereupon motor actuation ceases. A take-up spool gear drive train remains fully engaged at all times. During the rewind operation both the take-up spool and the drive spool are driven simultaneously by the drive motor to facilitate film disengagement. A film engaging sprocket serves to govern film advance for framing purposes, the sprocket being principally in an idling state throughout the film advance operation.

Abstract: A camera including a housing having a film compartment adapted to receive a film cartridge with a closure adapted to hold the film cartridge within the film compartment. The closure has a resilient finger movable therewith which is adapted to engage a projection on the surface of the film cartridge during movement of the closure to a closed position so that subsequent movement to an open position will initiate movement of the film cartridge out of the film compartment.

Abstract: A film advancing mechanism comprises a planetary gear train including preferably an annular film winding gear having internal teeth meshing with an eccentrically mounted gear carried by a drive gear which rotates in one direction and the other as a manually operable film winding member is moved back and forth. A sun gear carried by a rotatable slip clutch-forming member meshes with the eccentric gear. The slip clutch-forming member forms a slip clutch with a ratchet wheel held against rotation in one direction by a locking pawl so that the sun gear is normally locked against rotation when the film winding member is moved in the winding direction. When the sun gear is locked in position, bodily movement of the eccentrically mounted gear on the drive gear drives the annular film winding gear. When a film metering pawl enters a metering aperture of the film, a pawl locks the annular gear against further rotation.

Abstract: In a camera including a shutter member, a spring urged striker member adapted to be moved from an initial position to a fully cocked position and then released to strike the shutter member to cause the shutter member to move momentarily away from the lens opening of the camera, a drive gear is provided for moving the striker member from an initial to a fully cocked position during only part of the movement of a manually operable film winder member during a film winding operation. The striker member includes a gear segment including a toothed portion provided with teeth meshable with gear teeth of a first portion of the drive gear and a dead motion portion free of gear teeth so that further movement of said drive gear will not move the striker member beyond the fully cocked position, the striker member being held in the fully cocked position by the abutment of the last tooth of the gear segment with the drive gear.