Abstract: A shutter charge device is used with photo film and charges a shutter device. The photo film includes plural groups of perforations formed along one edge thereof. The groups are arranged at the predetermined pitch of the frames. Each of the groups includes two perforations disposed closely to one another at a predetermined distance. A driven sprocket wheel is meshed intermittently with the perforations in the photo film, and rotated by a predetermined amount while the photo film is wound as long as one of the frames. A rotatable member is rotated in integral fashion with the sprocket wheel by the predetermined amount, and charges the shutter device. A retainer lever is engaged with the rotatable member rotated by the predetermined amount, and locks the sprocket wheel to block movement of the photo film. The retainer lever is disengaged from the rotatable member upon releasing of the shutter device, and unlocks the sprocket wheel to allow it to rotate.

Abstract: A viewfinder device is arranged to have a pair of light deflecting members disposed in front and in rear of an objective lens, to drive the front light deflecting member to guide light of a left side area of a field of view and light of a right side area of the field of view alternately to the objective lens, and to drive the rear light deflecting member to guide light fluxes thus obtained from the objective lens alternately to the eye of a person taking a sight of the field of view. This arrangement enables the viewfinder device to make a wide range of field sightable and yet permits a reduction in size of the objective lens.

Abstract: A function display system of a camera including a switch block, an automatic distance measuring circuit, a brightness measuring circuit, a motor driving circuit, and a function display unit. The CPU causes the function display unit to display each camera function in serial order after a power switch is pressed, thereby informing the user of camera functions. When a user presses a flash function or photograph function switch for a predetermined interval, the CPU changes camera sub-functions. The CPU displays a sub-function arranged by a user and a special sub-function arranged by a camera for a longer interval, allowing the user to select the sub-functions more easily. As a result, the camera display system and method provides a camera having improved convenience and efficiency.

Abstract: In a variable focal length optical system wherein a shift lens unit constituting a portion of the optical system can be moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system to thereby shift an image, the shift lens unit is driven on the basis of the focal length information of the optical system to correct any variation in image position due to the vibration of the optical system. When, for example, a focusing lens unit movable along the optical axis during focusing on a short distance object is disposed more adjacent to the object side than the shift lens unit, the required amount of drive of the shift lens unit is calculated on the basis of the focal length information and a memorized predetermined coefficient.

Abstract: A lens aperture of an autostereoscopic camera is moved in a parallax scanning pattern through a plurality of disparity positions offset from the optical axis of the camera lens. Images of a scene being photographed, as viewed through the lens aperture in its various disparity positions, are recorded for subsequent display, which produces a three dimensional illusion when viewed on a conventional display with the unaided eye. The size of the lens aperture and the parallax scanning pattern are adjustable to suit conditions. The lens aperture may be defined by a through-hole in an opaque card, a plurality of interleaved leaf elements, or a planar array of cells switched between transparent and opaque states. In addition to stereoscopic imaging, the moving lens aperture principle of the present invention may be utilized in range-finding and camera image stabilization applications.

Abstract: A focus detecting device having a light distribution forming device for forming the light intensity distribution whose relative position varies in accordance with the focus adjustment of an object lens from the light flux passing through the object lens, a sensing device for receiving the light intensity distribution and outputting a signal representing the state of focus adjustment of the object lens based on the relative position in the light intensity distribution, and having a plurality of sensing elements, and a light diffusing device disposed in or near a predetermined imaging plane of the object lens, and having the degree of light diffusion determined so that the light intensity distribution can be moved relatively in accordance with the adjustment of the object lens.

Abstract: A camera with a data imprinting device includes a generally triangular space adjacent a film spool. A roller, used to conform the film to the film spool is urged into the triangular space when the film diameter on the roller approaches a maximum diameter. A portion of an optical system for the data imprinting device is also located in the triangular space. The periods of film drive pulses are averaged to establish periods of data imprinting pulses. A plurality of the data imprinting pulses are generated for each film drive pulse. In a full size mode of operation, a first set of the data imprinting pulses are used to record imprinting data. In a panorama mode of operation, a second set of the data imprinting pulses are used to record the imprinting data. The second set of data imprinting pulses contains more data imprinting pulses than the first set of data imprinting pulses, whereby the data imprinted in panorama mode occupies a shorter length of the film than does the data imprinted in full size mode.

Abstract: A release switch is directly activated by a self-timer button, and a shutter release button first activates a photometric switch, then the release switch. The self-timer operation is carried out in response to the activation of only the release switch, a photometric operation is carried out in response to the activation of only the photometric switch, and a shutter release operation is carried out in response to the sequential activation of both the photometric switch and the release switch.

Abstract: A variable-exposure-size camera has an aperture member which defines an aperture through which a photographic film positioned behind the aperture member is exposed to light passing through a taking lens, and a pair of mask members which are disposed between the aperture member and the taking lens and are moved up and down toward and away from each other to change the effective upper and lower edges of the aperture, thereby narrowing the effective opening area of the aperture. The lower edge portion of the upper mask member and the upper edge portion of the lower mask member are bent toward the film surface so that the extreme edges of the edge portions which respectively define the upper and lower edges of the effective opening area of the aperture are positioned near the film surface.

Abstract: A camera has a plate for supporting a photo film from a rear surface thereof. The plate is provided with a recess into which a projection is fitted. The projection is integrally formed with an exposure frame and keeps a gap between the plate and the photo film at a constant. A push button is attached to a control circuit board which is disposed at a rear side of the plate. The push button is operatable from the outside of the camera and arranged at a position opposed to the projection via the plate. When the push button is pressed, the plate is received by the projection so that the plate is prevented from being moved toward the photo film.

Abstract: An image sensor and a focus detection device or distance detection device using the image sensor, wherein the accumulation time of the image sensor is controlled by a characteristic value of the subject image signals without all subject image signals produced by the image sensor having to undergo analog-to-digital conversion. The image sensor includes a light receiving unit having a light receiving element. The image sensor produces electric charges corresponding to light incident on the light receiving element, accumulates the corresponding electric charges, produces a charge signal corresponding to the accumulated electric charges and outputs the charge signal so that the charge signal can be provided to a device which is external to the image sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic flash emission device suitable for use as, for example, an automatic flash emission device for a camera. The present invention is to provide an arrangement for detecting the kind of light source which illuminates a scene which is to be photographed (for example, whether tungsten light or a fluorescent lamp), and shifting the threshold of a subject luminance beyond which a flash device performs an automatic emission, thereby enabling the flash device to perform the automatic emission in a form conforming to the kind of light source.

Abstract: A camera system includes a user friendly interface to enable a camera user to enter text data to be printed on a photographic film in a simple and convenient manner. The user interface is also used to display text messages to the user indicating certain camera conditions. More specifically, a camera is provided that includes a display unit, a display control interface for manually selecting text data to be displayed on the display unit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit to display the text data selected by the manual user interface. The display unit preferably includes a text data display section and fixed icon display section.

Abstract: A lid for a film cartridge chamber that can open and close in the direction of the spool shaft of a film cartridge that is loaded into a cartridge chamber. The lid of the cartridge chamber includes a movable component attached so as to be able to advance into or retract from a loading/extraction path of the film cartridge when the lid is opened to a position at which the film cartridge can be extracted from the cartridge chamber. The movable component is acted upon by a forcing component so as to advance the movable component into the loading/extraction path.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus of a camera is provided which includes a signal emitter for emitting a remote release signal light, a camera body having a view finder, and an electromagnetic shutter. A half mirror is provided in the optical path of the view finder to partly transmit the remote release signal light therethrough and partly reflect the same. A light receiving element is provided behind the half mirror on the transmission side thereof, and a releasing device which releases the electromagnetic shutter of the camera body when the light receiving element receives the remote release signal light from the signal emitter is provided.

Abstract: A camera having a zooming lens barrel. The zooming lens barrel includes: plural lens component; a guide portion for guiding one of the plural lens components along the guide portion in an optical axis direction of the plural lens components in which the guide portion has plural focal distance positions; a driver for moving one of the plural lens components along the guide portion in the optical axis direction; a movement controller for controlling the driver so as to move one of the plural lens components to a predetermined position. The guide portion includes a first area for performing focusing from the first focal distance position, a second area which is not used for focusing, and a third area for performing focusing from the second focal distance position.

Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a display including organic electroluminescent material energizable in patterns representing camera information. The patterns are defined by electrically isolated illumination elements that are controlled to emit light by selectively applying a voltage to the elements forming the desired pattern. The material may be chosen to emit light in different colors representing levels of concern associated with camera conditions. Certain features provide a display having an in-line array of alpha-numeric character generators comprising a matrix of closely spaced illumination elements and a control for energizing selected combinations of the elements to emit light collectively defining alpha-numeric characters. Display brightness can be adjusted by changing the applied power as a function of the ambient light conditions to enhance viewability of the display.

Abstract: An optical device system includes a lock member that locks the posture of a variable member relative to an anchoring member of a supporting device (e.g., a tripod), and a controller in the optical device that controls the state (locked or released) of the lock member. The lock member can be controlled in accordance with the operational state of the optical device so that it becomes possible to change the setup of the device through a simple operation and without letting go of the optical device.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising a movable optical member, a driving part for causing the optical member to move, a manual operation member capable of being operated to be moved, a first detecting part for detecting at least an operating speed of the manual operation member, a second detecting part for detecting a focal length of the optical apparatus and a control part for causing the driving part to act on the basis of an output of the first detecting part and being arranged to receive an output of the second detecting part and to vary an action of the driving part according to a change of the focal length.

Abstract: A finder apparatus for use with a lens-shutter type camera composing a zoom imaging optical system, a zoom finder optical system separate from said zoom imaging optical system, and an electronic flash device. The zoom finder optical system is made as a real-image zoom finder apparatus, with part of the associated optical elements being disposed behind the electronic flash device, and part of the optical path from the objective lens to the eyepiece being bent backward of the electronic flash device to pass through the optical element disposed behind the electronic flash device.