Abstract: A body structure of a camera having a film cartridge chamber which as a whole is formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder and has an opening/closing lid at an axial end portion thereof. The hollow cylindrical film cartridge chamber is formed by a camera body and a rear cover which is formed separately from the camera body and is secured to a rear of the camera body. The outer appearance of the camera is formed by an outer surface of the rear cover. It is possible to make the camera further compact.

Abstract: A single use camera that has flexure of a front cover constrained by and exposed-film door. The camera has a frame and a back cover attached to the frame. The frame and back cover together define a film path and an exposed-film removal opening communicating with the film path. The front cover is mounted over the frame opposite the back cover. The door is attached to the frame. The door is discrete from the covers and frame. The door light-tightly closes the opening independent of the front cover. The door is reversibly removable from the frame. The door constrains flexure of the front cover in a direction outward from the frame.

Abstract: A camera which includes a compensation lens, a drive mechanism, a frame and a protective member. The compensation lens is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera to compensate for motion of the camera, such motion typically caused by hand tremor or other vibration affecting the camera. The drive mechanism moves the lens. The frame holds the lens and the drive mechanism. The frame has a first end and a second end so that light travelling along the optical axis of the lens apparatus passes through the first end to pass through the compensation lens and then out the second end. The protective member is positioned in either or both of the first and second ends of the frame, to protect the compensation lens and the drive mechanism. For example, the protective member can include a first protective lens positioned in the first end of the frame, and/or a second protective lens positioned in the second end of the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting film within an APS camera includes a perforation sensor, a controller, a film transporter, and a motor. The controller receives signals from the perforation sensor, and controls the film transport in response to the electric signal. The control unit also controls the film transporter to rewind the film and then wind the film to a predetermined position. During winding the controller counts a time period during which a perforation is not sensed by the perforation sensor, and compares the time period with a predetermined time. The controller then controls the film transporter to wind the film so long as the time period is less than the predetermined time; and stopping winding of the film at a position when a state of a signal from the perforation sensor changes, when the time period exceeds the predetermined time.

Abstract: A camera has a housing with a bottom face and a front face. A support leg is pivotable away from the bottom face of the housing and a handle is pivotable away from the front face of the housing which can together, but not individually, stably support the housing upright when they are both pivoted away from the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an electronically directly driven focal-plane shutter which has two lightproof curtains, each of which is associated with, and controlled by, an electric drive motor. The drive motors move the curtains across an image field. One curtain starts in a closed position, and the other curtain starts in an open position prior to taking the exposure. So as to achieve operating sequences of the two curtains which are as identical as possible, both drive motors initially are driven simultaneously in an "open" direction. The curtain which starts in the open position first is pressed against a defined open-position stop. Then, by reversing the associated drive motor, that curtain is moved in the "close" direction to complete the exposure.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for use by a person to orientate a camera in either a horizontal or vertical position while allowing the person to position the light source of a flash unit above the lens of the camera. In one embodiment, the device comprises a base member having a camera support portion adapted to secure the camera. The device further comprises a first handle member engaged with the base member and adapted to allow the person to orientate the camera in either a horizontal position or a vertical position. The device further comprises a first flash unit support member comprising a first mounting portion adapted to removably secure the flash unit. The device further comprises a second flash unit support member comprising a second mounting portion adapted to removably secure the flash unit. either location without interference.

Abstract: A camera having multiple display functions and/or a date imprinting function wherein the display can alternately switch between displaying the date and the film frame number. The frame number is displayed when winding blank film and the date is displayed at other times. The display also has an indicator which lights up or flashes to indicate the status of the camera power source. The display also shows the date and this date can be imprinted on film when a photograph is taken. The date can be imprinted whether or not the camera is in a date correction mode when the photograph is taken. A multiple function button is used to change photographic information shown on the display, wherein different functions correspond to different camera modes. Adequate safeguards are therefore provided by this camera to prevent accidental changing of information.

Abstract: An interchangeable camera system having a waterproof mount mechanism, and a photo-taking lens barrel and camera body used in the interchangeable-lens camera system. A large diameter part 2c which is provided on a lens-side mount surface 2a compresses a sealing member 6 in cooperation with a sealing surface 5c of a camera body 5 so that a gap between the lens-side mount surface 2a and the camera body 5 is sealed by the sealing member 6.

Abstract: An attention attracting article for a viewing device, such as a camera or a pair of binoculars, is preferably die cut from a single sheet of cardboard and folded around the viewing device to define an enclosure therefor, the attention attractor including a character with a head extending outwardly from the enclosure and hands on the enclosure so that from a vantage point facing the viewing device, it appears as if the character is holding the viewing device and looking therethrough. Particularly when the viewing device is a camera, the attention attracting article helps retain a child's attention when it is desired to take a photograph of the child, because the child believes that the familiar character is encouraging interaction with the camera, rather than concealment of the camera. When used with binoculars, the article attracting device is primarily for amusement, although it could also be used to encourage children to use binoculars and perhaps arouse their curiosity about optical principals.

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 film loading device of a camera receiving a film accommodating type cartridge has a cartridge chamber lid turnably supported in a loose state and a positioning shaft having a slidingly supported inclined portion attached to a presser member fixed to the chamber lid. When a cartridge is loaded and the cartridge chamber lid is turned in a closing direction, a fitting portion of the lid is fitted to a cartridge chamber and the positioning shaft is inserted into the positioning hole of the cartridge by being smoothly guided by the inclined surface position thereof and perfectly engaged with the hole. The positioning shaft is securely and smoothly inserted into the loaded cartridge in the film loading device.

Abstract: A sliding movement locking apparatus for a sliding over of a camera includes a lens barrel, a sliding cover, a drive member which is moved in association with the movement of the lens barrel and which is provided with a rack, a first gear which engages with the rack of the drive member, a second gear coaxial and relatively rotatable to the first gear, a sliding movement locking member which is provided with a rack which engages with the second gear and which is moved to prevent the movement of the sliding cover into a closed position thereof when the locking member is at the forward extremity of movement, and a clutch mechanism is provided between the first and second gears, for rotating the first and second gears together without play therebetween when the lens barrel is moved from the retracted position to the photographing position, and for initially rotating the first gear by a predetermined angle and thereafter rotating the first and second gears together when the lens barrel is moved from the photograph

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an intruder into an area to be guarded is provided. The system includes a plurality of detection units, each of the plurality of detection units having at least one infrared sensor and having a first field of view external to and directed generally along the perimeter, and located within the area to be guarded. The infrared sensor may be a passive sensor. The detection units include a camera for recording intrusion within a second field of view and a controller. The controller is responsive to output of the infrared sensor, for determining when an intruder has entered the first field of view, whereupon an operator activates the camera.

Abstract: A camera tripod for receiving a camera, the camera tripod comprises: a tripod foundation for providing a structure on which the camera may be disposed; a voice receiving mechanism disposed on said tripod foundation for receiving vocal instructions; a speech recognition system disposed in the foundation for recognizing the vocal instructions, and for initiating signals to the camera for implementation of the received vocal instruction.

Abstract: A camera comprises a cover of a stowage chamber, such as a film cartridge chamber, and a friction member for giving substantially constant opening-operation resistance to the cover substantially throughout the entirety of a movement range in which the cover shifts from a closed state to a half-opened state, so that the cover is gradually opened by the friction force of the friction member. Thus, an object stored in the stowage chamber is prevented from abruptly popping out of the stowage chamber, and a user's feeling at the time of using the camera is improved. Moreover, the friction member is constituted by a rubber member made of silicone rubber or the like. Thus, the considerable miniaturization of the camera is achieved.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprising a body having an interior film chamber for an exposed filmstrip and an interior film exit slot from the chamber which allows the exposed filmstrip be moved through the slot to outside the body, is characterized in that the body includes an exterior protuberance projecting from the body which partially includes the slot and has at least one weakened area adjacent the slot to permit the protuberance to be broken off from the body to open whatever portion of the slot remains with the body, in order that the exposed filmstrip can be moved to outside the body.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera comprises a filmstrip having a certain width and a film leader for the filmstrip having another width that is greater than the width of the filmstrip, a film-exposure backframe opening, a pair of parallel film edge guides located apart from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of the filmstrip to guide the filmstrip over the backframe opening, and a pair of leader edge guides located parallel to the film edge guides and apart from each other a distance less than the width of the wider leader, but greater than the distance separating the film edge guides, in order to make the wider leader be bent widthwise at opposite longitudinal edge portions of the wider leader between the film edge guides and the leader edge guides, whereby the wider leader is prevented from having to significantly increase the size of the one-time-use camera.

Abstract: A photographic camera uses photographic film of the type having a magnetic recording layer. The camera includes a piezoelectric film drive for advancing the film in the camera in periodic steps; and a magnetic recording subsystem for writing information on the magnetic recording layer of the film during film advance, the magnetic recording subsystem being synchronized with the periodic steps of the piezoelectric film drive.

Abstract: A camera comprising a main body part having a chamber for holding an exposed filmstrip wound into a exposed film roll, and a film winding thumbwheel for winding the exposed filmstrip into the exposed film roll, is characterized in that the main body part has a film egress opening at one end of the chamber which is dimensioned to allow the exposed film roll to be unloaded from the chamber through the film egress opening, and the film winding thumbwheel light-tightly seals the chamber at the film egress opening and is removable to permit the exposed film roll to be unloaded from the chamber.