Abstract: In an image blur prevention device, an apparatus adapted thereto, an optical apparatus to which the device is applied, and the like, an operation device is used to change the image blur prevention device into a predetermined state in a first manner in accordance with a first operation (for example, to stop the image blur prevention device after the lapse of the predetermined time period in accordance with an operation of the release operation unit of a camera), and to change the image blur prevention device into the predetermined state in a second manner different from the first manner in accordance with a second operation different from the first operation (for example, to stop the image blur prevention device before the lapse of the predetermined time period in accordance with an OFF operation of the main switch of the camera), thereby improving the operability of the image blur prevention device.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit has a photo film roll chamber (131) and a cassette containing chamber (17, 133). The roll chamber contains photo film (18) wound in a form of a roll. The cassette containing chamber contains a cassette (16). The photo film is wound into the cassette as much as one frame each time one frame is exposed. A bottom lid (30, 137) covers a bottom of the cassette containing chamber, and is opened to remove the cassette from the cassette containing chamber with the photo film included therein. A stopper projection (34) prevents the cassette from dropping out of the cassette containing chamber in removal of the cassette after opening the bottom lid. In a preferred embodiment, a hinge portion (30b, 142) connects the bottom lid (30, 137) to a rear cover (138) by way of a single piece and in swingable fashion. The hinge portion is defined by a first groove (146) formed in an obverse face of the rear cover, and a second groove (147) formed in a reverse face of the rear cover.

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 in three dimensional illusion when viewed 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 as a through-hole in an opaque card 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 camera for taking pictures, comprises a viewfinder masking device having three different format mask configurations; a manual picture-format selector having three different format selection settings which correspond respectively to the three different format mask configurations in order to select any one of the three different format mask configurations; and a default reset for returning the selector to a predetermined one of the three different format selection settings and returning the viewfinder masking device to a corresponding one of the three different format mask configurations, when the selector is in any one of the selection settings that is not the predetermined one, after a picture is taken and before another picture is taken.

Abstract: A stethoscope chestpiece is disclosed having an acoustic-to-electrical transducer residing within the acoustic pathway of the chestpiece. The transducer resides within a mounting that can provide shock attenuation and vibration isolation. The transducer preferably resides within a coaxial position in the acoustic pathway. The chestpiece is useful in a stethoscope which can be electrically connected to auscultation systems.

Abstract: A camera comprising a film winder rotatable to wind successive exposed imaging areas of a filmstrip onto an exposed film roll, is characterized in that a minor spring source of motion is connected to the film winder to rotate the film winder to wind one exposed imaging area of the filmstrip onto the exposed film roll and can be re-energized to again rotate the film winder to wind another exposed imaging area of the filmstrip onto the exposed film roll, and a major spring source of motion is connected with the minor spring source of motion to re-energize the minor spring source of motion after each exposed imaging area of the filmstrip is wound onto the exposed film roll. Preferably, the major spring source of motion has the capacity to be energized once to re-energize the minor spring source of motion a total number of times at least equal to the total number of successive imaging areas of the filmstrip that are to be exposed.

Abstract: A compact camera comprising a body housing, a film roll chamber within the body housing, and a flip-up flash pivotally connected to the body housing to permit the flip-up flash to be flipped up from the body housing for use and flipped down to the body housing for storage, is characterized in that the body housing has a protruding portion that at least partially forms the film roll chamber, and the flip-up flash has a flash housing with a cavity for receiving the protruding portion when the flip-up flash is flipped down to the body housing, to integrate the flash housing with the body housing.

Abstract: A simplified trigger, shutter and film advance system such as for use in a camera. In a preferred embodiment the system is mounted in a housing and includes a trigger with a trigger button for pressing by the operator and a trigger point for advancing the film in a film track, a shutter which is simultaneously advanced by the trigger with the film and along a shutter track. In another embodiment suitable for use with 35 mm film, the system is mounted in a camera and includes a simplified trigger, shutter and film advance system which requires fewer components and fewer moving parts than existing cameras and which is operated by pressing the trigger which thereby advances the film and activates the shutter. In yet another embodiment suitable for use with 110 mm film, the system is mounted in a camera and includes a simplified trigger, shutter and film advance, and further includes a one piece mechanism to advance the film and activate the shutter.

Abstract: Photographic film loading method and apparatus and a camera frame assembly having an internally baffled supply chamber. In the method, a guide is interposed in the chamber and a leading portion of the filmstrip is transported into the chamber. The filmstrip is then coiled within the chamber, between the guide and the baffle to form a film roll. During the coiling, an internal diameter of the film roll is maintained constant. The guide is withdrawn and the baffle is retained within the chamber with the film roll.

Abstract: A film position detection apparatus and a method for precisely detecting a film position are provided. An image film projection apparatus is also provided for correcting deflections of images through precisely detecting a film position and thereby projecting images recorded on the film in a good condition. A film position detection means has a ground electrode attached to a movable picture gate; detection electrodes placed in a fixed picture gate; and auxiliary electrodes placed around the detection electrodes. The auxiliary electrodes suppress erroneous variations in electrostatic capacitance generated between the ground electrode and the detection electrodes. As a result, accuracy in film position detection by the detection electrodes is improved for achieving precise detection.

Abstract: A lens fitted film unit having a film cartridge with a flat portion with a film egress/ingress slot, and a light-tight film unit case for receiving therein the film cartridge with the flat portion in alignment with a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a taking lens of a film unit. This alignment of the flat portion of the film cartridge reduces the thickness of the film unit.

Abstract: Described herein is a shutter mechanism (10) suitable for use in a single-use camera. The mechanism (10) comprises a mounting plate (12, 120) and a shutter member (14, 140) mounted thereon. Shutter member (14, 140) comprises a spring (141) connected to a shutter blade/trigger member (142) by means of arm portions (143, 144), the connection between the spring (141) and the shutter blade/trigger member (142) to the arm portions (143, 144) being effected by hinges (145, 146, 147, 148). The mounting plate (12, 120) comprises a circular disc (120) having recess portions (121, 126) in which spring (141) and shutter blade/trigger member (142) are respectively located. Depression of shutter blade/trigger member (142) moves it to a metastable position against the action of the spring (141), and once through that position, the action of the spring (141) accelerates the shutter blade/trigger member (142) over the lens (not shown) to provide an exposure for photographic material mounted within the camera.

Abstract: A camera for use with film preferably of the instantaneous development type which includes a central lens and four peripheral lenses spaced at the vertexes of an imaginary quadrilateral dividing a front of the camera. An external operating mechanism is provided to move an internal mask to a first position so as to define a frame for dividing film into four segments which are exposed through shutters associated with the four peripheral lenses or to lower the mask to a position wherein the central lens is used to expose the film.

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 secuential activation of both the photometric switch and the release switch.

Abstract: A camera has a camera body, a sliding cover disposed on the front face of the camera body and movable between a position in which it covers a photo-taking lens and a position in which it does not cover the photo-taking lens, a film cartridge chamber which opens on a side of the camera body which is parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding cover and into and out of which a film cartridge is put through the opening, and a cartridge chamber lid for openably and closably covering the opening in the film cartridge chamber. A guide structure for guiding the sliding cover when the sliding cover is in the position in which it does not cover the photo-taking lens is provided on the outer surface of the cartridge chamber lid. In another mode, an opening preventing portion for preventing the cartridge chamber lid from being opened when the sliding cover is in the position in which it does not cover the photo-taking lens is provided on the sliding cover.

Abstract: An exterior film-feeding camera is disclosed which contains: (a) a main body and an exposed space on one side of the main body for anchoring a film shell; (b) a vertical plate movably disposed on a rear surface of the main body, the vertical plate contains an elastic upper advancing plates and an elastic lower advancing plates for protruding into corresponding punched holes of a film so as to cause the film to be advanced; (c) an actuating member connected to an top end of the vertical plate, the actuating member contains first driving claw, second driving claw, and third driving claw, for driving a shutter safety plate, for triggering a shutter actuating plate connected to a shutter, and for rotating a uni-directional gear for a pre-set angle, respectively; and (d) a film-advancing node provided on a rear surface of the main body which is connected to the vertical plate so as to cause the vertical plate to move horizontally.

Abstract: A protective housing for a camera comprising a pouch adapted to contain the camera, is characterized in that the pouch has at least one pivotable portion that can be pivoted about a pivot axis to open the pouch in order to allow the camera to be inserted into the pouch, and a manually depressible actuating button is supported on the pouch at the pivot axis to be able to be depressed along the pivot axis to similarly depress a shutter release button of the camera in order to initiate picture-taking.

Abstract: A moveable lens apparatus for digital camera includes a CCD lens set, a first motion mechanism having a bracket pivotally holding the lens set and a first gear set for driving the bracket and the lens set to rotate left or right angularly, and a second motion mechanism having a guide slidably engageable with a rear end of the lens set, a gear rack vertically attached to the guide and a second gear set for driving the gear rack and the guide up or down so that the lens set may be swung pivotally up or down. The first and second gear set may be actuated manually or by motors. The lens set thus may be moved and rotated smoothly and precisely without a user's hand directly touching the lens set.

Abstract: A watertight photographic single-use camera having a first and a second body shell that join together. The body shells comprise rigid polymer material and are adapted to receive a film transport device, a lens, a flash unit and a viewfinder. The first body shell forms the camera front section and the second body shell forms the camera rear section. A sealing means comprising an elastic polymer material is attached to an edge of at least one body shell that forms a joint and to at least one edge that forms a body opening. The elastic polymer material is attached by a multiple-component injection molding process and is connected to the body shell by chain looping (molecular entanglement) of the polymer material. As a result, the camera is dependably sealed against water and yet is inexpensive and simple to produce.

Abstract: An image blur prevention apparatus for use with an image blur prevention device which prevents image blur and a restricting device which restricts movement of the image blur prevention device. The apparatus includes a releasing device which releases the image blur prevention device from a restricted state in which movement of the image blur prevention device is prevented by the restricting device and a holding device which holds a released state in which the image blur prevention device is released from the restricted state. The holding device holds the released state in a holding operation when electric current is supplied thereto. Operation of the holding device switches from the holding operation to a state in which the holding operation is not effected, when the supply of electric current is substantially discontinued.