Abstract: A switch for a camera includes a switch button. While being urged toward a flange section of a switch-button holding member by an urging member, the switch button is held so as to be movable in the pushing direction of the switch button and a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction. When one end of the switch button is pushed, the height to which the other end is raised can be lowered. Accordingly, the appearance of the camera is prevented from deteriorating. The switch is also advantageous in reducing the size of the camera.

Abstract: In a lens-fitted photographic film unit, a connection lever makes one reciprocating movement when struck by a shutter actuating lever. The reciprocating movement of the connection lever is transmitted to a crank lever to a pair of shutter blades to cause the shutter blades to open and then close a shutter aperture. The connection lever is coupled to the crank lever through a connection pin and a cam slot. The cam slot has an actuating portion and a keeping portion. While the connection pin moves along the actuating portion, the movement of the connection lever is transmitted to the shutter blades through the crank lever to open and close the shutter aperture. While the connection pin moves along the keeping portion, the movement of the connection lever is not transmitted to the shutter blades so that the shutter blades are kept in the opened position.

Abstract: A camera for use with a film cassette having a spool rotatable to wind an exposed filmstrip including a trailing film end portion into the cassette and a light lock movable to be closed after the trailing film end portion is wound into the cassette, comprising a film winder rotatable in engagement with the spool in a film winding direction to rotate the spool in the same direction to wind the exposed filmstrip including the trailing film end portion into the cassette, and a closing actuator movable in engagement with the light lock to close the light lock, is characterized in that a drive motor is drivingly connected with the film winder to rotate the film winder in the film winding direction, and a motor switch capable of changing state to turn off the drive motor is disposed to change state to turn off the drive motor when the closing actuator is moved to close the light lock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a cartridge in a camera frame assembly. In the method, a frame assembly is provided that includes a frame having a cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The frame assembly includes a thumbwheel attached in freely rotatable relation to the frame. The thumbwheel has a rotation member disposed external to the cartridge chamber and a drivekey extends axially into the cartridge chamber. A film cartridge is positioned in the cartridge chamber in close axial proximity to the thumbwheel drivekey. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. The spool has opposed first and second ends. Each end has a spool engagement portion. The spool engagement portion of the first end is complementary in shape to the thumbwheel drivekey. The filmstrip has leading, main and tail portions. A quill drivekey is placed in close axial proximity to the second end of the spool.

Abstract: A camera has a finger detecting device for indirectly detecting that a finger rests on an electronic flash and so forth due to unsuitable holding of the camera. The finger detecting device comprises a conductive member and an auxiliary electrode. The conductive member is disposed near the electronic flash and bared to outside of the camera. The auxiliary electrode is connected to the conductive member and disposed in the camera. A detecting electrode faces the auxiliary electrode via an insulating member. The finger is detected on the basis of change of capacity applied to the detecting electrode. Sensitivity of the finger detecting device is improved by changing the size of the auxiliary electrode without enlarging the conductive member. Accordingly, although the bared portion of the conductive member is small, the finger detecting device has a detecting performance which is similar to that of conventional one.

Abstract: A camera is loadable with a film cartridge having a rotary spool connected with a film and a display member rotatable with the rotary spool for displaying a used state of the film. The camera includes: a driver which generates a driving force for rotation of the rotary spool; a transmission device which is operable to execute transmission of the driving force from the driver to the rotary spool; and a controller which controls the transmission device to execute the transmission of the driving force to rotate the rotary spool for rewinding of the film into the film cartridge, and to suspend the transmission of the driving force to allow the rewound film to freely loosen, and to execute the transmission of the driving force to rotate the rotary spool until the display member reaches a position to display a specified used state of the film.

Abstract: An automated film encoding and decoding system for bringing photographic film from the state of exposure to subject matter through all of the processes required to produce finished photos and package the same. The system includes an encoder coordinately operative with a camera for the placement of a human and machine readable code on the film the decoder capable of reading the code for the control of production-processing equipment in laboratories provided with such equipment. The human readability of the code accommodates production-processing of the film by attendant personnel and also allows for quality control check of automated production-processisng equipment. The encoding includes film frame identification information, subject matter information and registration mark information all of which may be utilized on a single exposure situation.

Abstract: A waterproof construction of a camera in which a portion of a member which is to be fixed to an exterior surface of a body frame of the camera is exposed from an opening provided on a body cover covering the body frame. In this construction, the member is retained to the internal surface of the body cover via a seal member such that a gap between the member and the body cover is sealed. The body cover retaining the member is attached to the body frame by screws.

Abstract: Respective image representations of a scene in front of a camera are recorded on a recording medium, such as a filmstrip, when the camera is at two separated viewpoints with respect to the scene, in order to obtain a matched pair of right-eye and left-eye pictures that can be simultaneously viewed to present a stereoscopic image of the scene. Respective indications are recorded on the recording medium, distinguishable from the image representations, that the image representations were recorded with the camera at the two separated viewpoints with respect to the scene. Thus, the matched pair of pictures can be kept in the right order for stereoscopic right-eye and left-eye viewing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading photographic film. In the method, a curling guide is introduced into a supply chamber of a film holder. An inner roller is introduced into the supply chamber. The inner roller defines an inner roller axis and a film gap overlying the inner roller. An outer roller is disposed over the inner roller adjoining the film gap. A leading portion of a filmstrip is advanced through the film gap. The leading portion is curled around the inner roller and back to the film gap to define an initial filmstrip scroll. The initial scroll has an axis offset from the inner roller axis. The curling guide is retracted after the curling step. The main portion of said filmstrip is propelled through the film gap to wind the main portion of the filmstrip over the initial scroll. The rollers are removed. The film holder is light-tightly closed.

Abstract: A camera comprising a taking lens, and a carry-strap and associated lens cap attached to the camera. The carry-strap is configured to be looped around the camera in order to position the lens cap over the taking lens and, alternatively, to be extended as a loop from the camera in order to serve as a wrist or neck strap. Engageable means secures the carry-strap looped around the camera and as a loop extended from the camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing orthostereoscopic composite images in a camera having a large-aperture taking lens to form 2D images of a scene through different aperture sections on a photosensitive medium. An aperture plate having at least one window is used to select the viewing angles of the 2D images by controlling the light transmission path through the taking lens. Only one aperture section is opened at a time to allow the taking lens to form a 2D image. Each 2D image is divided into a plurality of linear segments each having a number of image bands each corresponding to an aperture section. A line-masking device such as a LCD panel comprising a plurality of linear strips can be used to allow in each 2D image only the image bands corresponding to the opened aperture section to form part of the composite image. The composite image can be displayed behind a lenticular screen or a parallax barrier for 3D viewing.

Abstract: A focusing glass and photographic system employing the same are disclosed. The photographic system includes an objective lens operable to form a real image of an object. The focusing glass is adapted to be situated at the real-image position, and comprises a semitransparent region surrounding a fully transmissive photographic zone. The photographic zone defines a region of the field of view of the objective (the field of view being viewable on the focusing screen) defining the metes and bounds of a photographic image obtainable using the photographic system.

Abstract: A three roller film winder and method for loading photographic film. In the method, a film cartridge is positioned in a cartridge chamber of a camera frame assembly. The camera frame assembly has the cartridge chamber, a supply chamber, and an intermediate section between the chambers. The film cartridge includes a spool and a filmstrip. The filmstrip has leading, main, and tail portions. A sleeve is introduced into the supply chamber. An upper roller is disposed over the sleeve. A pair of lower rollers are introduced into the supply chamber. The upper and lower rollers together define a substantially cylindrical scroll space. The leading portion of the filmstrip is advanced out of the cartridge and into the sleeve. The leading portion is curled within the sleeve and scroll space into an initial filmstrip scroll having at least one turn. The sleeve is retracted after the curling step.

Abstract: A single-use instant camera includes a main body, having the taking lens and the shutter mechanism. A film unit containing chamber is formed in the main body, and contains a plurality of instant the film units stacked on one another. The containing chamber is opened toward a rear and has a front wall. An exposure aperture is formed in the front wall, and receives the image-recording portion of the film units, to provide the film units with exposure to light a entered through the taking lens from an object to be photographed. A front cover is disposed in front of the main body to cover the main body. An advancing claw mechanism is disposed between the front cover and the main body, and advances an exposed one of the film units to be exited. A flash device is disposed between the front cover and the main body, and applies illuminating light to the object. A back lid is disposed behind the containing chamber, is engaged with the main body, and closes the containing chamber.

Abstract: A camera having a zoom lens in which the zoom lens includes: first and second lens components for focusing the light from an object on the focal plane; a lens barrel for guiding movements of the first and the second lens components, in which the lens barrel includes a first guide portion for guiding movement of the first lens component and a second guide portion for guiding movement of the second lens component; and a moving driver for moving the first lens component along the first guide portion and for moving the second lens component along the second guide portion so that the first and the second lens components focus the light on the focal plane at plural focal lengths, and a focal point adjustment, including focusing and focusing compensation, is conducted continuously from the first focal length to the second focal length of the plural focal lengths.

Abstract: A photographic camera of small, flat design, comprising a body shell, a taking lens, a viewfinder, a film chamber, a film transport apparatus, and a flash device. The body shell is configured parallelepipedally and has on its front side a linear flat guideway in which a lens slide is guided displaceably from a non-operating position into a taking position and for purposes of film transport. For this purpose the body shell is equipped on the back side with a linear flat guideway, and the film chamber is configured as a replaceable film cassette that is displaceably guided in the flat guideway. The film cassette serves to receive a film strip equipped with an edge perforation, and consists of a flat, parallelepipedal housing with an exposure window and a film mouth. There extends in the housing, in the longitudinal direction thereof, a circumferential and continuous film channel which passes by the exposure window and opens into the film mouth.

Abstract: A photographic camera of small, flat design, comprising a body shell, a taking lens, a viewfinder, a film chamber, a film transport apparatus, and a flash device. The body shell is configured parallelepipedally and has on its front side a linear flat guideway in which a lens slide is guided displaceably from a non-operating position into a taking position and for purposes of film transport. For this purpose the body shell is equipped on the back side with a linear flat guideway, and the film chamber is configured as a replaceable film cassette that is displaceably guided in the flat guideway. The film cassette serves to receive a film strip equipped with an edge perforation, and consists of a flat, parallelepipedal housing with an exposure window and a film mouth. There extends in the housing, in the longitudinal direction thereof, a circumferential and continuous film channel which passes by the exposure window and opens into the film mouth.

Abstract: A photo booth for capturing an image of a subject and providing reproductions of the image is constructed from self-contained modules--an apparatus module and a background module--linked via a roof module and a floor member. The modules can be easily bundled for handling and storing and occupy, when bundled together, a substantially smaller floor space than when the modules are secured to each other for operation as a photo booth. The apparatus module includes an image capturing device, such as a photographic camera using self-developing film, an electronic camera or a combination thereof, and an image reproduction device and may further include means for illuminating the subject, for image processing and display and for receiving payment. Means for controlling the temperature and humidity inside the apparatus module may also be provided. The apparatus module may also be used as a stand-alone unit.

Abstract: A camera for roll film which can be wound into a film cassette has a central subassembly forming a light-tight inner body in which a film cassette chamber which receives the film cassette is contained and in which a film guidance device is contained, and has an outer body which surrounds the central subassembly, wherein the film cassette chamber of the central subassembly can be closed by a removable cassette chamber cover which is accessible through an opening in the outer body.