Abstract: A holder assembly includes at least two holder members for holding electro-developing recording media, respectively, and a connecting member for connecting the holder members to each other through the intermediary thereof, and each of the holder members is hinged to the connecting member. An electro-developing type camera includes a photographing lens system for focusing a light beam derived from an object, and an optical separator for separating the light beam, passing through the photographing lens system, into at least two light beam components. The photographing lens system and the optical separator are constituted and arranged such that the light beam components are focused on different image planes, respectively. The holder assembly is shaped and positioned such that the electro-developing recording media are included in the different image planes, respectively.

Abstract: A camera having: a substantially cylindrical-shaped, rotatable cam, limited to rotate unidirectionally. A drive belt conveys rotation of the rotary member, which rotates due to zooming of lens array, to drive the cam. A viewfinder optical system including a stationary objective lens, two prisms, a stationary eyepiece lens, and two variable-power lenses, when coupled with the cam member, advances or withdraws along the optical-axis during movement. An eyepiece variable-power lens is inserted into the optical path of the viewfinder optical system. A viewfinder panoramic field mask is united with an eyepiece variable-power lens. Upper and lower masks change picture size. A first rack extends in a moving direction of the masks. A second rack extends in a moving direction of the viewfinder panoramic field mask. A panoramic-mode setting gear engages the two racks. A plurality of panoramic-mode parallax compensation marks appear at a trimmed range position within the viewfinder field mask.

Abstract: A translatable cover coupled to a lighttight camera body is movable between a cantilevered open position and a closed position relative to the body. Guide pins provided on different surfaces of the upper part of the cover interior engage longitudinal slots on the exterior of the camera body to allow a smooth sliding motion of the cover. Preferably, the guide pins include shoulders having a greater diameter than the remainder of the pin to minimize torquing of the cover when translated in combination with a lower cover portion which extends from an open end and engages the lower portion of the body to also minimize cantilevering of the cover. In another preferred embodiment, a guide arm extending from the free end can engage a sleeve of the body to minimize cantilevering and torquing while allowing a smooth travel of the cover with fairly loose tolerances.

Abstract: A film initial-advance apparatus for a camera which enables the initial advance of a film by a reciprocating feeding claw, and in which a gear train for film feeding and driving members are disposed on the same side of a spool. A feeding member is disposed on a reciprocating driving member which reciprocates in the direction of film feeding. A gear train for feeding the film is connected to the driving gear on the side of the reciprocating driving member, and the rotational driving force of the driving gear is transduced to the reciprocating movement for reciprocating the reciprocating driving member. A cam groove is formed in the reciprocating driving member, and the feeding claw is advanced toward and withdrawn from a perforation of the film. The speed of the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating driving member is set to be lower than the film feeding speed.

Abstract: A panoramic camera has a camera housing rotatable about an axis of rotation that defines a viewpoint which points along a radial optical path that object rays traverse as the camera is rotated about its axis; a lens assembly having an optical path and a front nodal point mounted for rotation with the camera housing with the optical path of the lens offset from the radial optical path; a specular assembly including an object specular member along the radial optical path mounted for rotation with the housing that cooperates with the lens assembly for gathering object rays that traverse the radial optical path and for deviating them along the optical path of the lens assembly in such a way that the front nodal point of the lens subassembly virtually appears to lie on the axis of rotation thereby eliminating image smearing; and has an ambient light responsive controller including an ambient light sensor mounted for rotation with the camera housing for automatically varying the speed of rotation in direct relation

Abstract: A film cartridge has a housing with a film exit slit, and a film roll support rotatable inside the housing to unwind a filmstrip beginning with a film leader outwardly through the slit to accomplish film loading in a camera. A visible film-loaded indicator is provided on the housing to be seen through a window in a camera. A flexible cover strip has a leading end portion secured to a forward end portion of the film leader which protrudes from the slit, an opaque trailing end portion extending over the film-loaded indicator to prevent the indicator from being seen through the window in the camera, and an intermediate folded portion interconnecting the leading and trailing end portions to unfold as the film leader is moved outwardly through the slit. The folded portion is of suitable length to draw the trailing end portion from over the film-loaded indicator to permit the indicator to be seen through the window in the camera when the film leader is moved substantially completely through the slit.

Abstract: A still camera viewfinder comprising a reticle lens having more than one frame thereon and which is selectively positionable in the viewing area, and viewing area masking plate arms which are coupled to said reticle lens to open or selectively mask portions of the viewing area dependent upon the film format or lens in use.

Abstract: A camera for containing film which captures an image and indication of camera orientations thereon, the camera has a camera housing having a magnet rotatably connected to it for rotating the magnet in response to orientations of the camera housing. A first, second and third sensor are attached to the camera body for sensing a magnetic field from the magnet. An electrical circuit generates a logic table which indicates orientations of the camera housing in response to a signal from the first, second and third sensors. A record head indicates on the film the orientation of the camera derived from the logic table.

Abstract: An electro-developing type camera using an electro-developing recording medium has a photographing lens system for forming an optical image of an object to be photographed in the recording medium, and an electronic flash for emitting light rays to illuminate the object at an execution of a photographing operation, if necessary. The camera further has an image reader for optically and electronically reading the formed image of the recording medium, and an optical guide system for guiding the light rays, emitted from the electronic flash to the recording medium to illuminate the formed image thereof during the optical and electronic reading of the formed image of the recording medium.

Abstract: A camera comprising a film winder rotatable to wind individual frames of a filmstrip into a take-up chamber after each frame is exposed, and a frame counter rotatable to indicate how many frames are left to be exposed, is characterized in that a locking device is movable to secure the film winder and the frame counter in place to prevent their further rotation responsive to the frame counter being rotated to indicate there are no frames left to be exposed.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing system includes an ink-jet print head having multiple nozzles for ejecting drops of ink onto the recording media to form printed images. The ink-jet print head emits an audible sound during the ejection of an ink droplet, but remains comparatively silent when no ink droplet is ejected. An acoustic detector is provided to detect the audible sound emitted by the ink-jet print head during ejection of the ink droplet. The system further includes an energy control subsystem coupled to supply pulses of operating energy to the print head to cause ejection of the ink droplets. The energy control subsystem is operatively coupled to receive feed back information from the acoustic detector which is then used to adjust the operating energy pulses that are supplied to the print head. The energy control subsystem adjusts the operating energy pulses in a manner that causes the print head to emit audible sounds that are optimized toward approximating an ideal audible sound indicative of optimal operation.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor for detecting the amount of residual ink remaining within an ink container of an ink jet cartridge by measuring the capacitance of the air dielectric between the ink bag and the ink cartridge.

Abstract: Magnetic recording and/or reproducing schemes and systems particularly for use for recording and/or reproducing information in data tracks of a magnetics-on-film (MOF) layer in the image area of a photographic filmstrip in a camera or in other photographic equipment. Recording of a photographic data set related to captured images is effected in n lengthwise extending, total interleaved tracks effected in the alternative by a single one or plural magnetic head array(s) of m magnetic recording heads arranged to extend across the filmstrip width and positioned in the camera alongside the photographic image frame gate.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter provides an extremely durable and reliable super-high speed shutter with speeds of greater than 1/8000 second which minimizes increases in the charge energy, has an increased rate of acceptance of the FRP and is economical to produce. The blades will not collide with or be damaged by the intermediate plate and the light shielding plate, even when the shutter is released while accelerating the camera in a direction virtually perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blades. The focal plane shutter includes a front and a rear blind that each include multiple dividing blades. The rigidity of the slit-forming blades having the largest amount of movement among the dividing blades differs between the front blind and the rear blind.

Abstract: A film supply device that accurately stops the film in a short length of time at a predetermined position even when using increased film supply speed. A film supply device includes a motor and a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism has an input gear rotated by the motor and that transfers the input gear rotation to a winding shaft for the film. The film supply device further includes a revolution preventing mechanism and a planetary clutch mechanism having a sun gear and a planetary gear. The sun gear is rotated by the motor. The planetary gear revolves about the sun gear and is rotated by the sun gear. The planetary gear enmeshes with the input gear and revolves in a connected direction when the sun gear rotates in a first direction. The planetary gear is separate from the input gear and revolves in a release direction when the sun gear rotates in a second direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a pictorial illustration of a site to be mapped, such as for reconstruction of a vehicle accident site. In accordance with the method, the site is marked with visible indicia of scale, a camera is then suspended over the site and a vertically overhead photographic image of the site is taken, the photographic image is then processed and scaled utilizing the visible indicia marked on the site, and a pictorial illustration is creating by applying symbols to the photographic image. The camera is suspended over the site beneath a blimp. The photographic image can be digitized if desired. The apparatus according to the invention includes the blimp, an appropriate suspension apparatus for the camera beneath the blimp, a receiver system including a shutter control for the camera, and a remote transmitter for sending control signals to the receiver system in order to control taking of photographs by the camera.

Abstract: A film winding unit is removably attached to a film unit so as to engage a coupling gear with a film winding wheel. The coupling gear is connectable to a gear train through a clutch member. While the film winding wheel of the film unit is unlocked, the clutch member is placed in a power transmitting position for transmitting rotational movement of a motor to the coupling gear through the gear train. Upon the film winding mechanism being locked, a large load is applied to the clutch member, so that the clutch member slips into a disconnecting position to disconnect the motor from the coupling gear. In cooperation with the movement of the clutch member into the disconnecting position, a motor inactivating device inactivates the motor. After a release button of a film winding unit is depressed to depress a shutter button of the film unit, a motor activating device activates the motor in cooperation with returning movement of the release button.

Abstract: A film cartridge comprising a filmstrip having longitudinally successive perforations, and a housing for the filmstrip having a film passage slit through which the filmstrip can be moved into or out of the housing, is characterized by a reciprocatingly movable indicator, including an actuator pawl positioned for engagement and disengagement with each perforation of the filmstrip as the filmstrip is moved through the slit to move the indicator forward and backward alternately for providing a visible motion-indication that the filmstrip is moving through the slit.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a blur correction function of a blur correction camera, which comprises an optical axis changing unit for changing the optical axis of a photographing optical system so as to correct a blur generated by a vibration, a displacement detecting unit for detecting a displacement of the photographing optical system by the optical axis changing unit, a maximum/minimum displacement detecting unit for detecting maximum and minimum values of an output value from the displacement detecting unit, and an angular velocity detecting unit for detecting an angular velocity caused by the vibration, includes: an information exchange unit for exchanging information with the blur correction camera, a vibration applying unit for applying a sinusoidal vibration having a predetermined angular amplitude in a detection direction of the angular velocity of the angular velocity detecting unit of the blur correction camera, a reading unit for reading an output value from the maximum/minimum displacement detect

Abstract: When a switch is turned on, photographing visual fields among a plurality of photographing visual fields are sequentially changed over at predetermined intervals to be displayed within a finder of a camera. When the switch is turned off, the sequential changeover of the photographing visual fields is stopped. As a result, a plurality of photographing visual fields are automatically displayed so that the photographing visual field corresponding to different aspect ratios and the photographing visual field corresponding to the zooming positions of different taking lenses can be automatically compared separately or in combination.