Abstract: An auto focus device which foreseeing-calculates a change in the focal plane based on the movement of an object after a predetermined time on the basis of focus detection result in the past and a latest focus detection result, and moves a lens to the foreseeing-calculated position. Whether the data used for the foreseeing calculation are data suitable for the foreseeing calculation is judged each time focus detection is effected, and when it is continuously judged that the data are data unsuitable for the foreseeing calculation, lens driving based on the foreseeing calculation is inhibited.

Abstract: A distance measuring device is provided with a plurality of comparators which are respectively connected to a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving light reflected from a subject. The plurality of comparators detect the levels of output signals of the light receiving elements. The comparators are supplied with reference voltages to be used for comparison with the output signals, the reference voltages being set diffrerent for each comparator according to the distance from which the respective light receiving element receives light.

Abstract: In a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to an object by projecting a signal light and by receiving the reflected light thereof, at least two light emitting elements are arranged for projecting the signal light; a common drive source is provided for driving the two light emitting elements; and a control circuit is arranged to prevent the two light emitting elements form simultaneously lighting up.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus for a camera which detects the defocus amount of an object image formed by a taking lens and drives the taking lens on the basis of the defocus amount. A movement coefficient correlating the defocus amount and the drive amount of the taking lens is calculated from the defocus amounts detected before and after the drive of the taking lens and the drive amount.

Abstract: A camera body includes a movable main mirror for reflecting a light beam emerging from an objective lens, an optical element arranged along a reflection optical path of the movable main mirror and near a predetermined imaging plane of the objective lens, and having a plurality of micro refracting elements forming a display character, an eyepiece, a prism for deflecting the reflection optical path toward the eyepiece, and an illumination source, arranged in front of the prism, for causing the movable main mirror to reflect an illumination light beam to illuminate the display character.

Abstract: In a camera provided with a finder and a photographic lens, the focal length of the photographic lens being variable, there is provided a distance measuring device having a pair of optical elements at the front side of the camera, the optical axes of the pair of optical elements being different from the optical axis of the finder, and a line sensor having a pair of image-receiving areas for receiving a pair of images of a photographed object through the pair of optical elements. The respective image-receiving area of the line sensors are selected depending on the focal length of the photographic lens, which corresponds to the range at which an object to be photographed is located. In addition, there is provided an auxiliary light projector for projecting a pattern image to the object to be photographed, the image magnification of which being variable corresponding to the focal length of the photographic lens.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera with a flash device, in particular, a camera with a flash device of the type in which charging of the flash device is suspended when a charged state of the flash device reaches a predetermined level. The above-described type of camera is characterized in that the charging of the flash device is not suspended immediately after the charged state of the flash device has reached the predetermined level but that it is suspended after the flash device has been further charged for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in self-timer, flash and autofocus is disclosed. The camera is switchable between normal and self-timer modes. When in the normal mode, the auto focus device measures distance at the beginning of a photographic cycle. In self-timer mode, the auto focus device measures the distance at the beginning of the photographic cycle, and after the self-timer has counted down from its set time. A decision to use the flash is based on the first distance measurement and the scene brightness in the normal mode, and on the second distance measurement and scene brightness in the self-timer mode. If the decision is yes, a checking apparatus checks whether the flash capacitor has sufficient charge, and if not charges the capacitor.

Abstract: A visual line detecting device is arranged to detect the Purkinje image position of an illuminated eye of an observer through light reflected by the eye and to detect the direction of the visual line of the observer from the Purkinje image position and the position of the pupil center of the eye. The device estimates the pupil diameter of the eye from the luminance of external light and determines the position of the center of the pupil by determining the position of a boundary between the pupil and the iris of the eye on the basis of the pupil diameter estimated.

Abstract: An automatic shutter driving device releasable when the image of a subject is sharply focused comprises a mode selection switch, enable-signal generating means, logic circuit, and a shutter driving circuit. The mode selection switch is mounted on a camera body having an automatic focusing function and selects at least a single mode of another mode, such as a continuous servo mode or a manual mode. The enable-signal generating means generates an enable-signal when the mode selection switch selects the single mode after a photographic lens having no automatic focusing function has been mounted on the camera body. The logic circuit executes the logic operations of the enable signal and a detection output signal derived from a decision means for deciding whether the image of a subject is sharply focused or out-of-focus, thereby delivering a shutter driving signal. The shutter driving circuit drives a shutter in response to the shutter driving signal derived from the logic circuit.

Abstract: A photographic camera having an automatic exposure control circuit including a photocell lens assembly mounted for movement through an angle greater than ninety degrees, as the camera is rotated in either direction about its optical axis between a horizontally orientated picture taking attitude and a vertically orientated picture taking attitude, so as to compensate for variations in scene illumination received by the photocell lens assembly in the three attitudes, i.e., one horizontal and two vertical.

Abstract: In the disclosed light metering device, a scanning reflecting mirror directs a portion of light that has passed through an objective lens to a light-sensitive element and a driving device changes the positional relationship of the light-sensitive element and the reflecting mirror for light metering relative to each other so as to scan the image format formed by the objective lens. A weighting arrangement gives light metering outputs different weights corresponding to the scanning positions in the image format. This forms a light-metering weighting device in the camera.

Abstract: In a digital exposure control device for cameras including an A-D converter connected with a light measuring circuit and a memory element connected therewith for memorizing the output of the A-D converter, a one-shot is connected between the A-D converter and the memory element so that the output of the A-D converter will be transmitted to the memory element only while the output level of the one-shot is high.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control system for cameras of flash photographic capabilities which is switched to either of the daylight or the mode depending upon whether or not a storage capacitor across which a flash tube is connected is sufficiently charged. The system comprises first and second computers for deriving daylight and flash exposure aperture values respectively, a diaphragm control circuit selectively receptive of the outputs of the computers through a first switch, first and second timing circuits for providing daylight and flash exposure times respectively, and a shutter control circuit selectively receptive of the outputs of the timing circuits through a second switch. The system is characterized in the use of a single mode selection actuator which is common to the first and second switches and which causes an automatic selection of the flash mode when the camera release occurs after the attainment of the voltage of the storage capacitor to the normal firing level.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for the advance of a motion-picture film in a camera is controlled by a photometric circuit to stop the advance of the film for a predetermined number of shutter revolutions, in the event of insufficient lighting, whereby each frame is exposed a number of times depending upon luminous intensity. The photometric circuit includes a photosensor periodically illuminated by a reflective shutter surface; the resulting voltage pulses may be fed to a pulse counter, which reactivates the transport mechanism after a manually or automatically selected number of cycles, or may charge a capacitor to trigger a threshold sensor after a sufficiently long cumulative exposure. A servomotor for the control of an iris diaphragm ahead of the shutter is controlled by the photometric circuit to reduce the incident light, under conditions of nearly sufficient illumination, to prevent overexposure of a frame due to successive exposures at full aperture.

Abstract: A preferably pocket-sized camera having an overall shape which is thin in its vertical dimension has its horizontal longitudinal dimension shortened by constructing the camera in two relatively horizontally telescoping sections. One of the camera sections is a main camera section including substantially all of the components of a still camera except for the viewfinder portion thereof. The other section of the camera has a housing which interfits with the housing of the main camera sections so in its retracted position the front and rear viewfinding lens elements thereof interleave with elements of the main camera housing. When the viewfinder section is in its extended position, the front and rear viewfinder lens elements are unobstructed. In the retracted position of the viewfinder section, a part thereof covers the objective lens and shutter release member in the main section of the camera, and wall elements of the main camera section cover over the viewfinder lens elements.

Abstract: A spray of optic fibers is plugged into the top of a housing having an electric light assembly and provision for ventilation. Transparent heat shields are provided to assist the ventilation in preventing overheating of the light-receiving ends of the optic fibers.

Abstract: A shutter control circuit including a brightness-time conversion circuit for developing an output pulse having a duration representative of exposure time, and a standard pulse generating circuit for generating standard pulses at a certain rate. A reversible counter operable in an addition mode and a subtraction mode counts the standard pulses for the duration of the output pulse of the brightness-time conversion circuit so that the number of counted pulses is representative of exposure time. The reversible counter is then operated in a subtraction mode to read-out the counted pulses to control exposure time. The shutter control circuit further includes circuitry for operating the counter in the addition mode and for applying a selectable number of standard pulses to the reversible counter in order to determine exposure time.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter for cameras comprising two sets of shutter blades each of which comprises a plural number of opaque thin plates supported by two supporting arms, a partition plate for separating said two sets of shutter blades from each other, a pair of retaining plates for forming spaces between respective retaining plates and said partition plate for the purpose of housing said two sets of shutter blades separately from each other in said spaces, and an exposure aperture having opposing sides cut in a shallow V-shape. The overall size of said focal plane shutter small, and the shutter blades are moved smoothly at the time of operation without causing jamming or collision of the shutter blades.

Abstract: A photographic camera comprising a pair of winding shafts arranged below an exposure aperture, a pair of unwinding shafts arranged above a photographing lens, a front curtain and rear curtain each secured at one end to the winding shaft and at the other end to the unwinding shaft, and guide rollers for changing the running directions of the front and rear curtains so that a housing space in the camera body may be small.