Abstract: An information recording/reproduction apparatus for a camera includes a magnetic reading unit which can contact a magnetic recording medium arranged in advance on a film, and a drive control unit for, when the magnetic reading unit reaches a predetermined position with respect to the film, bringing the magnetic reading unit into contact with the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A film feeding apparatus in a camera comprises a feeding device for feeding film from a film cartridge, a take-up spool device for taking up the film fed by the feeding device, and a judgment device for judging on the basis of a variation in the movement speed of the film whether the film has been taken up by the take-up spool. The movement speed of the film is determined by the feeding device before the film extending from the film cartridge is taken up by the take-up spool device, and the movement speed of the film is determined by the take-up spool device after the film has been taken up by the take-up spool device. The movement speed of the film driven by the feeding device differs from the movement speed of the film driven by the take-up spool device.

Abstract: A film guide mechanism of a camera has two opposite film guide surfaces which are substantially parallel and which define a film passage between a film cartridge chamber and a film take-up spool. Rotation of a spool shaft of a film cartridge delivers film, which has been wound around the spool shaft, through a delivery port of the film cartridge and into the film passage. At least one inclined plane formed between the delivery port and the film passage guides a leading edge of the film from the delivery port to the film passage.

Abstract: A load driving system uses two gear trains with different characteristics. The load driving system includes a motor, a first pinion gear which is installed on the output shaft of the motor, a first gear train transmitting the rotation from the first pinion gear to a load, a second pinion gear separate from the first pinion gear which is also mounted on the motor output shaft, a second gear train having different characteristics from the first gear train and transmitting the rotation from the second pinion gear to the load, a connector for connecting the first gear train to the load while separating the second gear train from the load and for connecting the second gear train to the load while separating the first gear train from the load, and a controller for selecting one of the first and second gear trains based on a battery discharge level. The first and second gear trains are selected by selecting a rotational direction of the motor.

Abstract: A camera has a magnetic head for data recording and reproduction disposed in opposed relationship with a data recording portion provided on film loaded into the camera and adapted to be biased against the film, a pad for pushing the film into contact with the fore end surface of the magnetic head, and a positioning portion formed on the magnetic head. Further, a reference surface is formed in opposed relationship with the positioning portion and bears against the positioning portion to thereby position that surface of the magentic head which contacts with the film at a position in which no deformation is caused in the film. As the reference surface, use may be made of an outer film guild rail which is originally provided in the camera.

Abstract: A film magazine comprises an output unit for outputting "unused" information when built-in film is unused or "used" information when built-in film is used, and a display unit for displaying use information based on the information sent from the output unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to cameras operable to select one film supply system from either a normal wind-up system or a preparatory wind-up system. The camera has a selector switch for selecting one of the film supply systems, and an inhibiting means for inhibiting that the two systems are applied to one film by the switch, a write means for recording selected information onto a film or a storage device provided in the cartridge, and a read means for reading the selected information and the frame information written in the device. The switch selects a film supply system which is indicated by the selected information read out from the device of the loaded film by the read means. Additionally, a film supply means is provided for preparing and supplying the film in accordance with the frame information read out by the read means. The film supply means can wind up the film to supply even when either of the two film supply systems is set.

Abstract: A camera system comprises: a magazine accommodating a film and an indicating member, the indicating member being brought to different states in accordance with a state of use of the film; and a camera into which the magazine can be loaded and from which the same can be unloaded, the camera including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the indicating member in accordance with the state of use prior to unloading the magazine, a detection device for detecting the state of the indicating member in response to loading of the magazine into the camera and a control unit for controlling a photographing operation in response to the detection device.

Abstract: A film feeder for cameras comprises a drive shaft for driving a film cartridge which is engaged with a spool shaft of the film cartridge to rotationally drive the spool in the forward direction or the reverse direction, thereby rotationally driving the spool in the film lead-out direction or in the film rewinding direction, respectively; an electric motor for rotationally driving the foregoing drive shaft and capable of rotating forwardly or reversely; a rotation transmission system for transmitting a rotational force derived from the motor; and a switch device for selecting either of two transmission paths for driving the drive shaft of the cartridge in compliance with the rotational direction imparted by the motor.

Abstract: A film feeding device for a camera uses first and second electric motors associated with first and second planetary gearing mechanisms, respectively. In one embodiment, the first motor and first planetary gearing mechanism drive a spool shaft of a film cartridge to supply film to a winding spool. The winding spool is driven by the second motor and second planetary gearing mechanism to wind film onto the winding spool, at which time the first motor is stopped and the first planetary gearing mechanism is automatically disconnected from the spool shaft. For rewinding, the second motor is operated in reverse and the second planetary gearing mechanism is automatically disconnected from the winding spool and connected to the spool shaft of the film cartridge.

Abstract: A winding/rewinding apparatus for a camera comprises a winding spool on which a film advanced thereto is wound when the winding spool rotates; a rewinding shaft for engaging a spool of a film cartridge loaded into the camera so as to rotate the spool; a motor; a transmission for transmitting the drive force of the motor to the winding spool and the rewinding shaft so as to advance the film from the cartridge to the winding spool, the transmission transmitting the drive force of the motor so that a speed at which the film is advanced by the rewinding spool is higher than a speed at which the film is advanced by the rewinding shaft; and a clutch which disengages so as not to transmit the drive force of the motor to the rewinding shaft when the rewinding shaft is driven at an increased speed by the film which is being wound by the winding spool.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for preventing the camera shaking, provided with a light metering circuit for receiving the light from an object and releasing luminance signal corresponding to the luminance of the object; a detection circuit for detecting the camera shaking at phototaking operation; a counter for counting the number of phototaking operations identified as involving camera shaking and the number of phototaking operations identified as not involving camera shaking; a discriminator for comparing the above-mentioned numbers and discriminating the relation of the numbers; and an exposure control circuit for varying the shutter time, calculated from the luminance signal, to a shorter shutter time if the count of phototaking operations identified, by the discriminator, as involving camera shaking is larger than the count of phototaking operations identified as not involving camera shaking.

Abstract: A camera film wind-up apparatus for winding up a film wound around a cartridge spool, the film being housed in a cartridge having the cartridge spool, comprises a first driving apparatus for rotatably driving the cartridge spool, a wind-up spool around which a film extended from the cartridge is wound, a second driving apparatus for rotatably driving the wind-up spool, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus controls the first driving apparatus so as to control the amount of rotation of the cartridge spool on the basis of the amount of the rotation of the wind-up spool during the winding-up of the film, thereby preventing the film from being tightly wound around the cartridge spool.

Abstract: There is disclosed a focus state display device, adapted for use in a camera which has plural focus detection areas in the phototaking image field and effects focusing in one area (focusing area) selected from such plural focus detection areas. The device has a display with two different display modes, and displays the focusing area in one display mode when the lens of the camera is in an infocus state to the object in the focusing area, and in the other display mode when the lens is in an out-of-focus state to the object in the focusing area. In another embodiment, the device has a display with three different display modes, and displays the focusing area by a display mode and other focus detection areas (namely nonfocusing areas) by two other display modes depending on whether the object in respective area is in focus or out of focus.

Abstract: A camera capable of photographing with the aid of the application of light to an object to be photographed by electrical flash means includes producing means for producing field angle information regarding the photographing field angle, detecting means for detecting that the photographing field angle is wider than the illuminating angle of the light of the electrical flash means and outputting a detection signal, and control means responsive to the detection signal to cause the producing means to produce field angle information indicative of a photographing field angle narrower than the illuminating angle of the light of the electrical flash means.

Abstract: A film feeder for a camera comprises a feeding out mechanism for feeding out film of a film cartridge wound around a spool shaft, by rotating the spool shaft of the loaded film cartridge; a winding up mechanism for driving a wind up spool to wind up around the wind up spool the film fed out of the film cartridge; a roller provided between the loaded film cartridge and the wind up spool, which is driven by the driving power of a motor to feed the film fed out by the feeding out mechanism and guide the film to the wind up spool; and a driving power transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving power of the motor to the roller until the film is wound around the wind up spool and thereafter cutting off the transmission of the driving power to the roller.

Abstract: A film winding apparatus, using a film cartridge constructed so that film is fed from the cartridge by rotating a film cartridge spool, comprises a film cartridge spool drive unit for driving the film cartridge spool, a winding spool drive unit for driving a film winding spool, a film tip position detector for detecting that a tip of the film fed from the film cartridge has arrived at the winding spool, or a predetermined distance from the winding spool, and outputting a film tip position signal, and control device for receiving the film tip position signal. The control device controls the film cartridge spool drive unit and the winding spool drive unit so that after the control device receives the film tip position signal, a speed ratio VF/VS is provided in which the film feed speed VF is slower than the circumferential speed VS of the winding spool, and so that before the control device receives the film tip position signal, a larger speed ratio is provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera equipped with a mode setting device which counts the number of uses of each of plural modes, and sets the most frequently used mode as the initial mode. At the phototaking operation, the camera is set at such most frequently used mode. The above-mentioned plural modes can be plural exposure control modes, focal length control modes, photographing magnification setting modes, self-timer modes, automatic exposure value correcting modes, or alarm modes.

Abstract: A film feeding apparatus in a camera comprises a feeding device for feeding film from a film cartridge, a take-up spool device for taking up the film fed by the feeding device, and a judgment device for judging on the basis of a variation in the movement speed of the film whether the film has been taken up by the take-up spool. The movement speed of the film is determined by the feeding device before the film extending from the film cartridge is taken up by the take-up spool device, and the movement speed of the film is determined by the take-up spool device after the film has been taken up by the take-up spool device. The movement speed of the film driven by the feeding device differs from the movement speed of the film driven by the take-up spool device.

Abstract: The battery check device for cameras comprises a counting device for counting the number of times photographing is performed by cameras, a detecting means for detecting the remainder of the capacity of batteries, and a determining device for determining the number of the remaining pictures which can be taken on the basis of the detected remainder of the capacity of batteries.