Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical fiber alignment structure for an optical device fabricated on the surface of a substrate, the integrated optical device being adapted to be optically coupled to an end of an optical fiber. The method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a sacrificial structure of a predetermined shape on a surface of a planar substrate, wherein the predetermined shape is chosen to be an inversion of a desired shape of the alignment structure to be fabricated; (b) fabricating the optical device on the substrate such that the sacrificial structure faces a waveguide portion of the optical device; (c) etching an optical fiber insertion aperture into said substrate, such that the optical fiber insertion aperture is aligned substantially underneath the sacrificial structure; and (d) selectively etching said sacrificial structure so as to form a region shaped to receive and align an end of an optical fiber, whereby the alignment structure of the desired shape is fabricated.

Abstract: A family of different type cameras is intended for use with a film cassette which is capable of being operated to thrust a filmstrip out of the cassette housing, regardless of whether the filmstrip is unexposed or is partially exposed, and which has film exposure-status indicating means for providing visible indications that the filmstrip inside the cassette housing is unexposed or is partially exposed. One type camera intended to be used only with a film cassette containing an unexposed filmstrip includes single indication means for providing a visible indication similar only to the one the film cassette provides that the filmstrip inside the cassette housing is unexposed, to advise that the camera can be used only with a film cassette containing an unexposed filmstrip.

Abstract: In a camera having a cartridge load door on a body portion and a battery load door on a battery containing handgrip, each of the doors and the handgrip are supported for pivoting individually only about a single common axis. Pivoting the handgrip from a folded position to an extended position pivots the battery load door flush aginst the cartridge load door. The battery load door is opened by pivoting it flush against the cartridge load door when the handgrip is in the folded position. The cartridge load door is opened by pivoting it flush against the battery load door when the handgrip is in the folded position. This arrangement provides a compact, simple design.

Abstract: A photographic camera and a handgrip are pivotally connected for swinging movement of the camera body relative to the handgrip about a viewing axis through front and rear viewfinder windows on the camera body. This arrangement advantageously enables the camera body to be oriented selectively for horizontal format or vertical format picture-taking without having to change one's grasp of the handgrip or remove one's eye from the vicinity of the rear viewfinder window.

Abstract: A handgrip is adapted to be connected selectively to either one of two opposite sides of a camera body. The handgrip is secured in fixed relation to the camera body to prevent relative movement between the two. A manually operated shutter release member is arranged on the camera body at a location substantially midway between its two opposite sides. The handgrip is configured to enable one-hand holding of the camera body and the same hand operation of the shutter release member. Since the shutter release member is substantially centered between the two opposite sides of the camera body, alternative right-hand or left-hand operation of the release member is possible in accordance with whichever side of the camera body the handgrip is secured to.

Abstract: A compact camera includes an elongate electronic flash unit that is mounted at the rear of the camera body, proximate a rear viewfinder window, for rotation generally about the viewfinder window. The flash unit is rotatable between a folded inoperative position within a recessed area of the camera body and an erect operative position sufficiently higher than the camera lens to substantially prevent red-eye druing a flash exposure.