Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a camera for use with a power supply is provided. The camera has a voltage detecting circuit adapted to detect a voltage level at the power source and to generate a voltage level signal. An image capture system is also provided and performs a set of image capture operations. A controller receives the voltage level signal and prevents the image capture system from capturing an image when the voltage level signal indicates that there is insufficient power available in the power supply to perform all of operation in the set of image capture operations.

Abstract: The diaphragm for an objective lens in a camera includes a circular series of coilable resilient opaque electrodes that are biased to curl into respective coils radially outward to make the size of an aperture larger and are electrostatically actuatable to uncurl from the coils radially inward to make the size of the aperture smaller, a transparent flat stationary electrode that is positioned parallel to the coilable electrodes when the coilable electrodes are uncurled from the coils, a peripheral conductor that encircles the coilable electrodes and has respective conductive connections to each one of the coilable electrodes, and one conductive lead attached to the peripheral conductor and another conductive lead attached to the stationary electrode for together applying an electric potential between the coilable electrodes and the stationary electrode to electrostatically actuate the coilable electrodes to uncurl.

Abstract: A camera has an objective lens for forming an image of a subject by focusing rays of light on a film plane, and a mirror for a viewfinder which is movable in the way of the light rays between the objective lens and the film plane to reflect the light rays to a viewing screen in the viewfinder and is movable out of the way of the light rays to allow the lens to focus the light rays on the film plane. The movable mirror is an electrostatic light valve that includes a transparent flat stationary electrode between the objective lens and the film plane, and a coilable mirrored resilient electrode having one end fixed with respect to the stationary electrode and a free end. The coilable electrode is biased to curl into a coil on the stationary electrode, beginning at the free end, to move out of the way of the light rays, and is electrostatically actuatable to uncurl from the coil along the stationary electrode to be in the way of the light rays to reflect them to the viewing screen.

Abstract: A spatial light modulation device is formed by creating forming an electromagnetic field within a substrate with at least one movable element, fixedly attached to the substrate at a first end, from a soft magnetic material with an anisotropic stress created within the movable element such that the element exists in a first position as a result of the anistropic stress and an actuating device comprising a magnetic layer placed within close correspondence with the soft magnetic material for placing the soft magnetic material into a second position.

Abstract: A novel exposure frame counter is disclosed that gives the appearance of more expensive LCD type displays while not requiring the support electronics and has the ability to erase itself after being used. A disc of low permeable magnetic material has exposure frame numbers recorded into the material in a selected manner so as to create a desired magnetic field. A magnetic micro-shutter is used to create the exposure frame numbers by placing individual micro-shutters over the disc which react to the magnetic field of the disc to form numerals that indicate the exposure frame the camera is on. When the camera is advanced, the section of the disc that was indicating the exposure frame advances to the next frame and the previous frame passes across a field created by a strong permanent magnet and is erased by the permanent magnet. The magnetic micro-shutters of the exposure frame counter are formed essentially as a seven-segment display to form the numerals of the exposure frame counter.

Abstract: A spatial light modulation device is formed by creating at least one movable element, fixedly attached to the substrate at a first end, from a soft magnetic material with an anisotropic stress created within the movable element such that the element exists in a first position as a result of the anistropic stress and an actuating device comprising a magnetic layer placed within close correspondence with the soft magnetic material for placing the soft magnetic material into a second position.

Abstract: A battery charging system detects if multiple battery cells to be recharged include rechargeable, secondary batteries or non-rechargeable, primary batteries. If the system detects that any one of the cells is a primary battery, then the charging system halts the charging operation. If all of the cells are secondary batteries, but the polarity of any battery cell is incorrect, then the charging system halts the charging process.

Abstract: An album (50) for photographic prints includes a front cover (52); a back cover (54); a binder member (56) attached between the front and back covers; an elongated, partially cylindrical shell member (78) attached to the binder member, the shell member having opposite ends (80, 82) and opposed longitudinal edges (90, 92), the longitudinal edges being attached to the binder member; and at least one album page (94) movably attached to the shell member, the page having opposed portions (96, 98) which extend around the opposite ends, whereby the page can be moved circumferentially around the shell member from a first position near one of the covers to a second position near another of the covers. The album may include a sensing device (30, 32) to detect movement of the at least one page and a produce a signal; and a system (124-160), responsive to the signal, for playing back sound messages or displaying text messages, or both, associated with photographic prints carried by the at least one page.

Abstract: A waterproof protective housing for a camera comprising an elastic pouch which is shaped and dimensioned to enclose the camera and has an opening for a taking lens of the camera, is characterized in that a pair of rigid outer and inner clamping parts are secured together parallel to one another to squeeze the elastic pouch between them at the opening to provide a watertight seal around the opening, and at least one of the outer and inner clamping parts is transparent and covers the opening.

Abstract: A camera for taking pictures, comprises a viewfinder masking device having three different format mask configurations; a manual picture-format selector having three different format selection settings which correspond respectively to the three different format mask configurations in order to select any one of the three different format mask configurations; and a default reset for returning the selector to a predetermined one of the three different format selection settings and returning the viewfinder masking device to a corresponding one of the three different format mask configurations, when the selector is in any one of the selection settings that is not the predetermined one, after a picture is taken and before another picture is taken.

Abstract: A protective housing for a camera comprising a pouch adapted to contain the camera, is characterized in that the pouch has at least one pivotable portion that can be pivoted about a pivot axis to open the pouch in order to allow the camera to be inserted into the pouch, and a manually depressible actuating button is supported on the pouch at the pivot axis to be able to be depressed along the pivot axis to similarly depress a shutter release button of the camera in order to initiate picture-taking.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for flash illuminating a subject is disclosed. The exposure apparatus includes a main flash tube for directly illuminating the subject, a bounce flash tube for indirectly illuminating the subject, and sensing circuitry responsive to ambient scene illumination for producing an ambient scene illumination signal, and responsive to light from the main flash tube reflected from the subject for producing a reflected flash illumination signal.

Abstract: A flash control circuit for a camera flash circuit in which a scene ambient light sensing circuit is coupled to the main flash capacitor which serves as the sole energy source for the light sensing circuit independent of the battery source. The ambient light sensing circuit comprises a light sensing device and resistor coupled in series across a zener diode which serves as a fixed voltage reference device for the light sensing circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the ambient light sensing circuit is coupled in series with the flash sync switch across the flash capacitor such that activation of the light sensing circuit occurs only while the sync switch is closed.

Abstract: A rechargeable photographic camera includes an interlock circuit that automatically inhibits operation of the camera flash when the camera is mated with a charging cradle, regardless of the condition of a manual on-off flash switch. The rechargeable battery of the camera therefore is assured of receiving a full charging current even if the flash unit is left on when the camera is mated with the charging cradle.

Abstract: A camera includes means for supporting an imaging element for recording a scene, an electrochromic filter disposed between the scene and the imaging element and a photoelectric element which emits electrical energy the value of which depends on an amount of scene light which is incident on the photoelectric element. At least a portion of the electrical energy emitted by the photoelectric element is used to directly control the optical density of the electrochromic filter, thereby controlling the amount of scene light which reaches the imaging element.

Abstract: A coupling device for controlling the shutter blades of a leaf type shutter. The coupling device includes two or more hubs that are each coupled to a shutter blade and a portion of a base and a continuous belt that is in contact with the hubs so that when the hubs rotate in a first direction the shutter blades will open and when the hubs rotate in a second direction the shutter blades will close.

Abstract: A rechargeable photographic camera includes an interlock circuit that automatically inhibits operation of the camera flash when the camera is mated with a charging cradle, regardless of the condition of a manual on-off flash switch. The rechargeable battery of the camera therefore is assured of receiving a full charging current even if the flash unit is left on when the camera is mated with the charging cradle.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator that utilizes magnetic attractive and repulsive forces through the interaction of permanent magnetic and electromagnetic fields for moving an aperture/shutter blade or an aperture blade for setting the aperture for an exposure of an image through an imaging aperture. The actuator includes a base for supporting two permanent magnets which are arranged to rotate on a common axis in opposition to each other and under the influence of forward and reverse direction magnetic fields generated by an armature in response to respective forward and reverse direction currents. The first and second magnets are coupled to a blade at first and second pivot points, respectively, which pivot the blade from a stable rest position of said blade with respect to the imaging aperture to first and second aperture setting positions in response to prescribed rotation of the first and second magnets within defined limits.

Abstract: A shutter for a camera having a film exposure opening comprising a shutter curtain movably mounted in the camera for opening and closing the exposure opening, an electromagnetic driver operatively coupled to the shutter curtain for moving the curtain between open and closed positions when the driver is energized to cause movement in one direction, and a first physical stop associated with the electromagnetic driver for physically holding the driver against further movement in the one direction when the curtain reaches one of the open or closed positions. When the electromagnetic driver is energized to cause movement in an opposite direction, a second physical stop associated with the driver and spaced from the first stop physically holds the driver against further movement in the opposite direction when the curtain reaches the other of the open or closed positions.

Abstract: A shutter release cable adapter for connection to a mechanical shutter release of a film camera is provided with a bi-stable magnetic device to selectively position an internal shutter release plunger to either a translation blocking or unblocking position depending on an operating condition of the image capture system of which the film camera is a part. The magnetic device includes an electromagnet responsive to a system condition signal to generate a reversible magnetic field and a permanent magnet interactive with the electromagnetic field to position a projection mounted on the internal plunger to the respective blocking or unblocking position as determined by the condition of the image capture system. In the absence of an electromagnetic field the permanent magnet retains its assumed position by attraction of the permanent magnet field to the armature poles of the electromagnet.