Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

Abstract: A flash circuit for use in a camera, the flash charging circuit comprising a flash light discharge circuit having a light emitting element electrically connected to a flash capacitor; a flash triggering circuit connected to the flash light discharge circuit with the flash triggering circuit having a trigger signal generating circuit generating a signal that enables energy from the energy storage device to be converted into light by the light emitting element; a voltage conversion circuit connected between a battery and the flash capacitor to convert energy from a source voltage into a higher voltage to charge the flash capacitor; a timer circuit to cause the voltage conversion circuit to operate when the voltage at a timing capacitor is within a range of voltages, said timer circuit having a time constant circuit connected to the timing capacitor to discharge energy stored in the timing capacitor at a predetermined rate; a reset circuit that resets the timing capacitor voltage to a voltage that is within the

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, what is provided is a camera body adapted to be joined to a cover having an outer electronic circuit with a set of electrical contacts, said contacts being positioned by the cover in relation to an aperture. The camera body comprises a primary electronic circuit with a set of electrical contacts adapted to engage the electrical contacts of the outer electronic circuit and to cooperate therewith to perform a set of camera functions when the set of electrical contacts from the outer electronic circuit is held against the set of electrical contacts from the inner electronic circuit. A post is aligned with the set of electrical contacts of the inner electronic circuit said post being adapted to engage an aperture in the cover so that as the cover is joined to the body, the set of electrical contacts from the outer electronic circuit is aligned with the set of electrical contacts from the inner electronic circuit.

Abstract: A flash control circuit is provided for a flash circuit having a flash capacitor and a flash illumination device. The flash control circuit comprises a current limiting device in series with the flash illumination device and a bypass circuit in parallel with the current limiting device. The bypass circuit has a first setting that bypasses the current limiting device and a second setting that does not bypass the current limiting device.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, what is provided is a camera body adapted to be joined to a cover having an outer electronic circuit with a set of electrical contacts, said contacts being positioned by the cover in relation to an aperture. The camera body comprises a primary electronic circuit with a set of electrical contacts adapted to engage the electrical contacts of the outer electronic circuit and to cooperate therewith to perform a set of camera functions when the set of electrical contacts from the outer electronic circuit is held against the set of electrical contacts from the inner electronic circuit. A post is aligned with the set of electrical contacts of the inner electronic circuit said post being adapted to engage an aperture in the cover so that as the cover is joined to the body, the set of electrical contacts from the outer electronic circuit is aligned with the set of electrical contacts from the inner electronic circuit.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera with a built-in flash, an external flash unit therefor and system in which the camera and external flash unit have mating mounting structures enabling the external flash unit to be mounted on the camera in manner that blocks direct flash emission from camera flash unit onto a subject being photographed and the flash emission device of the external flash unit is positioned farther away from the camera taking lens than the built-in flash thereby substantially eliminating red-eye effect on the subject being photographed. The external flash unit includes a flash re-directing channel which directs built-in flash emission generally upwards to provide indirect illumination of the photographed subject.

Abstract: A one-time-use camera with a built-in flash unit and an external flash unit system in which the external flash unit is devoid of a charger circuit and battery power supply. The external flash unit is connected to the camera built-in flash unit's flash capacitor and flash trigger circuit via interconnecting terminals provided on the camera and external flash unit. The external flash unit includes circuit means for disabling camera flash trigger circuit so as to prevent the camera flash emission device from operating. A signal pulse is sent from the camera trigger circuit to an SCR trigger switch in the external flash trigger switch to initiate flash operation in the external flash unit. By virtue of mounting the flash emission device of the external unit farther away from the taking lens than the built-in flash device and disabling the operation of the internal flash unit, red-eye on the subject being photographed is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: In a camera having a single battery cell power source, a flash apparatus is provided in combination with an optical data recording circuit in which energy to illuminate an LED illumination device in the recording circuit is derived from charging current through the flash capacitor generated by a “one touch” self oscillating charging circuit. A resistor element is connected in circuit with the flash capacitor across the charge voltage output terminals of the charging circuit. An oscillation start terminal of the charging circuit and the illumination device of the recording circuit are coupled through respective normally reverse biased diodes to the normally open contact of a flash synchronization switch. Closure of the synchronization switch forward biases the diodes to start the charging circuit and to connect the illumination device across the resistor element to activate the illumination device during the brief period the flash synchronization switch is closed.

Abstract: In a flash circuit for a single use camera, a minimum residual charge voltage level is maintained on a flash capacitor to ensure availability of an energy source to operate an auxiliary circuit, such as an optical data recording circuit, even after prolonged periods of non-use of the camera. This minimum charge voltage level is maintained by provision of a DC circuit path from the camera battery via the charger circuit and flash power rectifier diode to the flash capacitor. Automatic restart of the flash charging circuit upon closing of the flash trigger switch is assured by connecting the charging circuit start terminal to the trigger switch by means of a normally reverse biased re-start diode that isolates the start terminal from the flash capacitor voltage on the trigger circuit at all times when the flash trigger switch is open.

Abstract: An optical data recording circuit includes an optical recording device normally illuminated from a camera battery means in conjunction with initiation of flash illumination in the camera flash illumination circuit. The data recording circuit includes a first charging circuit path having a charging diode and an auxiliary charge storage capacitor for maintaining a charge voltage substantially equal to battery no-load voltage. The optical recording device, typically an LED, is connected to the charge voltage point of the first circuit and, through a switch device to a return terminal of the battery. When the switch device is closed in conjunction with initiating flash illumination, the LED is illuminated by the battery through the charging diode of the first circuit path.

Abstract: An optical data recording circuit suitably adapted for a low cost, one-time-use camera in which an LED optical recording device is connected via a switch device from one terminal of a battery supply to the base of an oscillator transistor in an oscillator charging circuit. The base of the oscillator transistor is connected via a resistor to the other terminal of the battery supply and via an oscillator charger circuit ON/OFF switch and secondary winding of the charger step-up transformer to the first terminal of the battery supply. The battery is such that its no-load output voltage is sufficient to illuminate the LED. When the switch device is closed to initiate recording of an optical data bit on film in the camera, the LED is illuminated from the battery no-load output voltage if the ON/OFF switch is open and the charging circuit is not running.

Abstract: Data bits representing different aspect ratio formats of film image frames are optically recorded on photographic film by means of light emitting devices energized from the flash charge storage capacitor. The light emitting devices are driven by a constant current source control circuit, the control circuit and light emitting devices being coupled to the capacitor by the flash sync switch. Data bit format selection is achieved by either user operated light emitting device selection switches or by means of an optical bit forming mask having plural aperture selectable by means of a movable slide shutter.

Abstract: A single touch flash capacitor charging circuit particularly useful in low cost cameras incorporating an oscillation timeout circuit to arrest self-sustaining oscillations for conserving battery consumption. The timeout circuit includes a reference voltage integration circuit coupled to the secondary of the oscillation transformer to develop a reference voltage that is independent of battery voltage. A timer charging circuit is coupled to the voltage reference circuit and determines the timeout period. Closing of a start charge switch resets the timer charging circuit to a fixed voltage differential from the integration circuit reference voltage. When the start charge switch is opened, the timer circuit begins charging to the voltage reference. Once initiated, the flash capacitor charger circuit continues charging the flash capacitor for the duration of the timeout period set by the timer circuit.

Abstract: A single use camera having an electronic flash assembly including a flash charging circuit and a flash illumination circuit is provided with one or more access openings in the camera cover. The access openings are aligned with contact terminals in the flash charging circuit to allow insertion of a shorting device that acts to disable operation of the flash charging circuit. This is useful during a film loading operation to prevent charging of the flash capacitor which might otherwise be caused by electrostatic start up of the flash charging circuit. Preventing operation of the flash charging circuit in preference to shorting of the flash capacitor directly preserves battery power and assures the flash charging transistors will not be damaged by attempting to charge into a short circuited flash capacitor.

Abstract: In a single use camera having a flash circuit and a film drive motor operated from a single battery source, a control circuit is provided with a diode that is coupled from a terminal on the motor control switch to the flash charging circuit to suppress operation of the flash charging circuit while the film drive motor is operating to advance the film after a picture taking event. The motor OFF position of the control switch is connected to battery positive terminal and the control circuit includes a capacitive connection from the switch to the flash charging circuit such that when the motor switch changes over from the motor ON to motor OFF position, a positive pulse is applied to restart operation of the flash charging circuit when the motor is turned off. This arrangement suppresses operation of the flash charging circuit while the motor is running, allowing full battery current to be applied to the motor.

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: An electronic flash device includes an illumination element, an actuation circuit having a flash capacitor providing energy releasable to illuminate the element, and a self-oscillating charging circuit, having a transistor, for charging the capacitor. The invention is characterized by a resistor located between a base of the transistor and ground for preventing the self-oscillating circuit from charging the capacitor when the flash device is exposed to an external static electric charge.

Abstract: A camera assembly comprises a plurality of encodement-on-film recording means adapted to receive electrical energy to provide various film encodements, an encodement-on-film selector movable to various selection positions to select one or more of the recording means to provide the film encodements, a flash charge storage capacitor, and a shutter-flash synch contact connected to the flash capacitor to enable the flash capacitor to supply electrical energy when a shutter blade impacts the synch contact. Respective ones of the recording means are coupled via the synch contact to the flash capacitor to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. The synch contact supports the selector for movement to its selection positions and is coupled to the selector to permit the selector to select one or more of the recording means to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. This arrangement provides a savings of parts desirable in a low cost camera.