Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamically modifying a stored program are presented. Correction code is stored in at least one of a plurality of correction blocks included in an electrically erasable programmable memory. A program having instructions stored in the memory is then executed. An address match routine is invoked to execute at least a portion of the correction code in place of at least one of the instructions during the executing of the program. The executing of the program continues after the at least a portion of the correction code is executed.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a door which is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position and a release which is movable between a home position and an away position for selectively retaining said door in said closed position. Door position, release position and film sensors each have at least two states for determining the position of the door and release and for determining presence of film in the camera. The sensors are disposed within an electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera as a function of the states of the sensors.

Abstract: A camera system includes a user friendly interface to enable a camera user to enter text data to be printed on a photographic film in a simple and convenient manner. The user interface is also used to display text messages to the user indicating certain camera conditions. More specifically, a camera is provided that includes a display unit, a display control interface for manually selecting text data to be displayed on the display unit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit to display the text data selected by the manual user interface. The display unit preferably includes a text data display section and fixed icon display section.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in an automatic film winding camera for determining, during film loading, the presence of a film leader portion having a notch therein. First and second film perforation sensors positioned apart along a film advancing path of the film in first and second sensor positions are enabled and disabled in a sequence in which the first and second sensors successively detect the advancement of the film's leading edge at the first and the second sensor positions. The first sensor is then enabled for sensing the film perforations when the notch in the film leader portion is positioned between the first and second sensor positions.

Abstract: An event detection circuit and method of operation thereof in a calibration mode and in a normal operating mode particularly for use in photographic cameras in relation to the calibration of sensors and the detection of output signals therefrom for use in controlling camera operations. An event detection circuit comparator is used in the calibration mode with a successive approximation A/D converter register which generates test analog signals applied to a second input terminal of the comparator while the sensor test output signal generated under the calibration test conditions is applied to the first input terminal to measure and digitize the sensor test analog output signal level as a digital threshold. Then, in the normal operating mode, the digital threshold is retrieved and substituted for the successive approximation A/D converter register to generate a threshold analog signal applied to the second input terminal while the sensor analog output signal is applied to the first input terminal.

Abstract: A light metering device incorporates a light dependent resistor as a light sensing element, a network including a plurality of circuit elements, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the light dependent resistor to one of the plurality of circuit elements in the network. The selection mechanism is controlled to set a voltage measured at an output terminal of the light dependent resistor within a predetermined threshold level. The light metering device can be readily incorporated in both photographic and electronic cameras.

Abstract: A camera and method of camera operation for automatically determining usage condition of film in a cartridge utilizing a cartridge radial bar coded data disc to discriminate among a plurality of possible initial angular settings of the film spool during a film loading operation. The possible initial angular settings can be representative of exposed, partially exposed, fully exposed or processed film. At the start of film loading, the spool is rotated in the reverse direction and bar code element transition counts sensed by a pair of angularly spaced opto-sensors are accumulated. A count comparison between the two sensors is initially made to determine if the film is unexposed and, if so, film loading proceeds in normal manner, otherwise an alternative action is taken. In a simple camera, the loading is terminated.

Abstract: A dual function read data circuit for a mid-roll interrupt capable photographic camera reads magnetically recorded data from a magnetic layer on photographic film and outputs either a data present signal or an actual converted data signal in response to a mode select command signal.

Abstract: In a photographic camera having a plurality of opto-sensors and a microprocessor-based controller, the opto-sensor output signals are coupled via a common bus connection to an input terminal of the controller. A programmably variable output impedance common to the opto-sensors is selectably set for each corresponding selected opto-sensor such that the output signal for each of the selected opto-sensors is at or above a predetermined threshold value at the input to the controller irrespective of differing current output performance of the individual opto-sensors.

Abstract: A method and camera apparatus for magnetically recording data on a photographic film magnetic layer in dual parallel data tracks wherein a first data track is recorded as the film is transported in one direction and a second data track is recorded as the film is transported in the reverse direction. In this manner, recording is simplified since only one recording track of a recording head is needed for recording in the dual data tracks and memory requirements are minimized by recording high content data as each frame is exposed, leaving the low content data to be stored in memory for recording during rewind of film into the cassette.

Abstract: A photographic camera having a logic and control circuit programmed to read a mode setting bar code imprinted on a disc mounted on the end of a cartridge adapted to fit in the cartridge receiving chamber of the camera. The disc may be snapped onto a real film cartridge by the camera operator or it may be provided on dummy cartridge specifically intended to program an operating mode of the camera. One dedicated character in the bar code indicative of an operating mode, such as "calibration", "test" or "custom program", causes another character code on the disc, which is normally assigned a meaning relating to film characteristics, to be referred to an alternate look-up table to determine a specific functional operating activity appropriate to the determined camera operating mode. A wide variety of pre-assigned operating mode activities is possible with this arrangement.

Abstract: A line frequency is determined by interleaved sampling of ambient light to obtain analog voltage samples at predetermined sampling rates associated with two or more line frequencies. Where there are two line frequencies, one method separates the first samples by a time period at least equal to an analog-to-digital conversion time, and less than the earliest time when a sample associated with one line frequency would coincide with a sample from the other. There are n samples per flicker frequency period and Q samples for each line frequency are taken. In a second method, a first common sample is taken for all line frequencies, and a condition characterized by simultaneous samples for different line frequency sample groups triggers a common sample for all line frequencies. For both methods, digital sample values one through Q-1 for each group are operated on to obtain a result, and then two through Q are similarly operated on to obtain a second result.

Abstract: A memory module, releasably attached to the end of a film cartridge, includes a set of conductive arcuate segments surrounding a centrally disposed conductive pad accessible through an upper surface of the module, and non-volatile memory attached to the conductive pad and the arcuate segments. The memory module is positioned so that the conductive pad and arcuate segments can make electrical contact with data recording and reading terminal pins of camera and film processing equipment. The terminal pins include a centrally disposed pin and further pins positioned circularly around the centrally disposed pin to extend into the module and contact the respective conductive pad and segments, so that at least one terminal pin is in contact with each conductive pad and segment.

Abstract: A camera system includes a main camera body having a main camera processor coupled to a main body operator interface, a recording head drive circuit and wireless communication receiver, wherein the recording head drive circuit is coupled to a recording head. A remote control unit is also provided that includes a processor unit coupled to an audio record/playback circuit, a remote operator interface and a wireless communication transmitter, wherein the audio record circuit is coupled to a microphone. In operation, the processor unit of the remote control unit controls the record/playback circuit to record an audio segment of a selected duration based on control signals received from the operator interface.

Abstract: A camera system is disclosed that optically records audio information on a photographic film containing corresponding image information. The camera system includes a user interface coupled to a camera control processor, a recording circuit coupled to the camera control processor and a microphone, an optical encoding circuit having an input coupled to the output of the recording circuit and an output coupled to an optical write head, a shutter mechanism, and a transport mechanism for advancing film past the shutter mechanism and the optical write head.

Abstract: Camera apparatus operative with a film cartridge having a rotatable radial bar coded data disc thereon positioned at predetermined angular settings corresponding that indicate the condition of film in the cartridge, i.e. exposed, unexposed, partially exposed, etc.. The setting of the disc is determined during initial film spool rotation during the film loading process by counting with the optical sensor in the camera the number of bar code elements occurring between the initial set position of the disc and a reference position on the disc such as an edge of a quiet zone element normally included on the radial bar coded disc. The visual exposure indicator (VEI) positions on the cartridge are spaced about the perimeter of the cartridge such that there exist unambiguous element count ranges corresponding to each of the cartridge VEI positions.

Abstract: An automatic focus and indirect illumination control system for focusing a camera imaging lens on a scene and for selectively illuminating the scene with light from a camera associated light source wherein the camera includes active and passive scene range finders for automatic focus control of the imaging lens, an active bounce surface range finder and direct and indirect illumination lamps operable in relation to the detection of a reflective surface. The active range finders are connected to a common drive circuit and auto ranging circuit and are operated selectively by the camera microcontroller in conjunction with a scene illumination photometric sensor. A passive multi-spot scene range finder is operated in conjunction with the active single-spot scene range finder for automatic focus control based on left, central and right subject distance information under normal scene illumination conditions and central subject distance information under low scene illumination, respectively.

Abstract: A multiple photosensitive element array and lens system particularly adapted for use in a camera for providing scene image light intensity signals for use in automatic exposure and automatic focus control. A two-dimensional photometric sensor array of planar photosensitive array segments is centrally disposed on an integrated circuit substrate so that the planar segments each receive light from corresponding segments of the image focused thereon for developing first light intensity related signals in response thereto. At least one pair of linear range arrays, each comprising a plurality of photosensitive elements, is mounted on the substrate on either side of the two-dimensional sensor array, such that the linear range arrays are separated by a baseline distance extending across the two-dimensional photometric sensor array. A lens system is provided for focusing an image of a scene to be photographed upon each of the two-dimensional photometric sensor array and the linear photosensitive element range arrays.

Abstract: An electronic strobe flash apparatus includes a first energizable flash tube arranged to project light in a first direction to directly illuminate a scene, a second energizable flash arrange to project light in a second direction to indirectly illuminate the scene, a battery power supply for providing a source of charging energy, first and second high voltage discharge capacitors coupled to the first and second flash tubes, and electronic control means for providing charging current from the power supply to the first high discharge voltage capacitor until it is charged to a predetermined discharge voltage and for then charging the second high voltage discharge capacitor to the predetermined discharge voltage level. Preferably, the electronic control means includes a single DC/DC converter coupled through a miniaturized relay to the first and second high voltage capacitors to successively charge each under charge control signals provided by a microcontroller.

Abstract: In a photographic camera to be used with a light-tight cassette which can be operated to thrust a filmstrip out of the cassette whether the a filmstrip is completely unexposed, partly exposed or fully exposed and which has a status indicator for providing a visible indication of the exposure status of the filmstrip, a film transport mechanism for operating the cassette is disabled whenever the cassette is inadvertently loaded in the camera with the status indicator indicating the filmstrip is partly or fully exposed.