Abstract: A film cassette for multi-exposure film strips has a body part with an inner compartment for a film strip and at least one opening for passage of the film strip therethrough between an initial position before exposure and a final position after exposure, and elements for preventing unintentional withdrawal of the film strip from the body part in at least one of these positions, the preventing elements arranged between the body part and the film strip. The preventing elements can be arranged so that they prevent unintentional withdrawal of the film strip in both positions. The preventing elements include a recess provided in one of the film strip and the body part, and a projection provided in the other of the film strip and the body part and engageable in the recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a film cassette for a photosensitive film consisting of a light-proof, flat flexible case substantially equal in length to the strip of film and a cassette opening which extends perpendicularly of the length of the case and which is provided with light-sealing means whereby the top part and the bottom part of the cassette being fixedly interconnected solely in the vicinity of the cassette opening and the other three edges are displaceable relative to one another in light proof labyrinths, even if the case is bent, the strip of film retains its freedom of movement.

Abstract: A novel film cartridge, camera for use with such cartridge and method of making such cartridge are disclosed. The cartridge is in form of a pocket of a material which is impermeable to light and which accommodates a multi-exposure film strip having a length at least equal to the length of the pocket.

Abstract: A still-camera film transport system includes a perforation feeler and cooperating perforation-detecting switch generating a perforation signal. A motor speed sensor generates a signal indicative of whether the motor speed is above or below a certain level. A shutter-state switch generates a signal indicating whether the shutter is in set or unset state. A motor-control switch is controlled from the output of a logic-circuit stage which receives the above three signals. During normal operation before the film end is reached, the perforation signal is used to generate a deenergize-motor signal, but in dependence upon the shutter-state signal. When the film end is reached no further perforations follow, but the transport motor comes to a halt because it cannot pull the film further. The motor-speed signal indicates this and, when applied to the logic-circuit stage, causes the motor to be deenergized if the shutter is in set state.

Abstract: A single transducer is used to emit acoustic radiation towards the subject and receive the reflected-back radiation to generate a received-back signal. Upon emission, a switch becomes conductive to initiate charging of a timing capacitor, the charging terminating in response to the received-back signal. The capacitor charges through a variable resistor coupled to the focus adjuster, at a slower rate for longer subject-distance setting and at a faster rate for shorter subject-distance settings. Because the duration of capacitor charging is longer for longer actual subject distance, the voltage achieved by the capacitor at the termination of capacitor charging always has approximately the same value, no matter what the subject-distance setting, if the subject-distance setting is in fact correct, and thus this voltage constitutes a quality-of-focus signal. The latter signal is applied to one input of a subtractor whose other input receives a desired-quality-of-focus signal.

Abstract: The control mechanism for a photographic camera using film carrtridges having coded marks indicative of the sensitivity of the employed film includes a hand-operated control member for setting at least one exposure parameter, an axially movable objective for setting the distance, an adjustable diaphragm, a scanner movable against the marks on the cartridge for displacing the control member in response to the coded marks, a stationary cam surface engaging the objective, transmission gears coupled between the control member and the objective to axially displace the latter according to a distance setting and according to the shape of the stationary cam and curves provided on the control member to display at least the applicable exposure range and the flash distance limits for the employed film sensitivity.

Abstract: The bellows type folding camera includes two pairs of collapsable struts symmetrically hinged inside the bellows between the camera housing and the displaceable objective support; the upper and lower struts are interconnected by transverse straps and only one of the struts is operated by an actuation handle whereby the movement of this one strut is transmitted to the remaining struts by a coupler and crank linkage and by the transverse straps.

Abstract: A photographic camera has a housing the front wall of which is provided with a view finder having an inlet window and with a lens. A manually slidable first cover is movable to and from a position in which it covers the inlet window, and the second cover is movable to and from a new position in which it covers the lens. An arrangement is provided which links the covers for joint movement so that when the view finder cover moves to a position in which it uncovers the view finder the lens cover automatically also moves to a position to which it uncovers the lens, and vice versa.

Abstract: A multi-lamp flash unit and a camera with which it is usable, are described. The flash unit has a mounting shoe with which it is connectable to the camera. The shoe has an opening affording access to the interior of the unit, where a triggering element can be displaced from a rest position to an operating position in which it triggers advancement of a flash lamp into a reflector of the unit. The camera has an element which can enter through the opening and displace the triggering element to the operating position of the same.

Abstract: A focussing system emits an infrared light beam towards the subject, the reflected beam passing through an infrared filter and being projected by a spot optics as a small spot onto a pair of photosensitive elements. The spot optics shifts in a plane normal to the camera's optical axis in dependence upon rotation of the camera's focussing ring, to vary the distribution of the reflected beam onto the two elements, the distribution being equal between them when the state of focus is correct. A circuit derives, from the output signals of the two photosensitive elements, a state-of-focus signal used to automatically focus or else to indicate to the user the direction in which he should manually adjust focus. When focussing is finished, the photosensitive elements are disconnected from the focussing circuitry and connected to the camera's exposure-control circuitry, to thereby serve a dual function. The infrared filter moves out of the light path of the photosensitive elements.

Abstract: An arrangement for setting camera functions in dependence upon a characteristic of film being used in the camera. The arrangement includes a manually operable setting knob which can be turned to a plurality of settings and is arrested in each by an arresting device. This knob is used when the film cassette employed in the camera has no film-characteristic (e.g., film speed) mark. When the cassette does have such a mark, the insertion of the cassette into the film chamber of the camera causes disengagement of the arresting device and automatic turning of the knob to a position corresponding to the detected mark. Since the knob is visible to the user it serves as an indicator of the film in the camera, whether the camera setting is manually or automatically made.

Abstract: A film transport system includes an electric transport motor. Upon completion of an exposure, the motor is energized to perform a film-transport operation and upon conclusion thereof a perforation-feeler causes the motor to become short-circuited for quick arrest. A flash unit comprises an energy-storing capacitor connected in series with flash-unit batteries. When the film transport motor, which is powered off a motor battery, is motionless or in short-circuited condition, the energy-storing capacitor of the flash unit is permitted to charge both of the flash-unit batteries and the motor battery. When the film transport motor is in operation, the input terminals of the flash unit are conductively shunted together, thereby connecting the flash-unit batteries across the energy-storing capacitor so that the latter may continue to charge off its own batteries but not off the camera batteries.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for separating sludge, oil and the like from contaminated water having walls separating a tank into first and second compartments. The tank has an inlet for carrying the contaminated water thereto, a first outlet for removing separated oil and the like, a second outlet for removing the treated water and an outlet for removing separated sludge and the like. A plate pack is mounted on an inclined wall within the tank with the pack sloping downwardly from a first to a second end. The improved pack includes side walls, a top and a bottom forming a conduit for carrying the contaminated water from the first to the second end. A plurality of plates is mounted one above the other extending between the side walls to provide a plurality of passageways. The plate pack second end defines a substantially vertical plane when the pack is mounted on the inclined wall.

Abstract: A motor-driven still camera in which all functions associated with making of an exposure and readying the camera for the next exposure are effected by operation of the motor, and a user need exert only the small force required to close a motor-actuating switch in order to initiate the operation of the camera.

Abstract: A still-camera film transport system includes a perforation feeler and cooperating perforation-detecting switch generating a perforation signal. A time-delay circuit initiates a time delay upon the commencement of film transport and generates a time-delay-elapsed signal when the time delay has elapsed. The duration of the delay is greater than the time required for the film transport motor to transport film from the last film perforation to the actual end of the film. A shutter-state switch generates a signal indicating whether the shutter is in set or unset state. A motor-control switch is controlled from the output of a logic-circuit stage which receives the above three signals. During normal operation before the last perforation is passed, the perforation signal is used to generate a deenergize-motor signal, but in dependence upon the shutter-state signal.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus which can accept cassettes for high-speed or lower-sensitivity film has a mechanical or electronic switch which automatically deactivates a light-emitting diode which serves to indicate the intensity of scene light as soon as a cassette for high-speed film is properly inserted into the body of the apparatus. Such cassette further causes a filter to move out of register with the light-sensitive resistor which is in circuit with the diode and is exposed to scene light. The diode is also deactivated if the diaphragm is adjusted to furnish an aperture of maximum or minimum size; alternatively, the diode is deactivated only when the body of the apparatus contains high-speed film and the diaphragm is adjusted to furnish an aperture of maximum or minimum size.

Abstract: An adjustable diaphragm is driven by an adjusting motor. A first light sensor is positioned behind a first light attenuator, and a second light sensor behind a second light attenuator. The attenuators are likewise driven by the adjusting motor. A negative-feedback control circuit actuates the adjusting motor to keep the amount of light incident upon the first light sensor negative-feedback-regulated. As the position of the motor output element changes, the fraction of incident scene light transmitted by the first light attenuator, that transmitted by the second light attenuator, and that transmitted by the diaphragm, vary. The variations in the fraction of light transmitted by the second light attenuator are the same as those in the fraction of light transmitted by the diaphragm, but different from the variations in the fraction of light transmitted by the first light attenuator.

Abstract: An analog signal whose value is proportional to scene-light intensity is converted into a multi-bit digital signal of corresponding value. A train of clock pulses is generated, having a repetition frequency greater than the reciprocal of the shortest exposure duration to be establishable by the control system. The digital light-intensity signal is continually totalized during the course of an exposure by a clocked totalizer which operates in synchronism with the train of clock pulses and produces during the course of the exposure a multi-bit digital totalized-light signal. A comparator has a first input at which it receives the totalized-light signal and a second input at which it receives a digital total-required-light signal. The latter signal is furnished by an addressable storage which stores a plurality of total-required-light signals of different respective values, corresponding to different exposure programs.

Abstract: Three electric lamps with different voltage-illumination thresholds are connected to be successively turned on to show exposure times by an electronic switch, such as a transistor, connected to a voltage divider composed of a photoconductor, exposed to scene light, and a resistor.

Abstract: A miniature still camera wherein a cover of the housing is reciprocable with respect to the lens-containing section of the housing and the cover contains a socket for indexible or non-indexible sources of artificial illumination. The camera is ready to make an exposure when the cover is moved to an extended position to increase the length of the housing; the source of artificial light is then sufficiently remote from the lens to insure satisfactory exposures of color film to artificial light even though the source of artificial light is not connected to the socket by an extender. An indexible socket can be rotated in response to movement of the cover with respect to the lens-containing section, and the cover can contain a mechanism which fires percussively ignitable flash lamps in response to actuation of the camera release. When the length of the housing is reduced, the socket is received in the space between the objective and the eyepiece of the viewfinder in the lens-containing section of the housing.