Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data is transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.

Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.

Abstract: A camera is adapted to operate with stored data by sensing the film speed data prepared on the surface of a film cartridge loaded in the camera to produce a data reading signal and reading the sensed film speed data in response to the data reading signal and detecting whether or not the the film loaded in the camera includes film speed data to provide a warning when a determination is made that the film speed data is not on the film cartridge. Film speed data may be loaded in the camera manually and the warning is interrupted in response to the manual setting of the film speed. At least one of the film speed data and the manually set film speed data is stored and the exposure data is calculated on the basis of the stored film speed data.

Abstract: Vertical CCD registers constituting parts of an interline type CCD imaging device hold independently the signal charges transferred from photoelectric conversion elements and having different storage durations. Transfer of charge to the vertical CCD registers from the photoelectric conversion element is performed at least twice during one field period. The vertical CCD registers transfer the signal charges of different storage durations independent of one another.

Abstract: A camera in which the film speed data and exposure time data are selectively indicated by a first indicator and aperture value data and override data are also selectively indicated by a second indicator.

Abstract: A camera in which both a light measuring operation and an exposure data calculating operation are made operative in response to either a manual exposure operation of a shutter release member or a manual operation of a manually operable means to be operated for altering data stored in a storing means which is co-acting in the exposure data calculating operation.

Abstract: A camera system being comprised of a camera and an external device is disclosed. The external device is detachably mounted on the camera which memorizes a program or data necessary for executing a program therein.When the external device is mounted on the camera, they are connected electrically with each other and communicate therebetween in order to read a program or data memorized in the external device into a memory means provided in the camera. The camera is controlled according to the program designated by the external device.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a camera which has an information setting device including an information setting member rotatable around a display device. The information setting member is provided with a window member which covers the display device and through which the indication displayed on the display device can be seen. The display device is supported on a frame which defines a camera body in association with a cover member surrounding the frame, while the information setting device is supported on the cover member. Accordingly, the size of both devices can be made large without necessity of enlarging the camera body in proportion to the size of the devices. Further, both devices can be assembled independently from each other. Namely, the information setting device is mounted on the cover member which is still separated from the frame. Meanwhile, the display device is mounted on the frame. Finally, the cover member with the information setting device and frame with the display device are assembled.

Abstract: A display device for use in a camera comprises a central processing unit and display units to display exposure data and various control modes under the control of the CPU. The display units are arranged to display the exposure data with suitable marks or characters in rows so as to make the operator to read the display easily. The CPU provides control data to deenergize the display unit at the time of initial states of the camera such as at the time of loading a battery in the camera to prevent to display confusing information.

Abstract: A flash photography system which comprises a photographic camera and an electronic flash device;said photographic camera comprisingaperture value output means for producing aperture value under the flash light photographing,flash light stop signal output means for integrating output value of a light value of a photographing object and for producing a signal for stopping emission of a flash light when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value,said flash device comprisingcalculating means for calculating a maximum photographing distance which is covered by the flash light for effecting a correct exposure on the photographing object on the basis of a maximum light value of the flash light and the aperture value fed from the aperture value output means, anddisplay means for displaying the maximum photographing distance on the basis of the output of the calculating means.

Abstract: An exposure control device for a camera comprising:first means for measuring light from a central area of an object field, said first measuring means including a plurality of means for receiving light from different portions within the central area, respectively; second means for measuring light from a surrounding area other than the central area, the surrounding area being greater than each portion within the central area; means for selecting between a first exposure control mode and a second exposure control mode; and means for controlling exposure in accordance with one of said plurality of receiving means in said first exposure control mode, and in accordance with all of said plurality of receiving means and said second measuring means in said second exposure control mode.

Abstract: From a data transmission device to a camera system including a camera and electronic flash device, operation instruction data such as set or calculated exposure control data, shutter release data instructing the operation of the camera system, flash emission testing data and the like are serially transmitted in the form of infrared light signal. When the reception of these data is completed, the camera starts its operation to control given operation of the camera system such as the exposure initiation of the camera, test light emission of the electronic flash device and the like in accordance with received data.

Abstract: A camera system including a camera body and a camera accessory attachable to the camera body, such as an interchangeable back lid, an interchangeable lens, a flash device and so on, is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of circuits provided in the plurality of camera accessories are controlled by a microcomputer provided in the camera body. Data is transmitted between the microcomputer and the circuits using a serial data bus and synchronizing clock line connected therebetween. The circuit to receive the data sent from the microcomputer, or the circuit which should send the data to the microcomputer are selected by the microcomputer through chip select lines provided between the microcomputer and each circuit.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a plurality of semiconductor layers of a first conductivity type for photo-electric conversion provided on the surface of a first semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type which is formed on a part of one surface of a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type, a semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type for charge transfer provided on the surface of a second semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type which is formed on a part of the surface of the substrate, and a signal output means. The first semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and the second semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type are formed in different steps so that the first semiconductor layer is disposed deeper than the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A camera system operable with data carried from a camera accessory to a camera body. The camera accessory has a ROM for storing various data at a plurality of addresses, respectively, each of which data consists of a plurality of bits, and a coupling terminal for receiving a train of clock pulses from the camera body. A circuit is also provided for sequentially designating the address of the ROM one by one to permit the ROM to output a data stored at the designated address. In the circuit, an address signal is formed in response to the clock pulses, received through the coupling terminal, for designating an address. The data derived from the ROM are transmitted to the camera body. The camera system can operate under different modes of exposure control and can identify the attachments of accessories as to their capacity to be responsive to different forms of exposure control systems, particularly when the attachment will either permit or prevent control of an aperture value from the camera body.

Abstract: A flash photography system with a camera body and an electronic flash device incorporates first to third terminals in the camera body which are connectable to fourth through sixth terminals in the flash device. A signal is produced to distinguish between first and second modes wherein data is transmitted to the electronic flash device and data from the electronic flash device is transmitted to the camera body, respectively, and connected to the first terminal. Clock pulses control the data transmission and data is read from the electronic flash device and transmitted to the electronic flash device through the second terminal in response to the clock pulses. An initiating signal to cause production of artificial illuminating light from the electronic flash device is provided at the third terminal. In response to the distinguishing signal, selection is made between the first and second modes via the fourth terminal.

Abstract: A multi-point photometric apparatus for use in a camera or the like operative to measure the luminance of several divided areas in an objective field. Among the luminance signals produced by the photometric circuit for the several areas, a signal from one area which is used for automatic focus adjustment is designated as a reference value, and the maximum and minimum values of luminance signals and the differences of these from the reference value are evaluated. The reference value and differences in the form of digital data and information on the film latitude are processed with a microprocessor to calculate the exposure value. The exposure value is modified to an extent that the reference remains within the film latitude.

Abstract: A camera or camera system includes a depth of field preview device for stopping down an aperture of an objective lens mounted on the camera to a predetermined aperture value in response to a manual operation prior to its photographing operation, and an AE lock device for storing a light measuring signal indicative of the brightness of object in response to another manual operation. In the camera or camera system, proper exposure can be obtained even if the depth of field preview device and the AE lock device are intended to be operated together, with compensating and correcting exposure error which would be produced by operation of both devices.

Abstract: A data rewriting apparatus for a photographic camera, which comprises a film speed reading unit for automatically reading the film speed recorded on a container of a film in use; a first memory including RAM for the storage of the film speed; a second memory including E.sup.2 PROM for the storage of the film speed; a rewriting unit for rewriting a value stored in the first memory to a value stored in the second memory; a comparator for comparing the value stored in the second memory with that stored in the first memory; and a rewrite control unit for inhibiting the rewriting of the second rewriting unit when the comparator indicates that the value stored in the second memory is identical with that stored in the first memory.

Abstract: A camera system is provided that permits memory data dedicated to particular camera accessories to be transmitted to the camera body for enabling the operation of the camera. The camera accessories can carry dedicated information or variable information to the camera body. Synchronization between the camera accessory and the camera body can be provided by a train of clock pulses. Information can be programmed in a fixed memory circuit to insure that only a particular accessory so designated will provide information to the camera body to prevent any erroneous inputting of data from a plurality of camera accessories that are contemplated for use with a particular camera body.