Abstract: Disclosed is a select dial of a camera which includes a rotatable member and a click-stop mechanism for making the rotatable member stop with a click at any one of a plurality of click-stop positions of the rotatable member when the rotatable member is rotated. The click-stop mechanism includes: a positioning member having a plurality of holes which determine the plurality of click-stop positions; and a plurality of balls each being pressed against the positioning member to be engageable with any one of the plurality of holes. The plurality of holes and the plurality of balls are arranged so that one of the plurality of balls is disengaged from any of the plurality of holes when another ball of the plurality of balls is engaged with any one of the plurality of holes.

Abstract: Guide rails for positioning a film are formed on a shutter block. The guide rails project through an opening in a thin back plate of a camera body to regulate the position of a film drawn from a film cartridge chamber into a spool chamber. A frame aperture formed in the shutter block regulates the exposable area of a frame of film. The shutter block is fixable to a box-shaped mirror housing, which is then fixed to the camera body and a supporting plate.

Abstract: A finder system of a camera has an eye direction detecting device for detecting a direction in which a photographer's eye is looking and a display for displaying information related to operating parameters of the camera in a view field of the finder system. The finder system further includes a display prism for transmitting light from a projector of the display to the view field, and a detecting prism for transmitting light reflected from the eye that is projected by a light emitting element of the eye direction detecting device to a light detecting element of the eye direction detecting device. The display prism and the detecting prism are formed as a single block prism.

Abstract: A switch apparatus for use with a device. The switch apparatus includes a letter ring, associated with an operation member, that rotates together with a selection dial. The letter ring contains inscriptions, such as marks or figures thereon. A decorative plate includes a pointer to indicate the selected function. A rotation of the rotatable operation member causes a plurality of electrical conductors to change their ON/OFF electrical state. The plurality of electrical conductors form a code pattern representing a code that is interpreted by a control circuit to determine an operation mode selected by the rotational operation member. The switch apparatus further includes a push button that is depressed to, for example, activate a modification of the operation mode based upon the data of the code pattern of the code.

Abstract: A single lens reflex camera includes a mirror box provided in a camera body to support a mirror located on an optical axis of a photographing lens for up and down movement. The mirror box, together with a mirror driving mechanism, is detachably attachable to the camera body as a unit. A diaphragm control mechanism is provided for controlling a diaphragm, which is mounted to a mounting member separate from the mirror box to form a unit, which can be detachably attached to the camera body. A charge/reset mechanism is provided and is mounted to the camera body and serves to connect the mirror drive mechanism and the diaphragm control mechanism.

Abstract: A lid latch device is provided, which is adapted to be used for a back lid openable to a camera. The back lid latch device is provided with a latch member for latching the back lid in a closed position, an open button for releasing the latch member upon movement of the open button from a latched position to a released position, and a detection switch for switching an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level. The switch device is actuated directly by the back lid only when the back lid is moved to the closed position and latched by the latch member.

Abstract: A mirror driving apparatus for a camera which rotatably drives a mirror between two predetermined position, by an elastic restoring force stored in a mirror biasing member, including an engaging device which retains an elastic restoring force in the mirror biasing member, and a disengaging and shock absorbing spring which elastically biases the engaging device in a disengaging direction thereof when the mirror is in one of the predetermined position. The disengaging and shock absorbing spring biases the mirror in a direction to stop the same immediately before the movement of the mirror is completed when the mirror is moved to the other of the predetermined position by the elastic restoring force of the mirror biasing member.

Abstract: In a distance measuring device for projecting light beams to a plurality of distance measurement points, and for detecting reflected light beams in order to measure the distances from the device to the distance measuring points, light emitted by the light source is optically/mechanically directed to a plurality of two-dimensionally distributed distance measuring points, then the reflected light from each of the distance measuring points is received and the distance between the device and each of the distance measuring points is detected.

Abstract: In a distance measuring device for projecting light beams to a plurality of distance measurement point, and for detecting reflected light beams in order to measure the distances from said device to said distance measuring points, light emitted by the light source is optically/mechanically directed to a plurality of two-dimensionally distributed distance measuring points, then the reflected light from each of the distance measuring points is received and the distance between the device and each of the distance measuring points is detected.

Abstract: An operation switch unit for actuating more than two switches comprising a substrate on which the switches are located on apexes of an imaginary polygon, the number of sides of the polygon corresponding to number of switches, and a single operating member which can swing about fulcra which are provided above intermediate portions of the apexes of the imaginary polygon to selectively actuate the switches in accordance with the swing movement of the operating member.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the size of the image plane in a camera having a zoom lens. The apparatus includes one or more aperture frames (31, 32, 120) which define the image plane size, and an actuator which is adapted to move the aperture frame or frames along the film plane in accordance with the optical position of the exit pupil of a zoom lens. Two frames can be moved in opposite directions over an equal displacement. Further, a single frame (120) can be moved along the optical lens axis in order to ensure that the film remains substantially flat during photography, and is moved away from the film path during film winding and unwinding operations. Additionally, the frame can be provided with projecting portions along opposite side edges of a central aperture in order to control the image plane size.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the size of the image plane in a camera having a zoom lens. The apparatus includes one or more aperture frames (31, 32, 120) which define the image plane size, and an actuator which is adapted to move the aperture frame or frames along the film plane in accordance with the optical position of the exit pupil of a zoom lens. Two frames can be moved in opposite directions over an equal displacement. Further, a single frame (120) can be moved along the optical lens axis in order to ensure that the film remains substantially flat during photography, and is moved away from the film path during film winding and unwinding operations. Additionally, the frame can be provided with projecting portions along opposite side edges of a central aperture in order to control the image plane size.

Abstract: A method of electrodeposition coating, which comprises performing a first electrodeposition coating on an article as a cathode using (I) a cationic electrodeposition paint comprising (A) a resin and (B) at least one pigment, said pigment (B) containing at least 5% by weight of a pigment having an oil absorption of at least 100 and being incorporated so that the total oil absorption of the pigment (B) is in the range of 1,000 to 10,000 per 100 g of the resin (A), then while the resulting coated film is in the uncured state, performing a second electrodeposition coating on it using (II) an emulsion-type cationic electrodeposition coating paint comprising a resin (C) and a pigment (D) and having a minimum electrodeposition current density of not more than 0.7 mA/cm.sup.

Abstract: In an electrophoretic coating process with use of a cationic electrophoretic coating composition having its pH adjusted to 6 to 8, the cationic electrophoretic coating composition is replenished with a replenishing coating agent having a lower neutrality than the cationic electrophoretic coating composition to adjust the pH value and solids concentration of the composition, by admixing the replenishing coating agent with a portion of the cationic electrophoretic coating composition being used for the coating process to prepare a replenishing composition and adding the replenishing composition to the cationic electrophoretic coating composition.