Abstract: A digital camera includes a first image sensor, a first wide angle lens for forming a first image of a scene on the first image sensor; a second image sensor, a zoom lens for forming a second image of the same scene on the second image sensor, a control element for selecting either a first sensor output from the first image sensor or a second sensor output from the second image sensor, and a processing section for producing the output image from the selected sensor output. In one variation of this embodiment, the first lens is also a zoom lens, where the maximum focal length of the first lens is less than or equal to the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first image sensor, a first wide angle lens for forming a first image of a scene on the first image sensor; a second image sensor, a zoom lens for forming a second image of the same scene on the second image sensor, a control element for selecting either a first sensor output from the first image sensor or a second sensor output from the second image sensor, and a processing section for producing the output image from the selected sensor output. In one variation of this embodiment, the first lens is also a zoom lens, where the maximum focal length of the first lens is less than or equal to the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens.

Abstract: An optical image capture assembly for use in an electronic camera includes a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output; a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor; a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output; and a zoom lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor. The camera is contained within an enclosure and, in one variation of the assembly, either the first lens or the zoom lens (or both) forms its image through a folded optical system in which an optical path between the lens and its respective image sensor is folded at an angle in order to conserve space within the enclosure.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first image sensor, a first wide angle lens for forming a first image of a scene on the first image sensor; a second image sensor, a zoom lens for forming a second image of the same scene on the second image sensor, a control element for selecting either a first sensor output from the first image sensor or a second sensor output from the second image sensor, and a processing section for producing the output image from the selected sensor output. In one variation of this embodiment, the first lens is also a zoom lens, where the maximum focal length of the first lens is less than or equal to the minimum focal length of the second zoom lens.

Abstract: Apparatus having an optical system including two lens groups movable along an optical axis includes a zooming motor and a linkage interconnecting zooming motor and the two lens groups such that axial displacement of one of said lens groups effects axial displacement of the other of said lens groups. The linkage is configured so as to have a zooming zone, wherein axial displacement of one lens group effects substantially faster axial displacement of the other of said lens groups, such that the focal length of the optical system may be changed, and a focusing zone, wherein axial displacement of the one lens group effects substantially slower axial displacement of the other of said lens groups. Accordingly, the optical system can be focused by the zooming motor without requiring a large amount of lens travel.

Abstract: The viewfinder of a camera include one or more lens elements that zoom in coordination with the camera's taking lens, and normal/panoramic masking plates that pivot about horizontal axis in coordination, with moving masking plates for the camera's back frame opening or with signaling elements. Since the panoramic masking plates are not in the image plane, the aperture in a provided aperture plate is a horizontal slit opening, which provides a great depth of focus, to maintain image sharpness, when the masking plates are in the panoramic position.

Abstract: Optical apparatus having first and second lens groups moveable along an optical axis, and a cam and follower mechanism for communicating relative axial displacement to the second lens group in response to axial movement of the first lens group for changing the focal length of the optical system. The cam and follower mechanism is characterized by a plurality of cam steps each having first or dwell surfaces for maintaining the relative axial displacement constant in response to axial movement of the first lens group, to accommodate focusing between at least two focus positions at a fixed focal length, and second or ramp surfaces for changing the relative axial displacement in response to axial movement of the first lens group, for changing the focal length of the apparatus.

Abstract: A photographic camera capable of taking interspersed full size and panoramic size exposures comprises a rectangular back frame opening for forming a full size exposure on a film in the camera, and respective masking blades supported for pivotal movement to a masking position for masking an upper rectangular portion and a lower rectangular portion of the back frame opening to allow only a panoramic size exposure to be formed on the film and to a non-masking position not masking the upper and lower portions to preclude a panoramic size exposure from being formed on the film. According to the invention, the masking blades have respective extension means at which they are supported for pivotal movement for moving the masking blades in only one direction from their non-masking position to their masking position and to return the masking blades in only one direction, different than the first-mentioned direction, to their non-masking position.

Abstract: A group of film cassettes individually comprise a rotary disk, a bar code on the disk having alternating spaces and bars which when optically detected can provide film-related information and a measure of the angular position of the disk, and eye detectable film exposure status indicia and a corresponding indicator one of which is on the disk and the other is fixed to align respective ones of the exposure status indicia and the indicator in accordance with the angular position of the disk. The bar code is visible substantially only to infrared radiation to make it essentially invisible to the human eye but to allow it to be optically detected with infrared radiation, and has at least one space and/or bar with the same location on the disk for each of the cassettes.

Abstract: A photographic camera with a pseudo-telephoto mode of operation, a flash unit, and a picture taking lens that can be set at a plurality of focal lengths includes a controller that responds to a low-light condition by activating the flash unit, positioning the picture taking lens at a reduced available lens focal length than that selected by the user, and by placing the camera in a pseudo-telephoto mode, in which a frame image from the picture taking lens is designated as a pseudo-telephoto frame. The reduced focal length provides a lens setting with increased light-gathering ability. The focal length selected by the controller can provide a print that, in combination with pseudo-telephoto processing, will provide a print with a relative magnification approximately equal to a print that otherwise would be provided from the lens focal length setting initially selected by the camera user.

Abstract: In a camera, one photosensor is located next to the taking lens and another photosensor is located next to a built-in flash unit for sensing whether a camera user's fingers are obstructing the taking lens and/or the flash unit.

Abstract: In a camera, a film presence sensing switch is located to detect the beginning of a full width main section of a filmstrip after a reduced width leading section of the filmstrip is wound at least partly onto a take-up spool. When a sufficient time has elapsed during the film winding operation for the reduced width section of the filmstrip to be wound onto the take-up spool, a motor drive for rotating the spool in a winding direction is de-energized should the switch fail to detect the beginning of the full width section of the filmstrip. Alternatively, the motor drive is allowed to remain energized to continue the film winding operation should the switch detect the beginning of the full width section.

Abstract: Automatic film advance in a camera to wind a film leader onto a take-up spool requires that an override switch be temporarily closed to nullify a film metering switch. Otherwise, the metering switch will de-energize a motorized film drive after the film leader is advanced only a single frame width, rather than the required several frame widths. To ensure that a mechanical exposure counter is rotated sufficiently from an initialized setting to close the override switch, when a drive member for the counter is rotated less than its normal distance because of lost motion in actuating the drive member following previous rewind of an exposed film off the take-up spool, the drive member and the counter include cooperating means adapted to rotate the counter the same angular distance from its initialized setting as the angular distance the counter is rotated from successive settings, with less rotation being required of the drive member during its first revolution.

Abstract: In a dual lens camera having a relatively long focal length lens and a relatively short focal length lens selectively used for telephoto and wide angle photography, the lens selection is controlled by movement of a movable mirror with respect to a fixed mirror to establish respective optical pahts for the two lenses. Whenever a back cover of the camera is opened for film loading or unloading, the movable mirror is secured to affix its reflective surface in shielding relation with the reflective surface of the fixed mirror. This is done to prevent dust or other foreign particles entering the surfaces, and to render the reflective surfaces inaccessible to touch.