Abstract: The camera of the invention includes a magnetic recording head adjacent the film and a processor which senses the lens focal length, the aperture size, the shutter speed and the film ISO number or film speed, and makes the following determinations: First, it determines from the scene brightness and film speed whether the ideal combination of shutter speed and aperture size, in terms of a required exposure value, falls within the range of maximum and minimum shutter exposure times and aperture sizes of which the camera is capable of providing, expressed in terms of a minimum camera exposure value and a maximum camera exposure value. If the ideal exposure value for that scene falls outside the range of camera exposure values, then the processor causes a magnetic recording head to magnetically record in or adjacent the current film frame a coded indication symbolic of the fact that the required exposure value was beyond the camera exposure value range.

Abstract: An optical system comprising two plastic elements is suitable for use in very low cost, wideangle cameras having curved image surfaces. This system has low distortion across a curved field angle of 65 degrees or more.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus for a photographic still camera comprises a fixed magnetic head mounted on a film platen. The head is adapted to contact a magnetic coating on the film adjacent the image area of the film. A pressure pad is mounted in the camera on the opposite side of the film and positioned in close proximity to the film. The pressure pad is biased by a spring to apply pressure on the head through pressure on the film to assure that the film is in intimate contact with the head when the film is advancing. During film exposure when the film is stationary, the pressure pad is retracted to avoid distortion of the image plane.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a film spool is rotatable inside a cassette shell in an unwinding direction to thrust a leader section of a filmstrip coiled about the spool from within a light-tight film passageway to the exterior of the shell and in a winding direction to return the leader to the interior of the shell. A unidirectional arresting device is movable into engagement with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool in only the winding direction. The filmstrip includes an inclined edge for moving the arresting device out of engagement with the spool responsive to thrusting the leader substantially to the exterior of the shell, to allow the spool to be rotated in the winding direction in order to return the leader to the interior of the shell, and for permitting the arresting device to move into engagement with the spool responsive to return of the leader to within the passageway, to prevent the spool from being rotated further in the winding direction to thereby retain the leader in the passageway.

Abstract: A series scene indication magnetically recorded adjacent appropriate frames in a strip of film by an autowind camera whenever it is in rapidfire mode are employed by a photofinishing station for using same print exposure value for one of the frames in the series to expose and print all of the frames in the same series. However, the photofinisher computes individual print exposure values for those frames in a series having photosensiometric data significantly different from the photosensiometric data of the rest of the frames in the series.

Abstract: A film cassette is disclosed wherein a filmstrip is advanced to the outside of a light-tight cassette shell in order to expose successive imaging areas of the filmstrip and can be returned to the inside of the cassette shell before all of the imaging areas have been exposed or after the filmstrip has been substantially completely exposed. According to the invention, a film-exposure status indicator is supported on the cassette shell for movement relative to the shell from a normal first position to successive second and third positions for providing respective visible indications that the filmstrip is generally unexposed, the filmstrip has been returned to the inside of the shell before all of its imaging areas have been exposed, and the filmstrip is substantially completely exposed.

Abstract: In a film cassette, a convoluted film roll is wound on a spool between a pair of coaxially spaced flanges of the spool. A plurality of rigid constraining projections fixed to the respective undersides of the flanges radially confine the outermost convolution of a widened film leader to prevent the film roll from radially expanding into contact with the cassette shell. The constraining projections are each arranged in a slipping relation with the outermost convolution of the widened leader to allow the outermost convolution to readily slide in contact with the constraining projections in order to facilitate a limited degree of radial expansion of the film roll. When the spool is rotated in an unwinding direction, the film roll will tend to expand radially since the inner end of the filmstrip is attached to the spool, and the spool will rotate the film roll in the unwinding direction.

Abstract: A method of operating a photographic camera to provide exposure information in association with a latent image picture frame includes the step of automatically providing a nominal exposure for the picture frame. An operator-selected exposure is provided for the picture frame which differs from the nominal exposure by a known under- or over-exposure. The picture frame is exposed in accordance with the operator-selected exposure, and data is recorded in association with the picture frame indicating the difference between the nominal and operator-selected exposures. A method of operating a photographic printing system is provided, responsive to the recorded data, for marking a photographic print to indicate to an observer the under- or over-exposure of the negative. A method of operating a transparency processing system is provided wherein, responsive to the recorded data, the slide mount is marked with the under- or over-exposure.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a motorized disk film camera which is of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and yet provides one-button operation to expose the film and actuate a motor which disengages the film and cocks the shutter, then advances and locates the film. The camera requires no expensive control components or switching mechanisms to synchronize the operation of the camera or to initialize a cartridge when it is loaded into the camera.

Abstract: A motorized disk film camera which is of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and yet provides one-button operation to expose the film and actuate a motor which disengages the film and cocks the shutter, then advances the locates the film. The camera requires no separate operation to initialize a cartridge when it is loaded into the camera. The shutter actuation does not require a long button stroke and the motor drive and control is simple and inexpensive.

Abstract: A tracking servo for a disk player controls the movement of a playback head between prerecorded magnetic tracks carried by a magnetic disk. A feedback signal is provided from a timing wheel attached to a cam and gear configuration that connects a dc servomotor to the head. The servo separates the track-to-track movement into two components: one component occurring while the dc motor is energized and another occurring while the dc motor is coasting to a stop, presumably opposite the desired track. The first component of movement continues until the feedback signal corresponds to an intermediate value, which is predetermined for the first movement. At this point the dc motor is turned off but the timing wheel continues to increment the feedback signal as the motor coasts. Should the head be misaligned with respect to the track after the dc motor stops, the final value of the feedback signal is used to modify the intermediate value for the next track-to-track movement.

Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a protective envelope located within the cartridge housing for enclosing a magnetic disk. the envelope prevents dust and other contaminants from reaching the disk surfaces and provides a rigid interior enclosure for the flexible disk, which supplements the housing in protecting the flexible disk from being folded or otherwise damaged. Loading the cartridge in a disk recording and/or playback apparatus actuates means in the cartridge for rotating the envelope within the housing to position a head-access opening and a backer-access opening in the envelope substantially in registration with corresponding openings in the housing. Removal of the cartridge from the apparatus causes the envelope to be rotated to position the envelope across the respective openings in the housing.

Abstract: In a photographic camera, a single electric motor serves as the only electro-mechanical transducer in an exposure adjusting device and also performs at least two other non-contemporaneous functions, such as a film advancing and/or shutter cocking function, and a shutter releasing function.

Abstract: In a camera, first and second blades are operable in a first mode as diaphragm and shutter blades, respectively, for effecting a first aperture-shutter speed combination and are operable in a second mode as shutter and diaphragm blades, respectively, for effecting a second aperture-shutter speed combination. A selector is movable to operate the first and second blades in either one of the two modes. The first aperture-shutter speed combination has a relatively low exposure value and the second aperture-shutter speed has a relatively high exposure value.