Abstract: A bi-directional driver device for opening and closing a light shield of a film cassette is alternately biased open and closed via an overcenter spring, to open and close the light shield. The final opening torque the spring exerts against the driver device when the light shield is completely opened is substantially less than the final closing torque the spring exerts against the driver device when the light shield is completely closed. Thus, the final opening torque will not cause any deformation of the light shield that might allow light leakage into the cassette interior when the light shield is closed.

Abstract: A camera includes a film rewind mechanism that allows manual rewinding of a film spool to a given position. The mechanism includes a one-way clutch that allows the rewind knob to drive the film spool only in a rewind direction. The clutch mechanism has a single arm for transfer of motion between the rewind knob and a spool driver. Use of the single arm clutch allows the rewind knob to be connected with the spool only in a single unique position or phase relation so that the operator can move the rewind knob to an indicated position of the camera body which corresponds with a similarly indicated position of the spool on the film cassette.

Abstract: A compact camera comprises a flip-up flash unit which has a viewfinder opening for viewing a subject to be photographed when the flash unit is flipped up from a camera body to a use position, and a a pair of front and rear viewfinder lenses adapted to be raised from the camera body to viewing positions in optical alignment with the viewfinder opening when the flash unit is flipped up to its use position. According to the invention, a light source indicator is connected to the flash unit to point to the front viewfinder lens when the flash unit is flipped up to its use position and the pair of viewfinder lenses are raised to their viewing positions. The light source indicator provides a visible warning indication of some significant event or condition, such as flash ready, low battery, or inadequate prevailing light for a proper exposure.

Abstract: A reflector is supported for movement between a direct flash position for reflecting light output from a source of flash illumination directly towards a subject to be photographed and an indirect flash position for reflecting light output from a source of flash illumination onto a nearby surface and thence directly towards a subject to be photographed. The reflector has an integral reflective portion that is substantially smaller than, and fixedly angled with respect to, the remainder of the reflector to reflect a substantially minor percentage of light output from a source of illumination directly towards a subject to be photographed when the reflector is in its indirect flash position, whereby combined direct and indirect illumination of a subject to be photographed can be achieved.

Abstract: An automatic viewer for half-frame stereoprints includes a base with a pair of lenses for stereoscopic viewing mounted thereon. The base has a kicking foot and picking detent projecting therethrough for engaging openings in a carrier deck upon which the half-frame stereoprints are pivotally mounted. A control mechanism utilizes cams to coordinate movement of the kicking foot and picking detent to index the carrier deck across the base so that the photoprints may be viewed individually. The carrier deck has two rows of openings for receiving the kicker foot, allowing the viewer to advance the carrier deck from either end presenting a first set of photoprints for viewing when advancing from one end and a second set of photoprints for viewing when advanced from the opposite end. The carrier deck may be stored with other carrier decks in a binder.

Abstract: A device and method for electromagnetically activating the shutter of a camera to provide different aperture openings comprises:an armature having a core and a coil, the core is capable of receiving current, and the armature will produce a first magnetic field;a movable magnet member that produces a second magnetic field at one of its two ends, the second magnetic field is coupled to the first magnetic field and the other end of the member is coupled to one or more shutters; anda circuit capable of receiving current coupled to a coil for setting the direction of current flow in the coil to a first direction or a second direction or for denying the presence of current flow in the coil so that when the coil receives no current a first magnetic field will not be present and the member will be at a first location and move one or more shutter elements to block the aperture and allow no light to enter the camera, and when current flows through the coil in a first direction the member will be attracted by the first

Abstract: A system for electromagnetically activating the shutter of a camera to provide different aperture openings by providing: an armature comprising a core and a coil, the core is capable of receiving current and the armature will produce a first magnetic field; a movable magnet that produces a second magnetic field, the magnet is positioned within the core in a manner that a first gap, a second gap, a third gap, a fourth gap, a fifth gap, a sixth gap, a seventh gap and a eighth gap will contiguously surround the magnet and be present between the core and the magnet so that the second magnetic field is coupled to the first magnetic field and the magnet is coupled to the shutter; and means coupled to the current means and the coil for setting the direction of current flow in the coil to a first direction or a second direction or for denying the presence of current flow in the coil so that when the coil receives no current a first magnetic field will not be present and the magnet will be at a first location and move