Film Condition Indicator Patents (Class 396/284)
  • Patent number: 11824389
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes an enclosure defining an open front side, and an audio transducer positioned within the enclosure and configured to emit sound in a forward direction from the open front side of the enclosure. A battery receptacle is provided by the enclosure, and a removable battery pack assembly is selectively received within the battery receptacle along a longitudinal direction. The removable battery pack assembly includes a battery pack having a plurality of electrochemical cells to generate an output voltage configured to power the audio transducer. A connector at an insertion end of the battery pack electrically connects the electrochemical cells with the audio transducer. A battery door is secured with a plurality of removable fasteners to a base end of the battery pack opposite the insertion end. The battery door is further secured to the enclosure with a threaded fastener configured to be tightened parallel to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Sulzer, Shawn Filipek, Tianbao Xie
  • Patent number: 11270862
    Abstract: A rotational operation unit includes a rotational operation member that is rotatable, an annular magnet configured to integrally rotate with the rotational operation member, and a magnet holding member configured to rotatably hold the magnet and including an undulated portion configured to generate a click sense as the rotational operation member rotates. The magnet includes a positioner configured to determine a position relative to the magnet holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Hirayama
  • Patent number: 10724860
    Abstract: When a camera and a surveying device are connected by a synchro cable, and a photographing condition obtaining unit obtains a photographing start time of the camera, a survey control unit makes a survey time measurement unit start time measurement. After the camera and the surveying device are disconnected, the survey control unit starts a survey by a predetermined surveying period ?T when tracking of the prism starts. Based on the time measurement by the survey time measurement unit, the survey control unit associates the survey result with the photographing position of each image taken by the camera to generate the data for photogrammetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Topcon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nishita, Jumpei Kochi, Satoshi Yanobe
  • Patent number: 10410574
    Abstract: A display device includes: a determination unit that determines, on the basis of display information, a period of time during which a display unit displays the display information with a first display characteristic; and a controller that controls the display unit to display the display information with the first display characteristic and to display the display information with a second display characteristic when the period of time has elapsed since the display with the first display characteristic was started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichiro Sakata
  • Patent number: 10323742
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gear shifter for a transmission of a vehicle comprising a shift lever (2) which is mounted in a housing to be pivotable about a first axis, a position sensor assembly (4) disposed stationary in the housing and comprising a plurality of position sensors (6) distributed along a path, a sensor triggering element (8) mounted on an element carrier which is moveably mounted in the housing and coupled to the shift lever by a linkage (18) in such a manner to be able to move the sensor triggering element (8) along said path of position sensors (6) in response to pivotal shift movements of the shift lever about the first axis, characterized in that the element carrier (10) is pivotally mounted with respect to the position sensor assembly (4) at a pivot point (12) spaced apart from the sensor triggering element carried by it and spaced apart from the path of position sensors such that a pivotal movement of the element carrier (10) moves the sensor triggering element (8) along the p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventor: Anders Kvarnström
  • Patent number: 9389489
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus is provided that includes: a connector including a first terminal that is electrically connected to an external device; a first resistor that is electrically connected to the first terminal via a first node; and an external device recognizing unit that recognizes a type of the external device according to a voltage level of the first node, wherein a voltage level of the first node is determined according to a voltage distribution of the first resistor and a second resistor included in the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-cheol Kim, Hun-young Ryu, Hyeon-woo Jeong
  • Patent number: 7433592
    Abstract: A digital camera allowing a user to easily check shooting conditions with low power consumption is to be provided. The digital camera includes a display unit having a display panel on which a plurality of shooting conditions are displayed and an indicator needle, a driving unit for driving the indicator needle in response to an input given by a user and indicating one of the shooting conditions by using the indicator needle, and an image pick-up unit for converting an optical image formed by an optical system to a digital image on the basis of the shooting condition indicated by the indicator needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Ito, Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 7141350
    Abstract: An article of manufacture has an environmental sensitive label with at least one cumulative time-temperature indicator and at least one thermal event indicator thereon. The cumulative time-temperature indicator and the thermal event indicator each provides an independent verification of product performance in a predetermined environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Hall
  • Patent number: 7031605
    Abstract: A negative film setter has film holders for having set therein films to be fed. Each of the film holders has both a detecting sensor for detecting whether a film is set therein and a lamp which is lit when a film is set in a film holder and which is not lit when a film is not set therein. Therefore, a user can determine at a glance whether or not films are set in the film holders, thus allowing the user to skillfully set a plurality of films at film setting sections. Accordingly, due to detection by the detecting sensor, the negative film setter can recognize in which film holder a film is set, and films can be fed in a sequential order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Konagaya, Tsuyoshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6847783
    Abstract: A camera body of an instant camera is provided with four light sources LED1 to LED4 for a display. The four light sources LED1 to LED4 flash on and off in mutually different display modes in accordance with the state of progress of a series of processing of an exposure operation, a developing operation and a delivery operation which is carried out in accordance with one time photographic operation. This feature makes it possible to exactly inform a user of the state of progress of a series of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Sasaki, Seimei Ushiro
  • Patent number: 6816677
    Abstract: A system and method for pre-setting the counter wheel orientation in a camera pre-loaded with film is provided. Alignment indicia on the counter wheel are arranged during assembly to determine at various positions relative to the camera metering system whether the counter silk screen has been properly aligned and the counter properly preset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Concord Camera Corp.
    Inventor: Kai Chung Franco Yik
  • Patent number: 6813444
    Abstract: A camera includes a camera body having a photographing lens, a lens cover plate which is supported on the camera body so that said lens cover plate moves between a closed position at which the lens cover plate covers the front of the photographing lens and an open position at which the lens cover plate uncovers the front of the photographing lens, and a light emitting device, wherein at least one element of the light emitting device is positioned on the lens cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Inazuka, Kiyoshi Kawano
  • Patent number: 6763189
    Abstract: A camera for use with film bearing a series of latent pre-exposed images for subsequent user-exposure, comprises a film sprocket wheel (34) extending into a film passageway, the sprocket wheel comprising a wheel having a plurality of equidistantly-spaced teeth one (42) of which is visually distinguishable from other teeth, for example being formed of a contrasting color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Foster Assets Corporation
    Inventor: Yet Chan
  • Patent number: 6757492
    Abstract: A method of verifying the usability of a photosensitive film product just prior to use by applying at least one environmental sensitive label to the photosensitive film product. The environmental sensitive label has at least one cumulative time-temperature indicator and at least one thermal event indicator each providing independent indications of product performance in a predetermined environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Hall
  • Patent number: 6704499
    Abstract: A camera includes a frame counter having a single numerical scale of frame count indicia capable of being successively viewed after each picture is taken. The frame count indicia are arranged in one column in which the indicia are only odd numbers and are arranged in another column in which the indicia are only even numbers. An indicia viewing change-over is movable from one column to another after each picture is taken, to alternately view an odd number in one column or an even number in another column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Cornell, Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6490412
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of exactly displaying the number of residual films, even if there is concerned with such a situation that at the time when layered films remain in a film pack, the rear cover is opened and the film pack is re-mounted. The operational amplifier 236 is used to detect a current IM conducting through the feeding motor 214, and the detected current is subjected to the AD conversion by the MPU 220. The display unit 61 displays a predetermined number corresponding to the number of films layered within the film pack having the shielding plate, or a number in which one is subtracted from the number of residual films stored in the storage section 210, according as it is detected that now discharged one is the shielding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Nishinou
  • Patent number: 6480674
    Abstract: A lens-fitted unit includes a photographic film loaded in advance, a shutter, a taking lens, an exposure counter plate that is provided with numerals indicating the number of exposures or the number of exposed frames, and is moved in one direction for each exposure, and an exposure counter window through which the numeral on the exposure counter plate can be recognized. A distance between the prescribed numeral on the exposure counter plate and the immediate neighboring numeral provided to be next to the prescribed numeral on a downstream side in a moving direction of the exposure counter plate is greatest, compared with other distances between other immediate neighboring numerals on the exposure counter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Shuri Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 6463219
    Abstract: A camera for edge-perforated film with a film feed device (9) and a rotatably mounted film perforation wheel (sprocket wheel) (101) that engages with teeth (102) in the edge perforations of the film and executes a rotational movement during feeding of the film is designed so that one side of the sprocket wheel (101) rests against a bearing surface (17) of a housing part (2) and the other side of the sprocket wheel has a coaxial bearing collar (103) that is rotatably arranged in a bearing opening of a housing part. Preferably the sprocket wheel (101) together with the bearing collar (103) is formed as a single integral unit and engages via an outer edge region in a circumferential interspacing between housing parts, wherein this interspacing may be formed between the bearing surface (17) and a plate (115, 118) arranged above the latter, which can form a circular bearing opening in which the bearing collar (103) of the sprocket wheel (101) is radially mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Schröder
  • Patent number: 6463216
    Abstract: A film unit includes a body with an optical system having a lens therein. An advance system for advancing a film includes a film counter displaying information relating to the number of pictures remaining in the film and further displays additional information unrelated picture taking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: D.O.G., Inc.
    Inventor: Shingo Tanimura
  • Patent number: 6412993
    Abstract: A recyclable, one-time use print on demand, digital camera comprises an image sensor device for sensing an image. A processor processes the image sensed by the image sensor device. The camera includes a supply of print media on to which an image processed by the processor is printed. A printhead is provided for printing said sensed image on the print media. An indicator for indicating usage of the camera is arranged within a housing of the camera. A separating device separates a part of the print media on to which an image has been printed from a remainder of the supply of print media. The separating device acts on the indicator for changing the indication of usage as part of the operation of separating the part of the print media from the remainder of the supply of the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6374055
    Abstract: A counting device, in particular a picture counting device for a camera, comprises a counting mark carrier (401) which forms a first assembly and has a plurality of counting marks disposed in a ring shape and an indicating device (415) which forms a second assembly and interacts with counting marks of the counting mark carrier, one of the assemblies being displaceable relative to the other assembly by a control device (114) to set a respective counter position and the assembly (401) displaceable relative to the other assembly being rotatable and displaceable parallel to a plane of rotation of said displaceable assembly (401) by the control device (114). Preferably, the rotatable and displaceable assembly contains the counting mark carrier (401).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Schröder
  • Patent number: 6363224
    Abstract: A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, has a print quantity selector that can be manually operated to provide various print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images. A print reset can be manually operated to change the print quantity designations used for the captured images simultaneously to the same print quantity designation. A print quantity totaller is connected to the print quantity selector and to the print reset for updating a print quantity total which is the sum of the number of prints to be made for the captured images, both when the print quantity selector is used and when the print reset is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux, James W. Fulmer, Robert Hills
  • Patent number: 6356715
    Abstract: A print roll including an integrated circuit device measuring the amount of consumable materials left within said print roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20010041065
    Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit includes a photographic film loaded in advance, a shutter, a taking lens, an exposure counter plate that is provided with numerals indicating the number of exposures or the number of exposed frames, and is moved in one direction for each exposure, and an exposure counter window through which the numeral on the exposure counter plate can be recognized. A distance between the prescribed numeral on the exposure counter plate and the immediate neighboring numeral provided to be next to the prescribed numeral on a downstream side in a moving direction of the exposure counter plate is greatest, compared with other neighboring numerals on the exposure counter plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Shuri Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 6314239
    Abstract: A switching circuit is connected to an oscillation transistor of a charging circuit of a flash device of a lens-fitted photo film unit, for turning on or off the oscillation transistor. When a rear cover of a unit body of the film unit is separated, a battery for supplying the flash device is disconnected from the flash device through an insulating plate that is provided on the front cover. Thereafter when the battery or a new battery is connected to the flash device, a clear circuit outputs a clear signal to the switching circuit and a restoring circuit to initialize these circuits. In the initialized position, the switching circuit turns off the oscillation transistor, and maintains this switching condition until a restore signal is applied from the restoring circuit. The restoring circuit outputs the restore signal only when a predetermined cancel signal is applied from an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukitsugu Hata
  • Patent number: 6308016
    Abstract: A method demonstrates a film-unloaded verifying camera in response to shutter button actuation. In the method, an electronic image is captured and the electronic image is shown to the user along with an indicator that film is not loaded. The film shutter can optionally be fired to provide a more complete experience of camera use. A camera provides these features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux, Robert Hills, David L. Funston
  • Patent number: 6301444
    Abstract: An exposure count indicator comprises a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. The confirmation indicator includes a light-transmitting indicator arranged on a single-color background and a separate two-color changeover including a smaller portion that has a color indistinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator substantially indistinguishable from the background, and a larger portion that has a color distinguishable from the color of the background, and which when superimposed to the light-transmitting indicator renders the light-transmitting indicator distinguishable from the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Dennis R. Zander
  • Patent number: 6301445
    Abstract: A dual wheel exposure counter comprising a rotatable tenths counter wheel having a series of at least two spaced units, and a rotatable unit counter wheel having a series of ten spaced units and a rotating member which rotates the tenths counter wheel to change by one unit when the unit counter wheel is rotated to change by ten units, is characterized in that a retaining member engages the tenths counter wheel to prevent rotation of the tenths counter wheel and can be moved temporarily out of engagement with the tenths counter wheel to permit the tenths counter wheel to be rotated to change by one unit, and the unit counter wheel includes an actuating member separate from the rotating member that moves the retaining member temporarily out of engagement with the tenths counter wheel when the unit counter is rotated to change by ten units, whereby the rotating member can then rotate the tenths counter wheel to change by one unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6298200
    Abstract: An exposure count indicator for providing a visible indication of the number of frames that remain available to be exposed or are actually exposed on a filmstrip in a camera, comprises a numerical scale of successive exposure count indicia at least divided into an initial range of indicia that are evenly spaced from one another a particular distance and a remaining range of indicia that are evenly spaced from one another a different distance less than the particular distance the exposure count indicia that are in the initial range are spaced from one another, in order that when one views the respective indicia in the remaining range after all of the indicia in the initial range have been viewed it can serve as a warning that one is coming closer to the end of the filmstrip because the indicia in the remaining range are spaced apart a lesser distance than the indicia in the initial range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Loretta E. Allen, David C. Smart
  • Patent number: 6298201
    Abstract: An exposure count indicator includes a flexible split ring having a series of exposure count indicia provided along the split ring, and a mask that covers the split ring to prevent the exposure count indicia from being seen. When the split ring is rotated relative to the mask, the split ring is advanced through a ring egress opening in the mask to progressively relocate the split ring from being beneath one side of the mask to being above another side of the mask to allow the exposure count indicia to be progressively seen. Thus, the split ring becomes increasingly present at one side of the mask and decreasingly present at the other side of the mask as the exposure count indicia can be increasingly seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Zander, Francis R. Skop, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6295414
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a camera, includes a storage device which stores at least one of cartridge-identifying information for identifying each individual film cartridge and history information indicative of contents of a usage history of a film cartridge corresponding to the cartridge-identifying information, and a determination device which determines whether to leave the storage device storing at least one of the cartridge-identifying information of a film cartridge to be taken out from the apparatus and the history information corresponding to the cartridge-identifying information of the film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruyuki Ohkado, Yoshimasa Hyodo
  • Patent number: 6292632
    Abstract: An exposure count indicator has a scale of successive exposure count indicia for visually indicating which film frame is positioned for exposure in a camera, and a confirmation indicator separate from the exposure count indicia for providing a visual confirmation indication that a first available frame is positioned for exposure in the camera. A pointer is supported to move from pointing to a pre-initialization one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame has not been positioned for exposure in the camera to pointing to a successive one of the exposure count indicia for visually indicating that the first available frame is positioned for exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Zander, Patricia L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20010009613
    Abstract: A display device for a camera including a multiple section display that displays data arranged in a specified direction. A control unit controls the multiple section display to display date data or a count of the frames of film. The count of the frames of film is displayed in the center of the multiple section display so that it is easy to see.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Hidenori Miyamoto, Hiroshi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6263166
    Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, and a rotatable counter dial with a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. Each of the indicia has the same color. A label on the rear cover part is superimposed to the counter dial and has the same color as the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed. The label includes a viewing portion that is not the sane color as the indicia and is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the counter dial is rotated. As a result, the indicia are made successively visible in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information is imprinted on the label, and the counter dial is transparent to permit the information to be visible through the counter dial in order to be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Loretta E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6259864
    Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, a label on the rear cover part, and a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. The numerical scale of exposure count indicia is located on the label, and each of the indicia has the same color. A color-absorbing optical filter is rotatable superimposed to the indicia and is a color that absorbs the color of the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed through the filter when light is reflected from the indicia to the filter. The filter includes a viewing portion that is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the filter is rotated and does not absorb the color of the indicia. As a result, the indicia are successively visible through the viewing portion in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information on the label is a color that is transmitted through the filter to permit the information to be read when light is reflected from the information to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Loretta E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6252654
    Abstract: A detecting lever for a remaining amount of recording papers is provided at the bottom of a paper cassette. The top of the detecting lever abuts on the recording paper contained in the paper cassette. As the recording paper is used, the detecting lever is rotated in a thickness direction of the recording papers. The rotation of the detecting lever is transmitted to an indicating lever, one end of which engages with the detecting lever. Upon rotation of the detecting lever, the other end of the indicating lever is adapted to be largely moved. A label for indicating the remaining amount of the recording paper is provided on the other end of the indicating lever. The remaining amount is represented by the label in accordance with the movement of the indicating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akimasa Kaya
  • Patent number: 6233406
    Abstract: A camera having a manual film winding apparatus in which a film is wound in association with a rotation of a winding operation device from a wind start position to a wind end position includes: an encoder which rotates in association with the movement of the film which is wound by the rotation of the winding operation device and generates a signal each time the winding operation device is rotated by a predetermined angle; a film feed amount detection device which counts output of the encoder to detect the feed amount of the film; a rotation detection device for detecting the rotation of the winding operation device; and a controller which interrupts the encoder by turning the encoder OFF after the lapse of a predetermined time when the winding operation device is stopped during the winding operation, wherein the controller turns the encoder ON when the rotation detection device detects rotation of the winding operation device thereafter, so that the film feed amount detection device continues the counting ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6233400
    Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit is preloaded with photographic film, and has an eight-toothed driven sprocket wheel in mesh with perforations on the film. When the photographic film is fed by one frame, the sprocket is caused to make one rotation. A shutter mechanism is cocked responsive to rotation of the sprocket. During assembly of the film unit, the shutter mechanism is cocked. The photographic film is loaded while the shutter mechanism remains cocked. In a preferred embodiment, the sprocket is set in a predetermined rotated position which is two teeth short of the position at the end of one winding up of the film. This brings the shutter mechanism into an incompletely cocked state. The photographic film is loaded while the shutter mechanism remains in the incompletely cocked state. In the film unit, a film passageway is provided behind the main body, for passage of the film. A shiftable engaging portion projects into the film passageway in retractable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Muramatsu, Shoji Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6205295
    Abstract: A camera comprising a cartridge receiving chamber for a film cartridge with a film leader that can be advanced from the film cartridge in preparation for film exposure and can be wound into the film cartridge after film exposure, a film door movable open to open the chamber and movable closed to close the chamber, and a door lock movable to lock the film door closed and movable to release the film door, is characterized in that a film sensor is originally positioned to be moved by the film leader as the film leader is advanced from the film cartridge, and a dual purpose indicator and blocker is connected to the film sensor to be moved to block the door lock from being moved to release the film door and to provide a visible indication when the film sensor is moved by the film leader, whereby the dual purpose indicator and blocker prevents the film door from being opened and warns that the film leader has been advanced from the film cartridge in preparation for film exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Patricia L. Williams, Dennis R. Zander
  • Patent number: 6192195
    Abstract: A camera includes an exposure counter wheel that has a series of exposure count indicia and is incrementally rotated in a count direction to successively view the exposure count indicia, and an anti-backup pawl that engages with the exposure counter wheel to prevent rotation of the exposure counter wheel in a reverse direction which is the opposite of the count direction. The anti-backup pawl is a combination single-piece unit having a stationary rigid transparent portion fixed in place above the exposure counter wheel to permit the exposure count indicia to be successively seen through the transparent portion when the exposure counter wheel is incrementally rotated in the count direction, and having a resilient flexible pawl portion positioned in engagement with the exposure counter wheel to prevent rotation of the exposure counter wheel in the reverse direction but to allow rotation of the exposure count wheel in the count direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6185377
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a camera, adapted for a film having an information recording part includes a reading device which, when a partially used film reloaded into the apparatus is transported, reads out information recorded on the information recording part of the partially used film, and a display device which makes a display corresponding to the information read out by the reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Taka, Masaaki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6167203
    Abstract: A camera comprises a liquid-crystal display device and a liquid-crystal control section. The liquid-crystal display device has a liquid crystal whose transmittance is variable. The liquid-crystal control section, in the photograph enable mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into the light-transmitting state and, in the photograph disable mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into a half light-transmitting state or the no-light-transmitting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ishimaru, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6160963
    Abstract: A frame counter device includes a rotatable counter disk. A train of plural numbers are arranged on one face of the counter disk in an arc shape, and have an outermost point and an innermost point. The outermost point is the farthest from a rotational center of the counter disk and distant from the rotational center by a radius Ro. The innermost point is the nearest to the rotational center and distant from the rotational center by a radius Ri. The radius Ri is 60% or less of the radius Ro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kameyama, Makoto Isozaki, Hisashi Tasaka, Kazumi Koike, Masanori Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 6097899
    Abstract: A frame counter comprising a counter wheel rotatable in a count related direction to change a frame count, and an anti-backup pawl for engaging the counter wheel to prevent reverse rotation of the counter wheel, is characterized in that a fixed bearing constructed to support the counter wheel for rotation at a first location, and the anti-backup pawl has an integral bearing constructed to support the counter wheel for rotation at a second location which is spaced from the first location, and is supported to be retracted from a ready position for engagement with the counter wheel to retract the integral bearing from the second location, whereby the counter wheel can be placed between the fixed bearing and the retracted pawl and integral bearing during assembly of the frame counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6078750
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a first cavity to accommodate conventional film material having multiple frames, each frame having a corresponding indicia disposed on the conventional film material to identify the corresponding frame and a second cavity to accommodate self-developable film material having multiple image forming portions, each image forming portion having a corresponding indicia disposed on the self-developable film material to identify the corresponding image forming portion and a corresponding frame of conventional film material. The camera further includes a light path for exposing simultaneously one of the multiple frames of the conventional film material and one of the multiple image forming portions of the self-developable film material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Philip R. Norris
  • Patent number: 6078754
    Abstract: A combined frame counter and viewfinder unit comprising a pair of front and rear viewfinder lenses, a support piece having respective spaced slots that support the front and rear viewfinder lenses parallel to one another, and a counter wheel rotatable to provide a visible frame count, is characterized in that a top piece supports the counter wheel to be rotated immediately over the front and rear viewfinder lenses. This allows the counter wheel to hold the front and rear viewfinder lenses in the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6064829
    Abstract: A sheet photo film pack includes a pack housing for containing a stack of eight sheet photo film units. The counter device is used with the sheet photo film pack. A counter chamber is formed in the pack housing. A counter disk is contained in the counter chamber rotatably, and has first and second faces. A train of counter numerals are arranged on the first face in an arc-shaped manner at a predetermined pitch. Plural stepping claws are disposed on the first face to project in a thickness direction of the counter disk, arranged in an arc-shaped manner at the predetermined pitch, and rotationally shifted by an external mechanical shift signal. The shift signal is associated with each one of the sheet photo film units to be counted, and adapted to setting the counter numerals in a counter indicator window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taro Okutsu, Yoshio Hara, Koichi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 6064830
    Abstract: A frame counter comprising a counter wheel rotatable about an axis to change a frame count, and a counter actuator supported for movement in engagement with the counter wheel to rotate the counter wheel in a predetermined direction to change the frame count, is characterized in that the counter actuator is supported to be returned each time it rotates the counter wheel in the predetermined direction to change the frame count, and the counter wheel is supported to be non-rotationally displaced with respect to its axis to permit the counter actuator to be returned without reverse rotating the counter wheel to allow the frame count to remain unchanged. Preferably, the counter actuator when returned displaces the counter wheel off its axis to avoid reverse rotating the counter wheel. An anti-backup pawl engages the counter wheel to prevent reverse rotation of said counter wheel and is resilient to urge the counter wheel towards its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Anthony DiRisio
  • Patent number: 6041190
    Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying an image recorded on a film, includes a spatial light modulation device which can maintain a recorded image in a non-energization state, an illumination device for illuminating the spatial light modulation device with light, a switching mechanism for switching between a first state in which the film is located between the spatial light modulation device and the illumination device and a second state in which the film is not located between the spatial light modulation device and the illumination device, and a control circuit for activating the spatial light modulation device and the illumination device in the first state when an image recorded on the film is to be recorded on the spatial light modulation device, and activating the illumination device in the second state when the spatial light modulation device on which the image is recorded is to be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kikuchi, Takayuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6026250
    Abstract: A camera for use with a Brownie roll film having a bar code containing data about a roll film, such as a film speed and a roll film type. The bar code is printed on an adhesive tape which secures light-shielding paper to a leading end of a photo filmstrip of the roll film. As soon as the roll film is loaded with its leading end of the light-shielding paper secured to a take-up spool of the camera, the camera starts rotating the take-up spool and, simultaneously, a reflective photo sensor starts scanning. Based on output signal from the photo sensor and the transport amount of the filmstrip, a first frame exposure portion of the filmstrip is automatically positioned behind an exposure aperture. The number ofavailable exposures is derived from the roll film type data read from the bar code, and is displayed on an LCD panel. An automatic exposure control is effected while taking the film speed read from the bar code into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Goto, Hisashi Hamada, Shiro Hashimoto, Nobuhiro Aoki, Tokuji Sato