End of film detection device

• US 4,721,970 A
• Filed: 07/01/1986
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Electronics, Inc. (Ducommun Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Electronics, Inc. (Ducommun Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beaver, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US06/881,046
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 354/21, 354/170, 354/171, 354/173.1, 354/173.11, 354/214, 354/215, 354/217, 354/218, 354/275, 352/78 R, 352/78 C, 352/170, 352/171, 352/172
• US Class Current: 396/207
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/62 involving locking or stop-motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/425 motor drive cameras

Abstract

A camera, typically a security camera utilizing film in a cartridge, with means for determining when the film in the cartridge has been exhausted. A radiation emitter with the wavelength of the emitted radiation outside the sensitivity range of the film, a detector for the radiation of the emitter, and a reflecting surface, with the reflecting surface on one side of the film and the emitter and detector on the other side of the film so that presence of film blocks the radiation path from the emitter to the reflecting surface to the detector. A control circuit for controlling camera operation, with the radiation detector output serving to shut off power to the motor when the film supply is exhausted.

Claims

1. In a camera having means for moving film along a film path past an exposure opening, an end of film detection device comprising in combination;

a reflecting surface within the boundaries of the exposure opening;

a radiation emitter, with the wavelength of the emitted radiation limited to a range which does not cause actinic activity on the film used in the camera;

a detector for the radiation of said emitter;

mounting means carried in the camera for supporting said emitter and detector in a radiation path from said emitter to said reflecting surface to said detector, with said reflecting surface on one side of said film path and said emitter and detector on the other side of said film path;

indicator means; and

electrical circuit means connecting the output of said detector to said indicator means in controlling relation for providing an end of film indication when there is no film in said film path between said reflecting surfacse and said emitter and detector.

2. A camera as described in claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface and film are carried in a film cartridge.

3. A camera as described in claim 1, wherein said camera includes a film back plane, with said reflecting surface carried by said back plane.

4. A camera as described in claim 1, wherein said emitter includes an infrared source.

5. A camera as described in claim 1, wherein said emitter provides radiation of a wavelength greater than about 900 nanometers.

6. A camera as described in claim 1, including a motor for moving film along said film path, and

with said electrical circuit means including means connecting the output of said detector to said motor in controlling relationship for shutting off power to said motor when there is no film in said film path between said reflecting surface and said emitter and detector.

7. A film cartridge for use in a camera having means for moving film along a film path past an exposure opening, a radiation emitter with the wavelength of the emitted radiation limited to a range which does not cause actinic activity on the film in the cartridge, and a detector for the radiation of the emitter, with the emitter and detector providing a radiation path from the emitter to the film cartridge and to the detector, the cartridge including in combination:

a film back plane; and

a reflecting surface on said back plane within the exposure opening,

with said reflecting surface positioned to reflect radiation from said emitter to said detector when there is no film at said film back plane.

8. In a camera having means for moving photographic film along a film path past an exposure opening, an end of film detection device comprising:

a radiation emitter to the front of the film path, with the wavelength of the emitted radiation being limited to a range which does not cause actinic activity on the film used in the camera;

a radiation reflector to the rear of the film path within the boundaries of the exposure opening, positioned to receive radiation from said emitter;

a radiation detector to the front of the film path, positioned to receive reflected radiation from said reflector;

the emitter and detector being spaced laterally of the film path to not interfere with the projection of an image onto the film at the exposure opening;

indicator means associated with the detector; and

electrical circuit means connecting the output of said detector with said indicator means in controlling relationship for providing an end of film indication when there is no film in the film path between the reflector and the emitter and detector.

9. A camera as described in claim 8, wherein the emitter and the detector are positioned downwardly and forwardly of the exposure opening.

10. A camera as described in claim 9, wherein the reflector is positioned at an angle of about forty-five degrees relative to the plane of the film path.

11. A camera as described in claim 8, wherein the reflector is positioned at about the center of the exposure opening.

12. A camera as described in claim 8, wherein said reflector and film are carried in a film cartridge.

13. A camera as described in claim 12, wherein the film cartridge includes a film back plane and the reflector is carried on said back plane.

14. A camera as described in claim 13, wherein the emitter and the detector are positioned downwardly and forwardly of the film cartridge.

15. A camera as described in claim 14, wherein the reflector is positioned at an angle of about forty-five degrees relative to the film back plane.