Pressure sensor control for electrically responsive camera feature

• US 5,710,947 A
• Filed: 03/15/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Teremy, Paul, McIntyre, Dale Frederick, Dowe, David Reynolds
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCCILLO, NICHOLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/617,534
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75, 354/76, 354/266, 354/64, 354/195.12, 354/105, 354/106, 354/289.12, 354/400, 396/25, 396/26, 396/429, 396/310, 396/313, 396/314, 396/316, 396/281
• US Class Current: 396/26
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

A photographic camera, including an electrically responsive camera feature, includes an electrical circuit in communication with the camera feature, the electrical circuit being actuable to operate the feature. A pressure/force sensor having electrical resistance variable in response to pressure application is disposed in the camera electrical circuit such that the application of pressure on the force sensor controls the operation of the feature.

Claims

1. A camera comprising an orientation sensing device for indicating the spatial orientation of said camera, is characterized in that:

said orientation sensing device includes a casing mounted relative to said camera;

a plurality of sensors arranged within said casing each sensor including a pressure sensitive element which varies in electrical resistance based on the amount of external pressure applied thereto;

an unsupported weight movably encased in said casing; and

means attached to said plurality of sensors for detecting changes in electrical resistance, wherein gravitational force acting on said unsupported weight causes at least one sensor to be acted upon by said weight, thereby indicating said camera orientation.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said casing includes a cavity and said weight is a ball-like member freely contained within said cavity.

3. A camera comprising a film transport counter for counting perforations in a filmstrip, is characterized in that:

said counter includes a pressure sensitive switch which varies in electrical resistance with the amount of external pressure applied to said switch;

and means for detecting a change in electrical resistance of said pressure sensitive switch, wherein said counter is disposed such that said pressure sensitive switch is in relative urged engagement with said filmstrip so that as perforated holes of the filmstrip move over said pressure actuated switch actuating pressure is reduced, resulting in a lower pressure on said switch and a corresponding detectable change in electrical resistance detected by said detecting means.

4. A camera comprising a lens, a motor for moving the lens within the camera and a lens positioning/motor rotation sensor for tracking the position of said lens, is characterized in that:

said motor includes an eccentric cam on a drive shaft of said motor wherein said lens positioning sensor includes a pressure sensitive element which varies in electrical resistance in relation to the amount of external pressure applied thereto, whereby said eccentric cam contacts said pressure sensitive element on each revolution of said drive shaft;

means for detecting the change in electrical resistance of said pressure sensitive element as said drive shaft is rotated to detect the pressure change each time said pressure sensitive element is contacted by said eccentric cam, thereby tracking said lens position.

5. A camera comprising an entry device for enabling a camera operator to write onto a filmstrip, is characterized in that:

said entry device includes input means comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive switches arranged to form a two dimensional array, wherein each of said switches vary in electrical resistance depending on the amount of external pressure applied thereto; and

means for detecting changes in electrical resistance of said pressure sensitive elements, in which pressure imposed on the array is converted into a signal, wherein scripted information written onto said two dimensional array is converted into a plurality of corresponding signals.

6. A camera according to claim 5, including an electrical circuit having an electrically erasable programmable read only memory for storing signals converted by said plurality of sensors from the scripted information and film writing means for converting said signals from the memory into the corresponding scripted information to allow writing of the scripted information onto a filmstrip contained within said camera.

7. A camera comprising a leakage detector for testing underwater cameras, is characterized in that:

said detector includes a first pressure sensitive switch inside said camera;

a second pressure sensitive switch positioned outside said camera in which each of said switches vary in electrical resistance depending upon the amount of external pressure applied thereto; and

means for detecting changes in resistance between said first and second switches, to determine changes in pressure between the inside and outside of said camera.

8. A method of writing scripted information onto a filmstrip contained within a camera, comprising the steps of:

i) writing scripted information onto a two dimensional array of pressure sensitive elements, said elements having a variable electrical resistance based on the amount of external pressure applied thereto, said array being disposed on the exterior of said camera;

ii) converting said scripted information written on said array into a set of corresponding signals based on the variability of electrical resistance caused by said writing;

iii) storing said signals into an electronic memory means contained within said camera;

iv) retrieving said set of signals from said electronic memory means; and

v) converting said set of signals into said scripted information for selectively writing said information onto said filmstrip.