US4676616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film cartridges, films and cameras adapted for use therewith
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-11-08
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2005-11-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are film cartridges having improved digital code patterns, films having improved digital signal means, and cameras adapted for use with the film cartridges or the films. The improved code patterns include bits with differnt weights and a bit which is made conductive with at least one of the bits with the different weights. One of the cameras disclosed is provided with a reading device on a spool so that the reading device can continuously read the signal means at a front tip of a leader portion of the film throughout the duration in which the film is wound around the spool. Another camera disclosed is adapted to read the code patterns on the film cartridge upon insertion of the film cartridge into a cartridge chamber. Various camera circuits are proposed, in one of which decimal or fractional APEX values of read film speeds are converted to outputs with weights of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 for digital calculation and in another of which film speeds divided by 1/3 Ev steps are automatically set by being grouped into one of high, middle and low film speed ranges.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeo Hoda
- 👤 Nobuyuki Taniguchi
- 👤 Kiyoshi Seigenji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas which extend perpendicular to the direction in which the film is pulled out of said film cartridge; a digital code pattern provided on said second to sixth areas such that said second to sixth areas correspond to the bits of said digital code, respectively, said second to sixth areas having weights of 1, 2, 4, 1/3 and 2/3 in terms of the APEX value Sv, respectively; means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area in accordance with the APEX value of the film speed of the film contained in said housing, to allow detection of said second to sixth areas being conductive with said first area from the exterior of said film cartridge, at least one of said fifth and sixth areas being conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said fifth and sixth areas with said first area is the indication of the film cartridges of said series; and wherein the summation of a predetermined value with the conductive ones of said second to sixth areas equals the APEX value of the film speed for the film contained in the cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas which extend perpendicular to the direction in which the film is pulled out of said film cartridge; a digital code pattern provided on said second to sixth areas such that said second to sixth areas correspond to the bits of said digital code, respectively, said second to sixth areas having weights of 1, 2, 4, 1/3 and 2/3 in terms of the APEX value Sv, respectively; means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area in accordance with the APEX value of the film speed of the film contained in said housing, to allow detection of said second to sixth areas being conductive with said first area from the exterior of said film cartridge, at least one of said fifth and sixth areas being conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said fifth and sixth areas with said first area is the indication of the film cartridges of said series; and wherein the summation of a predetermined value with the conductive ones of said second to sixth areas equals the APEX value of the film speed for the film contained in the cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined value is less than the APEX value of the lowest available film speed for the films in said series of cartridges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined value is 22/3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 1 wherein the lowest one of the film speeds of said series of film cartridges is 3 in terms of the APEX value Sv and the film cartridge containing the film of the lowest film speed has only said fifth area with weight of 1/3 made conductive with said first area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 4 wherein the next lowest one of the film speeds of said series of film cartridges is 31/3 in terms of APEX value Sv and the film cartridge containing the film of the next lowest film speed has only the sixth area with weight of 2/3 made conductive with said first area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 4, wherein the step-difference between every adjacent two film speeds of said series of film cartridges is 1/3 in terms of the APEX value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds including ISO 25, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1, 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of a predetermined value and the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value of the film speed for the film contained in said housing, and such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds including ISO 25, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1, 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of a predetermined value and the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value of the film speed for the film contained in said housing, and such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A series of film cartridges as defined in claim 7 wherein said predetermined value is less than the APEX value for ISO 25 speed film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
185 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of a predetermined value with the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value Sv of the film speed for the film contained in said housing, said predetermined value being less than the APEX value of the lowest available film speed for the films in said series of cartridges such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
185 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of a predetermined value with the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value Sv of the film speed for the film contained in said housing, said predetermined value being less than the APEX value of the lowest available film speed for the films in said series of cartridges such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every film speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of the value 22/3 with the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value of the film speed of the film contained in said housing, and such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A series of film cartridges for films of various film speeds, each film cartridge of said series comprising: a housing containing one of said films and having on its outer peripheral wall first to sixth areas of which the second to sixth areas have weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3 respectively; and means for selectively making said second to sixth areas conductive and non-conductive with said first area such that the summation of the value 22/3 with the weights of said second to sixth areas that are conductive with said first area equals the APEX value of the film speed of the film contained in said housing, and such that at least one of said second to sixth areas is conductive with said first area for every speed of said series of film cartridges, whereby conduction of at least one of said second to sixth areas provides an indication that the film cartridge is a member of said series.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a camera adapted for use with a film cartridge having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1, 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, said five first areas being conductive or nonconductive with said second area in accordance with the APEX value Sv of film speed of a film contained in said film cartridge, a code detection device comprising: first determining means for determining whether said first areas with weights 4, 2 and 1 are conductive or nonconductive with said second area; means reponsive to the determination of said first determining means for generating a signal of a predetermined film speed representative of one of the film speed ranges within which the film speed of the film contained in said film cartridge resides; means for generating a signal of a particular film speed; second determining means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area; circuit means; and selector means for feeding said signal of a predetermined film speed of said circuit means when the determination by said second determining means indicates that at least one of said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area and feeding said signal of a particular film speed to said circuit means when the determination by said second determining means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a camera adapted for use with a film cartridge having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1, 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, said five first areas being conductive or nonconductive with said second area in accordance with the APEX value Sv of film speed of a film contained in said film cartridge, a code detection device comprising: first determining means for determining whether said first areas with weights 4, 2 and 1 are conductive or nonconductive with said second area; means reponsive to the determination of said first determining means for generating a signal of a predetermined film speed representative of one of the film speed ranges within which the film speed of the film contained in said film cartridge resides; means for generating a signal of a particular film speed; second determining means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area; circuit means; and selector means for feeding said signal of a predetermined film speed of said circuit means when the determination by said second determining means indicates that at least one of said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area and feeding said signal of a particular film speed to said circuit means when the determination by said second determining means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 4, 2 and 1 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A code detection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for generating said signal of a particular film speed includes means for manually setting said particular film speed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges, each having five first areas which correspond to bits of digital codes representing APEX values Sv of film speeds, said first areas having weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and at least one of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 being conductive with a second area adjacent to said five first areas for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for reading the digital code on said five first areas to generate a signal indicative of the film speed represented by said digital code; circuit means for receiving said signal; means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area; and means for generating a signal indicating that the film cartridge being in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determining means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges, each having five first areas which correspond to bits of digital codes representing APEX values Sv of film speeds, said first areas having weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and at least one of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 being conductive with a second area adjacent to said five first areas for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for reading the digital code on said five first areas to generate a signal indicative of the film speed represented by said digital code; circuit means for receiving said signal; means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area; and means for generating a signal indicating that the film cartridge being in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determining means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges each having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, said five first areas being conductive or nonconductive with the APEX value of film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges and at least one of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for detecting said first areas which are conductive with said second area; means for calculating the summation of the weights of the first areas detected by said detecting means and adding a predetermined constant value to the summation to generate a signal directly indicative of the APEX value of the film speed represented by said first areas; circuit means for receiving said signal; means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area; and means for generating a signal indicating that the film cartridge being in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determination means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges each having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, said five first areas being conductive or nonconductive with the APEX value of film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges and at least one of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for detecting said first areas which are conductive with said second area; means for calculating the summation of the weights of the first areas detected by said detecting means and adding a predetermined constant value to the summation to generate a signal directly indicative of the APEX value of the film speed represented by said first areas; circuit means for receiving said signal; means for determining whether none of, or at least one of, said first areas with weights 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area; and means for generating a signal indicating that the film cartridge being in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determination means indicates that none of said first areas with weights of 2/3 and 1/3 is conductive with said second area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges, each having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, the states of said five first areas being determined in such a manner that they are conductive or nonconductive with said second area in accordance with the APEX value of film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges and that at least one of them is conductive with said second area for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for detecting the states of said respective first areas relative to said second area; first film speed signal producing means for producing a first film speed signal based on the detection result by said detecting means; circuit means for receiving said first film speed signal; and means for determining whether or not all of said five first areas are in the same state relative to said second area, based on the detection result by said detecting means, said determining means producing a signal representing that the film cartridge in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determining means indicates that all of said five first areas are in the same state relative to said second area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a camera for use with a series of film cartridges, each having five first areas with weights of 4, 2, 1 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, and a second area, the states of said five first areas being determined in such a manner that they are conductive or nonconductive with said second area in accordance with the APEX value of film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges and that at least one of them is conductive with said second area for every film speed of a film contained in said series of film cartridges, a code detection device comprising: means for detecting the states of said respective first areas relative to said second area; first film speed signal producing means for producing a first film speed signal based on the detection result by said detecting means; circuit means for receiving said first film speed signal; and means for determining whether or not all of said five first areas are in the same state relative to said second area, based on the detection result by said detecting means, said determining means producing a signal representing that the film cartridge in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determining means indicates that all of said five first areas are in the same state relative to said second area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A code detection device as defined in claim 15, wherein said determining means is adapted to produce said signal representing that the film cartridge in use is not a film cartridge of said series when the determination by said determining means indicates that all of said five first areas are nonconductive with said second area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
90 words
A code detection device as defined in claim 15, further comprising: second film speed signal producing means for producing a second film speed signal representing a particular film speed; and means for selectively transmitting one of said first and second film speed signals to said circuit means, so that said circuit means receives said second film speed signal in place of said first film speed signal when said signal representing that the film cartridge in use is not a film cartridge of said series is produced by said determining means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A code detection device as defined in claim 15, wherein said circuit means includes means for displaying a film speed in accordance with said first film speed signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A code detection device as defined in claim 15, wherein said circuit means includes means for controlling an exposure in accordance with said first film speed signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-29 | 1990-12-29 | 1991-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-12-29 | 1995-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-29 | 1998-12-29 | 1999-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |