W. Haking Enterprises, Ltd.

Wilfried A Bittner

A camera includes a film drive motor, that connected through a series of gears, drives a bi-directional moving control element. The moving control element is, in turn, mechanically linked to a shutter striker, shutter striker release mechanism, lens focus mechanism and aperture control mechanism. The film drive motor also drives a film advance gear mechanism and a film rewind gear mechanism. Under the control of an electronic control system, by selectively changing the rotation direction of the film advance motor, and hence the direction of travel of the moving control element, the moving control element is first driven in the forward direction to sequentially move a shutter striker to a cocked position and then to set a preferred picture taking position for the lens focusing mechanism and an aperture control mechanism. The moving control element is then driven in the reverse direction to, in sequence, release the shutter striker to take a picture at the preferred picture taking position for the lens focusing mechanism and aperture control mechanism, reset the lens focusing mechanism and the aperture control mechanism, and forward wind the film to the next picture taking position.

Camera shutter and autofocus mechanism

A compact camera includes lens cover doors movable between closed standby positions and open operating positions. A lens hood is movable between a retracted standby position and an extended operating position. The hood prevents extraneous light from entering the camera and the doors protect the lens. The doors and hood are coupled by a cam system so they move simultaneously. Springs urge the doors and hood toward their operating positions, and a latch system retains the doors and hood in their standby positions. In the operating position, the doors are nested within and protected by the hood.

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Hong Kong, China

Wilfried A Bittner