Photographic method and apparatus employing automatic camera adjustment

Photographic apparatus comprising:

• a film container enclosing at least one film unit having a light-sensitive surface and a known value of at least one film variable;
• a removable dark slide in said container initially positioned to cover said light-sensitive surface of said film unit;
• a camera having a chamber to receive said container and to present said light-sensitive surface of said film unit in a position for exposure after removal of said dark slide, and adjustable means for adapting operation of the camera to at least one film variable;
• indicia means on said dark slide corresponding to said known value of film variable applicable to said film unit;
• means for advancing said dark slide in a given direction from said container;
• reading means responsive to said indicia means;
• and
• control means actuated by said reading means for adjusting said adjustable means to correspond with the film variable value of said film unit.

A film pack for use in a camera configured for receiving a film container, for advancing a dark slide from said container, for reading information on said dark slide during advancement and for adjusting the camera in accordance therewith, said film pack comprising:

• a film container having a given opening;
• at least one film unit mounted within said container, said film unit having a light sensitive surface and a known value of at least one film variable;
• and
• a removable dark slide mounted in said container in blocking relation to said container opening, said dark slide carrying machine readable indicia corresponding to the value of said film variable, whereby upon removal of said dark slide within said camera, said indicia is read by the camera and the latter adjusted accordingly.

A camera for use with a film container enclosing at least one film unit having a light sensitive surface and a known value of at least one film variable and a removable dark slide carrying machine readable indicia corresponding to said value of film variable, said camera comprising:

• means defining a chamber to receive said container and to present said light-sensitive surface of said film unit in a position for exposure after removal of said dark slide, and adjustable means for adapting operation of the camera to at least one film variable;
• means for advancing said dark slide in a given direction from said container;
• reading means responsive to said indicia;
• and
• control means actuated by said reading means for adjusting said adjustable means to correspond with the film variable value of said film unit.

A camera back for use with a film container enclosing a plurality of sheet units including at least one film unit having a light sensitive surface and a known value of at least one film variable, and at least one of said sheet units carrying machine readable indicia thereon corresponding to said value of film variable, the camera including adjustable means for adapting operation of the camera to at least one film variable, and control means actuatable in accordance with an appropriate signal for adjusting said adjustable means to correspond with the film variable value of the one film unit, the camera back comprising:

• means defining a chamber to receive said container and to present said light-sensitive surface of said film unit in a position for exposure;
• means for defining a path for advancement of the one sheet unit in a given direction along said path from said exposure position;
• and
• reading means located in said given path for reading said indicia responsive to said advancement, and for producing a signal for said control means in accordance therewith.

A camera comprising:

• a chamber for enclosing a plurality of sheet units, at least a number of which comprise film units having a light-sensitive surface and a known value of a film variable, at least a first of said sheet units carrying machine readable indicia corresponding to a film variable;
• means for presenting a first of said sheet units at an exposure position and for defining a given path for advancement of said first sheet unit from said exposure position to present the next successive sheet unit at said exposure position;
• a reading device located along said given path for reading said indicia of at least said first sheet unit and for developing a signal corresponding to the film variable represented by said indicia;
• and
• adjusting means responsive to said signal for adjusting operation of the camera to said at least one film variable represented by said indicia.

A method of adjusting a camera in accordance with the value of at least one film variable applicable to film sheet units inserted as a film pack into the camera for exposure and treatment of each exposed sheet unit in succession, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first of said sheet units with machine readable indicia corresponding to at least the value of a film variable applicable to one of the sheet units;
• advancing said first sheet unit within said camera during said exposure and treatment of said first sheet unit;
• reading said indicia responsive to movement of said first sheet unit as it is being advanced so as to develop one or more signals corresponding to the value of the film variable represented by said indicia;
• and
• adjusting the camera under the control of the signals developed by said reading step.