Cassette/machine optically coupled interface

In a photographic device having a cassette chamber for operatively positioning a cassette with respect to said photographic device, the improvement comprising:

• a cassette have electronic semi-conductor memory circuits for recording information regarding the cassette or film contained therein, said cassette also having at least one optical transmitter and one optical receiver;
• at least one optical transmitter and one optical receiver located in said device adjacent said cassette chamber such that movement of said cassette into operative position results in the complementary alignment of an optical receiver in said device with an optical transmitter in said cassette and the alignment of an optical transmitter in said device with an optical receiver in said cassette;
• and
• a power source within said cassette for operation of said memory and said optical receiver and said optical transmitter carried by said cassette.

A film cassette for use in a photographic device having computing means for controlling various film functions and a cassette chamber for receiving said cassette in an operative position, said cassette comprising:

• electronic semi-conductor memory circuits for recording information regarding the cassette and the film contained therein, said cassette further including at least one optical transmitter and one optical receiver;
• an optical transmitter and optical receiver adjacent said cassette chamber in said device such that movement of said cassette into an operative position aligns said optical transmitter in said device with said optical receiver in said cassette and aligns said optical transmitter in said cassette with said optical receiver in said device, thereby allowing for two-way communication between said computing means in said device and said memory circuits in said cassette;
• and
• a power source within said cassette for the operation of said memory circuit and said optical receiver and said optical transmitter in said cassette.