Remote photo-electric interface in camera

An apparatus for photo-electrically sensing a film cartridge in a camera, said film cartridge being removably contained in said camera, said film cartridge having a sensing area located thereon and photographic film contained therein, said apparatus comprising

• means for photodetecting radiant energy reflected from the sensing area, said photodetecting means providing a first electrical output signal in response to the reflected radiant energy detected;
• and
• means, optically coupled to said sensing area and said photodetecting means, for directing incident radiant energy to the sensing area of said film cartridge and reflected radiant energy to said photodetecting means, said directing means includes an optical fiber having a proximal end optically coupled to a source of incident radiant energy and a distal end positioned to emit incident radiant energy onto the sensing area,
• whereby the presence of said film cartridge is detectable from the state of the first output signal of said photodetecting means.

A method of photo-electrically interfacing a mechanical camera component to an electrical camera component in a camera, which method comprises the steps of:

• directing a source of incident radiant energy through an optical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end;
• emitting the radiant energy from the distal end of the optical conductor onto optically detectable information associated with said mechanical camera component;
• receiving through the distal end of the optical conductor radiant energy reflected from the optically detectable information;
• directing the reflected radiant energy through the optical conductor to its proximal end;
• photodetecting the reflected radiant energy from the proximal end of the optical conductor and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto;
• and
• determining the operational status of said mechanical camera component from the electrical output signal.

An apparatus for photo-electrically interfacing a shutter release button to an electrical camera component in a camera, said button being displaceable along an operational axis between a first position and a second position and having a sensing area associated therewith, the sensing area containing a substantially reflective region and a substantially non-reflective region, said apparatus comprising

• means, optically coupled to said sensing area, for directing incident radiant energy to and reflected radiant energy from the sensing area of said button, said directing means includes an optical fiber having a proximal end optically coupled to a source of incident radiant energy, and a distal end,
• the distal end of said optical fiber being positioned to emit incident radiant energy onto the reflective region of the sensing area when said release button is in said first position and onto the non-reflective region of the sensing area when said release button is in said second position;
• and
• means, optically coupled to said directing means, for photodetecting reflected radiant energy received from the reflective region of the sensing area, said photodetecting means providing an electrical output signal in response to the reflected radiant energy detected, said electrical output signal being received by said electrical camera component,
• whereby the position of said shutter release button is determinable from the output of said photodetecting means.