Multiple switches for elimination of camera failure modes

A camera comprising:

• a door selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a release selectively movable between a home position for retaining said door in said closed position and an away position for releasing said door;
• a door position sensor having at least two states, for determining the position of said door;
• a release position sensor having at least two states, for determining the position of said release;
• said door position and release position sensors being disposed within an electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera only when said door position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said door being closed and said release position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said release being in said home position;
• a film position sensor for determining whether the film is disposed in a film plane of the camera for maintaining operation of the camera uninterruptable by said electric circuit as long as the film position sensor indicates that film is disposed in said film plane;
• a film sensor having at least two states, for determining presence of film in the camera, said film sensor being disposed within said electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera as a function of the state of said film sensor;
• wherein said electric circuit allows operation of the camera only when said door position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said door being closed, said release position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said release being in said home position and said film sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to film being present in the camera;
• and
• wherein said film position sensor maintains operation of the camera if said release position sensor is moved to a state corresponding to said release being in said away position while said film is disposed in the film plane.

A camera comprising:

• a motor for effecting movement of film disposed in the camera;
• a door selectively movable between an open position and a closed position for admitting and retaining the film in the camera;
• a release movable between a home position and an away position for selectively retaining said door in said closed position;
• a door position sensor having at least two states, for determining the position of said door;
• a release position sensor separate from said door position sensor, said release position sensor having at least two states, for determining the position of said release;
• a circuit for energizing said motor as a function of the states of said door position and release position sensors
• a film position sensor for determining presence of the film in a film plane of the camera for continuing operation of said motor while said film is disposed in the film plane;
• wherein said circuit allows operation of said motor only when said door position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said door being closed, and said release position sensor is disposed in a state corresponding to said release being in said home position;
• and
• wherein said film position sensor maintains operation of the motor while said film is disposed in said film plane even if said door position sensor is moved to a state corresponding to said door being in said open position or said release position sensor is moved to a state corresponding to said release being in said away position.

A method of operation of a camera having a door which is selectively movable from an open to a closed position and a release movable between a home position and an away position for selectively retaining said door in said closed position, comprising the steps of:

• (a) sensing the presence of film in the camera;
• (b) sensing the position of said door;
• (c) independently sensing the position of said release;
• and
• (d) if film is present in the camera, said door is disposed in its closed position and said release is disposed in its home position, allowing operation of the camera;
• wherein said camera further comprises a motor for actuating the film within the camera, a door position sensor having at least two states for determining the position of said door, a release position sensor, separate from said door position sensor, said release position sensor having at least two states for determining the position of said release, a film sensor having at least two states for determining presence of film in the camera and said sensors being disposed within an electric circuit for allowing operation of the camera as a function of the states of said sensors and wherein said sensing step (a) comprises sensing the state of said film sensor;
• said sensing step (b) comprises sensing the state of said door position sensor;
• and said sensing step (c) comprises sensing the state of said release position sensor;
• and further comprising the steps of sensing presence of the film in a film plane of the camera and continuing operation of the camera while the film is disposed in said film plane even if said door position sensor is moved to a state corresponding to said door being in said open position or said release position sensor is moved to a state corresponding to said release being in said away position.