Peter S Tisack

US Patent:

48210587, Apr 11, 1989

Filed:

Jan 15, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/144839

Inventors:

John H. Minnick - Rochester NY
John E. Spencer - Geneseo NY
Peter S. Tisack - Hilton NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G03B 300

US Classification:

354400

Abstract:

A photographic camera includes a lens adjustable to different focus distances, means for supplying a flash illumination, and a rangefinder for indicating the distance to a subject as one of at least two zones. The camera is operable in a flash mode or a non-flash mode. A ratchet is provided defining at least three consecutive teeth connected to the lens, each one of the ratchet teeth defining a focus setting for the lens, the focus settings ranging from a relatively near focus setting to a relatively distant focus setting. A pawl is provided for engaging a selected one of the ratchet teeth to fix the focus of the lens at the focus distance associated with the selected ratchet tooth. Focusing means responsive to the rangefinder are provided for operating the pawl to select one of the two ratchet teeth defining the relatively more distant focus settings when the flash illumination is not supplied, and one of the two ratchet teeth defining the relatively nearer focus settings when the flash illumination is provided. Thus, at least one of the ratchet teeth defining a focus setting is shared in both the flash and non-flash modes of operation.