Patent ID: 6072958
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A camera, comprising:a shutter which travels in a travel plane to open and close an aperture;a signal projection unit, positioned to one side of the travel plane, for projecting signals towards the travel plane of said shutter so that the signals reflect off said shutter and are thereby blocked from passing through the travel plane when the aperture is closed by said shutter and so that the signals pass through the travel plane when the aperture is opened by said shutter;a reflecting member, positioned on the opposite side of the travel plane as the signal projection unit is positioned, for reflecting signals projected by said signal projection unit which pass through the travel plane; anda signal receiving unit, positioned on the same side of the travel plane as the signal projection unit is positioned, for receiving signals projected by said signal projection unit which are reflected off said shutter and for receiving signals projected by said signal projection unit which are reflected off said reflecting member, wherein,when said shutter closes the aperture, said shutter covers at least a portion of at least one of said signal projection unit, said signal receiving unit and said reflecting member, to obstruct either the projected signals or the received signals, andsaid signal projection unit, said reflecting member and said signal receiving unit are fixed to the camera for use during the taking of a photograph.