Magnetically encoded film containers and camera adjusting mechanisms responsive thereto

摘要

Film related information is applied to a film container in the form of oriented macroscopic magnetic fields having strength sufficient to deflect a mechanical magnetic sensor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal end cap of a standard 35 mm film can is magnetized to encode film related information. The information is sensed in a simple mechanical camera by a sensing magnet mounted for movement in response to the orientation of the magnetic field directly above the end cap, and a trapping mechanism for trapping the sensing magnet and mechanically amplifying the information contained in the orientation of the sensing magnet. In an electronic camera, the orientation of the magnetic field is sensed by a pair of magneto-electric sensors oriented to sense orthogonal components of the magnetic field.