[54] SINGLE-USE CAMERA WITH CHEMICAL FLASH ARRAY
[75] Inventor: Stanley W. Stephenson, Spencerport. N.Y.
[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y.
[21] Appl. No.: 956,927
[22] Filed: Oct 23,1997
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 748,674, Nov. 13, 1996, abandoned.
[51] Int CI.6 G03B 15/03
[52] U.S. CI 396/178; 396/180; 396/192;
396/205; 396/6
[58] Field of Search 396/155, 176.
396/178. 180, 182. 192. 205. 6; 362/11. 15; 431/357. 358, 359, 362. 365
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,598,985 8/1971 Harnden, Jr, 362/11
3,608,451 9/1971 Kelem 354/143
3,995,290 11/1976 Graham 396/192
A single-use camera including a camera body, a shutter driver, a battery, a film advance mechanism and a film frame counter connected to the film advance mechanism, includes a chemical flash arrangement having a compact photoflash lamp array. The photoflash lamp array employs a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical conductors leading to an array of igniter links and defining the contacts of a commutator, and a common electrical connection to each igniter link. A combustible mass is deposited over each igniter link and a grid defining a corresponding array of combustion cavities is bonded to the substrate. A sheet of transparent material is bonded over the grid to contain the combustion products of the combustible mass. A commutator contact carried by the frame counter contact carries current from the battery and cooperates with the contacts on the flexible circuit to provide sequential electrical connection to successive igniter links. A switch is closed by the shutter driver to electrically connect the battery through the commutator to an igniter link.
19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
