Abstract: An electronic flash unit for use with cameras having a flash lamp firing mechanism adapted to fire flash lamps in timed relation with the operation of a camera shutter. An electronic time delay circuit coupled to the flash lamp firing mechanism energizes a flash unit trigger circuit to fire the flashtube in synchronism with the camera shutter. A voltage-sensitive switching element renders the delay circuit operative once the flash unit firing capacitor is charged above a predetermined level. With this arrangement, the flash-firing mechanism cannot energize the flashtube trigger circuit when there is insufficient firing capacitor voltage.

Abstract: An exposure control system for photographic apparatus includes inertial means for selectively presenting an inertial characteristic to influence the movement of the exposure control system shutter blade elements. The inertial characteristic influences the rate of movement of the shutter blade elements toward their maximum aperture defining position without influencing the return movement of the shutter blade elements toward their closed position. The inertial means is also thereafter automatically reset in readiness for the next photographic cycle.

Abstract: A camera which has the capability of automatically determining exposure of film. A light-responsive structure of the camera produces a number of pulses which is inversely proportional to light brightness while a reference pulse generating structure is capable of producing a series of reference pulses. A binary counter is connected through a switch structure to both the light-responsive structure and the reference pulse generating structure, with the switch structure first connecting the light-responsive structure to the binary counter so that the latter counts the number of pulses which is inversely proportional to light brightness. Thereafter an inverting structure which is connected to the binary counter inverts the number of pulses counted thereby, and then the switch structure disconnects the light-responsive structure from the binary counter and instead connects the reference pulse generating structure thereto so that the binary counter then counts reference pulses.

Abstract: A light measuring device for use in a single lens reflex camera includes: a transparent block located in the rear and upward location of a pentagonal prism and having at least one surface serving as a reflecting surface; and a light receiving portion including a photoelectric element having a light receiving surface, which portion is located in the vicinity of such one surface of the prism, such that part of the scene light which as been transmitted through an objective lens and scattered through the front portion of a focussing plate located in the optical path of a viewfinder is introduced into the transparent block, then reflected on such reflecting surface and introduced to the light receiving surface of the photoelectric element, while part of the scene light scattering through the rear portion of the focussing plate is transmitted through the transparent block and is then introduced into the light receiving surface, whereby the light beams from the entire surface of the scene may be measured at a desire

Abstract: An exposure system for a microfiche duplicating machine includes a mercury vapor light source and a light transparent platen disposed above the light source for supporting an original microfiche card and a duplicating film card for exposure by the light source. A shutter mechanism is interposed between the light source and the transparent platen to control the exposure of the duplicating film card, and a cover is disposed over the transparent platen to prevent the escape of light from the duplicating machine during the exposure. A mechanical linkage is provided for automatically opening a pair of shutters within the shutter mechanism upon the closing of the cover to initiate the exposure of the duplicating film card. Simultaneously, a timer is energized by the closing of the cover to initiate an exposure timing sequence.

Abstract: A selector dial assembly includes a rotatable indicator dial that is releasably locked at an angular position for setting the camera in an automatic exposure control mode (AUTO). To release the lock, a pin slidably engaged with a hole in the dial is manually depressed so as to disengage a portion of the pin from a notch in a fixed member. After releasing the lock, the dial is manually rotatable to select a desired exposure setting (MANUAL). The pin is resiliently urged to return into locking engagement automatically upon rotation of the dial to AUTO.

Abstract: In a shutter speed display device for use in combination with an electric shutter operating circuit of a photographic camera wherein an electric signal produced by a photosensitive element and corresponding to the brightness of an object is used to operate the shutter of the camera, there are provided an improved electric shutter operating circuit which comprises a first amplifier for amplifying the electric signal, a second amplifier comprising a field effect transistor connected to amplify the output from the first amplifier, a first impedance element connected between one terminal of the photosensitive element and the negative pole of a DC source, a second impedance element connected in parallel with the series circuit including the photosensitive element and the first impedance element, and a transistor connected to the output of the second amplifier for feeding back the output to the input of the first amplifier; and shutter speed display means determined primarily by the ratio of the value of the resist

Abstract: In an electromagnetic trigger device in a camera capable of effecting time photography, and having a trigger switch, a power source and a motor for driving a shutter driving mechanism, there is provided a restraining lever movable between a restraining position and a non-restraining position. The lever, when in the restraining position, restrains the shutter driving mechanism in fully closed shutter position. A motor switch is adapted to be closed to energize the motor when the restraining lever is in the non-restraining position. A phase switch is parallel-connected to the motor switch and operatively associated with the shutter driving mechanism to be opened in the fully open and the fully closed position of the shutter. An actuating coil is responsive to closing of the trigger switch to be connected to the power source for a predetermined time and thereby energized to attract the restraining lever to the non-restraining position.

Abstract: Camera diaphragm control apparatus in which slidable diaphragm blades are adjustable by a differential motor to establish and continually maintain an exposure aperture of size related to ambient scene brightness. A linkage, responsive to mounting a flash unit on the camera, connects the differential motor to a focus control member. Through the linkage, the focus control can override the adjustment of the diaphragm by the differential motor, and permit diaphragm adjustment with both ambient light and focus of the camera with distance to the photographic object.

Abstract: A mechanism for transmitting the position of a diaphragm ring of a camera interchangeable lens to an exposure control device in the camera interchangeable viewer, a mechanism is mounted on the housing and includes a fixed gear, a mounting arm swingable about the fixed gear and having a sector shaped outer end which supports a rotatable gear which is coupled to the fixed gear by an idler gear carried by the mounting arm. A connector arm has one end connected to and moveable and rotatable with the rotatable gear, and is provided at its outer end with a coupling pin which separably engages a coupling element carried by the diaphragm ring. A flexible line extends from the outer end of the mounting arm along the periphery of the arm sector shaped end to the exposure control device and is spring loaded. The fixed and rotatable gears may be replaced by pulleys coupled by a flexible belt. The end of the connector arm traverses a circular path corresponding to that of the diaphragm ring coupling element.

Abstract: Both the shutter speed and the diaphragm opening are selected in accordance with the exposure value measured by an exposure meter. A step cam plate is brought into engagement with the pointer of the exposure meter and the amount of movement of the step cam plate is determined by the position of the pointer. The step cam plate is associated with an exposure control ring which controls the diaphragm and the shutter speed. The exposure control ring is locked in its position during the exposure operation by means of a lock lever which is put into engagement with the exposure control ring when the mirror is swung up.

Abstract: In a photographic camera which controls a diaphragm aperture to an optimum aperture automatically, wherein the light from a photographic object which has been transmitted through an objective lens and a diaphragm aperture is measured by means of a light measuring device, as the diaphragm aperture for the objective lens, in its fully open condition is being stopped down from its fully open condition in association with the releasing operation of a shutter, the stop-down operation of the diaphragm aperture then being interrupted when the light measuring output becomes coincident with a value corresponding to a predetermined shutter speed, an improved automatic diaphragm aperture control device in which the movement of an interlocking pin for the objective lens in association with the operation of a diaphragm ring is transmitted to an operating lever within the body of a camera, which lever cooperates with the aforesaid operation of the diaphragm ring through the medium of a movement-enlarging mechanism which is

Abstract: An exposure control system for photographic apparatus utilizing pulse driven shutter-diaphragm light regulating elements in conjunction with a follow focus mechanism which in response to the location of the light regulating elements terminates the driving operation thereby automatically selecting an aperture value for flash operation. The follow focus mechanism locates a sensor switch in the path of travel of a pair of aperture defining blades as a function of scene ranging such that the sensor switch is actuated by the blades as the latter are displaced to the selected switch location and, in turn, terminates further pulses to the stepper motor thereby stopping the blades at a predetermined location defining a selected aperture value.

Abstract: An indicating device for producing a warning indication of possible over or under exposures in an automatic exposure adjusting device in a photographic camera. The brightness of light rays from a photographic object which are transmitted through a diaphragm aperture, is measured for a duration in which a diaphragm is stopped down from its fully open position to a diaphragm aperture preset by a diaphragm presetting ring. When light measuring output reaches a proper level with respect to a film speed of a film used and a pre-selected shutter speed, a diaphragm control circuit is actuated so as to set the aperture size of the diaphragm. The indicating device provides an indication as to whether or not a proper diaphragm aperture may be obtained during the diaphragm-stopping-down operation so as to effect a proper exposure.

Abstract: Apparatus provides for reducing drain on an electrical power source in a camera and also provides for convenient manual operation in connection with relatively long-exposure-time photographing by controlling the closing of a power switch that switchably connects the power source to an exposure control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as both a camera and a viewer. As a camera, light from an object is broken up by a planar array of N lenses into N identical images which fall onto an opaque mask. A small aperture lies within each image, but at a different relative zone so that the apertures are non-homologous with respect to the image. Light passing through the apertures strikes virgin photographic emulsion of a lensfiche. The lensfiche is indexed and the process repeated for the next object. After emulsion development, the lensfiche is sequentially illuminated from the rear and each object (macroscene) sequentially reconstructed by projection on a viewing screen. For one embodiment, the method of recording consists of forming N identical and non-overlapping images, taking one portion from each of the N images, the N portions being non-homologous and dispersed from each other, and photographically recording N non-homologous portions.

Abstract: In one arrangement, the exposure multiplication indicating means includes an exposure multiplication selector dial having a small window cut therein and numerals marked thereon representing exposure multiplication, a film sensitivity dial, and an indicium. Numerals marked on said film sensitivity dial for representing the film sensitivity are observed, one by one, through said small window cut in the exposure multiplication selector dial, and the exposure multiplication is indicated by the numeral which is marked on the exposure multiplication selector dial in alignment with said indicium. In another arrangement, a main switch energizes the automatic exposure setting circuit and also energizes an element indicating the exposure multiplication setting. A source voltage confirming circuit enables the exposure multiplication indicating means to operate only when the source voltage is of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A magnetic release mechanism comprises an electromagnet excited by means of a release signal, a release auxiliary lever releasable out of engagement directly or indirectly by means of an exciting force of said electromagnet and forced to be rotated in a unidirection, and a release lever adapted to release the regenerating condition of a shutter driving lever in response to the rotation of said release auxiliary lever. Said engagement of said release auxiliary lever is effected at a sufficiently lengthy extremity from a rotative axis, and said release auxiliary lever is positioned, when engaged, apart at a small distance from said release lever.

Abstract: An electric shutter means which comprises a voltage checking circuit connected to an exposure time control circuit including an electromagnet for controlling the time of closing shutter blades so that, when the voltage of a power source battery for said exposure time control circuit has dropped to be below a predetermined level, the passage of electricity to said electromagnet may be forcibly interrupted by said voltage checking circuit.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONa. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to electric shutter means, and more particularly to an electric circuit to be applied to an electric shutter arranged so that, when the power source voltage has dropped to be below a predetermined level, the exposure time may be mechanically controlled with a specific shutter speed.B. Description of the Prior ArtA camera equipped with an electric shutter is generally provided with a voltage checking means.

Abstract: An electronic camera shutter having a single spring that biases an armature lever in a direction for applying an electromagnet armature supported thereon against the electromagnet until the electromagnet, which is a part of an exposure time control circuit, is energized so that the armature is attracted. This same spring cooperates with a holding lever biasing it in a direction for engaging with the armature lever and driving it in a direction for separating the armature from the electromagnet to initiate closing of the shutter upon de-energization of the electromagnet at the end of the exposure time period controlled by the exposure time control circuit.