Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera having a sound-making element provided at a suitable position thereof in which sound signals are used as warning signals or confirming signals for operation of a self-timer.Sound control of said sound-making element is done by using counting signals of a binary counter which digitally controls the camera.Sound signals as warning signals and those as confirming signals for operation of a self-timer are distinguished by a difference in oscillation pulses.

Abstract: A camera having an electrically operated self-timer is provided with an operation mode display device arranged so that when the camera is switched to an exposure control mode by the self-timer, the display being ready for actuation of the timer is rendered recognizable from the object side or to the photographer, while when switched to any other exposure control mode, this display is shielded so as not to be recognizable from the object side or to the photographer.

Abstract: A digital camera with five automatic exposure modes is provided with corresponding individual cards upon selective insertion into the camera to effect the operation of either or both of the shutter and diaphragm in accordance with the digital output of a computer through logic selection circuits as the mode information on the inserted card is read into a binary coded decimal counter controlling operation of the logic circuits. When the card is absent from the camera, a first controlling push button for sequential display of the modes is rendered effective to pass a pulse train to the counter so that upon release of the button, the current mode displayed can be set. The card further includes information relating to the determination of whether or not to give a sound warning signal which occurs, in one embodiment, when the film nears the terminal end of footage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device comprising a fixed yoke and a rotatable armature is disclosed. The yoke and armature of the device are mounted on a common shaft, and also the lower surface of the yoke and the upper surface of the armature slidingly contact with each other.

Abstract: A control system for a camera controls a shutter release operation electromagnetically. A signal generating circuit produces a switching signal for operating a switching circuit which supplies current to a control circuit for a camera. The signal generating circuit is in a condition to always produce a switching signal when a camera operation member is set to normal photographing modes other than the bulb photographing mode, and is out of condition to produce the switching signal during the time between actuation of a magnet and termination of the shutter opening operation. The closing operation of the shutter is checked by means of a mechanical control member during the release when the camera operation member is set in the bulb photographing mode.

Abstract: A camera having an exposure control device or, more particularly, having a digital control circuit for controlling exposure. Sequence control over a photographing operation and control over a display operation are both accomplished by the same sequence control circuit, which is simplified and yet permits selection between self-timer photographing and ordinary photographing operations.

Abstract: A camera performing a film winding action with an electric wind-up mechanism and producing a winding completion signal upon completion of each film winding action. A counter and a discriminating circuit are reset by a back cover closing signal produced when a back cover of the camera is closed to have the counter count the winding completion signals. When both the winding completion signal and an output signal of the discriminating circuit representative of the initial state thereof are obtained, an electromagnetic release mechanism is automatically actuated to carry out an exposure action. Upon completion of the exposure action, the film winding action of the electric wind-up mechanism is performed. When the counter has counted a predetermined count value, the discriminating circuit is inverted by a count output of the counter to automatically render the electromagnetic release mechanism inoperative.

Abstract: A photometric circuit for a camera including a first operational amplifier with a photo-electric element connected between its inverted and non-inverted input terminals and, a logarithmic compression diode connected between the output terminal and the inverted input terminal of the first operational amplifier, thus providing a voltage corresponding to the logarithmic value of the brightness of an object to be photographed at the output terminal of the first operational amplifier.A second operational amplifier has a plurality of temperature compensating commonly polarized diodes connected in parallel between its inverted input terminal and the output terminal. A first constant voltage is applied to the non-inverted input terminal of the second operational amplifier while a second constant voltage is applied through a resistor to the inverted input terminal of the second operatonal amplifier, thereby providing temperature-compensation of the output voltage of said first operational amplifier.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic release for a camera a normally de-energized electromagnet is coupled with unitarally joined elongated pole pieces, and when energized, generates a magnetic flux opposing the magnetic flux of a permanent magnet. A moveable, magnetizable armature adjacent corresponding ends of the pole pieces is normally attracted by the pole pieces as a result of the flux of the permanent magnet when the electromagnet is deenergized. The permanent magnet is positioned between the pole pieces. A spring biases the armature to disengage it from the faces of the pole pieces.

Abstract: A shutter control circuit which normally responds to ambient light switches automatically to a flash mode in response to a charge signal from a flash unit. The light flash eliminates the charge signal. To prevent the absence of a charge signal from returning the shutter to daylight control, a shutter closing signal is generated before a flash synchronizing contact is closed and hence before the charge signal ends. However shutter closing action is then started only after a delay that provides time for the flash to occur when the shutter is fully open.

Abstract: A camera having an exposure control device or, more particularly, having a digital control circuit for controlling exposure. Sequence control over a photographing operation and control over a display operation are both accomplished by the same sequence control circuit, which is simplified and yet permits selection between self-timer photographing and ordinary photographing operations.

Abstract: A printed circuit assembly in a device such as a camera, for example, which is constructed in an extremely compact size and in which various mechanical parts are compacted in a hausing and various electrical parts are arranged in the distributed manner within very limited spaces between the mechanical parts and the hausing.

Abstract: When an electric shutter camera is set at a bulb photographing mode, which camera has an electro-magnetic release which places a photo-sensing circuit in an active state by a photo-sensing switch associated with a first stroke of a shutter button and provides shutter release by a camera-initiating switch associated with the second stroke of the shutter button, shutter release is performed by the camera-initiating switch and at the same time, the retention of a shutter follower screen is released in association with the photo-sensing switch to complete bulb photographing action.

Abstract: In the disclosed camera a sound-making element is provided to produce warning signals or confirming signals for operation of a self-timer. A binary counter which digitally controls the camera controls the sound-making element. Warning signals and confirming signals for operation of a self-timer are distinguished from each other by a difference in oscillation pulses.

Abstract: In the camera disclosed, a light measuring device and input data setting device establish exposure control signals which regulate exposure elements. When the control signal is out of range of an element, a switch turns on an adjusting arrangement which resets the setting device. The setting device may preset an element such as the aperture or shutter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera having an exposure control device designed so that the light measurement, the exposure condition determination and the photographing operation are carried out by means of a release means including an electromagnet element to be controlled by means of a plural number of switches operating successively with the release operation of the camera. The invention is characterized in that the time at which the output signal of the control circuit for controlling the operation of the camera after the light measurement in accordance with the magnitude of the output signal of the light measuring means is controlled so as to be delayed in such a manner that a correct operation can be obtained even if the light measuring time is short.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter adapted for use in a single lens reflex camera and having front and rear curtains with respective charge control gears to be operated in engagement with each other during the winding process. At the terminal end of one cycle of winding operation, these gears are released from positive connection with a film winding mechanism, while the front and rear curtains are held in their cocked positions by separate latches in at least a time interval between a moment at which the diaphragm starts to move and a moment at which the mirror flips out of way to actuate release of the front curtain, thereby an electromagnetic release control for the rear curtain latch is prevented from being disturbed as by a shock which would be otherwise exerted on the rear curtain latch at the start of movement of the front curtain.

Abstract: In a focal plane shutter having two curtains which unwind from shafts after being released, the shaft controls a master gear, causing a keying pin on the latter to activate braking action on the curtain at a time interval near the terminal end of running-down movement of the curtain, as a pair of heavy expanding frictional shoes are driven to rotate at accelerated speeds and pressed against the internal surface of a fixed drum by a centrifugal force. During the shutter cocking operation, the key is taken out of connection with the brake so that the driving torque of the film winding shaft is correspondingly decreased.

Abstract: A camera which permits change-over between different light measuring systems is disclosed. The camera includes a first light measuring element which measures light coming from an object to be photographed and an operational amplifier responsive to the element. A light measurement information producing circuit is included for producing a light measurement information signal for exposure computation. A change-over device is connected between the light measurement information producing circuit and the operational amplifier. The change-over device is arranged to be shiftable between a first position wherein the operational amplifier is connected to the light measurement information producing circuit and a second position wherein the operational amplifier is not so connected. An accessory device is attachable to the camera body.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control system for cameras of flash photographic capabilities which is switched to either of the daylight or the mode depending upon whether or not a storage capacitor across which a flash tube is connected is sufficiently charged. The system comprises first and second computers for deriving daylight and flash exposure aperture values respectively, a diaphragm control circuit selectively receptive of the outputs of the computers through a first switch, first and second timing circuits for providing daylight and flash exposure times respectively, and a shutter control circuit selectively receptive of the outputs of the timing circuits through a second switch. The system is characterized in the use of a single mode selection actuator which is common to the first and second switches and which causes an automatic selection of the flash mode when the camera release occurs after the attainment of the voltage of the storage capacitor to the normal firing level.