Abstract: An electronic flash device having a slave emission function and a standby mode, includes a setting member for setting the slave emission function, activation means activated in response to an input generated upon the function setting operation of the setting member, and power supply control means for controlling a power supply of the electronic flash device to be turned on based on the activation of the activation means.

Abstract: A camera system including an electronic flash device with a slave emission function, includes an electronic flash device including: a light-receiving unit for receiving a steep optical signal; a light-emitting unit for slave-emitting illumination light toward an object in response to the optical signal received by the light-receiving unit; a timer for starting a time measurement operation in response to the optical signal input to the light-receiving unit, and permitting an operation of the light-emitting unit after an elapse of a predetermined period of time; an attachment member used for attaching/detaching the device to/from a camera body; and a data communication function unit for exchanging various data including photographing information with the camera body via the attachment member; and a camera body electrically connected to the electronic flash device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic flash apparatus of a camera incorporating a focal plane shutter. The apparatus is constructed of a capacitor for storing an electric charge, a flashtube for irradiating a subject with a flash of light by the electric charge stored in the capacitor and a setting unit capable of setting any of a signal flash mode in which the flashtube effects a single flash and a high-speed mode in which the flashtube effects high-speed repetitive flash. The apparatus is further constructed of a voltage setting unit for setting a first voltage as an energizing voltage when the single flash mode is set and setting a second voltage higher than the first voltage as an energizing voltage when the high-speed mode is set and an energizing unit for monitoring a voltage when the capacitor stores the electric charge and energizing a ready light just when the voltage in the storage of the electric charge exceeds the set energizing voltage.

Abstract: An equipment having an electric circuit and usable in water comprises a battery housing arranged in the equipment to house a battery and kept airtight to the electric circuit, the battery housing having a common wall shared by an outer wall of the equipment, the common wall having an opening for connecting the battery housing to an external of the equipment, a disengagable cap structure to close the opening and releasing the cap structure by a differential pressure between a pressure in the battery housing and an external pressure of the equipment when the differential pressure exceeds a predetermined level, and an air-permeable and liquid-impermeable filter arranged in the cap structure to cover the opening.

Abstract: A device usable in water includes a battery housing arranged in the device to house a battery, the battery housing having a common wall shared by an outer wall of the device, the common wall having an opening, a valve normally actuated by an actuation member to close the opening and opening the opening against the actuation member by a predetermined difference between a pressure in the battery housing and a pressure external of the equipment, and an air-permeable and liquid-impermeable filter arranged in the battery housing to cover the opening.

Abstract: A camera capable of photographing with flash comprises a pre-flash command circuitry 11 which commands a pre-flash used for curtailing red eye; rear synchronized photography command circuitry 25 which commands a rear synchronized photography; a microcomputer 22 which, when no command is being given to the pre-flash, and when rear synchronized photography is being commanded, causes a light discharge unit 24 to perform the primary flash with the first timing in response to the release of the shutter, and which when the pre-flash is being commanded, causes the light discharge unit 24 to perform the pre-flash prior to the release of the shutter, notwithstanding a command for synchronized photography, and; notwithstanding the existence or lack of a pre-flash command, if there is no command for rear synchronized photography, in response to the release of the shutter, causes the light discharge unit 24 to perform the primary flash with the secondary timing which is faster than the first timing; when both the pre-fla

Abstract: An optical switching device comprises a light emitting device, a reflector for reflecting a light emitted by the light emitting device and having a plurality of set states, a reflected light distribution being changed by switching the set state, a pair of photo-sensing devices for sensing a light from the reflector, and a detector for detecting a difference between light amounts sensed by the photo-sensing devices. The set state of the reflector is discriminated based .on the detection output of the detector.

Abstract: An electronic flash device which is pivotally movable about an axis intersecting the focal plane of a photo-taking lens and of which the light distribution is changed relative to the angle of view of a camera by pivotally moving comprises a light distribution setting device for setting the amount of light distribution, a posture detecting device for detecting the posture of the electronic flash device relative to the camera, a determining device for determining the amount of light distribution on the basis of a desired amount of light distribution set by the light distribution setting device and the posture detected by the posture detecting device, and a light distribution changing device for controlling the light distribution on the basis of the amount of light distribution determined by the determining device.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera having a focal plane shutter and an electronic flash device cooperable with the camera. The flash device, which emits light repetitively, has two operating modes. In a first mode, a light emission start signal is synchronized with the start of the exposure of a film exposure area by a leading curtain of the shutter, and a light emission stop signal is synchronized with the end of the exposure of the film exposure area by a trailing curtain of the shutter. In a second mode, the light emission start signal is synchronized with the full exposure of the film exposure area by the leading curtain, and the light emission stop signal is synchronized with the start of shielding of the film exposure area by the trailing curtain.

Abstract: A TTL automatic light modulation electronic flash device having transmission means, control means and indication means is combined with a camera. The electronic flash device receives a signal from the camera in the transmission means, and the control means controls the indication means to indicate data concerning an improper exposure amount.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed type electronic flash device comprises an electric circuit device comprising a main capacitor storing light emitting energy therein prior to light emission, a light emission tube for emitting light by the light emitting energy stored in the main capacitor, and a trigger circuit for applying a trigger voltage to the light emission tube prior to the light emission of the light emission tube, a housing having therein a partition wall hermetically separating the interior of the housing to form a battery chamber and an electric circuit chamber there, the battery chamber being capable of being loaded with a battery for driving the electric circuit device, the electric circuit device being provided in the electric circuit chamber, a leak detecting device provided in the battery chamber for detecting the entry of water into the battery chamber and outputting a leak signal, and a control device provided in the electric circuit chamber and capable of receiving as an input the leak signal from the

Abstract: An external power source, for an electronic flash unit, includes a battery, a voltage step-up circuit for starting a voltage step-up operation of the battery voltage in response to a start signal and terminating the step-up operation in response to a stop signal, a voltage detecting circuit for detecting that the output voltage of the voltage step-up circuit has reached a predetermined value, and a voltage step-up control circuit for releasing the start signal and the stop signal. The control circuit releases the start signal in response to a synchronization signal from the camera or in response to the detection of flash emission by a flash detecting circuit, and releases the stop signal upon detection by the detecting circuit that the output voltage has reached the predetermined value.

Abstract: An electronic flashing device comprises a flashing discharge tube for emitting light by a charge stored in a main capacitor, a voltage controlled switching device driven by a voltage applied to a control terminal thereof for controlling the light emission of the flashing discharge tube, a voltage application circuit for applying a voltage higher than the charge voltage of the main capacitor across the flashing discharge tube prior to the light emission of the flashing discharge tube, and a control voltage generation circuit for generating a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the voltage controlled switching device in accordance with the voltage generated by the voltage application circuit.

Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus uses a voltage-controlled switching device, such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor, for controlling the start and termination of flash emission from a flash discharge tube. A peak voltage of an oscillation generated in a resonant circuit, produced in response to a flash emission start command, is clamped by a clamping circuit and is used to turn on the voltage-controlled switching device. Another resonant circuit may be used for doubling the voltage between the anode and cathode of the flash discharge tube when the flash discharge tube is triggered.

Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus is capable of discriminating the presence or absence of connection to a camera, and also the state of a connected camera. When the flash apparatus is connected to a camera capable of information transfer, the time required to transfer information is minimal. At least some of the terminals that connect the flash apparatus to the camera perform multiple functions. Different currents are supplied to certain terminals depending upon whether a connected camera is in an information transfer state or a flash photographing state. Terminal voltage detection controls certain functions, including varying certain terminal voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic flashlight apparatus attachable to camera and having a flashlight illuminating direction variable under electrical control. The flashlight apparatus includes a flashlight projection unit including a flashlight source and a reflecting optical system adapted for reflecting a portion of a flashlight from the source, a direction converting unit supporting the projection unit and adapted for changing the projection position of the projection unit between a normal position of projecting the flashlight from the source towards an object and a special projection position of projecting the flashlight in a direction different from the projection direction by the normal position, a driving unit for driving the direction converting unit, a control unit for electrically controlling the driving unit, and a housing of the flashlight apparatus accommodating at least the projection unit and the direction converting unit.

Abstract: In an electronic flash apparatus, a flash preparation signal is sent from a signal generating means to a first switching device at a first timing preceding the flash emission, the first switching device is rendered conductive to start a resonant oscillation in a resonance circuit, thereby charging a trigger capacitor. If the flash preparation signal is terminated in the course of the resonance action, the first switching device is rendered non-conductive at a timing when the junction between the cathode of the flash discharge tube and the first switching device assumes a negative potential by the resonance action. Then, when a flash start signal is sent from the signal generating means to a second switching device at a second timing which is at least later than the above-mentioned timing, a trigger circuit is activated to supply the flash discharge tube with a trigger voltage, thereby starting the flash emission.

Abstract: In a camera system comprising a camera and a flash device, a first synchronizing signal is generated when the camera shutter starts an exposure, and a second synchronizing signal is generated when the exposure is about to be terminated. First and second synchro control modes may be selected. A light emission control is responsive to the first synchronizing signal to drive the flash device when the first synchro control mode is selected and is responsive to the second synchronizing signal to drive the flash device when the second synchro control mode is selected. A shutter control makes possible the driving of the shutter at shutter speeds up to a first limit speed when the first synchro control mode is selected and makes possible the driving of the shutter at shutter speeds up to a second limit speed when the second synchro control is selected, the second limit speed being lower than the first limit speed.

Abstract: An electronic flash device is detachably mountable on a camera and capable of data communication with said camera. The electronic flash device comprises a display unit for automatically setting photographing information upon receiving relevant data from the camera or manually setting photographing information. The display unit is set in a first display state when the device is mounted on a camera capable of data communication and data are transmitted therefrom, or is set in a different display unit when the device is mounted on a camera incapable of data communication and no data are transmitted therefrom.

Abstract: An auto focusing light device detachably mounted on a camera has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a unidimensional direction and detects the focusing condition of a photographic lens in accordance with the output of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. The device comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a unidimensional direction, and an optical projection system for projecting images of the plurality of light-emitting elements on an object in such a manner that the direction of arrangement of the images of the plurality of light-emitting elements is substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.