Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a base plate defining a shutter opening having a central axis, and a drive assembly coupled to the base plate. The drive assembly includes a rotatable pinion gear, and a drive rack mating with the pinion gear and moveable in a substantially linear direction in response to rotation of the pinion gear. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades operably connected to the drive rack. The plurality of shutter blades are configured to rotate between an open position exposing the shutter opening and a closed position substantially occluding the shutter opening in response to movement of the drive rack in the substantially linear direction.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.

Abstract: A shutter includes a driver ring, a plurality of shutter blades coupled to the drive ring such that movement of the drive ring transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central aperture of the shutter, and a closed position blocking the central aperture, and a first stop and a second stop movable relative to the first stop. At least one of the first and second stops limits travel of the shutter blades.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.

Abstract: A shutter includes a driver ring, a plurality of shutter blades coupled to the drive ring such that movement of the drive ring transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central aperture of the shutter, and a closed position blocking the central aperture, and a first stop and a second stop movable relative to the first stop. At least one of the first and second stops limits travel of the shutter blades.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades activated by a solenoid to move the plurality of shutter blades between an open position and a closed position includes reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a drive ring having a permanent magnet disposed thereon. The shutter assembly also includes a solenoid defining a gap between first and second magnetic poles thereof, the drive ring being disposed coplanar with the solenoid and being rotatable in response to a magnetic field created between the first and second magnetic poles. The shutter assembly also includes a plurality of shutter blades configured to transition between an open position and a closed position in response to rotation of the drive ring. The shutter assembly further includes a base plate separating the plurality of shutter blades from at least one of the drive ring and the solenoid.

Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a plurality of shutter blades movable between an open position and a closed position, a drive ring having first and second oppositely-facing sides, at least one of the shutter blades being movably coupled to the first side, and a first permanent magnet coupled to the second side of the drive ring. The shutter assembly also includes a first solenoid selectively energizable to alternately attract and repel the first permanent magnet along an arcuate path beneath the first solenoid, thereby transitioning the plurality of shutter blades between the open and closed positions. The shutter assembly also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect a location of the first permanent magnet along the path.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of shutter blades activated by a solenoid to move the plurality of shutter blades between an open position and a closed position includes reducing an electrical signal applied to the solenoid while the plurality of shutter blades is in transit between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A shutter operating system is provided that depends on electromagnetic energy to operate shutter blades. A permanent magnet and solenoid system operate the shutter blades. Movement of the magnet causes the shutter blades to move between an open and a closed position over a lens. The permanent magnet can be moved between a pair of spaced coils by selectively energizing first one coil then the other. The magnet can be attached directly to a shutter blade or in the case of a rotary shutter, the magnet can be attached to a drive ring that in turn is mechanically coupled to the shutter blades.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operable rotary shutter is rendered bi-stable by the use of two linear electric motors, one to open the shutter and a second to close the shutter together with a latch that holds the shutter in either an open or a closed position in the absence of power to purposefully open or close the shutter.

Abstract: A shutter assembly for an optical system includes a shutter housing that maintains optical alignments with adjoining parts of the optical system and a shutter mechanism that can be removed and replaced within the shutter housing without disturbing the optical alignments between the shutter housing and the adjoining parts of the optical system. The shutter mechanism can also include alignment features with the shutter housing for restoring the original optical alignment of the shutter mechanism with the adjoining parts of the optical system.

Abstract: An actuator circuit for an inductive load includes a first low impedence source of direct current at a relatively high voltage, a second low impedance source at a lower voltage, a switching arrangement responsive to an input signal for connecting a load across the first source at the beginning of the signal and for a predetermined initiating interval thereafter, and at the end of the interval switching the load from the first to the second source, and a feedback control for limiting the current through the load to a first, constant value during the initiating interval and to second, lower constant value thereafter. The circuit cuts off the load when the input signal ceases or it removed.

Abstract: A battery operated, portable actuator for an inductive load such as an electromagnetically actuatable photographic shutter includes an initiating capacitor for initiating acutation of the load, and a continuing holding circuit portion for continuing energizing the load after discharge of the initiating capacitor. The capacitor is connected to be charged by the output of a voltage multiplying rectifier which is alternately turned ON and OFF according to the instantaneous voltage across the capacitor, being turned ON when the voltage is low, and OFF when the voltage is high. The continuing circuit portion is arranged to feed time-spaced current pulses to the load, and a diode is connected across the load so that its own inductive nature holds it energized during the intervals between the pulses. The duration of the energizing current pulses is increased in response to fall-off of the battery output voltage.

Abstract: A control circuit for an inductive load comprising a relatively large capacitor, means for charging it through an SCR, and means for discharging it through the inductive load for energizing the load and simultaneously inhibiting the SCR so long as the discharge path for the capacitor remains closed.