Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a camera body; and a flash device provided in the camera body and configured to be popped up from the camera body. The flash device includes a light emitter configured to emit light, a capacitor configured to store charge, an electric circuit configured to control the light emitter and the capacitor, a first electric wire configured to electrically connect the light emitter and the capacitor, and a second electric wire configured to electrically connect the capacitor and the electric circuit. The light emitter, the capacitor, the electric circuit, the first electric wire, and the second electric wire move integrally when the flash device is popped up.

Abstract: A flash camera has a single-piece shutter-opening/closing and shutter-flash synchronization driver that translates in one direction to pivot a pair of shutter blades away from one another and simultaneously push a movable switch contact of a normally open shutter-flash synchronization switch to close the switch. Then, the movable switch contact is spring-urged to move the switch contact to reopen the shutter-flash synchronization switch and push the single-piece driver in a reverse direction to move the blades towards one another. Movement of the blades away from and towards one another uncovers and recovers an exposure aperture to take a picture.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of luminous bodies as light sources, luminous body drive portions configured to drive to light each of the plurality of luminous bodies, an optical member configured to lead and apply light exiting from a luminous body lighted by the luminous body drive portion to an illumination target area, a light control member configured to perform change of a light path of the light exiting from the luminous body with which the illumination target area is illuminated and/or movement of the luminous body, a movable portion configured to operably drive the light control member, and a light selection portion configured to control the movable portion and/or the luminous body drive portion in such a manner that light with which the illumination target area is selected from light exiting from the plurality of luminous bodies.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in electronic flash has a spring-driven high energy lever that is pivoted for initiating shutter opening and for translating a switch closing member to close a normally open shutter-flash synchronization switch. When the switch reopens, it translates the switch closing member in reverse. Then, during film winding a metering cam is rotated to pivot the high energy lever in reverse. The switch closing member is adapted to be pivoted temporarily of the way of the high energy lever to allow the high energy lever to be returned past the switch closing member to an original or home position.

Abstract: A stop lever is rotatable on a light shielding tunnel with an exposure aperture. When the stop lever is at a fast shutter speed position, a support pad is located below a lower metal plate of a synchronization switch of a flash circuit. The support pad holds the lower metal plate to limit rotation of a shutter blade, so that photography is carried out at a fast shutter speed. The synchronization switch is turned on after the exposure aperture is fully open. When the stop lever is at a slow shutter speed position, a support pad is away from the lower metal plate to obtain a slow shutter speed. It is possible to obtain a fast shutter speed by providing a light shielding tunnel with a fixed stopper to limit rotation of the shutter speed, and a slow shutter speed by providing a light shielding tunnel without a stopper.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a camera exposure control system is provided. The camera exposure control system has a shutter movable during an exposure period through a path of travel between a first position and a second position and a detector to sense the shutter and to generate a signal when the shutter is at a flash trigger position on the path of travel. A flash circuit is provided and receives the signal generated by the detector causing a flash of light to discharge when the signal is received. A stop is also provided. The stop is selectably movable from a location out of the path of travel of the shutter to a location in the path of travel of the shutter. The location of the stop determines whether the detector can sense the shutter during the exposure.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, a camera exposure control system is provided. The camera exposure control system has a shutter movable during an exposure period through a path of travel between a first position and a second position and a detector to sense the shutter and to generate a signal when the shutter is at a flash trigger position on the path of travel. A flash circuit is provided and receives the signal generated by the detector causing a flash of light to discharge when the signal is received. A stop is also provided. The stop is selectably movable from a location out of the path of travel of the shutter to a location in the path of travel of the shutter. The location of the stop determines whether the detector can sense the shutter during the exposure.

Abstract: A stop lever is rotatable on a light shielding tunnel with an exposure aperture. When the stop lever is at a fast shutter speed position, a support pad is located below a lower metal plate of a synchronization switch of a flash circuit. The support pad holds the lower metal plate to limit rotation of a shutter blade, so that photography is carried out at a fast shutter speed. The synchronization switch is turned on after the exposure aperture is fully open. When the stop lever is at a slow shutter speed position, a support pad is away from the lower metal plate to obtain a slow shutter speed. It is possible to obtain a fast shutter speed by providing a light shielding tunnel with a fixed stopper to limit rotation of the shutter speed, and a slow shutter speed by providing a light shielding tunnel without a stopper.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter for a camera has a synchronous contact member that produces less chattering than conventional synchronous contact members. One end of an opening electromagnet and one end of a closing electromagnet are separately connected to the higher-potential side of a power supply for a CPU in the camera, and the other ends of the electromagnets are grounded. An output circuit has an inverter circuit made up of a transistor and two resistors. A driver voltage for energizing the closing electromagnet is applied to the base of the transistor via a first resistor. The collector of the transistor is connected to the higher-potential side of the power supply via a second resistor. The emitter of the transistor is connected to the lower-potential side of the power supply. First and second voltage signals are produced from an output terminal on the side of the collector.

Abstract: The camera of this invention includes an improved shutter system that has the same shutter waveform when a flash is employed and when a flash is not employed. In a preferred embodiment, the shutter system includes a shutter that is rotatably mounted to the camera and a shutter opening over which the shutter blade is disposed. A slidable plate in which a first aperture and a second aperture are disposed is coupled to the camera, so that the first aperture is disposed between the first shutter opening and the lens of the camera prior to taking a picture with the camera. The first aperture is preferably smaller than the second aperture. When a picture is taken, the shutter blade moves to uncover the shutter opening, and when the shutter opening is uncovered the shutter blade causes the slidable plate to slide with respect to the shutter opening so that the second larger aperture is disposed between the shutter opening and the camera lens.

Abstract: There is described a camera incorporating a focal-plane shutter. The camera includes a lens, an image window having an aperture to bound a light coming through the lens in a plain perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens, a focal-plane shutter and a photometry sensor to receive the light reflected by the focal-plain shutter and detect an amount of the light reflected by the focal-plane shutter after coming through the lens. In the camera, the photometry sensor is located at an outside of the aperture and resides on a plane, which is parallel with the optical axis and includes a line which is parallel to a long-axis of the aperture and passes substantially a center of a short-axis of the aperture.

Abstract: A strobe device, including: a strobe circuit board; a connecting conductor composed of a wire member; and a strobe emitting portion which includes; a) a light emitting tube, having electrode terminals on its both ends, b) a reflector for reflecting strobe light emitted by the light emitting tube toward a photographic object and c) a transmission window for covering a front surface of the reflector and for transmitting the strobe light. In the strobe device, the connecting conductor has a contact with the light emitting tube and electricity is supplied to the light emitting tube through the connecting conductor.

Abstract: A shutter for a camera has a film advance mechanism for advancing film past a shutter opening and a stroboscope for emitting light. The shutter has a base plate having the shutter opening, opening sectors for undergoing opening movement in an operational state to open the shutter opening during a shutter release operation, and closing sectors for undergoing closing movement in an operational state to close the shutter opening during the shutter release operation. A first detecting device detects the operational state of the opening sectors and outputs a signal to the stroboscope to emit light. A second detecting device detects the operational state of the closing sectors and outputs a signal for winding up the film. A non-opened state of the shutter opening is detected after the shutter release operation when the second detecting device detects the operational state of the closing sectors before the first detecting device detects the operational state of the opening sectors.

Abstract: A write control IC is incorporated in the photo film housing, for writing information to EEPROM. A battery supplies the flash circuit and the write control IC with power. A charge control signal generator or BUSY terminal is disposed in the write control IC, and supplies the flash circuit with a low-level inhibit signal, to inhibit the flash circuit from effecting the charging operation. The write control IC controls the charge control signal generator, to write the information while the flash circuit is inhibited from effecting the charging operation. A power source voltage of the battery is prevented from dropping while the information is written.

Abstract: A camera comprises flash circuit board, a shutter-flash synchronization contact conductively connected to the flash circuit board for synchronizing shutter opening and flash illumination, a shutter blade conductively connected to the flash circuit board and movable in a single direction against the synchronization contact as an incident of shutter opening to initiate flash illumination, and an optical film encoder conductively connected to the flash circuit board to receive electrical energy to provide film encoding illumination when the shutter blade is moved against the synchronization contact.

Abstract: A shutter blade is rotatably attached between a base member and a cover member which constitute an exposure unit. An engaging shaft of the shutter blade emerges from a hole formed in the cover member. The cover member is integrally formed with a covering part for covering a gap formed between the base member and the cover member. A key projects on a surface of the engaging shaft emerging from the hole of the cover member. A kicked member is fixed to the key. The kicked member is kicked by a kicking lever in association with a shutter release operation. Thus, the shutter blade is integrally rotated with the kicked member. The covering part covers the gap in which the shutter blade is disposed so that fine sand or the like is prevented from entering the gap.

Abstract: A shutter and flash synchronization assemblage comprising a flash circuit board having a shutter-flash synchronization contact, an electrically conductive shutter blade supported for movement between a lens covering position spaced from the synchronization contact and a lens uncovering position in abutment with the synchronization contact to establish a temporary conductive connection between the flash circuit board and the shutter blade, and an electrically conductive return spring interconnecting the flash circuit board and the shutter blade to establish a permanent conductive connection between the flash circuit board and the shutter blade and to urge the shutter blade to its lens covering position, is characterized in that the return spring is a non-conductive substance which is elastic to urge the shutter blade to its lens covering position and which is provided with a plurality of electrically conductive cross-woven strands to establish the permanent conductive connection between the flash circuit board

Abstract: A camera comprises a shutter-flash synchronization contact, a pair of battery contacts, a flash capacitor, and a flash circuit board conductively connected to the shutter-flash synchronization contact, the pair of battery contacts and the flash capacitor. A holder which holds the flash capacitor is conductively connected to the flash circuit board and is integrally united with the shutter-flash synchronization contact and the pair of battery contacts to conductively connect the shutter-flash synchronization contact and the battery contacts to the flash circuit board. As a result, the camera can be made relatively compact.

Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus of a camera incorporating a focal plane shutter has 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 has 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: A camera assembly comprises a plurality of encodement-on-film recording means adapted to receive electrical energy to provide various film encodements, an encodement-on-film selector movable to various selection positions to select one or more of the recording means to provide the film encodements, a flash charge storage capacitor, and a shutter-flash synch contact connected to the flash capacitor to enable the flash capacitor to supply electrical energy when a shutter blade impacts the synch contact. Respective ones of the recording means are coupled via the synch contact to the flash capacitor to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. The synch contact supports the selector for movement to its selection positions and is coupled to the selector to permit the selector to select one or more of the recording means to receive electrical energy from the flash capacitor. This arrangement provides a savings of parts desirable in a low cost camera.

Abstract: An ever-flash exposure control system for a built-in flash camera regulates a triggering time T1 from the commencement of gradual opening of a program shutter at which an electronic flash is triggered and a flash duration time T2 for which the electronic flash continuously provides illumination light so as to provide proper exposure according to scene brightness.