Abstract: According to one aspect, an integrated circuit includes: an electronic module configured to generate a voltage at an output, and an electronic control circuit coupled to an output of the electronic module, the electronic control circuit comprising an emissive electronic component. The electronic control circuit is configured to cause the emissive electronic component to emit light radiation as a function of a value of the voltage at the output of the electronic module relative to a value of an operating voltage of the electronic module, and the operating voltage is specific thereto during normal operation of this electronic module. The light radiation emitted by the emissive electronic component is configured to diffuse to an outer face of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A rolling bearing device includes: a bearing portion that has an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of balls, and a cage that holds the plurality of balls; and an oil supply unit that supplies lubricating oil to the bearing portion. The oil supply unit has: a pump that discharges the lubricating oil through drive of a piezo element; a voltage boost portion that boosts a voltage to be applied to the piezo element; and a control portion that causes the pump to operate while varying a voltage boost time included in a period since the start of voltage boost by the voltage boost portion until the start of the drive of the piezo element.

Abstract: A battery energy storage system is disclosed, the battery energy storage system comprising a rechargeable battery assembly for storing and providing energy and a protection system including an arc flash protection device to protect against risks due to arc flashes. The arc flash protection device comprises an overcurrent protection unit which detects overcurrent conditions indicating arc flash conditions in case of a low impedance of the battery assembly and an undervoltage protection unit which detects undervoltage conditions indicating arc flash conditions in case of a low impedance of the battery assembly, wherein upon detecting the overcurrent conditions and/or the undervoltage conditions for a predetermined minimum time period, the arc flash protection device initiates protective measures to prevent further operation of the battery assembly.

Abstract: A complex control device includes a wireless selfie shutter and a flasher detachably installed in the wireless selfie shutter. The wireless selfie shutter has a first shell, a starting key and two transmitting modules arranged in the first shell, and the transmitting modules are electrically connected to the starting key. The flasher has a second shell detachably installed on the first shell, an LED flash and a control module arranged in the second shell. The control module is electrically connected to the LED flash. When the flasher is separated from the wireless selfie shutter, the second shell is used for inserting into a connector jack of a mobile communication device, thereby respectively transmitting two starting signals of the transmitting modules to the mobile communication device and the control module of the flasher when the starting key is pressed. Additionally, the instant disclosure provides a selfie apparatus.

Abstract: A power circuit includes a voltage limited charge circuit and a linear regulator to supply high current pulses to a load while maintaining a regulated output and not discharging the battery below a predetermined level. The voltage limited charge circuit includes a low impedance transistor and an operational amplifier that are together configured as an active loop. The transistor functions as a switch, and the operational amplifier provides an adjustable control voltage that adjusts the impedance of the transistor according to current battery voltage and a minimum threshold voltage. Adjusting the impedance of the transistor enables the storage capacitor to charge very fast when the battery impedance is low, or very slow when the battery impedance is high.

Abstract: An accessory capable of communicating with a camera, includes a terminal section having a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals include a startup state providing terminal that provides, to the camera, a detection level by which the camera detects that the accessory is capable of being started up, a data signal terminal that outputs a data signal including information regarding the accessory to the camera, and a first reference potential terminal having a reference potential of the detection level and the data signal. The startup state providing terminal is disposed adjacent to the data signal terminal, and the first reference potential terminal is adjacent to the data signal terminal, and is disposed with the data signal terminal interposed between the startup state providing terminal and the first reference potential terminal.

Abstract: A flash driver to limit a load current for a flash comprises a dc/dc converter (DCDC) having a first input (IN1) to receive an input voltage (Vin) and an output (OUT) to supply an output voltage (Vout). The dc/dc converter is designed to convert the input voltage (Vin) to the output voltage (Vout). Furthermore the flash driver has an adjustable current source (Iadj) connected between the output (OUT) and a load terminal (LT). A first control unit (CTRL—1) is connected to the first input (IN1) and coupled to the adjustable current source (Iadj), and is designed to compare the input voltage (Vin) to a threshold (Vth) and, if the comparison indicates the input voltage (Vin) being smaller than the threshold value (Vth), adjust the adjustable current source (Iadj) such that the input voltage (Vin) is equal or greater than the threshold value (Vth).

Abstract: A flash driver to limit a load current for a flash comprises a dc/dc converter (DCDC) having a first input (IN1) to receive an input voltage (Vin) and an output (OUT) to supply an output voltage (Vout). The dc/dc converter is designed to convert the input voltage (Vin) to the output voltage (Vout). Furthermore the flash driver has an adjustable current source (Iadj) connected between the output (OUT) and a load terminal (LT). A first control unit (CTRL—1) is connected to the first input (IN1) and coupled to the adjustable current source (Iadj), and is designed to compare the input voltage (Vin) to a threshold (Vth) and, if the comparison indicates the input voltage (Vin) being smaller than the threshold value (Vth), adjust the adjustable current source (Iadj) such that the input voltage (Vin) is equal or greater than the threshold value (Vth).

Abstract: R, G and B LEDs are used as a light source of an electronic flash. Electric energy is supplied to a capacitor to the LEDs. A system controller controls light emitting amounts of the LEDs so that a color temperature of the electronic flash light becomes a color temperature that has been manually set with a color temperature setting switch or a color temperature of a light source determined by color temperature sensors.

Abstract: A switching power converter current limit reference circuit generates an output-referred input current reference (or an input-referred output current reference) which takes into account a converter's input voltage, output voltage, and efficiency, thereby enabling implementation of a DC, or average, input current regulation scheme. A reference current (Iref) is provided which represents the desired average current limit. Circuitry multiplies Iref and the complement of the converter's duty cycle D (1-D) together. When Iref represents a desired input current limit, the resulting product represents the average output current achievable when Iref=Iin for the prevailing duty cycle D. When Iref represents a desired output current limit, the resulting product represents the average input current achievable when Iref=Iout for prevailing duty cycle D.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement (1) for driving an electrical load (13) comprises a first and a second terminal (2, 3) for feeding a first and a second control signal (S1, S2), a first output (23), to which an electrical load (13) can be coupled, a current source (9), which is coupled to the first output (23), and a control device (5). The control device is coupled to the first and the second terminal (2, 3) and comprises a programming circuit (6) and a trigger circuit (7), which are each coupled on the output side to a control input of the current source (9).

Abstract: A switching transistor is connected to the primary coil of a transformer. A first resistor is provided such that one end thereof is connected to the switching transistor, and the other end thereof is grounded. A first voltage comparator compares a first detection voltage with a first threshold voltage. A second voltage comparator compares a second detection voltage with a second threshold voltage. A switching control unit controls the ON/OFF state of the switching transistor according to the output signals of the first voltage comparator and the second voltage comparator. A first electrode pad through a fourth electrode pad are provided to the respective nodes of the switching transistor and the first resistor.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus comprises a flash that flashes and a controller. The controller obtains information regarding state of charge of the flash when an operation for preparing a photographic operation is conducted before the photographic operation corresponding to fully depressing a release button, calculates a first time until the flash reaches a charged state where the flash can flash on the basis of the information, calculates a second time after fully depressing said release button, and determines whether the photographic apparatus performs the photographic operation using the flash after the second time has elapsed or the photographic apparatus aborts the photographic operation on the basis of a comparison between the second time and a threshold. The second time is a difference between the first time and an elapsed time from a time point when the first time is calculated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use with an optical communication beam are disclosed. The system allows the beam of light to operate at an adequate power level that provides a robust optical link while minimizing any safety risk to humans. The system calibrates and controls the gain for an avalanche photodiode detector (APD). A detector circuit is used to calibrate the APD. Once calibrated, the detector circuit further provides an electrical bias to the APD to process or condition the electrical signal to produce a detector output. The systems and methods disclosed herein attenuate the power level of an incoming communication beam to prevent oversaturation of an APD. The system further provides an alignment signal, which is effective over a wide dynamic range of incoming power levels.

Abstract: Adaptive current limiting for any power source to limit power drain of one load on the power source to maintain a minimum power source voltage for proper operation of other loads on the power source. For battery applications, such as for flash systems, the invention allows the maximum output current of a boost converter to be utilized without having to calculate the system equivalent series resistance first. The invention also adjusts the current load up or down during a high load event to compensate for changes in other loads. The changes in current load are made in increments, with a hysteresis region avoiding constant up and down incrementing. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A switching transistor is connected to the primary coil of a transformer. A first resistor is provided such that one end thereof is connected to the switching transistor, and the other end thereof is grounded. A first voltage comparator compares a first detection voltage with a first threshold voltage. A second voltage comparator compares a second detection voltage with a second threshold voltage. A switching control unit controls the ON/OFF state of the switching transistor according to the output signals of the first voltage comparator and the second voltage comparator. A first electrode pad through a fourth electrode pad are provided to the respective nodes of the switching transistor and the first resistor.

Abstract: A charging device (1) for a camera flash includes a digital signal processor (10) providing a pulse width modulation signal and receiving a feedback signal, a voltage boosting circuit (20) electrically connected with the digital signal processor for outputting an induced current under the control of the pulse width modulation signal, a flash capacitor (40), and a charging circuit (30) electrically connected with the voltage boosting circuit and the flash capacitor for charging the flash capacitor by the induced current. The charging circuit includes a protection circuit (310) for protecting the flash capacitor and a feedback circuit (320) for outputting the feedback signal to the digital signal processor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for strobe charging is disclosed. The apparatus and method can dynamically adjust a charging current according to current power level of a battery, thereby stabilizing the operating voltage of the battery and thus using the battery power to the full. The apparatus and method employs a control circuit to detect the current power level of the battery, and dynamically adjusts the charging current, generated from the battery, according to the detected current power level.

Abstract: A flash apparatus or an image capture apparatus includes a charging unit, configured to boost a voltage of an electric source and a control unit, configured to calculate the sum of the light emission amount within a predetermined period of time. The control unit reduces the temperature rise of components which generate heat due to the continuous light emission when the sum of the light emission amount reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A variable candela strobe unit couples a substantially constant trigger voltage to a trigger electrode of a gas discharge tube irrespective of the voltage provided across the tube which is specified by a selected candela output value. The trigger voltage is great enough at low candela output settings to provide reliable triggering. It is not high enough even at the highest output settings to cause arcing of the associated step-up transformer.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A strobe device including a light-emitting tube, a main capacitor which accumulates energy and which supplies the energy to the light-emitting tube, a transformer circuit which includes primary and secondary coils in order to accumulate the energy of a power supply in the main capacitor, wherein the primary coil is connected to the power supply and the secondary coil is connected to the main capacitor, a control circuit which controls a current flowing from the power supply to the primary coil, wherein a current starts to flow through the secondary coil after the control circuit stops a current flowing through the primary coil, and a determination circuit which determines that a malfunction has occurred in accordance with a current flowing through the secondary coil.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes an oscillation transformer and an oscillation transistor. The oscillation transistor oscillates at a secondary current returned from a secondary coil in the charging circuit. The oscillation transistor increases/decreases a primary current, which flows from a battery to a primary coil, and flows the secondary current through the secondary coil to charge a main capacitor. The oscillation transistor, which satisfies the following conditions, is used: a DC current gain hFE1 is 500±10 when a collector-emitter voltage VCE is 2V and a collector current IC is 0.5 A, and a DC current gain hFE2 is 290±10 when the collector-emitter voltage VCE is 2V and the collector current IC is 5 A.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

Abstract: A selectable candela strobe alarm unit includes an energy storage circuit to reliably discharge a gas filled output device. The circuit includes a primary energy storage capacitor and a secondary energy storage capacitor. The capacitors can be configured in series or in parallel to produce a selected candela output from the gas filled output device.

Abstract: A flash device for a lens-fitted photo film unit pre-loaded with unexposed photo film is provided. A main capacitor stores charge. A flash emitter emits flash light. A flash circuit board charges the main capacitor, and drives the flash emitter by discharging the main capacitor in response to an exposing operation. A tightly closed flash case is secured to the lens-fitted photo film unit, for containing the main capacitor, the flash emitter and the flash circuit board. Also, the lens-fitted photo film unit includes a sync switch for generating a trigger signal in response to the exposing operation. Two switch contact points are disposed outside the flash case, for receiving the trigger signal from the sync switch. The two switch contact points disable discharge of the main capacitor while the flash case is away from the lens-fitted photo film unit, and are short-circuited for discharge of the main capacitor upon supply of the trigger signal while the flash case is secured to the lens-fitted photo film unit.

Abstract: A strobe device including a light-emitting tube, a main capacitor which accumulates energy and which supplies the energy to the light-emitting tube, a transformer circuit which includes primary and secondary coils in order to accumulate the energy of a power supply in the main capacitor, wherein the primary coil is connected to the power supply and the secondary coil is connected to the main capacitor, a control circuit which controls a current flowing from the power supply to the primary coil, wherein a current starts to flow through the secondary coil after the control circuit stops a current flowing through the primary coil, and a determination circuit which determines that a malfunction has occurred in accordance with a current flowing through the secondary coil.

Abstract: This invention relates to a strobe charge apparatus for charging a capacitor using a flyback transformer. This invention provides a strobe charge apparatus which has a switching element that switches when a charge current that flows through a secondary coil becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and starts energization to a first coil immediately after it is detected that the current that flows through the secondary coil disappears.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes an oscillation transformer and an oscillation transistor. The oscillation transistor oscillates at a secondary current returned from a secondary coil in the charging circuit. The oscillation transistor increases/decreases a primary current, which flows from a battery to a primary coil, and flows the secondary current through the secondary coil to charge a main capacitor. The oscillation transistor, which satisfies the following conditions, is used: a DC current gain hFE1 is 500±10 when a collector-emitter voltage VCE is 2V and a collector current IC is 0.5 A, and a DC current gain hFE2 is 290±10 when the collector-emitter voltage VCE is 2V and the collector current IC is 5 A.

Abstract: A flash circuit for use in a camera, the flash charging circuit comprising a flash light discharge circuit having a light emitting element electrically connected to a flash capacitor; a flash triggering circuit connected to the flash light discharge circuit with the flash triggering circuit having a trigger signal generating circuit generating a signal that enables energy from the energy storage device to be converted into light by the light emitting element; a voltage conversion circuit connected between a battery and the flash capacitor to convert energy from a source voltage into a higher voltage to charge the flash capacitor; a timer circuit to cause the voltage conversion circuit to operate when the voltage at a timing capacitor is within a range of voltages, said timer circuit having a time constant circuit connected to the timing capacitor to discharge energy stored in the timing capacitor at a predetermined rate; a reset circuit that resets the timing capacitor voltage to a voltage that is within the

Abstract: A flash unit charging-control circuit for a camera includes a voltage converter connected to a flash unit capacitor, a square-wave oscillator for causing current supplied by the voltage converter from a power supply battery to the flash unit capacitor that relieves a substantial burden on the MCU of the camera, and a current control circuit. When the battery voltage becomes low, the current control circuit will regulate the charging current so as to slow the decrease in battery voltage during charging.

Abstract: A strobe charging device includes a light-emitting tube; a main capacitor for accumulating energy and for supplying the energy to the light-emitting tube; a transformer circuit which includes primary and secondary coils in order to accumulate the energy of a power supply in the main capacitor; a control circuit for controlling a current flowing from the power supply to the primary coil; a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing through the secondary coil; a time measuring circuit for measuring the time from when the control circuit stops a current flowing through the primary coil until the current detection circuit detects that the current flowing through the secondary coil reaches a predetermined level or until the current flowing through the secondary coil stops; a voltage detecting circuit for detecting the voltage of the main capacitor; and a determination circuit for determining the operation state of the device based on the measurement result generated by the time measuring circuit and

Abstract: A strobe control apparatus comprises a strobe control circuit of a separately excited oscillating type, where the strobe control circuit includes a main capacitor that stores a charge for exciting a strobe, a switching device having an ON state and an OFF state, and a transformer, connected to the switching device, that generates a charging current for charging the main capacitor. The strobe control apparatus further includes a CPU that receives a first clock signal and a second clock signal different from the first clock signal, outputs a switching signal to the switching device that repeatedly switches the switching device between the ON state and the OFF state in accordance with one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, and outputs a strobe control signal to the strobe control circuit.

Abstract: A camera strobe recharging IC includes a one-shot unit, an R-S latch block unit, a PWM control unit, and a ready control unit. The one-shot unit provides square wave signals. The R-S latch block unit is electrically connected with the one-shot unit. The PWM control unit includes a reference voltage source, an oscillator, a PWM comparator, a voltage boost comparator, and a current source. The ready control unit includes an FET, which has a gate contact electrically connected with an output contact of the R-S latch block unit. Accordingly, the present invention is compact and structurally tiny to facilitate integration and is good at modulating charging current, accelerating charging, and automatically recharging.

Abstract: A capacitor charging device for a flash, finishes charging the flash capacitor in a gradual manner. It has a flash capacitor, a voltage transforming circuit, a voltage mode pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit and a charging control circuit. The charging control circuit has a time control capacitor to make the pulse width of the pulse voltage output from the voltage mode PWM control circuit increase gradually. The voltage transforming circuit is driven to provide a gradually increasing induced current to the flash capacitor to reduce the damage of the external circuit, flash capacitor and rechargeable battery.

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 order to diagnose a strobe lamp system in a manner to isolate failure (burn out) of the strobe lamp from failures in its operating circuits, particularly the DC-DC converter which provides operating voltage to the lamp, a microcontroller, which produces sequences of signals corresponding to sequences of flashes from the lamp, is programmed so that the sequences of signals are not produced in the absence of output voltage from the DC-DC converter. The microcontroller is connected via a circuit including an LED to the circuit which converts the signals into trigger pulses for the strobe lamp. The failure of the strobe lamp to flash while the LED flashes isolates failures to the DC-DC converter, whereas flashing of the LED alone isolates failure to the lamp.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film, and is a flash built-in type. A booster circuit boosts power source voltage to obtain high voltage. A main capacitor stores charge at the high voltage. A flash discharge tube is connected with the main capacitor, and emits flash light by discharge at the high voltage. A trigger circuit triggers the discharge of the flash discharge tube in response to an exposing operation. A main circuit board has the booster circuit and the trigger circuit mounted thereon. A subsidiary circuit board is connected with the main circuit board, and has a flash quenching circuit mounted thereon. The flash quenching circuit operates in an auxiliary manner, and automatically adjusts the amount of the flash light.

Abstract: In a lens-fitted photo film unit, a flash device has a booster circuit including primary and secondary windings, the secondary winding generating high voltage when power source voltage is applied to the primary winding. A main capacitor is charged by the high voltage in the secondary winding. A flash discharge tube is connected in parallel with the main capacitor, for emitting flash light upon discharge with electric energy from the main capacitor. A trigger circuit discharges the flash discharge tube upon a switching operation. A photo transistor measures reflected light from an object illuminated by the flash light, to output a light amount signal. A light amount control circuit quenches discharge of the flash discharge tube when an integration value of the light amount signal comes up to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A flash device for a lens-fitted photo film unit pre-loaded with unexposed photo film is provided. A main capacitor stores charge. A flash emitter emits flash light. A flash circuit board charges the main capacitor, and drives the flash emitter by discharging the main capacitor in response to an exposing operation. A tightly closed flash case is secured to the lens-fitted photo film unit, for containing the main capacitor, the flash emitter and the flash circuit board. Also, the lens-fitted photo film unit includes a sync switch for generating a trigger signal in response to the exposing operation. Two switch contact points are disposed outside the flash case, for receiving the trigger signal from the sync switch. The two switch contact points disable discharge of the main capacitor while the flash case is away from the lens-fitted photo film unit, and are short-circuited for discharge of the main capacitor upon supply of the trigger signal while the flash case is secured to the lens-fitted photo film unit.

Abstract: A camera with an electronic flash device has a main capacitor mounted on a flash circuit board with striding over a circuit part. The main capacitor has a capacitor body and a pair of terminals protruding from a bottom face of the capacitor body. The terminals are soldered onto the flash circuit board with securing a space for arrangement of the circuit part between the bottom face of the capacitor body and the flash circuit board. Miniaturization of the flash circuit board becomes possible. Inside a main body of the camera, a battery and the main capacitor are arranged vertically and adjacently each other along a parallel direction with an optical axis of a taking lens, in order to make the camera compact.

Abstract: A strobe charging device includes a light-emitting tube; a main capacitor for accumulating energy and for supplying the energy to the light-emitting tube; a transformer circuit which includes primary and secondary coils in order to accumulate the energy of a power supply in the main capacitor; a control circuit for controlling a current flowing from the power supply to the primary coil; a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing through the secondary coil; a time measuring circuit for measuring the time from when the control circuit stops a current flowing through the primary coil until the current detection circuit detects that the current flowing through the secondary coil reaches a predetermined level or until the current flowing through the secondary coil stops; a voltage detecting circuit for detecting the voltage of the main capacitor; and a determination circuit for determining the operation state of the device based on the measurement result generated by the time measuring circuit and

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic flash device, and in particular, an electronic flash device including forward and flyback type booster circuits. The two booster circuits are appropriately switched depending on the charged state of a capacitor of the electronic flash device or the operative state of the camera, thereby achieving proper charging time and charging efficiency.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, camera electrical system is provided for use in a family of recyclable cameras each camera having a set of desired electronic functions. The camera electrical system has a first electronic circuit for performing a first set of electronic operations including charging a flash capacitor and discharging the flash capacitor through a flash tube to cause a flash of light during photography; said first electronic circuit having a first set of electrical contacts. More than one second electronic circuit is provided. Each second circuit has contacts to engage at least one of the first set of electrical contacts, wherein the first electronic circuit and each of said second electronic circuits are adapted to cooperate in a combined circuit comprising the first electronic circuit and more than one of said second circuits to perform the set of desired camera functions.

Abstract: A strobe control apparatus comprises a strobe control circuit of a separately excited oscillating type, where the strobe control circuit includes a main capacitor that stores a charge for exciting a strobe, a switching device having an ON state and an OFF state, and a transformer, connected to the switching device, that generates a charging current for charging the main capacitor. The strobe control apparatus further includes a CPU that receives a first clock signal and a second clock signal different from the first clock signal, outputs a switching signal to the switching device that repeatedly switches the switching device between the ON state and the OFF state in accordance with one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, and outputs a strobe control signal to the strobe control circuit.

Abstract: In an electronic flash device, a driving circuit (12) drives a piezoelectric transformer (13) in response to an oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency, which is output from an oscillation circuit (11). A switch (14) is provided in series in a line that connects the output of the piezoelectric transformer (13) and a capacitor (3). When the switch (14) is ON, the output voltage from the piezoelectric transformer (13) is rectified by a rectifier circuit, and charges the discharge capacitor (3) as electric energy for discharging a discharge tube (4). When the switch (14) is turned off, and the output voltage from the piezoelectric transformer (13) is applied to the discharge tube (4), the discharge tube (4) emits flash light by the electric energy stored in the discharge capacitor (3) in response to that applied voltage as a trigger.

Abstract: In a photometry device, a pair of transistors having the same properties. The first transistor is connected at its base to the CdS photo sensor, and at its collector to a resistor. The second transistor is connected at its base to the resistor, and at its collector to the photoconductive element. When a subject brightness is below a reference level that is defined by a resistance of the resistor, the CdS photo sensor has a smaller resistance than the resistance of the resistor, so a smaller current flows into a base of the first transistor than a current flowing into a base of the second transistor. Consequently, the first transistor is turned off, and the second transistor is turned on, conducting current through a solenoid. Thereby, a stop blade is switched over to change the stop size.

Abstract: The circuit for a photographic flash having the usual components of a switching element, transformer, rectifier, flash capacitor, trigger device and flash tube presents very good value in respect of the charging speed of the flash capacitor charging and the reliability of cutoff of said charging operation upon attainment of the desired voltage if, instead of an active component for limiting the charge of the flash capacitor, exclusively one or more suitably dimensioned passive components are integrated in the circuit.

Abstract: A capacitor charging apparatus includes a DC/DC converter for stepping up the voltage of a battery and charging the capacitor; a detection circuit that determines whether a primary current of the DC/DC converter reaches a predetermined limit current; a control circuit that controls the DC/DC converter according to a detection signal received from the detection circuit; and a battery-information detection circuit that detects battery information of the battery. The control circuit performs a predetermined calculation using the battery information received from the battery-information detection circuit to determine the predetermined limit current and to vary the primary current of the DC/DC converter so as to control the DC/DC converter each time the capacitor is charged by the DC/DC converter.