Electric eye camera

Claim 2

In an electric eye camera including a shutter mechanism for establishing shutter speed and a diaphragm having an aperture therein, the combination comprising a built-in exposure meter, aperture-adjusting means coupled to said meter and responsive thereto for adjusting the size of the diaphragm aperture, a single selecting member manually movable to a first position for automatic control of both the shutter speed and the aperture size and a plurality of second positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of shutter speeds, control means associated with said aperture-adjusting means and movable therewith for adjusting the shutter speed in accordance with a predetermined program, coupling means between said control means and the shutter mechanism and having an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, said selecting member being movable to the first poSition thereof to engage said coupling means so that movement of said control means in response to movement of said apertureadjusting means causes corresponding adjustment of the shutter speed, said selecting means being movable to a selected one of said plurality of second positions to select the speed of the shutter and to disengage said coupling means to accommodate independent setting of the aperture size.

Claim 3

The electric eye camera set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means for controlling the intensity of light incident from the subject into a photoelectric element for said exposure meter, said light-controlling means having a first electric circuit for controlling the incident light when said selecting member is in the first position thereof, said light-controlling means having a second electric circuit for controlling the incident light when said selecting member is in one of said second positions thereof.

Claim 4

The electric eye camera set forth in claim 1, and further comprising means for engaging said selecting member for preventing manual movement thereof when said control means is in condition for adjusting the shutter speed in accordance with the predetermined program.

Claim 5

The electric eye camera set forth in claim 1, wherein said exposure meter includes an indicator member and means for maintaining the stroke thereof relatively short, said selecting member being adapted to be manually operated into any one of a plurality of positions for flash photographing wherein the shutter mechanism is set for a predetermined flash shutter speed, said selecting member being coupled to said aperture-adjusting means and operative to limit the stroke of the movement of said aperture-adjusting means when said selecting member is in any one of the flash photographing positions, whereby a selected diaphragm aperture may be set.

Claim 6

In an electric eye camera including a shutter mechanism for establishing shutter speed and a diaphragm having an aperture therein, the combination comprising a built-in exposure meter having a photoelectric element, aperture-adjusting means coupled to said meter and responsive thereto for adjusting the size of the diaphragm aperture, a selecting means manually movable to a first position for automatic control of both the shutter speed and the aperture size and a plurality of second positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of shutter speeds, control means associated with said aperture-adjusting means and movable therewith for adjusting the shutter speed in accordance with a predetermined program, coupling means between said control means and the shutter mechanism and having an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, said selecting means being movable to the first position thereof to engage said coupling means so that movement of said control means in response to movement of said aperture-adjusting means causes corresponding adjustment of the shutter speed, said selecting means being movable to a selected one of said plurality of second positions to select the speed of the shutter and to disengage said coupling means to accommodate independent setting of the aperture size, exposure setting means manually adjustable to a first position for automatic exposure control and a second position for semiautomatic exposure control with selected shutter speed.

Claim 7

In an electric eye camera including a shutter mechanism for establishing shutter speed and a diaphragm having an aperture therein, the combination comprising a built-in exposure meter having a photoelectric element, aperture-adjusting means coupled to said meter and responsive thereto for adjusting the size of the diaphragm aperture, a selecting means manually movable to a first position for automatic control of both the shutter speed and the aperture size and a plurality of second positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of shutter speeds, control means associated with said aperture-adjusting means and movable therewith for adjusting the shutter speed in accordance with a predetermined program, coupling means between said control means and the shutter mechanism and having an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, said selecting means being movable to the first position thereof to engage said coupling means so that movement of said control means in response to movement of said aperture-adjusting means causes corresponding adjustment of the shutter speed, said selecting means being movable to a selected one of said plurality of second positions to select the speed of the shutter and to disengage said coupling means to accommodate independent setting of the aperture size, exposure setting means manually adjustable to a first position for automatic exposure control and a second position for semiautomatic exposure control with selected shutter speed.

Claim 8

The electric eye camera set forth in claim 5 and further comprising means for controlling light incident on the photoelectric cell in response to the setting of film sensitivity when said selecting member is in the first position thereof, said light-controlling means being adapted to control the light in response to setting both the film sensitivity and shutter speed when said selecting member is in one of the second positions thereof.

Claim 9

In an electric eye camera including a shutter mechanism and a diaphragm having an aperture therein and capable of photographing with completely automatic and programmed exposure control as well as semiautomatic exposure control on prIority of shutter speed, the combination comprising a built-in exposure meter, means for automatically adjusting the diaphragm aperture depending on the indication of said meter, said aperture-adjusting means having a ring provided with a protruded cam and an arcuate escape groove formed therebetween and concentric with said ring, means for actuating the shutter mechanism with a desired time delay, said shutter actuating means being in the form of a pivoted lever having a follower pin adapted to engage with said programming ring cam, changeover means adapted to be manually operated into a position for programmed exposure control or into a plurality of positions for shutter speed control, said changeover means being in the form of a ring having two cams with either of which the other end of said rockable member pin may engage depending on the angular position of said changeover ring, said changeover ring having a coaxially and integrally connected ring for shutter speed setting and having two cam areas, programming means having a predetermined program for automatically adjusting the shutter mechanism, said programming means comprising a ring having a pin thereon and a cam, and a bifurcated rockable member having a follower pin and embracing said programming ring pin between the two legs thereof so that one end of said rockable member pin may engage in said arcuate groove or with said cam of the aperture-adjusting ring depending on the angular position of said rockable member, whereby when said changeover ring is in any one of said shutter speed control positions, one of said changeover ring cams may urge said rockable member into a position where said rockable member pin may engage in said escape arcuate groove so that angular movement of said aperture-adjusting ring effects no influence to said rockable member and said shutter speed setting ring may be brought into a position where said shutter actuating lever pin engages in one of said cam areas of the shutter speed setting ring for corresponding setting a desired shutter speed, while when said changeover ring is in the programmed exposure control positions, the other cam thereof may urge said rockable member to take a position where said rockable member pin may engage with said aperature-adjusting ring cam so that the angular movement of said aperture-adjusting ring causes angular movement of the bifurcated rockable member and in turn rotation of said programming ring which sets said shutter actuating lever at programmedly corresponding shutter speed.

Claim 10

In an electric eye camera including a shutter mechanism and a diaphragm having an aperture therein and capable of photographing with completely automatic and programmed exposure control as well as semiautomatic exposure control on prIority of shutter speed, the combination comprising a built-in exposure meter, means for automatically adjusting the diaphragm aperture depending on the indication of said meter, said aperture-adjusting means having a ring provided with a protruded cam and an arcuate escape groove formed therebetween and concentric with said ring, means for actuating the shutter mechanism with a desired time delay, said shutter actuating means being in the form of a pivoted lever having a follower pin adapted to engage with said programming ring cam, changeover means adapted to be manually operated into a position for programmed exposure control or into a plurality of positions for shutter speed control, said changeover means being in the form of a ring having two cams with either of which the other end of said rockable member pin may engage depending on the angular position of said changeover ring, said changeover ring having a coaxially and integrally connected ring for shutter speed setting and having two cam areas, programming means having a predetermined program for automatically adjusting the shutter mechanism, said programming means comprising a ring having a pin thereon and a cam, and a bifurcated rockable member having a follower pin and embracing said programming ring pin between the two legs thereof so that one end of said rockable member pin may engage in said arcuate groove or with said cam of the aperture-adjusting ring depending on the angular position of said rockable member, whereby when said changeover ring is in any one of said shutter speed control positions, one of said changeover ring cams may urge said rockable member into a position where said rockable member pin may engage in said escape arcuate groove so that angular movement of said aperture-adjusting ring effects no influence to said rockable member and said shutter speed setting ring may be brought into a position where said shutter actuating lever pin engages in one of said cam areas of the shutter speed setting ring for corresponding setting a desired shutter speed, while when said changeover ring is in the programmed exposure control positions, the other cam thereof may urge said rockable member to take a position where said rockable member pin may engage with said aperature-adjusting ring cam so that the angular movement of said aperture-adjusting ring causes angular movement of the bifurcated rockable member and in turn rotation of said programming ring which sets said shutter actuating lever at programmedly corresponding shutter speed.

Claim 11

A camera as set forth in claim 7 further comprising; a light intensity controlling ring having two window areas respectively so shaped that the intensity of light incident from the subject into the photoelectric element may be adjusted depending on the film sensitivity respectively for programmed exposure control and semiautomatic exposure control on priority of shutter speed, and further having an axially extending bar; said shutter speed ring having click-stop positions to engage with said bar so that the light intensity may be adjusted further depending on the set shutter speed for semiautomatic exposure control.

Claim 12

A camera as set forth in claim 8 further comprising; a first electric circuit for the exposure meter having a fixed contact and adapted to be used in case of the semiautomatic exposure control on priority of shutter speed; a second electric circuit having a fixed contact and compensating resistances so as to be used in case of the programmed exposure control; a movable contact for switching from said first circuit to said second circuit or vice versa; said shutter speed ring further having a cam to engage with said movable contact so that the manual operation of said control ring and consequently the movement of said shutter speed ring fixedly connected thereto causes said electrical switching operation.

Claim 13

A camera as set forth in claim 7 in which; there is provided a bar axially extending between said aperture-adjusting ring and said changeover ring, and supported by a lever pivoted to the camera body so as to be radially rockable; said aperture adjusting ring further having a cam so as to engage with one end of said bar thus urging the same radially outward when said aperture-adjusting ring is not in the normally situated angular position; said changeover ring has a notch so located that engagement of the other end of said bar in said notch when said bar is urged radially outward prevents said changeover ring from being rotated from the programmed exposure control positioned to the semiautomatic control position.

Claim 14

A camera as set forth in claim 7 in which; said aperture-adjusting ring further has a lug; said changeover ring further has a coaxially extending bar; said shutter speed setting ring further has a third cam area; whereby when said changeover ring is brought into any one of said flash photographing positions, said shutter speed ring is angularly moved together therewith to have said shutter actuating lever pin engaged in said third cam area for setting the shutter speed for flash photographing, and said bar abuts said lut to limit the aperture-adjusting ring movement stroke for setting the aperture for flash photographing.

Claim 15

A camera as set forth in claim 7 in which; when said changeover ring is brought into any one of said flash photographing positions, said light intensity controlling ring may be correspondingly angularly moved via said shutter speed ring so that the portion of said light intensity controlling ring where there is no window may be faced toward the photoelectric element whereby the movement of the indicator member of the exposure meter is kept in a considerably smaller stroke.

Claim 16

A camera as set forth in claim 7, further comprising; a viewer frame for showing the photographing area; an indicator plate member having one area showing the aperture value in the case of the semiautomatic exposure control, and the other area showing the exposure value in the case of the programmed exposure control respectively with cooperation of the exposure meter pointer; said indicator plate member being adapted to be slidably moved in relation to said viewer frame and so mechanically connected to said bifurcated rockable member pin that when said rockable member pin is engaged in said escape arcuate groove of the aperture-adjusting ring the aperture value can be read at the viewer frame while when said rockable member pin is engaged with said aperture adjusting ring cam formed adjacent to said escape arcuate groove the exposure value can be read.