US3665826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solenoid-actuated mask for automatic exposure control for cameras
Assignee: KEYSTONE DIVISION BERKEY PHOTO
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Filing: 1971-01-19
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1991-01-19
Abstract
Abstract This invention pertains to a camera mechanism in which the aperture and shutter are automatically set by means of a light sensor whose output is connected to an electrical circuit disposed to actuate a solenoid or holding relay which is operatively engaged to a pivotal arm having a mask portion with contoured apertures movable in front of both the aperture and light sensor. This arm is frictionally retained upon a pivot pin and is moved from an ''''at-rest'''' condition to a determined exposure condition by means of the solenoid as it is moved by the shutter release lever. The mask arm in its normal or ''''at-rest'''' condition is disposed in the maximum open condition to provide a maximum exposure to the film when the shutter is actuated. During the movement of the release lever the mask arm is moved by means of the holding action of the actuated moving solenoid until a correct setting of aperture and shutter has been achieved as ascertained by the light sensor output. When this setting is reached the current to the solenoid is cut off, releasing the holding action of the solenoid to the mask arm. This arm, after it is released, and because of the friction at the pivot pin, is caused to stop at this correct setting.
Inventors
- 👤 Zvi Y Karpol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/081; G03B7/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
327 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a main plate carried by the housing; (c) a shutter release member carried by and movable on said main plate; (d) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (e) a shutter disposed to be moved in response to the movement of the shutter release member and during this movement to uncover an exposure aperture through which light passes to a film in the camera; (f) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to ''''read'''' the light from the scene to be photographed; (g) a mask arm pivotally mounted within the housing so as to be movable in front of both the exposure aperture and the photosensor, said arm having means for magnetic attraction to and releasable holding to the electromagnetic means carried by the shutter release member, said mask arm having means for metering the light passing through the exposure aperture and also having means for metering the light being ''''read'''' by the photosensor; (h) a brake means for restraining the free movement of the mask arm around the pivotal support, and (i) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output into a bridge circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said electromagnetic means, as it is carried by the release member, magnetically attracting the mask arm to move the arm against the resistance of the brake means with the electromagnetic means continuing until the light of the photosensor is diminished by the metering mask to cause the photosensor output to reach a desired level to cut off current to the electromagnet and to release the arm to the action of the brake.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
327 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a main plate carried by the housing; (c) a shutter release member carried by and movable on said main plate; (d) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (e) a shutter disposed to be moved in response to the movement of the shutter release member and during this movement to uncover an exposure aperture through which light passes to a film in the camera; (f) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to ''''read'''' the light from the scene to be photographed; (g) a mask arm pivotally mounted within the housing so as to be movable in front of both the exposure aperture and the photosensor, said arm having means for magnetic attraction to and releasable holding to the electromagnetic means carried by the shutter release member, said mask arm having means for metering the light passing through the exposure aperture and also having means for metering the light being ''''read'''' by the photosensor; (h) a brake means for restraining the free movement of the mask arm around the pivotal support, and (i) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output into a bridge circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said electromagnetic means, as it is carried by the release member, magnetically attracting the mask arm to move the arm against the resistance of the brake means with the electromagnetic means continuing until the light of the photosensor is diminished by the metering mask to cause the photosensor output to reach a desired level to cut off current to the electromagnet and to release the arm to the action of the brake.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which the means for metering the light received by the photosensor is a contoured opening formed in the mask arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 2 in which the means for metering the light passing through the exposure aperture is a contoured opening formed in the mask arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which the means for magnetic attraction is a magnet bar pivotally attached to the mask arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which the brake means for restraining the free rotative movement of the mask arm is a cup shaped washer flattened to a determined extent, the flattened washer mounted on the same pivot support as in the mask arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which the brake means for retaining the free rotative movement of the mask arm is a wave-washer flattened to a determined extent, the flattened washer mounted on the same pivot support as is the mask arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which the photosensor is in a branch of the bridge circuit which also includes a variable resistance which is adjusted so as to provide a desired voltage level which when achieved triggers a transistor which provides the switching means which cuts off the current flowing through the coil of the electromagnet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 1 in which there is provided in the electronic circuit a switching means disposed to provide a voltage carrying circuit to a flashcube electronic firing circuit during the time the current is caused to flow thRough the electromagnetic means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 8 in which there is provided a signal lamp connected in the voltage carrying circuit to the flashcube firing circuit so that when the current flows through the electromagnet it also flows through the signal lamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a shutter release member carried and movable within said housing; (c) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (d) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to receive the light from the scene to be photographed, and (e) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output to a circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said shutter release member actuating a leaf switch arranged to engage two contacts so positioned that both contacts will be in engagement with the leaf switch when the brightness of the scene as ''''read'''' by the photosensor is insufficient to provide necessary illumination for photography of the scene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a shutter release member carried and movable within said housing; (c) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (d) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to receive the light from the scene to be photographed, and (e) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output to a circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said shutter release member actuating a leaf switch arranged to engage two contacts so positioned that both contacts will be in engagement with the leaf switch when the brightness of the scene as ''''read'''' by the photosensor is insufficient to provide necessary illumination for photography of the scene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 10 in which the leaf switch is arranged so that the electronic circuit is brought into a first mode of operation when the two contacts are first brought into simultaneous engagement with the leaf switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
224 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a main plate carried by the housing; (c) a shutter release member carried by and movable on said main plate; (d) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (e) a shutter disposed to be moved in response to the movement of the shutter release member and during this movement to uncover an exposure aperture through which light passes to a film in the camera; (f) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to receive the light from the scene to be photographed, and (g) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output into a bridge circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said electromagnetic means as it is carried by the shutter release member having a provision for overtravel so that the exposure controls may be moved by the electromagnetic means until the switching current is cut off, after which the shutter release member is continued through its normal actuation while the exposure controls are left set for best exposure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
224 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film in a camera, said mechanism including: (a) a camera housing; (b) a main plate carried by the housing; (c) a shutter release member carried by and movable on said main plate; (d) an electromagnetic means carried by and movable with the shutter release member; (e) a shutter disposed to be moved in response to the movement of the shutter release member and during this movement to uncover an exposure aperture through which light passes to a film in the camera; (f) a photosensor carried within the housing and disposed to receive the light from the scene to be photographed, and (g) an electronic circuit carried within the housing and adapted to receive the electrical output of the photosensor and feed said output into a bridge circuit having a switching means disposed to cut off the current to and through the coil of the electromagnetic means when the output of the photosensor reaches a determined level, said electromagnetic means as it is carried by the shutter release member having a provision for overtravel so that the exposure controls may be moved by the electromagnetic means until the switching current is cut off, after which the shutter release member is continued through its normal actuation while the exposure controls are left set for best exposure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A camera mechanism for automatically controlling the exposure of a film as in claim 12 in which there is provided a mask arm providing means for metering the light to the photosensor, said mask arm movable with and by the electromagnetic means which is a solenoid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |