Abstract An automatic flash selection device for use with fully automatic exposure setting cameras comprising an exposure meter pointer, stopper plate and a coacting detector plate which are displaced in response to the actuation of the shutter release, a distance proportional to the angle of rotation of the pointer in that the plates are blocked during their displacement by the pointer when its angle of rotation is less than a predetermined angle, but are displaced to the full length of their strokes when the angle is beyond a predetermined angle; a pivoted first lever coupling the detector plate and the shutter stop mechanism; a pivoted intermediate lever rotated by the first lever and coupled to the shutter speed selection lever; a focusing cam operated by the focusing mechanism and a pivoted third lever abutting the intermediate lever and the shutter stop mechanism. When there is adequate light on the subject, the first lever controls the shutter stop mechanism in response to the proportional displacement of the detector plate. However, when there is insufficient light, the detector and stopper plate will pass through their full displacement, rotating the first and intermediate levers through a greater range, such that the third lever is disconnected from engagement with the intermediate lever and switches control of the shutter stop mechanism from the first lever to the focusing cam, while the stopper plate actuates a warning light in the flash equipment and the shutter speed selection lever is moved to a position causing the shutter speed mechanism to be operated at a low shutter speed. Thus, when the flash is to be used, the shutter stop mechanism is under the control of the focusing mechanism and the shutter speed is appropriately lowered.
Inventors
👤 Hirokazu Kaneko
👤 Ricoh Co Ltd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-09 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
371 words
An automatic flash selection device for use with a fullyautomatic exposure setting camera of the type having: a. a housing with built-in flash equipment; b. an exposure meter with a rotatable pointer; c. a shutter speed mechanism; d. a shutter stop mechanism; e. a focusing mechanism; and f. a shutter release; wherein the improvement comprises: g. a pointer stopper plate; h. a detector plate connected to and adapted to be displaced with said pointer stopper plate, in response to the actuation of the shutter release, a distance proportional to the angle of rotation of the pointer of the exposure meter, said plates being blocked during their displacement by said pointer when the angle of rotation of said pointer is less than a predetermined angle and being displaced to the full length of their strokes when the angle of rotation is beyond a predetermined angle; i. a first lever rotatably pivoted to the housing and coupled to said detector plate for rotation during the displacement thereof; j. a shutter blade driving pin for operating said shutter stop mechanism and adapted to be engaged by and driven under the control of said first lever; k. a shutter speed selection lever for controlling the operation of said shutter speed mechanism; l. an intermediate lever rotatably pivoted to the housing and adapted to be rotated by said first lever and operatively coupled to said shutter speed selectIon lever; m. a focusing cam operated by said focusing mechanism; n. a third level rotatably pivoted to the housing and adapted to engage said intermediate lever and said shutter blade driving pin; whereby upon full displacement of said detector plate and stopper plate, said first and intermediate levers are rotated such that said third lever is disconnected from engagement with said intermediate lever so as to switch the engagement of said shutter blade driving pin by said first lever to engagement by said focusing cam thereby putting said shutter stop mechanism under the control of said focusing mechanism while said stopper plate actuates said flash equipment; and said shutter speed selection lever is moved by the rotation of said intermediate lever to a position such that the shutter speed mechanism is operated at a low shutter speed exposure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
371 words
An automatic flash selection device for use with a fullyautomatic exposure setting camera of the type having: a. a housing with built-in flash equipment; b. an exposure meter with a rotatable pointer; c. a shutter speed mechanism; d. a shutter stop mechanism; e. a focusing mechanism; and f. a shutter release; wherein the improvement comprises: g. a pointer stopper plate; h. a detector plate connected to and adapted to be displaced with said pointer stopper plate, in response to the actuation of the shutter release, a distance proportional to the angle of rotation of the pointer of the exposure meter, said plates being blocked during their displacement by said pointer when the angle of rotation of said pointer is less than a predetermined angle and being displaced to the full length of their strokes when the angle of rotation is beyond a predetermined angle; i. a first lever rotatably pivoted to the housing and coupled to said detector plate for rotation during the displacement thereof; j. a shutter blade driving pin for operating said shutter stop mechanism and adapted to be engaged by and driven under the control of said first lever; k. a shutter speed selection lever for controlling the operation of said shutter speed mechanism; l. an intermediate lever rotatably pivoted to the housing and adapted to be rotated by said first lever and operatively coupled to said shutter speed selectIon lever; m. a focusing cam operated by said focusing mechanism; n. a third level rotatably pivoted to the housing and adapted to engage said intermediate lever and said shutter blade driving pin; whereby upon full displacement of said detector plate and stopper plate, said first and intermediate levers are rotated such that said third lever is disconnected from engagement with said intermediate lever so as to switch the engagement of said shutter blade driving pin by said first lever to engagement by said focusing cam thereby putting said shutter stop mechanism under the control of said focusing mechanism while said stopper plate actuates said flash equipment; and said shutter speed selection lever is moved by the rotation of said intermediate lever to a position such that the shutter speed mechanism is operated at a low shutter speed exposure.