Electronic flash unit

Claim 2

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera having distance - setting means to provide both a variation of light output responsive to said distance-setting means of the camera and, optionally, an overall shift in light output at any stage of said variation, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-transmitting panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said housing to said camera, a flash tube, reflector and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with shutter switch-contact means and shutter-release means of the camera an electronic flash of given characteristics, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said lighttransmitting panel, a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said distance-setting means of the camera for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of movement of said distance-setting means to produce given variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a pivotal and translationally-movable member providing an input and an output differential, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said translationally-movable member of the follow-focus mechanism for bodily moving said member to provide an overall shift in the degree of light output of the flash unit at any setting of said distance-setting means.

Claim 3

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said panel possesses a light-diffusing property.

Claim 4

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said distance-setting means of the camera is a manually-operable, linearly-movable focus-adjusting bar and said follow-focus mechanism includes arcuately-movable means interconnecting said focus-adjusting bar and said pivotal and translationally-movable member.

Claim 5

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 3, wherein said pivotal and translationally-movable member is in the form of an elongated arm having a cam surface of irregular contour formed at one end thereof, and wherein a lever component of said follow-focus mechanism including a projecting pin adapted to move along said cam surface is directly actuatable by means integral with said focus-adjusting bar of the camera.

Claim 6

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 3, wherein said louvers are fixedly attached at their extremities to a plurality of yoke-like support elements each of which is pivotally mounted at one end on a wall of said housing and pivotally connected at an opposite end to a slidable bar element of said follow-focus mechanism.

Claim 7

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 5, wherein said louvers comprise two assemblages thereof adapted to rotate in opposite directions responsive to linear movement of said bar element, the louvers of each assemblage being equal in number and so oppositely angulArly adjustable as to reflect portions of the light from said flash tube which are incident thereupon outwardly toward the sides of a field of illumination.

Claim 8

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 2, wherein said louvers are mounted vertically across said open face and the diffusing property of said panel is of a degree adapted to substantially eliminate the photographic perceptibility of shadows cast by said louvers.

Claim 9

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said flash unit housing to the camera is in the form of a clip element comprising a plurality of engaging flange members, latch-fastening, and release means, movable means integral with an input component of said follow-focus mechanism, and a plurality of electrical contact means, said flange members and said release means being adapted to mate with complementary means of a shoe fixed to the housing of the camera.

Claim 10

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to a linearly-movable focus-adjusting element of the camera, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said flash unit to complementary attaching means of the camera, a flash tube, reflector, and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with electronic and shutter-release means of the camera a flash of given characteristics, a plurality of louvers fixedly mounted top and bottom in a plurality of pivotal yoke-like supports at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, and a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting element for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said element to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a first lever engageable by a tab integral with said camera focus-adjusting element and having a pin projecting from a face thereof for use as an input means, an extension spring biasing said lever into engagement with said tab, a second lever, an elongated arm having an irregular cam surface formed at one end pivotally mounted on an arcuately-movable portion of said second lever, a bellcrank having one appendage pivotally-connected to the other end of said arm, the other appendage of said bellcrank being pivotally-connected to a bar slidably-mounted in channel means across said open face of the housing and adapted to engage and produce rotation of said louver supports, spring means for biasing said bellcrank toward rotation in a given direction and thereby respectively biasing said cam surface of said arm against said pin of said first lever, said other end of said arm in a given direction and said bar toward one end of said channel means to provide a given degree of rotation of said louvers in one direction, movement of said bar and louvers in opposite directions being produced by movement of said focus-adjusting element in a direction opposite to that providing rotation of said louvers in said one direction.

Claim 11

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to a linearly-movable focus-adjusting element of the camera, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said flash unit to complementary attaching means of the camera, a flash tube, reflector, and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with electronic and shutter-release means of the camera a flash of given characteristics, a plurality of louvers fixedly mounted top and bottom in a plurality of pivotal yoke-like supports at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, and a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting element for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said element to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a first lever engageable by a tab integral with said camera focus-adjusting element and having a pin projecting from a face thereof for use as an input means, an extension spring biasing said lever into engagement with said tab, a second lever, an elongated arm having an irregular cam surface formed at one end pivotally mounted on an arcuately-movable portion of said second lever, a bellcrank having one appendage pivotally-connected to the other end of said arm, the other appendage of said bellcrank being pivotally-connected to a bar slidably-mounted in channel means across said open face of the housing and adapted to engage and produce rotation of said louver supports, spring means for biasing said bellcrank toward rotation in a given direction and thereby respectively biasing said cam surface of said arm against said pin of said first lever, said other end of said arm in a given direction and said bar toward one end of said channel means to provide a given degree of rotation of said louvers in one direction, movement of said bar and louvers in opposite directions being produced by movement of said focus-adjusting element in a direction opposite to that providing rotation of said louvers in said one direction.

Claim 12

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 9, wherein said irregular cam surface is of a contour adapted to provide differential input and output increments of movement.

Claim 13

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 10, wherein the limit of movement of said slidably-mounted bar in one direction is established by an overturned end of said arm at an extremity of said cam surface thereof in engagement with said pin of said first lever and in an opposite direction by limit stop means integral with said housing in engagement with a portion of said bar.

Claim 14

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 10, wherein said louvers consist of two assemblages adapted to rotate in opposite directions and to assume angular positions adapted to conduct portions of said light output outwardly to the sides of a field of illumination.

Claim 15

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 12, wherein said yoke-like supports are pivotally connected at one end to wall portions of said flash unit housing and at the other end to said slidably-mounted bar.

Claim 16

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, both a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to a linearly movable focus-adjusting element of the camera and, optionally, an overall shift in the degree of light output at any stage of said variation, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said flash unit to complementary attaching means of the camera, a flash tube, reflector, and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with electronic and shutter-release means of the camera a flash of given characteristics, a plurality of louvers fixedly mounted top and bottom in a plurality of pivotal yoke-like supports at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting element for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said element to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a first lever engageable by a tab integral with said camera focus-adjusting element and having a pin projecting from a face thereof for use as an input means, an extension spring biasing said lever into engagement with said tab, a second lever, an elongated arm having an irregular cam surface formed at one end pivotally mounted on an arcuately-movable portion of said second lever, a bellcrank having one appendage pivotally-connected to the other end of said arm, the other appendage of said bellcrank being pivotally connected to a bar slidably-mounted in channel means across said open face of the housing and adapted to engage and produce rotation of said louver supports, spring means for biasing said bellcrank toward rotation in a given direction and thereby respectively biasing said cam surface of said arm against said pin of said first lever, said other end of said arm in a given direction and said bar toward one end of said channel means to provide a given degree of rotation of said louvers in one direction, movement of said bar and louvers in opposite directions being produced by movement of said focus-adjusting element in a direction opposite to that providing rotation of said louvers in said one direction, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said second lever of the follow-focus mechanism for bodily moving said elongated arm mounted thereon to provide said overall shift in the degree of light output of the flash unit at any setting of said focus-adjusting element of the camera.

Claim 17

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, both a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to a linearly movable focus-adjusting element of the camera and, optionally, an overall shift in the degree of light output at any stage of said variation, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said flash unit to complementary attaching means of the camera, a flash tube, reflector, and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with electronic and shutter-release means of the camera a flash of given characteristics, a plurality of louvers fixedly mounted top and bottom in a plurality of pivotal yoke-like supports at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting element for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said element to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a first lever engageable by a tab integral with said camera focus-adjusting element and having a pin projecting from a face thereof for use as an input means, an extension spring biasing said lever into engagement with said tab, a second lever, an elongated arm having an irregular cam surface formed at one end pivotally mounted on an arcuately-movable portion of said second lever, a bellcrank having one appendage pivotally-connected to the other end of said arm, the other appendage of said bellcrank being pivotally connected to a bar slidably-mounted in channel means across said open face of the housing and adapted to engage and produce rotation of said louver supports, spring means for biasing said bellcrank toward rotation in a given direction and thereby respectively biasing said cam surface of said arm against said pin of said first lever, said other end of said arm in a given direction and said bar toward one end of said channel means to provide a given degree of rotation of said louvers in one direction, movement of said bar and louvers in opposite directions being produced by movement of said focus-adjusting element in a direction opposite to that providing rotation of said louvers in said one direction, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said second lever of the follow-focus mechanism for bodily moving said elongated arm mounted thereon to provide said overall shift in the degree of light output of the flash unit at any setting of said focus-adjusting element of the camera.

Claim 18

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 14, wherein said second lever comprises a pair of angularly-disposed members joined to form an apex, one of which members is pivotally mounted at its extremity, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted on said second lever at said apex so as to be translationally movable therewith.

Claim 19

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 15, wherein the other of said angularly-disposed members of said second lever includes a stud adjacent to its extremity and normal to its face, and wherein said trim mechanism includes a rotatable cam of regular profile and actuating means therefor extending through and exteriorly of said housing for manual operation, said stud being biased against the surface of said last-named cam by said spring means in cooperation with the other components of said follow-focus mechanism, rotation of said cam producing, respectively, an arcuate movement of said second lever, both a translational and pivotal movement of said elongated arm mounted thereon, a pivotal movement of said bellcrank, a linear movement of said bar, and rotation of said louvers.

Claim 20

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 16, wherein rotational adjustment of said cam of the trim mechanism by approximately 30* to either side of a reference position provides a variation of the light output equivalent in terms of exposure to approximately - 1/2 and + 1/2 stop.

Claim 21

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 17, wherein the defined structure of said first lever and input pin thereof, and that of said elongated arm and irregular cam surface thereof and its pivotal connection to said second lever for translational movement, when taken with said structure and adjustment of the trim mechanism, provides that a substantially in-line relation exists during said adjustment between said input pin at given portions of said irregular cam surface, the pivot connecting said elongated arm to said second lever, and the pivot connecting said elongated arm to said bellcrank.

Claim 22

An electronic flash unit, as defined in claim 16, wherein said cam of regular profile and said actuating means therefor are rendered relatively rotationally adjustable by a shaft including both bearing and threaded portions, a nut in releasable engagement with said threaded portions, and contiguous surfaces of said cam and actuating means adapted to frictional contact, said cam and said actuating means being adapted to rotation at said bearing portions.

Claim 23

A flash unit for a photographic camera to provide both a variation of light output responsive to camera-to-subject distance and a selective adjustment in light output at any particular camera-to-subject distance, said flash unit comprising a housing having an opening, means for attaching said housing to a camera, a reflector facing said opening, means for mounting a light source cooperatively with said reflector to direct light through said opening, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said opening of the housing opposite said light source and said reflector, a distance-setting mechanism actuatable in accordance with the camera-to-subject distance for rotating said louvers by given amounts to produce given variations of light output of said flash unit, said distance-setting mechanism including differential means providing an input and an output differential, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash unit at any particular setting of said distance-setting mechanism.

Claim 24

A flash unit for a photographic camera to provide both a variation of light output responsive to camera-to-subject distance and a selective adjustment in light output at any particular camera-to-subject distance, said flash unit comprising a housing having an opening, means for attaching said housing to a camera, a reflector facing said opening, means for mounting a light source cooperatively with said reflector to direct light through said opening, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said opening of the housing opposite said light source and said reflector, a distance-setting mechanism actuatable in accordance with the camera-to-subject distance for rotating said louvers by given amounts to produce given variations of light output of said flash unit, said distance-setting mechanism including differential means providing an input and an output differential, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash unit at any particular setting of said distance-setting mechanism.

Claim 25

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to distance-setting means of the camera, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said housing to said camera, a flash tube, reflector and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with shutter switch-contact and shutter-release means of the camera an electronic flash of given characteristics, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, and a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by a linearly-movable focus-adjusting bar of the camera for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a pivotal and translationally-movable arm member having a cam surface of irregular contour formed at one end thereof providing an input and an output differential of functional movement responsive to a cam-follower element actuated by said linearly-movable focusing bar of the camera and adapted to move along said cam surface.

Claim 26

An electronic flash unit for attachment to a camera to provide, automatically, a predetermined variation of light output thereof responsive to distance-setting means of the camera, said flash unit comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, means for releasably attaching said housing to said camera, a flash tube, reflector and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with shutter switch-contact and shutter-release means of the camera an electronic flash of given characteristics, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, and a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by a linearly-movable focus-adjusting bar of the camera for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar to produce variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including a pivotal and translationally-movable arm member having a cam surface of irregular contour formed at one end thereof providing an input and an output differential of functional movement responsive to a cam-follower element actuated by said linearly-movable focusing bar of the camera and adapted to move along said cam surface.

Claim 27

An electronic flash unit for use with a camera of a type adapted to expose and process self-developing film material which includes a back, an extensible front, a Linkage and bellows interconnecting said back and front, a laterally and linearly movable focus-adjusting bar pivotally connected to said linkage for moving said camera front relative to a focal plane and manually-actuatable by a pair of buttons positioned at each end thereof, a small tab integral with and projecting outwardly from said focus-adjusting bar adjacent to one end thereof, and a mounting shoe adapted for releasable engagement by a mating elements of said electronic flash unit, the shoe including an elongated slot for projection of said tab therethrough, a plurality of engageable flanges, a latch component, and electrical connector means, said electronic flash unit being adapted to provide a predetermined variation of its light output responsive to linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar and comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, a mounting clip for releasably engaging the mounting shoe of said camera, the clip including a plurality of gripping flanges, a curved slot, a latch component, and electrical connector means mating with that of the camera shoe, a flash tube, reflector and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with shutter switch-contact means and shutter-release means of the camera an electronic flash of given characteristics, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting bar of the camera for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of movement of said distance-setting means to produce given variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including an arcuately-movable member projecting through said curved slot of said mounting clip, a pivotal and translationally-movable member providing an input and an output differential, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said translationally-movable member of the follow-focus mechanism for bodily moving said member to provide an overall shift in the degree of light output of the flash unit at any setting of said focus-adjusting bar of the camera.

Claim 28

An electronic flash unit for use with a camera of a type adapted to expose and process self-developing film material which includes a back, an extensible front, a Linkage and bellows interconnecting said back and front, a laterally and linearly movable focus-adjusting bar pivotally connected to said linkage for moving said camera front relative to a focal plane and manually-actuatable by a pair of buttons positioned at each end thereof, a small tab integral with and projecting outwardly from said focus-adjusting bar adjacent to one end thereof, and a mounting shoe adapted for releasable engagement by a mating elements of said electronic flash unit, the shoe including an elongated slot for projection of said tab therethrough, a plurality of engageable flanges, a latch component, and electrical connector means, said electronic flash unit being adapted to provide a predetermined variation of its light output responsive to linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar and comprising a housing having an open face with a light-diffusing panel positioned thereacross, a mounting clip for releasably engaging the mounting shoe of said camera, the clip including a plurality of gripping flanges, a curved slot, a latch component, and electrical connector means mating with that of the camera shoe, a flash tube, reflector and associated electronic components for providing in conjunction with shutter switch-contact means and shutter-release means of the camera an electronic flash of given characteristics, a plurality of pivotal louvers mounted at said open face of the housing between said flash tube and said light-diffusing panel, a follow-focus mechanism actuatable by said focus-adjusting bar of the camera for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of movement of said distance-setting means to produce given variations of light output of said flash unit, said follow-focus mechanism including an arcuately-movable member projecting through said curved slot of said mounting clip, a pivotal and translationally-movable member providing an input and an output differential, and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperating with said translationally-movable member of the follow-focus mechanism for bodily moving said member to provide an overall shift in the degree of light output of the flash unit at any setting of said focus-adjusting bar of the camera.

Claim 29

A pair of complementary mounting brackets integral, respectively, with a camera of a type having a linearly-movable bar for manually-adjusting distance settings and an electronic flash unit having a follow-focus mechanism, responsive to movement of said bar, said camera bracket comprising a metallic body including, in unitary relation, a base, a cap and a pair of overturned flange members, a spacer providing undercut areas along the sides of said flange members, an elongated slot formed in said base, a latch component, electrical connector means underlying said cap, and a tab integral with said linearly-movable bar projecting through said slot for longitudinal movement therein during movement of said bar, and said bracket of the electronic flash unit comprising a metallic body including, in unitary relation, a base, a generally centrally-located platform, a pair of overturned flange members adapted to engage said flange members of the camera bracket, an arcuate slot formed in said base, a latch component, electrical connector means underlying said platform adapted to mate with those of the camera bracket, electrical safety switching means operable through contact with the camera bracket, and a tab integral with an input component of said follow-focus mechanism projecting through said arcuate slot for contact with and arcuate movement responsive to linear movement of said tab of said bar.

Claim 30

A pair of complementary mounting brackets integral, respectively, with a camera of a type having a linearly-movable bar for manually-adjusting distance settings and an electronic flash unit having a follow-focus mechanism, responsive to movement of said bar, said camera bracket comprising a metallic body including, in unitary relation, a base, a cap and a pair of overturned flange members, a spacer providing undercut areas along the sides of said flange members, an elongated slot formed in said base, a latch component, electrical connector means underlying said cap, and a tab integral with said linearly-movable bar projecting through said slot for longitudinal movement therein during movement of said bar, and said bracket of the electronic flash unit comprising a metallic body including, in unitary relation, a base, a generally centrally-located platform, a pair of overturned flange members adapted to engage said flange members of the camera bracket, an arcuate slot formed in said base, a latch component, electrical connector means underlying said platform adapted to mate with those of the camera bracket, electrical safety switching means operable through contact with the camera bracket, and a tab integral with an input component of said follow-focus mechanism projecting through said arcuate slot for contact with and arcuate movement responsive to linear movement of said tab of said bar.

Claim 31

Photo-flash modulation apparatus for use with a camera having focus adjusting means, including: a support; receiving means connected to said support for securing a lamp to illuminate a subject; means operably connected to said focus adjusting means and disposed between said receiving means and said subject for selectively transmitting a predetermined portion of the illumination from said lamp to said subject as a function of the focus setting of said camera; and means functionally independent of said focus adjusting means and operably connected to said transmitting means for selectively controlling the intensity of the illumination reaching said subject from said lamp.

Claim 32

Photo-flash modulation apparatus for use with a camera having focus adjusting means, including: a support; receiving means connected to said support for securing a lamp to illuminate a subject; means operably connected to said focus adjusting means and disposed between said receiving means and said subject for selectively transmitting a predetermined portion of the illumination from said lamp to said subject as a function of the focus setting of said camera; and means functionally independent of said focus adjusting means and operably connected to said transmitting means for selectively controlling the intensity of the illumination reaching said subject from said lamp.

Claim 33

The invention as recited in claim 24, wherein said transmitting means includes shutter means and said functionally independent means includes means connected to said shutter means for selectively controlling same independent of said focus adjusting means.

Claim 34

The invention as recited in claim 25, wherein said transmitting means includes first cam means interposed between said focus adjusting means and said shutter means; and wherein said functionally independent means includes second cam means connected to said shutter means.

Claim 35

Flash apparatus for a photographic camera for providing both a variation of light output responsive to camera-to-subject distance and a selective adjustment in light output at any particular camera-to-subject distance, said apparatus adapted to receive a housing having a window, including: light source receiving means connected to said housing; shutter means disposed outward of said light source receiving means and defining said window; distance setting means actuable in accordance with the camera-to-subject distance for actuating said shutter means and thereby selectively blocking portions of the illumination from a light source in said receiving means by varying the size of said window, said distance setting means including differential means having an input and an output differential; and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperable with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash apparatus at any particular setting of said distance setting means.

Claim 36

Flash apparatus for a photographic camera for providing both a variation of light output responsive to camera-to-subject distance and a selective adjustment in light output at any particular camera-to-subject distance, said apparatus adapted to receive a housing having a window, including: light source receiving means connected to said housing; shutter means disposed outward of said light source receiving means and defining said window; distance setting means actuable in accordance with the camera-to-subject distance for actuating said shutter means and thereby selectively blocking portions of the illumination from a light source in said receiving means by varying the size of said window, said distance setting means including differential means having an input and an output differential; and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperable with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash apparatus at any particular setting of said distance setting means.

Claim 37

The invention as set forth in claim 27, wherein said shutter means includes plural light blocking leaves and means interconnecting same in variable spaced relation such that the window defined thereby varies as a function of camera-to-subject distance.

Claim 38

The invention as set forth in claim 28, with said plural light blocking leaves comprising a plurality of pivotal louvers connected to said housing and further including a follow-focus mechanism actuable by a linearly movable focus-adjusting bar for rotating said louvers by given amounts with respect to given increments of linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar to produce variations of light output from said flash apparatus.

Claim 39

Apparatus adapted for use with a camera having focus-adjusting means, for modulating the illumination reaching a subject from a light source in accordance with the range of said subject with respect to said camera, including: shutter means for blocking a variable portion of the illumination from said light source; distance setting means actuable in accordance with said range for actuating said shutter means and thereby selectively blocking portions of the illumination from said light source, said distance setting means including differential means having an input and an output differential; and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperable with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash apparatus at any particular setting of said distance setting means.

Claim 40

Apparatus adapted for use with a camera having focus-adjusting means, for modulating the illumination reaching a subject from a light source in accordance with the range of said subject with respect to said camera, including: shutter means for blocking a variable portion of the illumination from said light source; distance setting means actuable in accordance with said range for actuating said shutter means and thereby selectively blocking portions of the illumination from said light source, said distance setting means including differential means having an input and an output differential; and a manually-operable trim mechanism cooperable with said differential means for adjusting said differential means to provide an overall adjustment in the light output of the flash apparatus at any particular setting of said distance setting means.

Claim 41

The invention in accordance with claim 30, wherein said shutter means includes plural light blocking leaves and means interconnecting same in variable spaced relation such that the net aperture thereby defined varies as a function of said range.

Claim 42

The invention according to claim 31, with said plural light blocking leaves comprising a plurality of pivotal louvers connected to said housing and further including a follow-focus mechanism actuable by a linearly movable focus-adjusting bar for rotating said louvers by given amountS with respect to given increments of linear movement of said focus-adjusting bar to produce variations of light output from said flash apparatus.