Patent US3712197A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illuminating arrangement for use in or with photographic apparatus
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
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Filing: 1970-11-05
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-11-05
Abstract
Abstract The housing of a photographic camera or a discrete illuminating device has a shoe for the foot of an electronic flash unit or a photoflash unit. The housing contains a current supplying circuit whose high-voltage generating portion is a transformer or a piezoelectric crystal and is connected with the tube of the electronic flash unit or with the lamp of the photoflash unit in response to connection of the respective unit to the housing. The tube or lamp is fired in response to opening of the shutter by the shutter release element.
Inventors
- 👤 K Wagner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0452; G03B15/0468; G03B15/05; G03B9/00; G03B9/70; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In an illuminating arrangement, a combination comprising a housing having receiving means; circuit means mounted in said housing and having a high-voltage generating portion and a current-supplying portion; first contact means mounted in said housing and connected with said current-supplying and said highvoltage generating portions; a photoflash unit and an electronic flash unit, said units being usable interchangeably and each thereof comprising a coupling member separably connectable with said receiving means, said photoflash unit further including lamp means and first complementary contact means for connecting said lamp means only with said high-voltage generating portion by way of said first contact means in response to connection of the respective coupling member to said receiving means, said electronic flash unit further including a tube and second complementary contact means for connecting said tube with said current-supplying and high-voltage generating portions by way of said first contact means in response to connection of the respective coupling member to said receiving means; and means for effecting the generation of high-voltage pulses by said highvoltage generating portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an illuminating arrangement, a combination comprising a housing having receiving means; circuit means mounted in said housing and having a high-voltage generating portion and a current-supplying portion; first contact means mounted in said housing and connected with said current-supplying and said highvoltage generating portions; a photoflash unit and an electronic flash unit, said units being usable interchangeably and each thereof comprising a coupling member separably connectable with said receiving means, said photoflash unit further including lamp means and first complementary contact means for connecting said lamp means only with said high-voltage generating portion by way of said first contact means in response to connection of the respective coupling member to said receiving means, said electronic flash unit further including a tube and second complementary contact means for connecting said tube with said current-supplying and high-voltage generating portions by way of said first contact means in response to connection of the respective coupling member to said receiving means; and means for effecting the generation of high-voltage pulses by said highvoltage generating portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage generating portion comprises transformer means having secondary winding means provided with a tap, said first complementary contact means being connected with said tap by way of said first contact means in response to connection of the coupling member of said photoflash unit to said receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage generating portion comprises a piezoelectric crystal and impeller means movable from a cocked position against said crystal whereby the latter produces the voltage required for firing of said lamp means or said tube, said means for effecting the generation of high-voltage pulses comprising shutter opening means arranged to effect a movement of said impeller means from said cocked position in response to opening of the shutter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises an energy source and normally open switch means for connecting said high-voltage generating portion with said energy source, the coupling member of said electronic flash unit having means for effecting the closing of said switch means in response to connection of said last mentioned coupling member to said receiving means and the coupling member of said photoflash unit being arranged to leave said switch means in open position when said last mentioned coupling member is connected to said receiving means, said high-voltage generating portion comprising a piezoelectric crystal and impeller means actuatable to strike against said crystal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing constitutes the body of a photographic apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing forms part of a self-supporting illuminating arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising switching means provided in said circuit means and actuatable in response to connection of at least one of said coupling members to said receiving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises an energy source and normally open switch means arranged to connect said energy source with said high-voltage generating portion in response to closing thereof, and further comprising means for closing said switch means in response to connection of any one of said coupling members to said receiving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for closing said switching means comprises actuating means receiving motion from that one of said couPling members which is being connected with said receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said circuit means further comprises second switching means operable only by one of said coupling members when said one coupling member is being connected with said receiving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, further comprising adjustable means for biasing said impeller means away from said cocked position with a variable force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, further comprising adjusting means for said biasing means, said adjusting means being movable between a plurality of positions each of which corresponds to a different bias upon said impeller means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means is movable by hand.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means comprises a rotary eccentric, said biasing means comprising spring means connected with said impeller means and said eccentric.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing constitutes the body of a photographic apparatus and said receiving means comprises a single receiving device for reception of one of said coupling members at a time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A combination as defined in claim 15, wherein said first contact means comprises three contacts disposed in the region of said receiving device, the first of said contacts being connected with the ground, the second of said contacts being connected with said high-voltage generating portion of said circuit means and said circuit means further comprising a firing portion for said tube, said firing portion being connected with the third of said contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said circuit means comprises an energy source and normally open switch means for connecting said energy source with said high-voltage generating portion, and further comprising actuating means operable to close said switch means, said coupling members being connectable with said receiving device in response to movement in a predetermined direction to thereby operate said actuating means and said second and third contacts being aligned with each other as considered in said direction, said second complementary contact means having a pair of contacts which are aligned with each other and respectively engage said second and third contacts in response to connection of the coupling member of said electronic flash unit to said receiving device, said actuating means being operated by the coupling member of said electronic flash unit after one of said pair of contacts of said second complementary contact means moves beyond that one of said second and third contacts which is located behind the other of said second and third contacts as considered in said direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contact is connected with the ground by way of said circuit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein said first contact forms part of said receiving device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as defined in claim 19, wherein said receiving device is an accessory shoe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said coupling members is connectable with the receiving device by moving in a predetermined direction and wherein said second and third contacts are aligned with each other, as considered in said direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said coupling members is connectable with the receiving device by moving in a predetermined direction and wherein said second and third contacts are offset with reference to each other, as considered in said direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises switch means and actuating means operable in response to connection of at least one of said coupling members to said receiving means to thereby actuate said switch means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination as definEd in claim 23, wherein said actuating means comprises a lever which is pivotably mounted in said housing and has a portion extending into the path of movement of said one coupling member during connection of said one coupling member to said receiving means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 24, wherein said housing has an opening and said portion of said lever extends outwardly through said opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 24, further comprising biasing means for urging said lever to a predetermined position from which said lever is pivoted in response to movement of said one coupling member during connection to said receiving means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises a storage capacitor and two-way switch means arranged to connect said high-voltage generating portion with the lamp means of said photoflash unit in one position thereof and to connect said storage capacitor with the tube of said electronic flash unit in another position thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit means further comprises an energy source, a storage capacitor connected with said source in response to connection of at least one of said coupling members to said receiving means whereby said capacitor is charged, and signal lamp means observable from without said housing to indicate the condition of said capacitor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage generating portion comprises a piezoelectric crystal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |