US3714508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sequential flashing of multiple flash lamps by low cost static control circuit of integrated design
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-02-22
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Electronic circuitry for sequentially firing photoflash lamps of an array of multiple flash lamps. The circuitry comprises means for causing capacitors to be charged, at different rates of charging, upon the occurrence of a start-flash signal. These capacitors are respectively associated, by means of solid state switching devices, with certain flashlamps of the array, and the unfired flashlamp associated with the charging capacitor which first reaches a predetermined voltage, will be the first to fire. Alternatively, the first lamp to be fired need not be associated with a capacitor. Upon a lamp firing, disenabling circuitry causes discontinuing of charging of the capacitors until occurrence of the next start-flash signal, whereupon the capacitors repeat or resume their charging until the unfired flashlamp becomes fired which is associated with the next charging capacitor to reach the predetermined firing voltage. The procedure is repeated for causing sequential firing of all flashlamps in the array. Circuit modifications and alternative embodiments disclosed, including a single-capacitor circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 J Harnden
- 👤 W Kornrumpf
- 👤 R Marquardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/04; G03B15/0452; G03B15/0457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
302 words
A circuit for sequentially flashing a plurality of photoflash lamps by sequential electrical flash signals, comprising a pair of voltage terminals and means adapted to connect said voltage terminals to a source of said electrical flash signals, a plurality of pairs of circuit points adapted for electrical connection thereto of respective individual lamps of said plurality of flash lamps, means connecting a first pair of said circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, a plurality of individually operable static electronic switching means respectively connected in series combination with the remaining said pairs of circuit points, means connecting each said series combination of switching means and circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, each of said electronic switching means being normally non-conductive and being provided with a control electrode adapted to render the respective switching means conductive when the voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined turn-on threshold voltage, capacitor charging circuit means connected to said pair of voltage terminals and adapted to cause capacitor charging from each occurrence of said sequential electrical flash signals and further adapted to simultaneously produce from said capacitor charging a plurality of turn-on electrical signals increasing in magnitude at different time rates, means connected to respectively apply said plurality of different time-rate turn-on electrical signals to said control electrodes of the individual switching means so that the turn-on signals will tend to exceed said predetermined turn-on voltages of the switching means at differing times thereby rendering conductive a switching means that is in series with an unflashed lamp thereby causing flashing of said last-mentioned lamp, and disenabling circuit means connected to sense said flashing of a lamp and respond thereto by discontinuing said increasing turn-on signals whereby no further lamps will be flashed by a single individual electrical flash signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
302 words
A circuit for sequentially flashing a plurality of photoflash lamps by sequential electrical flash signals, comprising a pair of voltage terminals and means adapted to connect said voltage terminals to a source of said electrical flash signals, a plurality of pairs of circuit points adapted for electrical connection thereto of respective individual lamps of said plurality of flash lamps, means connecting a first pair of said circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, a plurality of individually operable static electronic switching means respectively connected in series combination with the remaining said pairs of circuit points, means connecting each said series combination of switching means and circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, each of said electronic switching means being normally non-conductive and being provided with a control electrode adapted to render the respective switching means conductive when the voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined turn-on threshold voltage, capacitor charging circuit means connected to said pair of voltage terminals and adapted to cause capacitor charging from each occurrence of said sequential electrical flash signals and further adapted to simultaneously produce from said capacitor charging a plurality of turn-on electrical signals increasing in magnitude at different time rates, means connected to respectively apply said plurality of different time-rate turn-on electrical signals to said control electrodes of the individual switching means so that the turn-on signals will tend to exceed said predetermined turn-on voltages of the switching means at differing times thereby rendering conductive a switching means that is in series with an unflashed lamp thereby causing flashing of said last-mentioned lamp, and disenabling circuit means connected to sense said flashing of a lamp and respond thereto by discontinuing said increasing turn-on signals whereby no further lamps will be flashed by a single individual electrical flash signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
A circuit for sequentially flashing a plurality of photoflash lamps by sequential electrical flash signals, comprising a pair of voltage terminals and means adapted to connect said voltage terminals to a source of said electrical flash signals, a plurality of pairs of circuit points adapted for electrical connection thereto of respective individual lamps of said plurality of flash lamps, means connecting a first pair of said circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, a plurality of individually operable static electronic switching means respectively connected in series combination with the remaining said pairs of circuit points, means connecting each said series combination of switching means and circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, each of said electronic switching means being normally non-conductive and being provided with a control electrode adapted to render the respective switching means conductive when the voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined turn-on threshold voltage, capacitor charging circuit means connected to said pair of voltage terminals and adapted to cause capacitor charging from each occurrence of said sequential electrical flash signals and further adapted to simultaneously produce from said capacitor charging a plurality of turn-on electrical signals increasing in magnitude at different time rates, means connected to respectively apply said plurality of different time-rate turn-on electrical signals to said control electrodes of the individual switching means so that the turn-on signals will tend to exceed said predetermined turn-on voltages of the switching means at differing times thereby rendering conductive a switching means that is in series with an unflashed lamp thereby causing flashing of said last-mentioned lamp, and disenabling circuit means connected to sense said flashing of a lamp and respond thereto by discontinuing said increasing turn-on signals whereby no further lamps will be flashed by a single individual electrical flash signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
302 words
A circuit for sequentially flashing a plurality of photoflash lamps by sequential electrical flash signals, comprising a pair of voltage terminals and means adapted to connect said voltage terminals to a source of said electrical flash signals, a plurality of pairs of circuit points adapted for electrical connection thereto of respective individual lamps of said plurality of flash lamps, means connecting a first pair of said circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, a plurality of individually operable static electronic switching means respectively connected in series combination with the remaining said pairs of circuit points, means connecting each said series combination of switching means and circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals, each of said electronic switching means being normally non-conductive and being provided with a control electrode adapted to render the respective switching means conductive when the voltage applied thereto exceeds a predetermined turn-on threshold voltage, capacitor charging circuit means connected to said pair of voltage terminals and adapted to cause capacitor charging from each occurrence of said sequential electrical flash signals and further adapted to simultaneously produce from said capacitor charging a plurality of turn-on electrical signals increasing in magnitude at different time rates, means connected to respectively apply said plurality of different time-rate turn-on electrical signals to said control electrodes of the individual switching means so that the turn-on signals will tend to exceed said predetermined turn-on voltages of the switching means at differing times thereby rendering conductive a switching means that is in series with an unflashed lamp thereby causing flashing of said last-mentioned lamp, and disenabling circuit means connected to sense said flashing of a lamp and respond thereto by discontinuing said increasing turn-on signals whereby no further lamps will be flashed by a single individual electrical flash signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which said capacitor charging circuit means comprises a plurality of series circuits each comprising a capacitor and a resistor connected in series, said capacitors and resistors having values such that said series circuits have respectively different RC time constants, means connecting said series circuits in parallel to said pair of voltage terminals, and means respectively connecting said capacitors to said control electrodes of the individual switching means whereby the voltage charges on said capacitors provide said plurality of turN-on signals having differently increasing time rates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 2, in which said disenabling circuit comprises a current sensing resistor connected between one of said voltage terminals and said parallel connected combinations of the first pair of circuit points and the series combinations of switching means and circuit points, a static electronic switching device and a resistor connected in series across said pair of voltage terminals, said switching device having a control electrode connected to have applied thereto voltage derived from current flow in said current sensing resistor so as to render the switching device conductive in response to a lamp flashing, and means connecting an end of each of said series circuits to the junction of said switching device and last-named resistor whereby said switching device when conductive will provide a discharge path for said series circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which said capacitor charging circuit means comprises a single capacitor and a resistor connected in series across said pair of voltage terminals, and a plurality of voltage dropping means respectively connected between said single capacitor and said control electrodes of the individual switching means, said voltage dropping means providing respectively different voltage drops between said single capacitor and said control electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 4, in which said voltage dropping means comprises a plurality of resistors connected across said single capacitor in a voltage-dividing network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 4, in which said voltage dropping means comprises differing numbers of diodes respectively connected between a terminal of said single capacitor and said control electrodes of the individual switching means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 4, in which said disenabling circuit comprises a current sensing resistor connected between one of said voltage terminals and said parallel connected combinations of the first pair of circuit points and the series combinations of switching means and circuit points, a static electronic switching device connected across said single capacitor and having a control electrode connected to have applied thereto voltage derived from current flow in said current sensing resistor so as to render the switching device conductive in response to a lamp flashing and provide a discharge path for said single capacitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which said means connecting said first pair of circuit points in electrical parallel with said pair of voltage terminals comprises a resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which said disenabling circuit means comprises a current sensing resistor connected between one of said voltage terminals and said parallel connected combinations of the first pair of circuit points and the series combinations of switching means and circuit points, a static electronic switching device connected to said capacitor charging circuit means so as to selectively provide a capacitor discharge path therefor and having a control electrode connected to have applied thereto voltage derived from current flow in said current sensing resistor so as to render the switching device conductive in response to a lamp flashing and provide a discharge path for said capacitor charging circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which said disenabling circuit means comprises light sensing means arranged to sense light from said lamps when flashed and produce voltage in response thereto, a static electronic switching device connected to said capacitor charging circuit means so as to selectively provide a capacitor discharge path therefor and having a control electrode connected to have applied thereto voltage derived from said light sensing means so as to render the switching device conductive in response to a lamp flashing and provide a discharge path for said capacitor charging circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of logic gates respectively interposed between said capacitor charging circuit means and said control electrodes of the individual switching means.
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) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |