Transistorized control device for camera shutters including exposure setting and shutter delay timing means

Claim 2

In a photographic camera, an improvement comprising: a shutter charging mechanism; shutter drive means mounted for movement from an uncocked to a cocked position by the shutter charging mechanism, and for subsequent movement from said cocked to said uncocked position, and having a cam surface thereon; shutter release means for releasably holding said drive means in said cocked position; shutter opening means driven by said shutter drive means upon release of said drive means from said cocked position; shutter closing means driven by the shutter drive means; locking lever means cooperating with said cam surface for releasably holding said shutter opening means from being driven during a first interval of movement of said drive means toward said uncocked position, and for permitting movement of said shutter opening means during a subsequent interval of said drive means movement; a first stop pin fixed on the shutter drive means; a second stop pin fixed on the shutter closing means; a pivoted stop lever having first and second ends, said first end having an armature attached thereto and said second end having a blocking surface; an electromagnet adapted to cooperate with said armature to pivot the blocking surface of said stop lever into and out of the paths of said first and second stop pins; a spring biasing said armature into engagement with said electromagnet; transistorized timing circuit means for controlling the energizing of said electromagnet and including a power source, a capacitor, a first resistor connected in series with said capacitor, a photosensitive resistor, means for selectively connecting said photosensitive resistor in series with said capacitor, a normally open first switch connected to said timing circuit means and adapted to be closed upon actuation of said shutter release means to activate said timing circuit means to energize said electromagnet to pivot said stop lever to engage said first stop pin thereby preventing said shutter drive means from operating, said electromagnet deenergizing after a delay time determined by a charging current flowing through said first resistor and said capacitor to allow the stop lever to pivot to an unblocking position and allow the shutter drive means to drive said shutter opening means; switch lever means cooperating with the cam surface of the shutter drive means; normally open second and third switches connected to the timing circuit means and positioned for operation by the switch lever means, said second switch being closed by the switch lever means to discharge the capacitor upon movement of the shutter drive means after said delay time, and upon further movement of said drive means said second switch being reopened and said third switch being closed to charge the capacitor through said photosensitive resistor, thus energizing said electromagnet again to pivot said stop lever to engage said second stop pin thereby preventing said shutter closing means from operating until a predetermined exposure time has elapsed whereupon the circuit means deenergizes said electromagnet to allow operation of said shutter closing means.

Claim 3

A timing circuit according to claim 1, further comprising manually controlled locking means for selectively keeping said third switch closed independently of said switch lever means, a fourth switch connected for switching movement with said third switch, and a variable resistor connectable into the timing circuit means when the fourth switch is closed.

Claim 4

In a camera having an exposure aperture, a shutter control device for controlling the passage of incident light through the aperture comprising: in combination, first and second shutter means movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position uncovering said aperture, means for urging said first shutter means toward said open position and said second shutter means toward said closed position, first stop means operably related to the first shutter means for stopping it in the closed position, second stop means operably related to the second shutter means for stopping it in the open position, an electronic switch circuit including a single electromagnet cooperating with the first and second stop means for maintaining the first and second stop means in their stopping positions during first and second states of said switch circuit, and further including a first switch for energizing said circuit in said first state thereof in which said electromagnet actuates said first stop means for maintaining the first stop means in a stopping position, means for resetting the circuit after a delay to said second state thereof in which said electromagnet releases said first stop means to free said firSt shutter means toward its opening position, and a second switch in said circuit for initiating an exposure timing operation, drive means for opening the shutter by causing the first stop means to release the first shutter means, for closing said first switch to energize said circuit in said first state, and for actuating said second switch to initiate the timing operation of said circuit during movement of the drive means from a start position to a rest position, release means for freeing said drive means for movement toward its rest position, and means for opening said first switch according to the movement of said second shutter means.

Claim 5

In a camera having an exposure aperture, a shutter control device for controlling the passage of incident light through the aperture comprising: in combination, first and second shutter means movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position uncovering said aperture, means for urging said first shutter means toward said open position and said second shutter means toward said closed position, first stop means operably related to the first shutter means for stopping it in the closed position, second stop means operably related to the second shutter means for stopping it in the open position, an electronic switch circuit including a single electromagnet cooperating with the first and second stop means for maintaining the first and second stop means in their stopping positions during first and second states of said switch circuit, and further including a first switch for energizing said circuit in said first state thereof in which said electromagnet actuates said first stop means for maintaining the first stop means in a stopping position, means for resetting the circuit after a delay to said second state thereof in which said electromagnet releases said first stop means to free said firSt shutter means toward its opening position, and a second switch in said circuit for initiating an exposure timing operation, drive means for opening the shutter by causing the first stop means to release the first shutter means, for closing said first switch to energize said circuit in said first state, and for actuating said second switch to initiate the timing operation of said circuit during movement of the drive means from a start position to a rest position, release means for freeing said drive means for movement toward its rest position, and means for opening said first switch according to the movement of said second shutter means.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3, in which said circuit resetting means is a capacitor charging timing network including at least one capacitor and resistor in connection with said electromagnet and the two switches.

Claim 7

A camera shutter control device for successively opening and closing the camera shutter, comprising in combination, shutter means movable between a closed position covering the camera aperture and an opened position uncovering the aperture for controlling the passage of incident light therethrough, said shutter means including a shutter member for terminating the exposure; an electrical timing network including a single capacitor and resistor means; a single electromagnet controlled by the timing network; and stopping means including, pivoted lever means having an armature portion cooperating with said electromagnet to hold said lever means in a first direction and an inclined portion cooperating with said shutter member which blocks the closing movement of said member while the electromagnet is energized to attract said armature portion, said shutter member exerting a force on said lever means in an opposite direction, and spring means biasing said lever means to engage the armature portion thereof with said electromagnet whereby upon the deenergization of said electromagnet said shutter member pushes said lever means and is released.

Claim 8

A camera shutter control device for successively opening and closing the camera shutter, comprising in combination, shutter means movable between a closed position covering the camera aperture and an opened position uncovering the aperture for controlling the passage of incident light therethrough, said shutter means including a shutter member for terminating the exposure; an electrical timing network including a single capacitor and resistor means; a single electromagnet controlled by the timing network; and stopping means including, pivoted lever means having an armature portion cooperating with said electromagnet to hold said lever means in a first direction and an inclined portion cooperating with said shutter member which blocks the closing movement of said member while the electromagnet is energized to attract said armature portion, said shutter member exerting a force on said lever means in an opposite direction, and spring means biasing said lever means to engage the armature portion thereof with said electromagnet whereby upon the deenergization of said electromagnet said shutter member pushes said lever means and is released.

Claim 9

In a photographic camera, an improvement comprising: a shutter charging mechanism; shutter drive means actuable by said shutter charging mechanism for being moved from an uncocked to a cocked position and having a cam surface thereon, shutter release means for releasably holding said drive means in said cocked position, and for releasing said shutter drive means from said cocked position to permit movement of said drive means toward said uncocked position; shutter opening means driven by said shutter drive means; shutter closing means driven by the shutter drive means; locking lever means engageable with said cam surface for releasably holding said shutter opening means from operating, wherein said locking lever means releases said shutter opening means in response a predetermined extent of movement of said drive means; a first stop pin fixed on the shutter drive means; a second stop pin fixed on the shutter closing means; a pivotally mounted stop lever having an armature and having a blocking surface for selective engagement with said first and second stop pins; electromagnet means mounted adjacent said stop lever for magnetic coupling with said armature to control the pivotal position of said stop lever; timing circuit means for controlling the energization of said electromagnet means and including a power source, a capacitor, a first timing resistor coupled to said capacitor, a photosensitive resistor, and normally open first switch means for selectively coupling said photosensitive resistor in series with said capacitor; normally open second switch means connected to said timing circuit means and positioned to be closed upon actuation of said shutter release means to activate said timing circuit means to energize said electromagnet for pivoting said stop lever into a position wherein said blocking surface prevents movement of said first stop pin thereby preventing movement of said shUtter drive means, said timing circuit means deenergizing said electromagnet means after a predetermined delay time determined by a charging current flowing through said first timing resistor and said capacitor to allow the stop lever to pivot to an unblocking position thereby permitting said drive means to operate said locking lever means to release said shutter opening means; normally open third switch means coupled to said timing circuit means; means for operating said first and third switch means in response to movement of a drive means upon release of said first stop pin wherein said third switch means is closed to discharge said capacitor, where-after said third switch means is opened and said first switch means is closed to charge said capacitor with a current flowing through said photosensitive resistor, wherein said timing circuit reenergizes said electromagnet means to position said blocking surface for blocking engagement with said second pin to releasably hold said shutter closing means until the lapse of a predetermined exposure time determined by the capacitor charging current flowing through said photosensitive resistor, whereafter said timing circuit means deenergizes said electromagnet to release said shutter closing means.

Claim 10

In a photographic camera, an improvement comprising: a shutter charging mechanism; shutter drive means actuable by said shutter charging mechanism for being moved from an uncocked to a cocked position and having a cam surface thereon, shutter release means for releasably holding said drive means in said cocked position, and for releasing said shutter drive means from said cocked position to permit movement of said drive means toward said uncocked position; shutter opening means driven by said shutter drive means; shutter closing means driven by the shutter drive means; locking lever means engageable with said cam surface for releasably holding said shutter opening means from operating, wherein said locking lever means releases said shutter opening means in response a predetermined extent of movement of said drive means; a first stop pin fixed on the shutter drive means; a second stop pin fixed on the shutter closing means; a pivotally mounted stop lever having an armature and having a blocking surface for selective engagement with said first and second stop pins; electromagnet means mounted adjacent said stop lever for magnetic coupling with said armature to control the pivotal position of said stop lever; timing circuit means for controlling the energization of said electromagnet means and including a power source, a capacitor, a first timing resistor coupled to said capacitor, a photosensitive resistor, and normally open first switch means for selectively coupling said photosensitive resistor in series with said capacitor; normally open second switch means connected to said timing circuit means and positioned to be closed upon actuation of said shutter release means to activate said timing circuit means to energize said electromagnet for pivoting said stop lever into a position wherein said blocking surface prevents movement of said first stop pin thereby preventing movement of said shUtter drive means, said timing circuit means deenergizing said electromagnet means after a predetermined delay time determined by a charging current flowing through said first timing resistor and said capacitor to allow the stop lever to pivot to an unblocking position thereby permitting said drive means to operate said locking lever means to release said shutter opening means; normally open third switch means coupled to said timing circuit means; means for operating said first and third switch means in response to movement of a drive means upon release of said first stop pin wherein said third switch means is closed to discharge said capacitor, where-after said third switch means is opened and said first switch means is closed to charge said capacitor with a current flowing through said photosensitive resistor, wherein said timing circuit reenergizes said electromagnet means to position said blocking surface for blocking engagement with said second pin to releasably hold said shutter closing means until the lapse of a predetermined exposure time determined by the capacitor charging current flowing through said photosensitive resistor, whereafter said timing circuit means deenergizes said electromagnet to release said shutter closing means.

Claim 11

In a camera having an exposure aperture, a shutter control device for controlling the passage of incident light through the aperture comprising: in combination, first and second shutter means movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position uncovering said aperture, means for urging said first shutter means toward said open position and said second shutter means toward said closed position, first stop means for releasably holding said first shutter means in said closed position, second stop means for releasably holding the second shutter means in said open position, switching circuit means having an electromagnet connected thereto for maintaining the first and second stop means in their stopping positions during a first operation state of said switching circuit, and for maintaining said second stop means in its stopping position during a second operation state of said switching circuit means, said switching circuit means including switch means for operation to energize said circuit means in said first state thereof in which the energization state of said electromagnet controls said first stop means to maintain said first shutter means in said closed position, said switching circuit means including means for controlling said electromagnet to release said first stop means after a first delay time as measured from said operation of said switch means, thereby permitting said first shutter means to move to said open position, means for resetting the circuit means to said second state in which said electromagnet actuates said second stop means to maintain said second shutter means in said open position, and means for controlling said electromagnet to release said second stop means after a second delay time as measured from the time of movement of said first shutter means to said open position, thereby permitting said second shutter means to move to said closed position.

Claim 12

In a camera having an exposure aperture, a shutter control device for controlling the passage of incident light through the aperture comprising: in combination, first and second shutter means movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position uncovering said aperture, means for urging said first shutter means toward said open position and said second shutter means toward said closed position, first stop means for releasably holding said first shutter means in said closed position, second stop means for releasably holding the second shutter means in said open position, switching circuit means having an electromagnet connected thereto for maintaining the first and second stop means in their stopping positions during a first operation state of said switching circuit, and for maintaining said second stop means in its stopping position during a second operation state of said switching circuit means, said switching circuit means including switch means for operation to energize said circuit means in said first state thereof in which the energization state of said electromagnet controls said first stop means to maintain said first shutter means in said closed position, said switching circuit means including means for controlling said electromagnet to release said first stop means after a first delay time as measured from said operation of said switch means, thereby permitting said first shutter means to move to said open position, means for resetting the circuit means to said second state in which said electromagnet actuates said second stop means to maintain said second shutter means in said open position, and means for controlling said electromagnet to release said second stop means after a second delay time as measured from the time of movement of said first shutter means to said open position, thereby permitting said second shutter means to move to said closed position.