Camera apparatus for controlling diaphragm and shutter speed

Claim 2

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposure aperture; means for moving said shutter means to uncover and cover the exposure aperture; time delay circuit means including photosenstivive means disposed to receive scene radition and having an electrical parameter which varies as a function of the incident scene radiation for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture, the exposure interval being related to said parameter of said photosensitive means; first circuit means having an input terminal coupled to said time delay circuit and an output terminal coupled to said shutter means, said first circuit means being disposable in a first state for connecting said shutter means to an energy source to thereby retain said shutter means in a positive uncovering the exposure aperture and being disposable in a second state in response to said control signal for disconnecting said shutter means from said energy souce to thereby permit said shutter means to cover the exposure aperture and terminate the exposure interval; indicator means; and second circuit means having an input terminal, coupled to said photosensitive means and coupled by a feedback circuit to said output terminal of said first circuit means, and an output terminal connected to said indicator means, said second circuit means being disposable in a first state when said electrical parameter of said photosensitive means is above a predetermined level for energizing said indicator means to indicate that the scene radiation is below a predetermined level and disposable in a second state when the path through said feedback circuit is interrupted for de-energizing said indicator means to thereby indicate the termination of the exposure interval.

Claim 3

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposurE aperture; time delay circuit means including photosensitive means disposed to receive scene radiation and having an electrical parameter which varies as a function of incident scene radiation for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture, the exposure interval being related to the scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; a diaphragm control circuit, coupled to said photosensitive means, for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture coresponding to the level of radiation incident on said photosenstive means; first circuit means, coupled with said time delay circuit means and said diaphragm control circuit, and being operable in a first state for retaining said shutter means in a position uncovering the exposure aperture, and being actuatable to a second state by said control signal for permitting said shutter means to cover the exposure aperture thereby terminating the exposure interval and for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to vary said diaphragm means to form a minimal exposure aperture; indicator means; and second circuit means, coupled to said photosensitive means and said first circuit means and being disposed in a first state when said first circuit means is disposed in its first state and the scene illumination is below a predetermined value, for actuating said indicator means to indicate that scene illumination is insufficient to exposure the film, said second circuit means being disposed in its second state for deactuating said indicator means to thereby indicate the termination of the exposure interval.

Claim 4

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposurE aperture; time delay circuit means including photosensitive means disposed to receive scene radiation and having an electrical parameter which varies as a function of incident scene radiation for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture, the exposure interval being related to the scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; a diaphragm control circuit, coupled to said photosensitive means, for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture coresponding to the level of radiation incident on said photosenstive means; first circuit means, coupled with said time delay circuit means and said diaphragm control circuit, and being operable in a first state for retaining said shutter means in a position uncovering the exposure aperture, and being actuatable to a second state by said control signal for permitting said shutter means to cover the exposure aperture thereby terminating the exposure interval and for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to vary said diaphragm means to form a minimal exposure aperture; indicator means; and second circuit means, coupled to said photosensitive means and said first circuit means and being disposed in a first state when said first circuit means is disposed in its first state and the scene illumination is below a predetermined value, for actuating said indicator means to indicate that scene illumination is insufficient to exposure the film, said second circuit means being disposed in its second state for deactuating said indicator means to thereby indicate the termination of the exposure interval.

Claim 5

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: photosensitive means disposed to receive scene illumination for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the level of scene radiation incident thereon; diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; diaphragm control circuit means coupled to said photosensitive means for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture as a function of scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; means for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to adjust the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for covering and uncovering the exposure aperture; actuatable time delay means coupled to said photosensitive means for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the actuation of said time delay circuit means, said time delay circuit means including means for establishing the exposure interval as a function of the level of scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; means for actuating said shutter means to uncover said exposure aperture to initiate an exposure interval after actuation of said diaphragm control circuit means; means for actuating said time delay circuit in timed relation with the actuation of said shutter means to uncover the exposure aperture; and circuit means, coupled with said time delay means and said diaphragm control circuit and responsive to said control signal for actuating said shutter means to cover said aperture to thereby terminate the exposure interval and for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to adjust the exposure aperture to its minimal opening.

Claim 6

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: photosensitive means disposed to receive scene illumination for providing an electrical signal corresponding to the level of scene radiation incident thereon; diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; diaphragm control circuit means coupled to said photosensitive means for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture as a function of scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; means for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to adjust the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for covering and uncovering the exposure aperture; actuatable time delay means coupled to said photosensitive means for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the actuation of said time delay circuit means, said time delay circuit means including means for establishing the exposure interval as a function of the level of scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; means for actuating said shutter means to uncover said exposure aperture to initiate an exposure interval after actuation of said diaphragm control circuit means; means for actuating said time delay circuit in timed relation with the actuation of said shutter means to uncover the exposure aperture; and circuit means, coupled with said time delay means and said diaphragm control circuit and responsive to said control signal for actuating said shutter means to cover said aperture to thereby terminate the exposure interval and for actuating said diaphragm control circuit to adjust the exposure aperture to its minimal opening.

Claim 7

The exposure control apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said photosensitive means comprises two photosensitive elements constructed in a single unit.

Claim 8

In a camera adapted to exposure film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, an exposure control apparatus comprising: photosensitive means responsive to incident scene illumination for providing a signal dependent upon the level of scene radiation incident thereon: diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; diaphragm control circuit means responsive to the electrical signal of said photosensitive means or actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposure aperture; and time delay circuit means responsive to the signal of the photosensitive means for actuating said shutter means an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture to effect the covering of the exposure aperture, the exposure interval being dependent upon the scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; said diaphragm control circuit means responsive to the covering of the exposure aperture by said shutter means to cause said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture to its minimum setting.

Claim 9

In a camera adapted to exposure film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, an exposure control apparatus comprising: photosensitive means responsive to incident scene illumination for providing a signal dependent upon the level of scene radiation incident thereon: diaphragm means for varying the size of the exposure aperture; diaphragm control circuit means responsive to the electrical signal of said photosensitive means or actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposure aperture; and time delay circuit means responsive to the signal of the photosensitive means for actuating said shutter means an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture to effect the covering of the exposure aperture, the exposure interval being dependent upon the scene radiation incident upon said photosensitive means; said diaphragm control circuit means responsive to the covering of the exposure aperture by said shutter means to cause said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture to its minimum setting.

Claim 10

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: first and second radiation sensitive elements disposed to receive scene radiation and each having an electrical parameter which varies as a function of the incident scene radiation; diaphragm mans for varying the sizes of the exposure aperture and for varying the size of a second aperture disposed to direct scene radiation onto said first and second photosensitive elements; diaphragm means for varying the sizes of the exposure aperture and for varying the size of a second aperture disposed to direct scene radiation onto said first and second photosensitive elements; a diaphragm control circuit, coupled to said first radiation sensitive element and responsive to the value of its electrical parameter, for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture and said second aperture in relation to the level of radiation incident upon said first radiation sensitive element; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposure aperture; means for moving said shutter means to uncover and cover the exposure aperture; storage circuit means, coupled to said second radiation sensitive element, said storage circuit means and said second radiation sensitive element being coupled for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture; first circuit means having an input terminal coupled to said storage circuit means and an output terminal coupled to said shutter means, said first circuit means being operable in a first state for connecting said shutter means to an energy source to thereby retain said shutter means in an exposure aperture uncovering position and being disposable to a second state in response to said control signal for disconnecting said shutter means from said energy source to thereby permit said shutter means to cover the exposure aperture and terminate the exposure interval; indicator means; and second circuit means, having an input terminal coupled to said first radiation sensitive element and to said output terminal of said first circuit means by a feedback circuit and an output terminal connected to said indicator means, for providing an output for energizing said indicator means when said electrical parameter of said first radiation sensitive element is above a predetermined level, and for de-energizing said indicator means to thereby indicate the termination of the exposure interval when said output from said first circuit means via said feedback is terminated.

Claim 11

In a camera adapted to expose film to scene radiation through an exposure aperture, exposure control apparatus comprising: first and second radiation sensitive elements disposed to receive scene radiation and each having an electrical parameter which varies as a function of the incident scene radiation; diaphragm mans for varying the sizes of the exposure aperture and for varying the size of a second aperture disposed to direct scene radiation onto said first and second photosensitive elements; diaphragm means for varying the sizes of the exposure aperture and for varying the size of a second aperture disposed to direct scene radiation onto said first and second photosensitive elements; a diaphragm control circuit, coupled to said first radiation sensitive element and responsive to the value of its electrical parameter, for actuating said diaphragm means to vary the size of the exposure aperture and said second aperture in relation to the level of radiation incident upon said first radiation sensitive element; actuatable shutter means for uncovering and covering the exposure aperture; means for moving said shutter means to uncover and cover the exposure aperture; storage circuit means, coupled to said second radiation sensitive element, said storage circuit means and said second radiation sensitive element being coupled for producing a control signal an exposure interval after the uncovering of the exposure aperture; first circuit means having an input terminal coupled to said storage circuit means and an output terminal coupled to said shutter means, said first circuit means being operable in a first state for connecting said shutter means to an energy source to thereby retain said shutter means in an exposure aperture uncovering position and being disposable to a second state in response to said control signal for disconnecting said shutter means from said energy source to thereby permit said shutter means to cover the exposure aperture and terminate the exposure interval; indicator means; and second circuit means, having an input terminal coupled to said first radiation sensitive element and to said output terminal of said first circuit means by a feedback circuit and an output terminal connected to said indicator means, for providing an output for energizing said indicator means when said electrical parameter of said first radiation sensitive element is above a predetermined level, and for de-energizing said indicator means to thereby indicate the termination of the exposure interval when said output from said first circuit means via said feedback is terminated.