Electronic flash circuits

Claim 1

In an electronic flash device, a discharge tube having a pair of electrodes, a main capacitor electrically connected between said electrodes for regulating the inter-electrode voltage of said discharge tube, an ignition transformer operatively connected with said discharge tube for bringing the latter into a state of emission, a trigger switch and a trigger capacitor electrically connected with said transformer for actuating the latter to start the emission of said discharge tube, an additional capacitor to be connected by said trigger switch upon closing thereof in series with said main capacitor for providing at an initial period of emission of said discharge tube an interelectrode voltage from said main capacitor and said additional capacitor, and means for establishing said series connection between said main capacitor and additional capacitor upon closing of said trigger switch, said trigger transformer having a primary winding forming a closed-loop series circuit with said trigger capacitor and said trigger switch which thus short-circuits said trigger capacitor across said primary winding upon closing of said trigger switch, said additional capacitor being connected in series with said primary winding with said trigger switch being connected to a junction situated between said additional capacitor and said primary winding.