Underwater electronic flash actuator

Claim 2

An underwater flash actuator for a still camera and electronic flash housed in separate waterproof housings comprising a battery disposed in said camera housing connected in series with the shutter switch of said camera, gating circuit means contained in said electronic flash housing connected to the input of said electronic flash for triggering said electronic flash in response to an electrical signal and conductor means connecting said series circuit to said gating circuit means, said gating circuit means comprising a silicon controlled rectifier having conducting and nonconducting states with the anode and cathode thereof connected to the input terminals of said electronic flash.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the gate and cathode of said silicon control rectifier are respectively connected to said conductor means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising current limiter means for limiting the current through said shutter switch.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said current limiter means comprises a resistor connected between the cathode of said silicon control rectifier and said conductor means.

Claim 6

An underwater flash actuator for a still camera and electronic flash housed in separate waterproof housings comprising a battery disposed in said camera housing connected in series with the shutter switch of said camera, a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, cathode and gate and disposed in said electronic flash housing, therefore, the anode and cathode thereof connected to the input terminals of said electronic flash and a pair of conductors connecting said series circuit to the gate and cathode of said silicon control rectifier.

Claim 7

An underwater flash actuator for a still camera and electronic flash housed in separate waterproof housings comprising a battery disposed in said camera housing connected in series with the shutter switch of said camera, a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode, cathode and gate and disposed in said electronic flash housing, therefore, the anode and cathode thereof connected to the input terminals of said electronic flash and a pair of conductors connecting said series circuit to the gate and cathode of said silicon control rectifier.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said electronic flash housing includes a waterproof gland and said camera housing includes an electrical connector, said pair of conductors issuing from said gland and a waterproof connector on the ends of said conductors and matable with the connector of said camera housing.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising current limiter means for limiting the current through said shutter switch.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said current limiter means comprises a resistor connected between the cathode of said silicon control rectifier and one of said conductors.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising pulse suppressor means for suppressing pulses induced in the gate of said silicon control rectifier upon connection of the anode and cathode thereof to said input terminals.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said pulse suppressor means comprises a resistor connected between the gate and cathode of said silicon control rectifier.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said pulse suppressor means comprises a diode connected between the gate and cathode of said silicon control rectifier in reverse-bias configuration.

Claim 14

An underwater flash system comprising a first and second waterproof housing, a camera mounted in said first housing having an electrical power source connected in series with an electrical shutter switch of said camera and having a first pair of electrical terminals connected to the outside of said housing forming a series connection from one of said terminals through the shutter switch and said power source to the other terminal, said second housing having enclosed therein an electronic flash unit and a gating circuit, said gating circuit operable while being energized by said power source to be in a first condition of operation to flash said lamp and while not being energized by said power source to be in a second condition of operation to maintain said flash in an inoperative condition, second terminal means extending through said second housing and connecting said gating circuit and said first terminal meAns, whereby upon actuation of the shutter of the camera in said first housing power is transmitted to said gating circuit to cause said gating circuit to be in the first condition of operation and thereby cause said flash to actuate.

Claim 15

An underwater flash system comprising a first and second waterproof housing, a camera mounted in said first housing having an electrical power source connected in series with an electrical shutter switch of said camera and having a first pair of electrical terminals connected to the outside of said housing forming a series connection from one of said terminals through the shutter switch and said power source to the other terminal, said second housing having enclosed therein an electronic flash unit and a gating circuit, said gating circuit operable while being energized by said power source to be in a first condition of operation to flash said lamp and while not being energized by said power source to be in a second condition of operation to maintain said flash in an inoperative condition, second terminal means extending through said second housing and connecting said gating circuit and said first terminal meAns, whereby upon actuation of the shutter of the camera in said first housing power is transmitted to said gating circuit to cause said gating circuit to be in the first condition of operation and thereby cause said flash to actuate.