Photographic apparatus with precision motor control

Claim 2

A control system for photographic apparatus of a variety having instrumentalities selectively actuable in the course of carrying out operational events of a photographic cycle comprising: electric motor means energizable from a source of electricity to develop a rotational drive output; mechanical control means movable in response to said motor means output and including mechanical cycle logic means movable to predetermined positions in the course of said photographic cycle to effect the initiation and termination of select ones of said events; control circuit means for controlling said actuation of said instrumentalities and including: logic means having first and second output conditions and responsive to said mechanical cycle logic means reaching select ones of said predetermined positions for developing said second output condition, and circuit means responsive to said first output condition for energizing said electric motor means to effect said movement of said cycle logic means and responsive to said second output condition for de-energizing and dynamically braking said electric motor means, said circuit means further being configured to effect a dead zone separation between said deenergization and said dynamic braking.

Claim 3

The control system of claim 1 in which said circuit means includes brake switching circuit means including means defining a dynamic braking loop for dynamic braking of said motor means to selectively regulate the extent of rotation of said drive output following said de-energization.

Claim 4

The control system of claim 2 in which said brake switching circuit means is configured and arranged to exhibit an impedance within said braking loop selected to derive said regulation of the extent of rotation of said drive output.

Claim 5

The control system of claim 2 in which said circuit means includes energizing means for activating said brake switching circuit means from said source to derive said regulated extent of rotation of said motor means drive output.

Claim 6

The control system of claim 4 in which said energizing means includes energy storage means for storing electrical energy from said source while said electric motor means is energized and means responsive to the discharge of said energy for activating said energizing means during said dynamic braking of said motor means.

Claim 7

The control system of claim 4 in whicH: said dynamic braking loop is configured to exhibit a predetermined voltage decay characteristic when said motor means is dynamically braked; and wherein said energizing means includes sensing network means responsive to said voltage decay reaching a predetermined level for effecting the de-activation of said brake switching circuit means following said regulated extent of rotation of said motor means drive output.

Claim 8

The control system of claim 4 in which: said dynamic braking loop is configured to exhibit a voltage having a perdetermined decay characteristic when said motor means is dynamically braked; and wherein said energizing means includes activator means for activating said brake switching circuit means, and sensing network means responsive to the presence of said voltage above a predetermined level for activating said activator means.

Claim 9

A control system for photographic apparatus comprising: instrumentality means actuable to carry out operational events of a photographic cycle; electric motor means energizable to provide a rotating drive output; mechanical control means responsive to said rotating drive output for causing said instrumentality means to carry out select ones of said operational events; and control means for selectively energizing, subsequently de-energizing, and dynamically braking said electric motor means, said control means being configured and arranged to effect a dead zone separation between said de-energization and said dynamic braking.

Claim 10

A control system for photographic apparatus comprising: instrumentality means actuable to carry out operational events of a photographic cycle; electric motor means energizable to provide a rotating drive output; mechanical control means responsive to said rotating drive output for causing said instrumentality means to carry out select ones of said operational events; and control means for selectively energizing, subsequently de-energizing, and dynamically braking said electric motor means, said control means being configured and arranged to effect a dead zone separation between said de-energization and said dynamic braking.

Claim 11

The control system of claim 8 in which said control means includes: a first switching circuit for energizing and de-energizing said electric motor means; a second switching circuit including a dynamic braking loop, actuable to effect said dynamic braking; and means selectively delaying said second switching circuit actuation so as to prevent energization of said motor means through said first switching circuit and simultaneous actuation of said second switching circuit.

Claim 12

The control system of claim 9 in which said dynamic braking loop is configured to exhibit a predetermined voltage decay characteristic when actuated to brake said electric motor means; and said second switching circuit further includes sensing network means responsive to said voltage decay reaching a predetermined level for de-activating said braking loop at the termination of a said photographic cycle.

Claim 13

The control system of claim 8 in which said control means includes: first switching circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said electric motor means; second switching circuit means energizable to activate a dynamic braking loop; and energy storage means for selectively energizing said second switching circuit means when said first switching circuit means de-energizes said motor means.

Claim 14

The control system of claim 11 in which said energy storage means is configured to store energy from a power source while said electric motor means is energized.

Claim 15

The control system of claim 8 in which said control means includes: logic means having a first output signal of one voltage level for energizing said motor means and another voltage level for de-energizing said motor means; first switching circuit means including first solid state switch means responsive to said logic means output signal achieving said one voltage level for energizing said motor means and responsive to said output signal falling below said one level for de-energizing said motor means; and second switching circuit means including second solid state switch means responsive to said logic means output signal falling to said other level for dynamically braking said motor means.

Claim 16

The control system of claim 13 in which said control means includes reference means for interposing a voltage intermediate said first and second solid state switch means having a level selected to establish a said dead zone separation therebetween.

Claim 17

In a photographic coNtrol system of a variety having an electric motor and control logic means deriving one output signal for energizing said motor from a source of electricity and another output signal for de-energizing said motor, and improved motor control circuit comprising: first circuit means including first solid state switching means responsive to said one output signal for energizing said motor from said source and to said other output signal for de-energizing said motor; and second circuit means including second solid state switch means responsive to said other output signal for dynamically braking said motor and including a dynamic braking loop connected across said motor and exhibiting a predetermined impedance selected to effect a select number of revolutions of said motor when dynamically braked.

Claim 18

In a photographic coNtrol system of a variety having an electric motor and control logic means deriving one output signal for energizing said motor from a source of electricity and another output signal for de-energizing said motor, and improved motor control circuit comprising: first circuit means including first solid state switching means responsive to said one output signal for energizing said motor from said source and to said other output signal for de-energizing said motor; and second circuit means including second solid state switch means responsive to said other output signal for dynamically braking said motor and including a dynamic braking loop connected across said motor and exhibiting a predetermined impedance selected to effect a select number of revolutions of said motor when dynamically braked.

Claim 19

The photographic control system of claim 15 in which said second circuit means includes energizing means for activating said second solid state switching means from said source of electricity when said motor is dynamically braked.

Claim 20

The photographic control system of claim 16 in which: said dynamic brake loop is configured to exhibit a predetermined voltage decay characteristic when said motor is dynamically braked; and said energizing means includes sensing network means responsive to said voltage decay reaching a predetermined level for de-activating said second switching circuit means.

Claim 21

The photographic control system of claim 16 in which said energizing means includes: third solid state switching means operative when activated to activate said second solid state switching means; and energy storage means for storing electrical energy from said source while said electric motor means is energized and for activating said third solid state switching means while said motor is dynamically braked.

Claim 22

The photographic control system of claim 15 wherein said first circuit means and said second circuit means are configured and arranged to effect a dead zone separation therebetween intermediate said de-energization and said dynamic braking of said electric motor.

Claim 23

The photographic control system of claim 19 wherein said second circuit means includes means for selectively delaying activation of said second solid state switch means so as to avoid energization of said motor by said first circuit means and simultaneous activation of said second solid state switch means.

Claim 24

The photographic control system of claim 15 including reference network means for asserting a voltage intermediate said first and second solid state switch means having a level selected to establish a dead zone separation therebetween.

Claim 25

A control system for photographic apparatus of a variety having instrumentalities selectively actuable in the course of carrying out operational events of a photographic cycle comprising: electric motor means energizable from a source of electricity to develop a rotational drive output; mechanical control means movable in response to said motor means output and including mechanical cycle logic means movable to predetermined positions in the course of said photographic cycle to effect the initiation and termination of select ones of said events; control circuit means for controlling said actuation of said instrumentalities and including: logic means actuable in response to said mechanical cycle logic means reaching select ones of said predetermined positions for developing a select output condition, and circuit means for selectively energizing said electric motor means to effect said movement of said cycle logic means and responsive to said select output condition for de-energizing said motor means, said circuit means including brake switching circuit means having means defining a dynamic braking loop for dynamically braking said motor means to selectively regulate the extent of rotation of said drive output following said de-energization, and energizing means for activating said brake switching ciRcuit means from said source.

Claim 26

A control system for photographic apparatus of a variety having instrumentalities selectively actuable in the course of carrying out operational events of a photographic cycle comprising: electric motor means energizable from a source of electricity to develop a rotational drive output; mechanical control means movable in response to said motor means output and including mechanical cycle logic means movable to predetermined positions in the course of said photographic cycle to effect the initiation and termination of select ones of said events; control circuit means for controlling said actuation of said instrumentalities and including: logic means actuable in response to said mechanical cycle logic means reaching select ones of said predetermined positions for developing a select output condition, and circuit means for selectively energizing said electric motor means to effect said movement of said cycle logic means and responsive to said select output condition for de-energizing said motor means, said circuit means including brake switching circuit means having means defining a dynamic braking loop for dynamically braking said motor means to selectively regulate the extent of rotation of said drive output following said de-energization, and energizing means for activating said brake switching ciRcuit means from said source.

Claim 27

The control system of claim 22 in which said energizing means includes energy storage means for storing electrical energy from said source while said electric motor means is energized and means responsive to the discharge of said energy for activating said energizing means during said dynamic braking of said motor means.

Claim 28

The control system of claim 22 in which: said dynamic braking loop is configured to exhibit a predetermined voltage decay characteristic when said motor means is dynamically braked; and wherein said energizing means includes sensing network means responsive to said voltage decay reaching a predetermined level for effecting the deactivation of said brake switching circuit means following said regulated extent of rotation of said motor means drive output.

Claim 29

The control system of claim 22 in which: said dynamic braking loop is configured to exhibit a voltage having a predetermined decay characteristic when said motor means is dynamically braked; and wherein said energizing means includes activator means for activating said brake switching circuit means, and sensing network means responsive to the presence of said voltage above a predetermined level for activating said activator means.

Claim 30

A photographic system comprising: lens means; means for mounting a film unit for exposure to light entering said camera through said lens means; means for receiving a source of electrical energy; an operator mechanism; a light reflective element mounted for selective displacement between a position wherein it precludes light rays entering said photographic system through said lens means for exposing the film unit and a second position wherein it does not preclude light rays entering said photographic system through said lens means from exposing the film unit; means responsive to the movement of said operator mechanism for performing at least one operational event of a photographic cycle, said one operational event including the displacement of said light reflecting element from its said first position into its said second position; an electric motor having a mechanical drive output; a motor dynamic braking circuit; means coupling said mechanical drive output of said electric motor to said operator mechanism; and electrically operable control means for electrically coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the displacement of said light reflecting element from its said first position into its said second position, for then disconnecting said electric motor from the source of electrical energy and completing an electrical circuit between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said electric motor, the electrical impedance in said braking circuit being selected to terminate the movement of said operator mechanism before it can again initiate the performance of an operational event of said photographic cycle.

Claim 31

A photographic system comprising: lens means; means for mounting a film unit for exposure to light entering said camera through said lens means; means for receiving a source of electrical energy; an operator mechanism; a light reflective element mounted for selective displacement between a position wherein it precludes light rays entering said photographic system through said lens means for exposing the film unit and a second position wherein it does not preclude light rays entering said photographic system through said lens means from exposing the film unit; means responsive to the movement of said operator mechanism for performing at least one operational event of a photographic cycle, said one operational event including the displacement of said light reflecting element from its said first position into its said second position; an electric motor having a mechanical drive output; a motor dynamic braking circuit; means coupling said mechanical drive output of said electric motor to said operator mechanism; and electrically operable control means for electrically coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the displacement of said light reflecting element from its said first position into its said second position, for then disconnecting said electric motor from the source of electrical energy and completing an electrical circuit between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said electric motor, the electrical impedance in said braking circuit being selected to terminate the movement of said operator mechanism before it can again initiate the performance of an operational event of said photographic cycle.

Claim 32

The photographic system of claim 26 wherein said means for performing at least one operational event of a photographic cycle responsive to the movement of said operator mechanism additionally performs another operational event including the return of said light reflecting element from its said second position into its said first position following the exposure of the film unit and said electrically operable control means additionally includes means for coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy after the exposure of the film unit to effect the return of said light reflecting element into its said first position, then disconnecting said electrical motor from the source of electrical energy and again completing said electrical circuit between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said electric motor.

Claim 33

A photographic system comprising: means for receiving a source of electrical energy; an operator mechanism arranged For movement away from an initial position and then back into its said initial position; means responsive to said movement of said operator mechanism for sequentially performing a plurality of operational events of a photographic cycle; an electric motor having a mechanical drive output; a motor dynamic braking circuit; means coupling said mechanical drive output of said electric motor to said operator mechanism; and electrically operable control means for sequentially electrically coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the performance of an initial of said operational events of said photographic cycle as said operator mechanism moves away from its said initial position, for disconnecting said electric motor from the source of electrical energy, completing an electrical circuit between said source and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said motor, disrupting the operative braking association between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit, coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the performance of another of said operational events as said operator mechanism is returned into tis said initial position and again completing said electrical circuit between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said electric motor, the electrical impedance in said braking circuit being selected to terminate the movement of said operator mechanism subsequent to the performance of each said operational event and before it can initiate the performance of the next said operational event.

Claim 34

A photographic system comprising: means for receiving a source of electrical energy; an operator mechanism arranged For movement away from an initial position and then back into its said initial position; means responsive to said movement of said operator mechanism for sequentially performing a plurality of operational events of a photographic cycle; an electric motor having a mechanical drive output; a motor dynamic braking circuit; means coupling said mechanical drive output of said electric motor to said operator mechanism; and electrically operable control means for sequentially electrically coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the performance of an initial of said operational events of said photographic cycle as said operator mechanism moves away from its said initial position, for disconnecting said electric motor from the source of electrical energy, completing an electrical circuit between said source and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said motor, disrupting the operative braking association between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit, coupling said electric motor to the source of electrical energy to effect the performance of another of said operational events as said operator mechanism is returned into tis said initial position and again completing said electrical circuit between said electric motor and said motor braking circuit to dynamically brake said electric motor, the electrical impedance in said braking circuit being selected to terminate the movement of said operator mechanism subsequent to the performance of each said operational event and before it can initiate the performance of the next said operational event.