US3864700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diaphragm adjusting mechanism for photographic cameras
Assignee: Rollei Werke Franke und Heidecke GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1974-05-20
•
Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1994-05-20
Abstract
Abstract Mechanism controlled by a photoelectric converter, for setting a camera diaphragm at the proper aperture for optimum exposure, under prevailing illumination conditions. Upon depression of a release plunger to start the exposure cycle, the diaphragm which was previously at maximum aperture is closed down to minimum aperture and at the same time an aperture value storage member is moved from its maximum aperture storage position toward its minimum aperture storage position, but is stopped on the way by an arresting latch controlled by a photoelectric converter, in a position corresponding to the proper aperture for the exposure under prevailing light conditions, although the diaphragm itself continues to close down to minimum aperture. Approximately when the diaphragm reaches minimum aperture, it is released and springs back to the aperture set on the aperture value storage member, which is stationary at this time. The camera may then continue with the exposure cycle, to open and close the shutter to make the actual exposure, while the release plunger is still held depressed by the operator. When the release plunger is released by the operator and returned to its initial position the other parts are restored to their initial positions. A separate plunger constituting a measurement key may be depressed if it is desired to see what the automatically selected aperture value would be, without actually making an exposure.
Inventors
- 👤 Bodo Mielke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/081; G03B7/085; G03B9/00; G03B9/02; G03B9/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Exposure controlling mechanism for photographic cameras, comprising a diaphragm having an adjustable aperture, an aperture value storage member movable to different positions representing different diaphragm apertures, diaphragm drive means effective upon actuation to close the diaphragm down from maximum aperture to minimum aperture, positioning means including a photoelectric converter effective during the closing down of the diaphragm to position said storage member in a position representing an optimum aperture for an exposure, and return means for opening the diaphragm up to an aperture corresponding to the position of said storage member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Exposure controlling mechanism for photographic cameras, comprising a diaphragm having an adjustable aperture, an aperture value storage member movable to different positions representing different diaphragm apertures, diaphragm drive means effective upon actuation to close the diaphragm down from maximum aperture to minimum aperture, positioning means including a photoelectric converter effective during the closing down of the diaphragm to position said storage member in a position representing an optimum aperture for an exposure, and return means for opening the diaphragm up to an aperture corresponding to the position of said storage member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a longitudinally movable plunger (3), said storage member (22) includes a cam portion cooperating with said plunger, and said return means includes a spring (28) tending to move said plunger into engagement with said cam portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes means (9, 15, 8) for driving said plunger (3) through a full stroke in a diaphragm closing direction and then releasing said plunger so that said spring (28) may move said plunger in a reverse direction to a position determined by the cam portion of said storage member (22).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said aperture value storage member (22) has a series of recesses (22b), and said positioning means includes an arresting pawl (6a) movable into one of said recesses under the control of said photoelectric converter (4) to hold said storage member in said optimum aperture representing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said storage member is a rotatable disk (22), and said drive means includes a rotatable pawl (18), and there is a spring (21) resiliently coupling said disk to said pawl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said spring (21) tends to move said disk with said pawl when said pawl rotates in one direction, and wherein said disk has an abutment pin (22c) engaged by said pawl when the pawl rotates in the opposite direction, to turn the disk positively in such direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 5, further including a latching detent (19a) for holding said rotatable pawl (18) substantially at the end of its rotary movement in a direction corresponding to decreasing diaphragm aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention defined in claim 5, further comprising a gear segment member (17) moving with said diaphragm drive means, said rotatable pawl (18) having gear teeth meshing with gear teeth on said segment member to turn said pawl upon movement of said drive means in an aperture decreasing direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a longitudinally movable plunger (3), and said return means includes a spring (28) tending to move said plunger in an aperture increasing direction, and operation of said drive means serves to displace said plunger against the force of said spring through a full stroke from its maximum aperture position to and slightly beyond its minimum aperture position and then to release said plunger in its last mentioned position so that said spring may move said plunger in aperture increasing direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
The invention defined in claim 9, wherein said drive means includes a drive lever (9), a plunger displacement lever (8) having a pin and slot connection (7a, 7b) with said plunger, a pivoted pawl (15) mounted on said drive lever for engaging said plunger displacement lever to cause said displacement lever to move with said drive lever during a stroke of the latter in aperture decreasing direction, and a stop (15b) for engaging said pawl to release it from said plunger displacement lever substantially at the end of said stroke of said drive lever.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
125 words
The invention defined in claim 10, further comprising a rotatable pawl resiliently coupled to said value storage member to tend to move said storage member upon movement of said pawl, gear teeth on said pawl, and a gear segment lever having teeth meshing with the gear teEth of said pawl to cause rotary movement of the pawl upon swinging movement of said segment lever, said segment lever, said drive lever, and said plunger displacement lever being mounted for swinging movement about a common axis, and a projection (17a) on said segment lever overlying a portion of said plunger displacement lever in such position that swinging said displacement lever in an aperture reducing direction will swing said segment lever with it, thereby to rotate said pawl.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 7, further comprising means effective upon return of part of said diaphragm drive means to a rest position for unlatching said detent (19a) so that said rotatable pawl (18) may return to its rest position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention defined in claim 10, further comprising a rotatable pawl (18) for moving said aperture value storage member (22), a latching detent (19a) for holding said rotatable pawl substantially at the end of its rotary movement in a direction corresponding to decreasing diaphragm aperture, and a portion (9a) on said drive lever (9) for engaging said latching detent and unlatching the same as said drive lever returns to its rest position after a stroke in an aperture reducing direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising a measurement key operable to actuate said drive means for aperture determining purposes without making a photographic exposure, and means operated by said key for de-coupling said drive means from said storage member so that said return means may immediately open the diaphragm to its maximum aperture regardless of the position of said storage member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention defined in claim 3, further comprising a measurement key (11) operable to actuate said drive means for aperture determining purposes without making a photographic exposure, and means operated by said key for rendering said storage member (22) ineffective to limit the reverse movement of said plunger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention defined in claim 15, wherein said storage member is in the form of a rotary disk having a cam portion aligned with and serving as an abutment for a portion of said plunger, and a lever operable by said measurement key for displacing said rotary disk in an axial direction to move said cam portion thereof out of alignment with said portion of said plunger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising indicating means for indicating the position of said storage member in terms of aperture values, so that when said diaphragm drive means has been actuated, the resultant aperture value can be read.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |