Electric exposure control camera

Claim 2

In a photographic camera including a camera casing, a light detecting circuit for detecting light from an object to be photographed, an indication means for indicating exposure value corresponding to the output of said light detecting circuit, an electric shutter circuit for controlling an exposure in accordance with the output of said light detecting circuit, a current source for energizing at least said light detecting circuit, a normally open switch arranged between said current source and said light detecting circuit, a switch operating member for closing said normally open switch, and a shutter release member for initiating shutter mechanism, the improvement wherein said switch operating member comprises a sensor plate responsive to pressure thereon to close said switch, said sensor plate arranged on and extending over said camera casing at an area where the tip of any finger or thumb of a hand which holds the camera casing naturally put when a person who operates the camera holds the casing for photographing by means of one hand with the other hand permitted to move for the operation of said shutter release member, said sensor plate being disposed on a wall of said camera different from that of said shutter release member.

Claim 3

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera is a small size camera constructed so that the operator may hold upper and lower walls of the casing by means of at least one hand during photographing, said shutter release member being arranged in said upper wall.

Claim 4

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a film winding-up lever arranged in an upper wall of said camera casing adjacent to a right side edge of said upper wall with respect to the operator''s position, and wherein said release member is arranged in said upper wall adjacent to said film winding-up lever, and said sensor plate is arranged in a backwall of said camera casing at left upper corner thereof, whereby left hand of the operator may hold the camera with the thumb thereof pushing (or depressing) said sensor plate while the right hand may be prepared for the operation of said shutter release member and said film winding-up lever.

Claim 5

In a photographic camera including a camera casing, a light detecting circuit for detecting light from an object to be photographed, an indication means for indicating exposure value corresponding to the output of said light detecting circuit, an electric shutter circuit for controlling an exposure in accordance with the output of said light detecting circuit, a current sourCe for energizing at least said light detecting circuit, a normally open switch arranged between said current source and said light detecting circuit, a switch operating member for closing said normally open switch, and a shutter release member for initiating shutter mechanism, the improvement wherein said switch operating member comprises a sensor plate responsive to pressure thereon to close said switch, said sensor plate being arranged on and extending over said camera casing at an area where the tip of any finger of at least one of the hands which holds the camera casing is naturally put when a person who operates the camera holds the casing for photographing by means of the fingers of said hand other than that free for the operation of said shutter release member, said sensor plate being disposed on a wall of said camera casing different from that of said shutter release member.

Claim 6

In a photographic camera including a camera casing, a light detecting circuit for detecting light from an object to be photographed, an indication means for indicating exposure value corresponding to the output of said light detecting circuit, an electric shutter circuit for controlling an exposure in accordance with the output of said light detecting circuit, a current sourCe for energizing at least said light detecting circuit, a normally open switch arranged between said current source and said light detecting circuit, a switch operating member for closing said normally open switch, and a shutter release member for initiating shutter mechanism, the improvement wherein said switch operating member comprises a sensor plate responsive to pressure thereon to close said switch, said sensor plate being arranged on and extending over said camera casing at an area where the tip of any finger of at least one of the hands which holds the camera casing is naturally put when a person who operates the camera holds the casing for photographing by means of the fingers of said hand other than that free for the operation of said shutter release member, said sensor plate being disposed on a wall of said camera casing different from that of said shutter release member.

Claim 7

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein said camera is of a type constructed so that the operator may hold the front and back walls of the casing by means of at least one hand during photographing, said shutter release member is arranged in upper wall of the camera to be operated by said free finger of the camera holding hand, said camera has a lens barrel arranged at a central portion of the front wall of the camera, and said sensor plate is mounted at the front wall between said lens barrel and a side edge of the front wall.

Claim 8

A photographic camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said camera further comprises a film winding up lever arranged in an upper wall of said camera casing adjacent to said shutter releasing member to be operated by a thumb of the hand that holds the camera with the thumb free.

Claim 9

In a single lens reflex camera including a camera casing, a light detecting circuit for detecting light from an object to be photographed through an objective, an indication means for indicating exposure value corresponding to the output of said light detecting circuit, a memory circuit for memorizing the output of said light detecting circuit, an electric shutter circuit for controlling an exposure in accordance with the output memorized in said memory circuit, a current source for energizing at least said light detecting circuit, a release member for initiating shutter mechanism, a normally open switch arranged between said current source and said light detecting circuit, and switch operating member for closing said normally open switch, the improvement wherein said switch operating member comprises a sensor plate responsive to pressure thereon to close said switch, said sensor plate being arranged in and extending over a wall of said camera casing at an area where the tip of any finger of at least one of the hands which hold the camera casing is naturally put when a person who operates the camera holds the casing for photographing by means of the fingers of the hand other than that free from the operation of said shutter release member, said sensor plate being disposed on a wall of said camera different from that of said shutter.

Claim 10

In a single lens reflex camera including a camera casing, a light detecting circuit for detecting light from an object to be photographed through an objective, an indication means for indicating exposure value corresponding to the output of said light detecting circuit, a memory circuit for memorizing the output of said light detecting circuit, an electric shutter circuit for controlling an exposure in accordance with the output memorized in said memory circuit, a current source for energizing at least said light detecting circuit, a release member for initiating shutter mechanism, a normally open switch arranged between said current source and said light detecting circuit, and switch operating member for closing said normally open switch, the improvement wherein said switch operating member comprises a sensor plate responsive to pressure thereon to close said switch, said sensor plate being arranged in and extending over a wall of said camera casing at an area where the tip of any finger of at least one of the hands which hold the camera casing is naturally put when a person who operates the camera holds the casing for photographing by means of the fingers of the hand other than that free from the operation of said shutter release member, said sensor plate being disposed on a wall of said camera different from that of said shutter.

Claim 11

A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said camera is of a type constructed so that the operator may hold the front and back walls of the casing by means of at least one hand during photographing, said shutter release member is arranged in upper wall of the camera to be operated by said free finger of the camera holding hand, said camera has a lens barrel arranged at a central portion of the front wall of the camera, and said sensor plate is mounted at the front wall between said lens barrel and a side edge of the front wall.

Claim 12

A single lens reflex camera as claimed in claim 8, wherein said camera further comprises a film winding up lever arranged in an upper wall of said camera casing adjacent to said shutter releasing member to be operated by a thumb of the hand that holds the camera with the thumb free.