Control circuit for an automatic photographic camera

Claim 1

In an automatic camera featuring a plurality of automatic control functions including an electronically controlled shutter, an automatic film advance means, an automatic shutter reset means and an electronic flash unit, a control system for controlling the sequence and actuation of said control functions, said control system compriSing: a sequence initiate switch means having a reset condition and an actuated condition, said switch being operable to selectively connect portions of said control system to an energy source means, an oscillator circuit means for energizing said electronic flash unit, said oscillator circuit means being coupled to the energy source means through said reset condition of said sequence initiate switch means; a first light sensing circuit for sensing the intensity of ambient light, first signal means responsive to said first light sensing circuit for producing a signal having a first signal level when said ambient light is below a predetermined value and a second signal level when said ambient light is above said predetermined value, oscillator control means responsive to said signal from said first signal means, said oscillator control means being operative to enable said oscillator circuit means to be responsive to said first signal level and to block said oscillator circuit means from being responsive to said second signal level, a shutter opening control circuit operative to introduce a momentary delay in the initiation of opening of the shutter, said shutter opening control circuit being coupled to the energy source means through said actuated condition of said sequence initiate switch means, a shutter closing control circuit operative to selectively delay the closure of the shutter, said shutter closing control circuit being coupled to the energy source means through said actuated condition of said sequence initiate switch means, a second light sensing circuit for sensing the amount of light admitted through the opening of the shutter, and second signal means responsive to said second light sensing circuit to produce a control signal representative that a predetermined amount of light had admitted through the shutter opening, said shutter closing control circuit being responsive to said control signal to effect the closure of the shutter.