Camera having automatic flash and shutter controls

Claim 2

In a camera, flash means for providing preparatory flash illumination prior to film exposure and main flash illumination during film exposure, preparatory circuit means electrically connected with said flash means for operating the latter to provide said preparatory flash illumination, main circuit means electrically connected with said flash means and with said preparatory circuit means for operating said flash means to provide said main flash illumination in a manner determined by the operation of said flash means during said preparatory flash illumination, memory means for storing an electrical quantity corresponding to normal illumination, memory switch means electrically connected with said memory means for rendering the latter operative during one interval to store said electrical quantity, preparatory switch means electrically connected with said preparatory circuit means for rendering the latter operative during another interval, and control means operatively connected with said memory switch means and said preparatory switch means for making said intervals occur at different at least partly nonoverlapping times by respectively operating both of the latter switch means at different at least partly non-overlapping times to thereby permit said memory means to store an electrical quantity corresponding to normal illumination and prevent said memory means from storing an electrical quantity corresponding to said preparatory flash illumination.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said control means is operatively connected with said memory switch means for operating the latter prior to operation of said preparatory switch means.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said control means is operatively connected with said preparatory switch means for operating the latter prior to operation of said memory switch means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and wherein an objective receives light from an object to be photographed, and photosensitive means for receiving both the preparatory flash illumination and the normal illumination after light of both of the latter illuminations has travelled through the objective.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 and wherein said photosensitive means includes a pair of photosensitive components one of which is operatively connected with said preparatory circuit means and the other of which is operatively connected with said memory means through said memory switch means.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 and wherein an eleCtronic shutter-controlling means for automatically controlling exposure time includes said memory means and said memory switch means, said electronic shutter-controlling means including a shutter-closing circuit means for automatically closing the shutter in accordance with controls determined in part by the quantity stored by said memory means, and said main flash circuit means being electrically connected with said shutter-closing circuit means for operating the latter automatically upon termination of the main flash illumination independently of the remainder of said electronic shutter controlling means for synchronizing film exposure with said main flash illumination independently of the quantity stored by said memory means.

Claim 8

In a camera, flash means for providing preparatory flash illumination prior to film exposure and main flash illumination during film exposure, preparatory circuit means electrically connected with said flash means for operating the latter to provide said preparatory flash illumination, main circuit means electrically connected with said flash means and with said preparatory circuit means for operating said flash means to provide said main flash illumination in a manner determined by the operation of said flash means during said preparatory flash illumination, memory means for storing an electrical quantity corresponding to normal illumination different from flash illumination, memory switch means electrically connected with said memory means for rendering the latter operative to store said electrical quantity, preparatory switch means electrically connected with said preparatory circuit means for rendering the latter operative, and control means operatively connected with said memory switch means and said preparatory switch means for respectively operating both of the latter switch means at different times for providing a quantity stored by said memory means which will not be influenced by said preparatory flash illumination and wherein a mirror means is swingable between a light-receiving position and an exposure position, and lever means operatively connected with said mirror means for swinging the latter from said light-receiving position to said exposure position, said lever means having a portion forming said control means and operating said memory switch means and said preparatory switch means prior to swinging of said mirror means from said light-receiving position to said exposure position thereof.

Claim 9

In a camera, flash means for providing preparatory flash illumination prior to film exposure and main flash illumination during film exposure, preparatory circuit means electrically connected with said flash means for operating the latter to provide said preparatory flash illumination, main circuit means electrically connected with said flash means and with said preparatory circuit means for operating said flash means to provide said main flash illumination in a manner determined by the operation of said flash means during said preparatory flash illumination, memory means for storing an electrical quantity corresponding to normal illumination different from flash illumination, memory switch means electrically connected with said memory means for rendering the latter operative to store said electrical quantity, preparatory switch means electrically connected with said preparatory circuit means for rendering the latter operative, and control means operatively connected with said memory switch means and said preparatory switch means for respectively operating both of the latter switch means at different times for providing a quantity stored by said memory means which will not be influenced by said preparatory flash illumination and wherein a mirror means is swingable between a light-receiving position and an exposure position, and lever means operatively connected with said mirror means for swinging the latter from said light-receiving position to said exposure position, said lever means having a portion forming said control means and operating said memory switch means and said preparatory switch means prior to swinging of said mirror means from said light-receiving position to said exposure position thereof.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 and wherein said portion of said lever means which forms said control means first opens said memory switch means to terminate the operation of said memory means and then closes said preparatory switch means for initiating the operation of said preparatory circuit means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 and wherein said portion of said lever means which forms said control means first closes said preparatory switch means to operate said preparatory circuit means and then opens said memory switch means to render said memory means operative subsequent to the interval during which preparatory flash illumination is provided by said flash means.