Radiation sensitive flash apparatus

Claim 2

A flash triggering device for use with an electronic flash unit of the type having a hot shoe comprising a mounting shoe for physically mounting said flash unit and electrical terminal means on said mounting shoe for triggering said flash unit to produce a flash, the improvement comprising body means forming a housing for said triggering device, said body means having a top and said body means having at least a side portion thereof transparent to light, said body means including light sensing means for receiving light passing through said transparent portion of said body means, said light sensing means being responsive to received light for providing an electrical signal in response to the receipt of a predetermined amount of light, hot shoe means on said top of said body means mounted for rotation about an axis substantially normal to said top of said body means and for releasably receiving and mounting the hot shoe of an electronic flash unit, said hot shoe means comprising flange means for mechanically mating with the mounting shoe of an electronic flash unit for physically coupling an electronic flash unit with said slave device and for providing a first electrical connection between an electrical terminal of the hot shoe of the electronic flash unit and said light sensing means, said flange means being coupled with said body means for rotation with respect thereto about said axis, a portion of said flange means forming an electrical conductor providing a slidable rotary electrical contact with an electrical conductor connected to said light sensing means, and said hot shoe means including an electrical contact mounted on said top of said body means substantially coaxially with said axis of rotation of said hot shoe means, said electrical contact having a first portion for providing a second electrical connection between a second electrical terminal of the hot shoe of the electronic flash unit, and having a second portion electrically connected to said light sensing means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said body means comprises a housing having a translucent portion forming said light transparent portion thereof, and said light sensing means includes a light sensor responsive to light passing through said translucent portion and includes an electrical circuit connected with said light sensor, said flange and electrical contact of said hot shoe means being connected with said electrical circuit.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit includes a switch member having first and second positions for respectively providing high and low sensitivity settings for said circuit with respect to light received by said light sensor.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3 wherein said circuit includes a silicon controlled rectifier, said light sensitive means being DC coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier in said high sensitivity setting of said switch member, and said light sensor being AC coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier in said low sensitivity setting thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2 wherein said translucent portion is a lens having a diamond pattern on at least one face.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 wherein said housing and said lens form a generally cylindrical exterior surface for said body means.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said flange of said hot shoe means includes first and second spaced channel-shaped guide means, and spring means are frictionally coupled with said guide means for providing the frictional force fit with a hot shoe of the flash unit.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein said body means comprises a housing having a translucent portion forming said light transparent portion thereof, said light sensing means includes a light sensor responsive to light passing through said translucent portion and includes an electrical circuit connected with said light sensor, said flange and electrical contact of said hot shoe means being connected with said electrical circuit, and said electrical circuit being on board means secured within said housing, and said light sensor being disposed on an edge of said board means and having a light sensitive surface facing said translucent portion of said body means.

Claim 10

A flash triggering device, for use with an electronic flash unit of the type having a hot shoe comprising a mounting shoe for physically mounting said flash unit and electrical terminal means on said mounting shoe for triggering said flash unit to produce a flash, the improvement comprising body means forming a housing for said triggering device, said body means having a portion thereof transparent to light, and said body means having a surface with a shoulder extending therefrom, said shoulder having an opening therethrough, said body means including light sensing means for receiving light passing through said transparent portion of said body means and providing an electrical signal in response thereto, bracket means on said surface of said body means mounted for rotation about an axis substantially normal to said surface of said body means and for releasably receiving and mounting the hot shoe of the electronic flash unit, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving a cooperating mating shoe of a flash unit and providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the flash unit, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, and said center portion being mounted on said surface of said body means with said opening of said center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted on said body means and engaging a surface of said center portion of said bracket means for providing a slidable rotary electrical contact with said center portion irrespective of the degrees of rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrically nonconductive means between said upper surface of said center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means on said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means and forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the flash unit.

Claim 11

A flash triggering device, for use with an electronic flash unit of the type having a hot shoe comprising a mounting shoe for physically mounting said flash unit and electrical terminal means on said mounting shoe for triggering said flash unit to produce a flash, the improvement comprising body means forming a housing for said triggering device, said body means having a portion thereof transparent to light, and said body means having a surface with a shoulder extending therefrom, said shoulder having an opening therethrough, said body means including light sensing means for receiving light passing through said transparent portion of said body means and providing an electrical signal in response thereto, bracket means on said surface of said body means mounted for rotation about an axis substantially normal to said surface of said body means and for releasably receiving and mounting the hot shoe of the electronic flash unit, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving a cooperating mating shoe of a flash unit and providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the flash unit, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, and said center portion being mounted on said surface of said body means with said opening of said center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted on said body means and engaging a surface of said center portion of said bracket means for providing a slidable rotary electrical contact with said center portion irrespective of the degrees of rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrically nonconductive means between said upper surface of said center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means on said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means and forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the flash unit.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9 wherein said body means comprises a housing having a translucent portion forming said light transparent portion thereof. said light sensing means includes a light sensor responsive to light passing through said translucent portion and includes an electrical circuit connected with said light sensor, said bracket and electrical contact being connected with said electrical circuit, said electrical circuit includes a switch member having first and second positions for respectively providing high and low sensitivity settings for said circuit with respect to light received by said ligHt sensor, and said circuit includes a silicon controlled rectifier, said light sensitive means being DC coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier in said high sensitivity setting of said switch member, and said light sensor being AC coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier in said low sensitivity setting thereof.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9 wherein said guide means of said hot shoe means includes a substantially flat bottom section terminating in a pair of spaced and substantially parallel channel guides, said guide means includes a stop formed by a tab at one end of said flat portion, and the other end of said flat section includes an opening therein through which an electrical terminal of the hot shoe of the flash unit may pass without making electrical contact with said flat portion of said guide means, said contact means comprises a contact washer mounted on said surface of said body means and having an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of said center portion of said bracket means, and includes an electrical lead connected with said contact washer and extending through said body means, said electrically nonconductive means includes a washer formed of electrically insulating material disposed on said shoulder of said body means and having a bottom surface engaging said upper surface of said depressed center portion of said hot shoe means, and said central conductor means terminates in a head portion which forms said electrical contact at the top of said shoulder and which engages the upper surface of said washer of insulation material for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means on said body means.

Claim 14

The device of claim 9 wherein said surface of said body means is in the form of an annular groove and said shoulder extends upwardly from said groove, said center portion of said bracket means is depressed to fit within said groove of said body means, and said contact means comprises a contact washer mounted in the bottom of said groove of said body means and has an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of said depressed center portion of said bracket means thereby forming said slidable rotary electrical contact, and includes an electrical lead connected with said contact washer and extending through said body means.

Claim 15

A rotatable hot shoe for photographic apparatus for providing a releasable mechanical and electrical coupling between two photographic devices and for enabling the devices to be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining electrical connection therebetween, comprising body means for supporting said rotatable hot shoe, said body means having a surface with an annular groove therein defining a depression and a central shoulder, said shoulder having an opening therethrough, bracket means rotatably coupled with said body means for mechanically and electrically coupling with a shoe of a first photographic device to be coupled with said hot shoe, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving a cooperating mating shoe of the first photographic device, said guide means including stop means for limiting movement of said cooperating mating shoe, and said bracket means providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a depressed center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, said depressed center portion being mounted in said annular groove of said body means with said opening of said depressed center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted in said body means and engaging a surface of said depressed center portion of said bracket means for providing electrical contact with said depressed center portion irrespective of the degrees oF rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrical nonconductive means between said upper surface of said depressed center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means in said groove of said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device.

Claim 16

A rotatable hot shoe for photographic apparatus for providing a releasable mechanical and electrical coupling between two photographic devices and for enabling the devices to be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining electrical connection therebetween, comprising body means for supporting said rotatable hot shoe, said body means having a surface with an annular groove therein defining a depression and a central shoulder, said shoulder having an opening therethrough, bracket means rotatably coupled with said body means for mechanically and electrically coupling with a shoe of a first photographic device to be coupled with said hot shoe, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving a cooperating mating shoe of the first photographic device, said guide means including stop means for limiting movement of said cooperating mating shoe, and said bracket means providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a depressed center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, said depressed center portion being mounted in said annular groove of said body means with said opening of said depressed center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted in said body means and engaging a surface of said depressed center portion of said bracket means for providing electrical contact with said depressed center portion irrespective of the degrees oF rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrical nonconductive means between said upper surface of said depressed center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means in said groove of said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device.

Claim 17

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 13 for use with a photographic device having a shoe comprising a mounting flange forming a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor disposed centrally with respect to said mounting flange and wherein said guide means of said rotatable hot shoe includes a substantially flat bottom section terminating in a pair of spaced and substantially parallel channel guides, said stop of said guide means includes a tab at one end of said flat portion, and the other end of said flat section includes an opening therein through which said central conductor of said photographic device may pass without making electrical contact with said flat portion of said guide means.

Claim 18

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 14 wherein said contact means comprises a contact washer mounted in the bottom of said groove of said body means and having an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of said depressed center portion of said rotatable hot shoe, and includes an electrical lead connected with said contact washer and extending through said body means, said electrically nonconductive means includes a washer formed of electrically insulating material disposed on said shoulder of said body means and having a bottom surface engaging said upper surface of said depressed center portion of said rotatable hot shoe and shoe, said central conductor means terminates in a head portion which forms said electrical contact at the top of said shoulder and which engages the upper surface of said washer of insulation material for maintaining said depressed center portion of said rotatable hot shoe within said groove of said body means.

Claim 19

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 13 including spring means frictionally coupled with said guide means for providing a frictional force fit with the shoe of the first photographic device.

Claim 20

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 13 wherein said body means forms a housing, said housing including therein light sensor means comprising a second photographic device, said light sensor means being mounted in said housing for receiving light directed toward said body means, and said light sensor means including a light sensor and a switching circuit coupled with said light sensor, said switching circuit being electrically connected with said bracket means and said central conductor means for applying an electrical signal to the first photographic device.

Claim 21

A rotatable hot shoe for photographic apparatus for providing a releasable mechanical and electrical coupling between two photographic devices and for enabling the devices to be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining electrical connection therebetween, comprising body means for supporting said rotatable hot shoe, said body means having a shoulder with an opening therethrough, bracket means rotatably coupled with said body means for mechanically and electrically coupling with a cooperating mating shoe of a first photographic device to be coupled with said hot shoe, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving, and including stop means for limiting movement of, the mating shoe of the first photographic device, and said bracket means providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, said center portion being mounted on said body means with said opening of said center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted on said body means and engaging a surface of said center portion of said bracket means for providing electrical contact with said center portion irrespective of the degrees of rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrically nonconductive means between said upper surface of said center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means on said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means and forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device.

Claim 22

A rotatable hot shoe for photographic apparatus for providing a releasable mechanical and electrical coupling between two photographic devices and for enabling the devices to be rotated with respect to one another while maintaining electrical connection therebetween, comprising body means for supporting said rotatable hot shoe, said body means having a shoulder with an opening therethrough, bracket means rotatably coupled with said body means for mechanically and electrically coupling with a cooperating mating shoe of a first photographic device to be coupled with said hot shoe, said bracket means including first and second spaced guide means having side and upper portions for slidably receiving, and including stop means for limiting movement of, the mating shoe of the first photographic device, and said bracket means providing a first electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device, said bracket means including a central section extending from said guide means and terminating in a center portion having upper and lower surfaces, said center portion having an opening therein, said center portion being mounted on said body means with said opening of said center portion mounted substantially coaxially with respect to said shoulder of said body means, contact means mounted on said body means and engaging a surface of said center portion of said bracket means for providing electrical contact with said center portion irrespective of the degrees of rotation of said bracket means with respect to said body means, electrically nonconductive means between said upper surface of said center portion of said bracket means and said shoulder of said body means for maintaining said center portion of said bracket means on said body means, and central conductor means extending through said opening in the shoulder of said body means and terminating in an electrical contact at the top of said shoulder of said body means and forming a second electrical contact for the shoe of the first photographic device.

Claim 23

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 18 wherein said contact means comprises a contact washer mounted on said body means and having an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of said center portion of said rotatable hot shoe, and includes an electrical lead connected with said contact washer and extending through said body means, said electrically nonconductive means includes a washer formed of electrically insulating material disposed on said shoulder of said body means and having a bottom surface engaging said upper surface of said center portion of said rotatable hot shoe, and said central conductor means terminates in a head portion which forms said electrical contact at the top of said shoulder and which engages the upper surface of said washer of insulation material for maintaining said center portion of said rotatable hot shoe on said body means.

Claim 24

A rotatable hot shoe as in claim 18 wherein said body means forms a housing, said housing including therein light sensor means comprising a second photographic device, said light sensor means being mounted in said housing for receiving light directed toward said body means, and said light sensor means including a light sensor and a switching circuit coupled with said light sensor, said switching circuit being electrically connected with said bracket means and said central conductor means for applying an electrical signal to the first photographic device.