Photographic control system with evaluation control

Claim 2

In an exposure control system actuable to automatically carry out a photographic exposure cycle effecting the exposure of photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to said scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of brightness below a predetermined level; selectively engageable inhibit means responsive to said signal condition for preventing the carrying out of a said exposure cycle when enabled upon actuation of said system; and override means for suppressing said inhibit means enablement for a predetermined interval of time following an initial said actuation of said system.

Claim 3

The exposure control system of claim 1 further comprising indicator means energizable in response to said detector means signal condition for providing a perceptible low light level signal.

Claim 4

The exposure control system of claim 1 in which said override means predetermined interval is selected as about 5 seconds.

Claim 5

The exposure control system of claim 1 in which said override means includes means responsive to a subsequent actuation of said system after said initial actuation and within said predetermined time interval for continuing said suppression of said inhibit means enablement throughout said cycle.

Claim 6

The exposure control system of claim 1 in which: said override means includes timer means energizable to derive an output state for an interval corresponding with said predetermined interval; latch means responsive to said initial actuation for effecting the energization of said timer means during said interval; and means responsive to said output state for suppressing said inhibit means enablement.

Claim 7

The exposure control system of claim 5 in which said timer means includes reset means responsive to said initial actuation of said system for effecting said actuation response of said timer means and responsive to subsequent said actuations within a said predetermined interval to cause said timer means to re-initiate a said interval.

Claim 8

In an exposure control system of a variety operative in ambient or transient illumination modes and actuable in said ambient mode to automatically carry out a photographic exposure cycle in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to said scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of brightness below a predetermined level; selectively enableable inhibit means responsive to said signal condition for preventing the carrying out of a said exposure cycle when enabled upon actuation of said system; override means for suppressing said inhibit means enablement for a predetermined interval of time following an initial said actuation of said system; and mode responsive means for suppressing said inhibit means enablement when said control system is operated in said transient illumination mode.

Claim 9

In an exposure control system of a variety operative in ambient or transient illumination modes and actuable in said ambient mode to automatically carry out a photographic exposure cycle in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to said scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of brightness below a predetermined level; selectively enableable inhibit means responsive to said signal condition for preventing the carrying out of a said exposure cycle when enabled upon actuation of said system; override means for suppressing said inhibit means enablement for a predetermined interval of time following an initial said actuation of said system; and mode responsive means for suppressing said inhibit means enablement when said control system is operated in said transient illumination mode.

Claim 10

The exposure control system of claim 7 further comprising indicator means energizable in response to said detector means signal condition for providing a perceptible low light level signal.

Claim 11

The exposure control system of claim 7 further comprising indicator means energizable in response to said detector means signal condition for providing a perceptible low light level signal, and said mode responsive means is operative to suppress said indicator means energization when said control system is operated in said transient illumination mode.

Claim 12

In an exposure control system of a variety including switch means initially actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition to effect the commencement of a photographic cycle and first latch means for selectively committing said system to the carrying out of said cycle in the presence of said second circuit condition of said switch means, said cycle including the operational event of controlling the exposure of photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a unique signal condition when said scene brightness level is below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said first circuit condition at said switch means initial actuation for inhibiting the continuation of said photographic cycle in the presence of said unique signal condition; and override means for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said cycle performance for a predetermined interval of time when said switch means assumes said second circuit condition.

Claim 13

In an exposure control system of a variety including switch means initially actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition to effect the commencement of a photographic cycle and first latch means for selectively committing said system to the carrying out of said cycle in the presence of said second circuit condition of said switch means, said cycle including the operational event of controlling the exposure of photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a unique signal condition when said scene brightness level is below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said first circuit condition at said switch means initial actuation for inhibiting the continuation of said photographic cycle in the presence of said unique signal condition; and override means for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said cycle performance for a predetermined interval of time when said switch means assumes said second circuit condition.

Claim 14

The exposure control system of claim 10 wherein said improvement further comprises indicator means energizable in response to said detector means unique signal condition for providing a perceptible signal.

Claim 15

The exposure control system of claim 10 in which said override means predetermined interval is selected as about five seconds.

Claim 16

The exposure control system of claim 10 in which said override means includes: timer means having a predetermined output state for an interval corresponding with said predetermined interval when energized and when said switch means assumes said second circuit condition; second latch means responsive to said switch means initial actuation first circuit condition for effecting the energization of said timer means during said interval; and suppressor means selectively responsive to said predetermined output state for suppressing said inhibit means.

Claim 17

The exposure control system of claim 13 in which said timer means comprises: reset means responsive to said switch means first circuit condition to assert a reset condition and responsive to said switch means second circuit condition to effect removal of said reset condition. timing network means operative when activated by removal of said reset condition imposed thereupon to derive a predetermined signal condition in an interval of time corresponding with said predetermined interval; and trigger means normally deriving said predetermined output state when said timer means is energized and having another output state in response to said timing network state predetermined signal condition.

Claim 18

The exposure control system of claim 14 in which said second latch means is responsive to said trigger means other output state for de-energizing said timer means.

Claim 19

The exposure control system of claim 10 in which said override means is operative to continue said suppression of said inhibit means inhibition when said first latch means has committed said system to the carrying out of said cycle.

Claim 20

In reflex photographic apparatus of a variety including drive means actuable for effecting the conversion of an optical path between viewing and exposure orientations, exposure regulating means selectively actuable to block and unblock said optical path and operative to automatically control the exposure of photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, start switch means actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition and being normally biased to assume said second circuit condition, transducer means having a first condition at the commencement of a photographic cycle of said apparatus and a second condition commencing thereafter when said optical path converts to said exposure orientation, and first latch means responsive to said transducer means second condition for committing said apparatus to the automatic completion of said photographic cycle, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of scene brightness below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said switch means actuation into said first circuit condition and to said detector means signal condition for inhibiting the said actuation of said drive means; and override means responsive to said switch means assumption of said second circuit condition from said first circuit condition for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation for a predetermined interval of time.

Claim 21

In reflex photographic apparatus of a variety including drive means actuable for effecting the conversion of an optical path between viewing and exposure orientations, exposure regulating means selectively actuable to block and unblock said optical path and operative to automatically control the exposure of photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, start switch means actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition and being normally biased to assume said second circuit condition, transducer means having a first condition at the commencement of a photographic cycle of said apparatus and a second condition commencing thereafter when said optical path converts to said exposure orientation, and first latch means responsive to said transducer means second condition for committing said apparatus to the automatic completion of said photographic cycle, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of scene brightness below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said switch means actuation into said first circuit condition and to said detector means signal condition for inhibiting the said actuation of said drive means; and override means responsive to said switch means assumption of said second circuit condition from said first circuit condition for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation for a predetermined interval of time.

Claim 22

The improved apparatus of claim 17 further comprising indicator means energizable in response to said detector means signal condition for providing a perceptible low light level signal.

Claim 23

The improved apparatus of claim 17 in which said override means predetermined interval is selected as about five seconds.

Claim 24

The improved apparatus of claim 17 in which said override means is responsive to said transducer means second condition for continuing the said suppression of said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation throughout a said photographic cycle.

Claim 25

The improved apparatus of claim 17 in which said override means includes: timer means energizable to have a first output state and responsive to said switch means assumption of said second circuit condition from said first circuit condition for deriving a second output state following said predetermined interval of time; second latch means responsive to said switch means actuation into said first circuit condition for effecting the energization of said timer means; and suppressor means responsive to said timer means first output state for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation.

Claim 26

The improved apparatus of claim 21 in which said second latch means is responsive to said timer means second output state for de-energizing said timer means.

Claim 27

The improved apparatus of claim 21 in which said timer means comprises: reset means responsive to said switch means first circuit condition to assert a reset condition and responsive to said switch means second circuit condition to effect removal of said reset condition; timing network means operative when actuated by removal of said reset condition imposed thereon to derive a predetermined signal condition in an interval of time corresponding with said predetermined interval; and trigger means normally having said first output state when said timer means is energized and assuming said second output state in response to said timing network means predetermined signal condition.

Claim 28

The improved apparatus of claim 23 in which said second latch means is responsive to said trigger means second output state for de-energizing said timer means.

Claim 29

In reflex photographic apparatus of a variety including drive means actuable for effecting the conversion of an optical path between viewing and exposure orientations, exposure regulating means selectively actuable to block and unblock said optical path and operative to automatically control the exposure of a photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, reflex viewing means operative as a component within said optical path in said viewing orientation for viewing and framing a scene to be photographed, start switch means initially actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition to effect the commencement of a photographic cycle and first latch means for selectively committing said system to the carrying out of said cycle, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of scene brightness below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said start switch means actuation into said first circuit condition and to said detector means signal condition for inhibiting the said actuation of said drive means following an initial actuation of said exposure regulating means blocking said optical path; override means responsive to said switch means assumption of said second circuit condition from said first circuit condition for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation for a predetermined interval of time; and indicator means energizable to provide a perceptible light signal in response to said detector means signal condition.

Claim 30

In reflex photographic apparatus of a variety including drive means actuable for effecting the conversion of an optical path between viewing and exposure orientations, exposure regulating means selectively actuable to block and unblock said optical path and operative to automatically control the exposure of a photographic material in accordance with the brightness level of a scene, reflex viewing means operative as a component within said optical path in said viewing orientation for viewing and framing a scene to be photographed, start switch means initially actuable to assume a first circuit condition from a second circuit condition to effect the commencement of a photographic cycle and first latch means for selectively committing said system to the carrying out of said cycle, the improvement comprising: detector means responsive to scene brightness and having a signal condition in the presence of levels of scene brightness below a predetermined level; inhibit means responsive to said start switch means actuation into said first circuit condition and to said detector means signal condition for inhibiting the said actuation of said drive means following an initial actuation of said exposure regulating means blocking said optical path; override means responsive to said switch means assumption of said second circuit condition from said first circuit condition for suppressing said inhibit means inhibition of said drive means actuation for a predetermined interval of time; and indicator means energizable to provide a perceptible light signal in response to said detector means signal condition.

Claim 31

The photographic apparatus of claim 25 in which said override means predetermined interval is selected as about five seconds.

Claim 32

The photographic apparatus of claim 25 in which said indicator means is mounted upon said apparatus in a position adjacent said reflex viewing means.

Claim 33

The photographic apparatus of claim 25 in which said override means includes: timer means having a predetermined output state for an interval corresponding with said predetermined interval when energized and when said switch means assumes said second circuit condition; second latch means responsive to said switch means initial actuation first circuit condition for effecting the energization of said timer means during said interval; and suppressor means selectively responsive to said predetermined output state for suppressing said inhibit means.

Claim 34

The photographic apparatus of claim 28 in which said timer means comprises: reset means responsive to said switch means first circuit condition to assert a reset condition and responsive to said switch means second circuit condition to effect removal of said reset condition; timing network means operative when activated by removal of said reset condition imposed thereupon to derive a predetermined signal condition in an interval of time corresponding with said predetermined interval; trigger means normally deriving said predetermined output state when said timer means is energized and having another output state in response to said timing network state predetermined signal condition.

Claim 35

The photographic apparatus of claim 29 in which said second latch means is responsive to said trigger means other output state for de-energizing said timer means.

Claim 36

The photographic apparatus of claim 25 in which said override means is operative to continue said suppression of said inhibit means inhibition when said first latch means has committed said system to the carrying out of said cycle.

Claim 37

A photographic exposure control system comprising: a manual actuable member; first means for detecting levels of scene brightness; second selectively operative means for carrying out an exposure cycle effecting the exposure of photographic material; and third means responsive to a first manual actuation of said member for rendering said second means operative in the presence of scene light above a predetermined brightness level as detected by said first means and responsive to a second manual actuation of said member in the presence of scene light below a predetermined brightness level as detected by said first means for rendering said second means operative within a predetermined period of time following the first manual actuation of said member, said system thus serving to automatically preclude the exposure of photographic material in the presence of levels of scene brightness below said predetermined level unless there is provided the second manual actuation of said member within said predetermined time following the first manual operation of said member.

Claim 38

A photographic exposure control system comprising: a manual actuable member; first means for detecting levels of scene brightness; second selectively operative means for carrying out an exposure cycle effecting the exposure of photographic material; and third means responsive to a first manual actuation of said member for rendering said second means operative in the presence of scene light above a predetermined brightness level as detected by said first means and responsive to a second manual actuation of said member in the presence of scene light below a predetermined brightness level as detected by said first means for rendering said second means operative within a predetermined period of time following the first manual actuation of said member, said system thus serving to automatically preclude the exposure of photographic material in the presence of levels of scene brightness below said predetermined level unless there is provided the second manual actuation of said member within said predetermined time following the first manual operation of said member.

Claim 39

A photographic camera for use with a film cassette, said camera including: a housing including means for positioning the cassette for exposure operations; means responsive to the positioning of the cassette within said housing for automatically effecting a predetermined operation; a manually actuable member; means, normally responsive to the operation of said manually actuable member when such a cassette is operatively positioned within said housing for effecting a complete predetermined photographic cycle, said complete predetermined photographic cycle including said predetermined operation; means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; and means responsive to said predetermined signal condition, for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive to actuations of said manually actuable means to effect said complete predetermined photographic cycle without affecting the normal response capability of said means for effecting said predetermined operation.

Claim 40

A photographic camera for use with a film cassette, said camera including: a housing including means for positioning the cassette for exposure operations; means responsive to the positioning of the cassette within said housing for automatically effecting a predetermined operation; a manually actuable member; means, normally responsive to the operation of said manually actuable member when such a cassette is operatively positioned within said housing for effecting a complete predetermined photographic cycle, said complete predetermined photographic cycle including said predetermined operation; means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; and means responsive to said predetermined signal condition, for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive to actuations of said manually actuable means to effect said complete predetermined photographic cycle without affecting the normal response capability of said means for effecting said predetermined operation.

Claim 41

The photographic camera of claim 33 wherein: the means for effecting the complete photographic cycle includes means for providing a series of control signals, and the means for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive includes inhibiting means which responds to said predetermined signal by effectively rendering at least one control signal inoperative together with means for removing the inoperative effect rendered by said inhibiting means for sufficient time to permit said one control signal to effect said predetermined operation in response to said positioning of said cassette within said housing.

Claim 42

A photographic camera for use with a film cassette including means defining an exposure aperture and means defining an exit aperture, the cassette initially retaining at least one film unit and a dark slide aligned with the cassette exit aperture and interposed between the film unit and the exposure aperture, the cassette including means for displacing the film unit into the position originally occupied by the dark slide upon the dark slide's being advanced from the cassette through its exit aperture, said camera including: a housing; means for mounting such a cassette within said housing with its dark slide disposed at the exposure plane of said camera; an advancement mechanism arranged to be disposed in operative relationship with the dark slide when such a cassette is initially located in said mounting means and selectively operative to advance the dark slide from the cassette through its exit aperture, said advancement mechanism being subsequently selectively operative to advance the film unit from the cassette through its exit aperture; motor means, normally responsive to the operative positioning of such a cassette within said housing in said cassette mounting means, for automatically actuating said advancement mechanism to effect the advancement of the darkslide from the cassette through its exit aperture; a manually actuable member; means, normally responsive to the operation of said manually actuable member when such a cassette is operatively positioned within said housing in said cassette mounting means, for effecting a complete predetermined photographic cycle, said complete predetermined cycle including the operation of said motor means; means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; and means, responsive to said predetermined signal condition, for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive to actuations of said manually actuable member to effect the operation of said motor means without affecting the normal response capability of said motor means to an operative positioning of such a cassette within said housing in said cassette mounting means.

Claim 43

A photographic camera for use with a film cassette including means defining an exposure aperture and means defining an exit aperture, the cassette initially retaining at least one film unit and a dark slide aligned with the cassette exit aperture and interposed between the film unit and the exposure aperture, the cassette including means for displacing the film unit into the position originally occupied by the dark slide upon the dark slide's being advanced from the cassette through its exit aperture, said camera including: a housing; means for mounting such a cassette within said housing with its dark slide disposed at the exposure plane of said camera; an advancement mechanism arranged to be disposed in operative relationship with the dark slide when such a cassette is initially located in said mounting means and selectively operative to advance the dark slide from the cassette through its exit aperture, said advancement mechanism being subsequently selectively operative to advance the film unit from the cassette through its exit aperture; motor means, normally responsive to the operative positioning of such a cassette within said housing in said cassette mounting means, for automatically actuating said advancement mechanism to effect the advancement of the darkslide from the cassette through its exit aperture; a manually actuable member; means, normally responsive to the operation of said manually actuable member when such a cassette is operatively positioned within said housing in said cassette mounting means, for effecting a complete predetermined photographic cycle, said complete predetermined cycle including the operation of said motor means; means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; and means, responsive to said predetermined signal condition, for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive to actuations of said manually actuable member to effect the operation of said motor means without affecting the normal response capability of said motor means to an operative positioning of such a cassette within said housing in said cassette mounting means.

Claim 44

The photographic camera of claim 35 wherein: said means for effecting the complete photographic cycle includes means for providing a control signal to operate said motor means, and said means for rendering said photographic cycle effecting means non-responsive includes inhibiting means which responds to said predetermined signal by effectively rendering the control signal to said motor means inoperative together with means for removing the inoperative effect rendered by said inhibiting means for sufficient time to permit said control signal to effect the normal response capability of said motor means in response to an operative positioning of such a cassette within said housing in order to fully eject said dark slide from said camera apparatus regardless of said predetermined signal condition.

Claim 45

A photographic apparatus of the type having a receiving chamber for receipt of a photographic cassette having a light entrance portion thereof together with means for slidably retaining a dark slide in light blocking relation to at least one film unit disposed within said cassette; said apparatus also having an operative condition in which actuation of said apparatus operates to automatically carry out a photographic exposure of a single said film unit together with an ejection of said film unit from said photographic apparatus and wherein said photographic apparatus further includes means for automatically completing the ejection of said dark slide from said apparatus when said photographic apparatus assumes the operative condition subsequent to the insertion of the photographic cassette into said chamber, said photographic apparatus further comprising: means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; preventing means responsive to said predetermined signal condition for ultimately preventing the ejection of either said dark slide or film unit when said photographic apparatus is in the operative condition; and means for disabling the ultimate preventing effect of said preventing means in order to complete the ejection of said dark slide in response to the photographic apparatus assuming the operative condition subsequent to the insertion of a photographic cassette into said chamber regardless of the presence of said predetermined signal condition.

Claim 46

A photographic apparatus of the type having a receiving chamber for receipt of a photographic cassette having a light entrance portion thereof together with means for slidably retaining a dark slide in light blocking relation to at least one film unit disposed within said cassette; said apparatus also having an operative condition in which actuation of said apparatus operates to automatically carry out a photographic exposure of a single said film unit together with an ejection of said film unit from said photographic apparatus and wherein said photographic apparatus further includes means for automatically completing the ejection of said dark slide from said apparatus when said photographic apparatus assumes the operative condition subsequent to the insertion of the photographic cassette into said chamber, said photographic apparatus further comprising: means for selectively providing a predetermined signal condition; preventing means responsive to said predetermined signal condition for ultimately preventing the ejection of either said dark slide or film unit when said photographic apparatus is in the operative condition; and means for disabling the ultimate preventing effect of said preventing means in order to complete the ejection of said dark slide in response to the photographic apparatus assuming the operative condition subsequent to the insertion of a photographic cassette into said chamber regardless of the presence of said predetermined signal condition.

Claim 47

The exposure control system of claim 32 including means responsive to the operative association of a source of artificial light with said system for rendering said second means operative in response to each manual actuation of said member and for rendering said third means inoperative.