Exposure control system for selectively determining exposure interval

Claim 2

A photographic camera comprising: a housing; an objective lens mounted on said housing; means within said housing for receiving a source of electrical energy; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane to a second arrangement wherein said blade assembly defines a maximum aperture through which scene light is permitted to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light is incident upon said film exposure plane; scene light detecting means energizable by the source of electrical energy for providing an output signal in correspondence to the amount of scene light detected subsequent to the commencement of an exposure interval; and means, at least in part energizable by the source of electrical energy, for initiating the displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement towards its said second arrangement thereby commencing a particular exposure program defined by a plurality of exposure parameters and then, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value, for effecting the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement, and, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value prior to said blade assembly reaching its said second arrangement, for (1) changing the value of said output signal required to effect the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement from said first predetermined value to another predetermined value under such situations, and (2) additionally effecting a modification of a characteristic of another exposure parameter associated with said particular exposure program from the character said given exposure parameter assumes in situations wherein said blade assembly arrives at its said second arrangement before said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaches its said second predetermined value.

Claim 3

A photographic camera comprising: a housing; an objective lens mounted on said housing; means within said housing for receiving a source of electrical energy; means operatively associated with said housing for receiving a source of artificial illumination, said receiving means including electrical terminals for electrically communicating with the source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane to a second arrangement wherein said blade assembly defines a maximum aperture through which scene light is permitted to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light is incident upon said film exposure plane; scene light detecting means energizable by the source of electrical energy for providing an output signal in correspondence to the amount of scene light detected subsequent to the commencement of an exposure interval; and means, at least in part energizable by the source of electrical energy, for initiating the displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement towards its said second arrangement thereby commencing a particular exposure program defined by a plurality of exposure parameters, for initiating the electrical energization of said terminals after the expiration of a predetermined time delay following the initiation of the displacement of said blade assembly towards its said second arrangement to effect the firing of the source of artificial illumination and then, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value, for effecting the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement, and further, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value prior to the expiration of said predetermined time delay, for (1) immediately initiating the electrical energization of said terminals whereby said source of illumination is fired prior to the lapse of said predetermined time delay under such conditions, and (2) additionally changing the value of said output signal required to effect the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement from said first predetermined value to another predetermined value under such conditions.

Claim 4

A photographic camera comprising: a housing; an objective lens mounted on said housing; means within said housing for receiving a source of electrical energy; means operatively associated with said housing for receiving a source of artificial illumination, said receiving means including electrical terminals for electrically communicating with the source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane to a second arrangement wherein said blade assembly defines a maximum aperture through which scene light is permitted to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light is incident upon said film exposure plane; scene light detecting means energizable by the source of electrical energy for providing an output signal in correspondence to the amount of scene light detected subsequent to the commencement of an exposure interval; and means, at least in part energizable by the source of electrical energy, for initiating the displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement towards its said second arrangement thereby commencing a particular exposure program defined by a plurality of exposure parameters, for initiating the electrical energization of said terminals after the expiration of a predetermined time delay following the initiation of the displacement of said blade assembly towards its said second arrangement to effect the firing of the source of artificial illumination and then, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value, for effecting the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement, and further, responsive to said output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value prior to the expiration of said predetermined time delay, for (1) immediately initiating the electrical energization of said terminals whereby said source of illumination is fired prior to the lapse of said predetermined time delay under such conditions, and (2) additionally changing the value of said output signal required to effect the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement from said first predetermined value to another predetermined value under such conditions.

Claim 5

The camera of claim 2 wherein: said scene light detecting means include means for detecting and integrating scene light incident to the camera subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval in order that the output signal from said scene light detecting means also correspond to the integrated scene light; and the means for initiating the firing of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said second predetermined value include a first signal level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said level detector abruptly changes to initiate said firing of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said second predetermined value, and additionally including first biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said level detector coincident with said second predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state reference signal level to said level detector established by said biasing means and the value of the output signal of said light detecting means at the commencement of an exposure interval corresponds to a first select change in the output signal of said light detecting means.

Claim 6

The camera of claim 3 wherein said means for effecting the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement includes a second level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said second level detector abruptly changes to initiate the displacement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value, and additionally including second biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said second level detector coincident with said first predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state reference signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means and the value of the output signal of said light detecting means at the commencement of an exposure interval corresponds to a second select change in the output signal of said light detecting means greater than said first select change.

Claim 7

The camera of claim 4 wherein said means for changing the value of said output signal required to effect the displacement of said blade assembly includes means responsive to the abrupt change in the output signal of said first level detector for changing the reference signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means.

Claim 8

A photographic camera for use in ambient and artificial scene lighted conditions comprising: a housing; means within said housing for connecting to a source of electrical energy; means within said housing for receiving a source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for selective simultaneous displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from inpinging on said exposure plane to an open arrangement wherein said blade assembly permits scene light to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light impinges on said exposure plane through changing aperture sizes defined by said blade assembly; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement toward its said open arrangement thereby commencing said exposure interval; scene light detecting means responsive to scene light for providing an output signal in correspondence to detected scene light subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means responsive to the commencement of said exposure interval for providing a first select output signal at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means for providing a second select output signal in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value; means responsive to the first of said first and second select output signal conditions for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value greater than said first predetermined value; and means responsive to the initiation of the energization of the source of artificial illumination by the second select output signal from said means for providing said second select output signal for altering the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value from said detecting means thereby facilitating exposure operations where artificial illumination is utilized to fill in existing ambient scene light.

Claim 9

A photographic camera for use in ambient and artificial scene lighted conditions comprising: a housing; means within said housing for connecting to a source of electrical energy; means within said housing for receiving a source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for selective simultaneous displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from inpinging on said exposure plane to an open arrangement wherein said blade assembly permits scene light to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light impinges on said exposure plane through changing aperture sizes defined by said blade assembly; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement toward its said open arrangement thereby commencing said exposure interval; scene light detecting means responsive to scene light for providing an output signal in correspondence to detected scene light subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means responsive to the commencement of said exposure interval for providing a first select output signal at a predetermined time interval subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means for providing a second select output signal in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value; means responsive to the first of said first and second select output signal conditions for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value greater than said first predetermined value; and means responsive to the initiation of the energization of the source of artificial illumination by the second select output signal from said means for providing said second select output signal for altering the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value from said detecting means thereby facilitating exposure operations where artificial illumination is utilized to fill in existing ambient scene light.

Claim 10

The camera of claim 6 including means responsive to said first select output signal when occurring before said second select output signal for disabling the effect of said means for altering the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and said second predetermined value.

Claim 11

The camera of claim 6 wherein: said scene light detecting means include means for detecting and integrating scene light incident to the camera subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval in order that the output signal from said scene light detecting means also correspond to integrated scene light; and the means for providing said second select output signal in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value include a first signal level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said level detector abruptly changes to initiate said energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value prior to said means for providing said first select output signal actually providing said first select output signal, and additionally including first biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said first level detector coincident with said first predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state reference signal level to said level detector established by said biasing means and the output signal of said light detecting means at the commencement of said exposure cycle corresponds to a first select change in the output signal of said light detecting means.

Claim 12

The camera of claim 8 wherein said means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement includes a second level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said second level detector abruptly changes to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said second predetermined value, and additionally including second biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said second level detector coincident with said first predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state input signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means and the output signal of said detecting means at the commencement of said exposure cycle corresponds to a second select change in the output signal of said light detecting means greater than said first select change.

Claim 13

The camera of claim 9 wherein said means for altering the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value includes means responsive to the abrupt change in the output signal of said first level detector for changing the reference signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means.

Claim 14

The camera of claim 10 wherein said means for providing said first select output signal at said predetermined time interval subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval includes a counter responsive to the commencement of the exposure interval and having a plurality of binary circuits interconnected in serial relation for sequential actuation subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval wherein a select binary circuit provides said first select output signal condition at said predetermined time interval subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval.

Claim 15

The camera of claim 10 wherein said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination includes an OR gate having input terminals connected to receive said first and second select output signal conditions respectively.

Claim 16

The camera of claim 10 including means responsive to said first select output signal when occurring before said second select output signal for disabling the effect of said means for altering the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and said second predetermined value.

Claim 17

A photographic camera for use in ambient and aritificial scene lighted conditions comprising: a housing; means within said housing for connecting to a source of electrical energy; means within said housing for electrically connecting to a source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for selective simultaneous displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane to an open arrangement wherein said blade assembly permits scene light to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light impinges on said exposure plane through changing aperture sizes defined by said blades; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement toward its said open arrangement thereby commencing said exposure interval; scene light detecting means responsive to scene light for providing an output signal in correspondence to detected scene light subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value thereby providing artificial illumination to fill in the ambient scene light; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value and additionally including means responsive to the electrical connection of the source of artificial illumination to said electrically connecting means for changing the corresponding relationship between said second predetermined value and detected scene light; and means responsive to the initiation of the energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value for restoring the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value as it exists when the source of artificial illumination is electrically disconnected from said electrical connecting means thereby facilitating exposure operations where artificial illumination is utilized to fill in existing ambient scene light.

Claim 18

A photographic camera for use in ambient and aritificial scene lighted conditions comprising: a housing; means within said housing for connecting to a source of electrical energy; means within said housing for electrically connecting to a source of artificial illumination; means within said housing for defining a film exposure plane; a blade assembly mounted and arranged within said housing for selective simultaneous displacement from an initial closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane to an open arrangement wherein said blade assembly permits scene light to impinge on said exposure plane and then to a final closed arrangement wherein said blade assembly again precludes scene light from impinging on said exposure plane, such a displacement of said blade assembly serving to define an exposure interval during which scene light impinges on said exposure plane through changing aperture sizes defined by said blades; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate displacement of said blade assembly from its said initial closed arrangement toward its said open arrangement thereby commencing said exposure interval; scene light detecting means responsive to scene light for providing an output signal in correspondence to detected scene light subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval; means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a first predetermined value thereby providing artificial illumination to fill in the ambient scene light; means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching a second predetermined value and additionally including means responsive to the electrical connection of the source of artificial illumination to said electrically connecting means for changing the corresponding relationship between said second predetermined value and detected scene light; and means responsive to the initiation of the energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value for restoring the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value as it exists when the source of artificial illumination is electrically disconnected from said electrical connecting means thereby facilitating exposure operations where artificial illumination is utilized to fill in existing ambient scene light.

Claim 19

The camera of claim 14 including means for otherwise actuating said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination if the output signal of said scene light detecting means fails to reach said first predetermined value prior to a select time delay.

Claim 20

The camera of claim 15 including means responsive to said means for otherwise actuating said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination prior to said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value, for disabling the effect of said means for restoring the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value regardless of said scene light detecting means thereafter reaching said first predetermined value.

Claim 21

The camera of claim 15 wherein: said scene light detecting means include means for detecting and integrating scene light incident to the camera subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval in order that the output signal from said scene light detecting means also correspond to integrated scene light; the means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination include a first signal level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said level detector abruptly changes to initiate said energization of the source of artificial illumination in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value prior to said select time delay, and additionally including first biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said first level detector coincident with said first predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state reference signal level to said level detector established by said biasing means and the output signal of said light detecting means at the commencement of an exposure interval corresponds to a first select change in the output signal of said light detecting means; and said means for actuating said blade assembly to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement includes a second level detector having means by which the output signal from said scene light detecting means may be applied thereto and an output signal derived therefrom wherein said output signal from said second level detector abruptly changes to initiate the displacement of said blade assembly into its said final closed arrangement in response to the output signal of said scene light detecting means reaching said second predetermined value, and additionally including second biasing means for establishing a steady state reference signal level to said second level detector coincident with said first predetermined value wherein the difference between the steady state reference signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means and the output signal of said biasing means at the commencement of an exposure interval corresponds to a second select change in the output signal of said light detecting means greater than said first select change.

Claim 22

The camera of claim 17 wherein said means for changing the corresponding relationship between said second predetermined value and the detected scene light in response to the electrical connection of the source of artificial illumination to said electrically connecting means includes means for changing the steady state reference signal level to said second level detector established by said second biasing means, and said means for restoring the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value includes means responsive to the abrupt change in the output signal of said first level detector prior to said select time delay for restoring the steady state reference signal level to said second level detector as originally established by said biasing means.

Claim 23

The camera of claim 18 wherein: said means for otherwise actuating said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination includes a counter responsive to the commencement of the exposure interval and having a plurality of binary circuits interconnected in serial relation for sequential actuation subsequent to the commencement of the exposure interval wherein a select binary circuit provides a select output signal at the expiration of said select time delay; and said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination includes an OR gate having input terminals connected respectively to receive said select output signal from said means for otherwise actuating said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination and the output signal from said first level detector.

Claim 24

The camera of claim 18 including means responsive to said means for otherwise actuating said means for initiating the energization of the source of artificial illumination prior to said scene light detecting means reaching said first predetermined value, for disabling the effect of said means for restoring the corresponding relationship between the detected scene light and second predetermined value regardless of said scene light detecting means thereafter reaching said first predetermined value.