Camera system with means for automatically switching to flash operation

Claim 2

A flash camera system, comprising: A. a flash device, having: a. a flash discharge tube, b. energy accumulation means connected to said discharge tube for accumulating energy to energize the flash discharge tube, c. accumulation completion signal forming means connected to said energy accumulation means for forming an energy accumulation completion signal when the energy accumulated at said energy accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, d. diaphragm information forming means to form a diaphragm information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, and e. a flash control circuit coupled to said discharge tube to control the amount of light from said flash discharge tube on the basis of data depending on the distance to an object, and B. a camera, including an objective having a diaphragm defining an exposure opening, and automatic means coupled to the diaphragm for setting the diaphragm aperture to the prescribed aperture value in response to the energy accumulation completion signal at a time of flash photography, said automatic means including; a. exposure opening control means coupled to said diaphragm to control the exposure opening, b. an exposure opening control circuit coupled to said exposure opening control means, said circuit having a flash control mode which controls the exposure opening control means based on said prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal, and c. a designating circuit connected to said exposure opening control circuit and responding to said energy accumulation completion signal by forming a mode designation signal for setting said exposure opening control circuit to the flash control mode so that the exposure opening control circuit is automatically set to the flash control mode.

Claim 3

A camera system according to claim 1, in which said camera further includes a shutter, and; a. shutter control means settable to an ordinary mode and a flash mode for setting the shutter to the shutter time prescribed for flash photography, and b. a shutter mode selection circuit which is connected to said shutter control means and to said accumulation completion signal for setting the shutter control means into the flash photography mode.

Claim 4

A camera system according to claim 2, in which holding means connected to said accumulation completion signal forming means and said shutter mode selection circuit hold said accumulation completion signal.

Claim 5

A camera system according to claim 3, in which said holding means is reset in correspondence with the shutter closing signal from said shutter mode selection circuit.

Claim 6

A camera system according to claim 4, in which said holding means is a flip-flop circuit set by said accumulation completion signal and reset by the shutter closing signal.

Claim 7

A camera system according to claim 1, in which said prescribed diaphragm information forming means is connected to said accumulation completion signal forming means and is activated in response to the energy accumulation completion signal.

Claim 8

A camera system according to claim 1, in which said camera includes: a. an indicating circuit connected to said exposure opening control circuit to indicate the output of said control circuit.

Claim 9

A camera system according to claim 1, in which said camera has an indication means to indicate the accumulation completion signal.

Claim 10

A camera system according to claim 8, wherein said camera includes a warning circuit responding to the output of said exposure opening control circuit and exhibiting a prescribed operating level and for activation when the output of said exposure opening control circuit and said operating level have a prescribed relationship.

Claim 11

A camera system according to claim 9, wherein said warning circuit includes an oscillator and an indicator connected to said oscillator.

Claim 12

A flash camera system, comprising: A. a flash device, having: a. a flash discharge tube, b. energy accumulation means connected to said discharge tube for accumulating energy to energize the flash discharge tube, c. accumulation completion signal forming means connected to said energy accumulation means for forming an energy accumulation completion signal when the energy accumulated at said energy accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, d. diaphragm information forming means to form a diaphragm information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, and e. a flash control circuit coupled to said discharge tube to control the amount of light from said flash discharge tube based on data depending upon the distance to an object, and B. a camera, including and objective having a diaphragm defining an exposure opening, and automatic means coupled to the diaphragm for setting the diaphragm aperture to the prescribed aperture value in response to the energy accumulation completion signal at a time of flash photography, said automatic means including: a. exposure opening control means coupled to said diaphragm to control the exposre opening, b. a diaphragm aperture signal forming circuit to form diaphragm aperture signal to control diaphragm aperture, c. and exposure control circuit to control the exposure opening control means on the basis of the output of said diaphragm aperture signal forming circuit, and C. (a) a selector circuit in one of said flash device and said camera and connected to said exposure control circuit and responsive to the accumulation completion signal for automatically switching the diaphragm aperture signal to the prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal and transmitting said prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal to said exposure control circuit, and for controlling the exposure opening control means on the basis of the prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal.

Claim 13

A flash camera system, comprising: A. a flash device, having: a. a flash discharge tube, b. energy accumulation means connected to said discharge tube for accumulating energy to energize the flash discharge tube, c. accumulation completion signal forming means connected to said energy accumulation means for forming an energy accumulation completion signal when the energy accumulated at said energy accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, d. diaphragm information forming means to form a diaphragm information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, and e. a flash control circuit coupled to said discharge tube to control the amount of light from said flash discharge tube based on data depending upon the distance to an object, and B. a camera, including and objective having a diaphragm defining an exposure opening, and automatic means coupled to the diaphragm for setting the diaphragm aperture to the prescribed aperture value in response to the energy accumulation completion signal at a time of flash photography, said automatic means including: a. exposure opening control means coupled to said diaphragm to control the exposre opening, b. a diaphragm aperture signal forming circuit to form diaphragm aperture signal to control diaphragm aperture, c. and exposure control circuit to control the exposure opening control means on the basis of the output of said diaphragm aperture signal forming circuit, and C. (a) a selector circuit in one of said flash device and said camera and connected to said exposure control circuit and responsive to the accumulation completion signal for automatically switching the diaphragm aperture signal to the prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal and transmitting said prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal to said exposure control circuit, and for controlling the exposure opening control means on the basis of the prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal.

Claim 14

A camera system according to claim 11, in which said diaphragm aperture signal forming circuit includes a light sensing circuit which generates an output corresponding to an object brightness.

Claim 15

A camera system according to claim 11, in which said selector circuit is mounted in the flash device.

Claim 16

A camera system as in claim 11 wherein said selector circuit is mounted in the camera.

Claim 17

A camera system according to claim 11, in which said camera includes an indication circuit to indicate the output of said accumulation completion signal forming means and said flash light device includes a flash signal forming means which detects the flashing action of said flash light device and produces a flash signal and control means which places said indication circuit in an inactive state in response to the flash signal of said forming means.

Claim 18

A camera system according to claim 11 in which said camera includes and indication circuit to indicate the output of the exposure control circuit; said camera having a power source to supply power to said exposure opening control means, to said exposure control circuit, and to said indication circuit; said camera having an operating member movable to two steps to control photographing action; said camera having first switching means connecting said exposure control circuit and said indication circuit to said power source in response to movement to the first step by said operating member, said camera having second switching means which connects said exposure opening control means to power source in response to movement of the operating member to the second step, said camera having power supply disabling means for disabling the power supply to the indication circuit in response to said second switching means.

Claim 19

A camera capable of flash photography using a computer stroboscope containing a charge completion signal forming circuit to form a charge completion signal when a main capacitor is charged to a prescribed level, said camera comprising an objective and a diaphragm as well as a shutter, said camera further comprising; a. exposure opening control means coupled to the diaphragm to control the diaphragm exposure opening, b. a diaphragm information forming circuit to form diaphragm aperture information signal, c. a control circuit coupled to said exposure opening control means and said diaphragm information forming circuit for forming a control signal to control said exposure opening control means, said control circuit being operable in a flash mode to form a control signal corresponding to a prescribed diaphragm aperture valve during flash photography and an ordinary photographic mode to form a control signal corresponding to the output of said diaphragm aperture information forming circuit, and d. a selection circuit connected to said control circuit for automatically selecting the flash mode in response to the charging completion signal of said computer stroboscope, for controlling the exposure opening control means with a control signal corresponding to said prescribed diaphragm aperture value.

Claim 20

A camera capable of flash photography using a computer stroboscope containing a charge completion signal forming circuit to form a charge completion signal when a main capacitor is charged to a prescribed level, said camera comprising an objective and a diaphragm as well as a shutter, said camera further comprising; a. exposure opening control means coupled to the diaphragm to control the diaphragm exposure opening, b. a diaphragm information forming circuit to form diaphragm aperture information signal, c. a control circuit coupled to said exposure opening control means and said diaphragm information forming circuit for forming a control signal to control said exposure opening control means, said control circuit being operable in a flash mode to form a control signal corresponding to a prescribed diaphragm aperture valve during flash photography and an ordinary photographic mode to form a control signal corresponding to the output of said diaphragm aperture information forming circuit, and d. a selection circuit connected to said control circuit for automatically selecting the flash mode in response to the charging completion signal of said computer stroboscope, for controlling the exposure opening control means with a control signal corresponding to said prescribed diaphragm aperture value.

Claim 21

A camera system according to claim 17, in which said camera further comprises: a. a shutter control circuit to control the shutter, said circuit including shutter control means for flash controlling the shutter at a predetermined speed suitable for flash photography, and b. a shutter mode selection circuit responsive to the charge completion signal and connected to said shutter control means for activating said shutter control means in response to said charging completion signal.

Claim 22

A camera system according to claim 18, further comprising a holding circuit connected to said shutter mode selection circuit for memorizing and holding said charge completion signal.

Claim 23

A camera as in claim 17, which further comprises: a. means to form a diaphragm aperture signal corresponding to a controllable diaphragm aperture value of the objective lens, b. a comparison circuit coupled to said aperture signal forming means and said control circuit for comparing the diaphragm aperture signal corresponding to said controllable diaphragm aperture value and the control signal of said control circuit so as to form an output signal when said both signals have a prescribed relationship, and c. an indication means to indicate the output of said comparison circuit.

Claim 24

A flash device for use in combination with a camera including a diaphragm control device settable to an ordinary photographic mode and flash mode and controlling the aperture of a diaphragm based on the output of a light sensing circuit, said flash device comprising: a. a flash discharge tube, b. accumulation means to accumulate flash energy for said flash discharge tube, c. accumulation completion signal forming means coupled to said accumulation means to form an accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, d. flash control circuit coupled to said tube to control the amount of flashing by said flash discharge tube based on the distance to an object, p1 e. informatiom forming means for forming a diaphragm aperture information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, f. a signal transmission terminal connected to said accumulation completion signal forming means and transmitting said accumulation completion signal to said diaphragm aperture control device for setting the diaphragm aperture control device to the flash mode, and g. a second signal transmission terminal connected to said diaphragm aperture information forming means to transmit the aperture information signal to said diaphragm control device.

Claim 25

A flash device for use in combination with a camera including a diaphragm control device settable to an ordinary photographic mode and flash mode and controlling the aperture of a diaphragm based on the output of a light sensing circuit, said flash device comprising: a. a flash discharge tube, b. accumulation means to accumulate flash energy for said flash discharge tube, c. accumulation completion signal forming means coupled to said accumulation means to form an accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, d. flash control circuit coupled to said tube to control the amount of flashing by said flash discharge tube based on the distance to an object, p1 e. informatiom forming means for forming a diaphragm aperture information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, f. a signal transmission terminal connected to said accumulation completion signal forming means and transmitting said accumulation completion signal to said diaphragm aperture control device for setting the diaphragm aperture control device to the flash mode, and g. a second signal transmission terminal connected to said diaphragm aperture information forming means to transmit the aperture information signal to said diaphragm control device.

Claim 26

A flash device according to claim 21, in which said diaphragm information forming means contains a means to vary the prescribed diaphragm information.

Claim 27

A flash device according to claim 21 further comprising: a. a flash energy level output means connected to said accumulation means to produce information corresponding to the level of the flashing energy, b. an exposure factor information forming circuit to generate an output corresponding to an exposure factor, c. a computation circuit connected to said flash energy level output means and said exposure factor information forming circuit to compute a distance to an object in which proper flash light photography can be performed on the basis of said flash energy level and said exposure factor, and d. indication means coupled to said computation circuit to indicate the output of said computation circuit.

Claim 28

A flash camera system, comprising: A. a flash light device, having: a. a flash discharge tube, b. flash energy accumulation means connected to said flash discharge tube to accumulate flash energy, c. accumulation completion signal forming means connected to said flash energy accumulation means to form a flashing energy accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said flash energy accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, and d. prescribed diaphragm information forming means to form a prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, and B. a camera having: p2 a. a light sensing circuit to form an output corresponding to an object brightness, b. diaphragm control circuit coupled to said light sensing circuit and to said aperture information forming means and having an ordinary photographic mode control circuit to form the diaphragm aperture control signal for controlling diaphragm aperture based on the output of said light sensing circuit and a flash photographing mode control circuit to form diaphragm control signal for controlling the diaphragm aperture based on the output of said prescribed aperture information forming means, c. a mode selector means connected to said diaphragm control circuit for setting said flash mode control circuit in an active state in response to said flashing energy accumulation completion for forming a mode control signal to set said ordinary photographing mode control circuit in an inactive state so that the diaphragm is automatically controlled by said flash photographing mode control circuit, and d. diaphragm control means coupled to said diaphragm control circuit to control the diaphragm aperture based on the output of said diaphragm control circuit.

Claim 29

A flash camera system, comprising: A. a flash light device, having: a. a flash discharge tube, b. flash energy accumulation means connected to said flash discharge tube to accumulate flash energy, c. accumulation completion signal forming means connected to said flash energy accumulation means to form a flashing energy accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said flash energy accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, and d. prescribed diaphragm information forming means to form a prescribed diaphragm aperture value information signal corresponding to a constant diaphragm aperture value prescribed for flash photography, and B. a camera having: p2 a. a light sensing circuit to form an output corresponding to an object brightness, b. diaphragm control circuit coupled to said light sensing circuit and to said aperture information forming means and having an ordinary photographic mode control circuit to form the diaphragm aperture control signal for controlling diaphragm aperture based on the output of said light sensing circuit and a flash photographing mode control circuit to form diaphragm control signal for controlling the diaphragm aperture based on the output of said prescribed aperture information forming means, c. a mode selector means connected to said diaphragm control circuit for setting said flash mode control circuit in an active state in response to said flashing energy accumulation completion for forming a mode control signal to set said ordinary photographing mode control circuit in an inactive state so that the diaphragm is automatically controlled by said flash photographing mode control circuit, and d. diaphragm control means coupled to said diaphragm control circuit to control the diaphragm aperture based on the output of said diaphragm control circuit.

Claim 30

A system as in claim 24, wherein said camera includes: a. a shutter circuit to control shutter circuit, said circuit having a shutter control means to control a shutter with the shutter time prescribed for flash photography, and b. a shutter mode selection circuit connected to said shutter control means and responds to said accumulation completion signal for setting the shutter control means in an active state.

Claim 31

A camera system as in claim 25, wherein said mode selection circuit includes a first switching circuit connected to said ordinary photographic mode control circuit and a second switching circuit connected to said flash mode control circuit, said first switching circuit producing a signal for setting the ordinary photographic mode control circuit in an inactive state in response to said accumulation completion signal, said second switching circuit producing a signal for setting the flash mode control circuit in an active state.

Claim 32

A camera for use with a computer stroboscope including accumulation means to accumulate flash energy and accumulation completion signal forming means to form an accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, said camera comprising a diaphragm and a shutter, and further comprising a. exposure opening control means to control said diaphragm, b. a light sensing circuit to form an output corresponding to object brightness, c. a diaphragm control circuit coupled to said exposure opening control means, wherein said circuit including an ordinary diaphragm control mode circuit to control said exposure opening control means based on the output of said light sensing circuit and a flash diaphragm control mode circuit to control said exposure opening control means based on a prescribed diaphragm aperture value, d. a shutter time control circuit, including an ordinary photographing shutter control mode circuit to control the shutter with a set shutter time and a flash photographing shutter control mode circuit to control the shutter with a shutter time prescribed for flash photography, e. a diaphragm mode selection circuit connected to said diaphragm control circuit for selecting the flash diaphragm control mode circuit in response to said accumulation completion signal so as to control the diaphragm with said diaphragm control mode circuit, and f. a shutter mode selection circuit connected to said shutter control circuit for selecting the flash shutter control mode circuit in response to said accumulation completion signal so as to control the shutter with said shutter control mode circuit.

Claim 33

A camera for use with a computer stroboscope including accumulation means to accumulate flash energy and accumulation completion signal forming means to form an accumulation completion signal when the flash energy accumulated at said accumulation means reaches a prescribed level, said camera comprising a diaphragm and a shutter, and further comprising a. exposure opening control means to control said diaphragm, b. a light sensing circuit to form an output corresponding to object brightness, c. a diaphragm control circuit coupled to said exposure opening control means, wherein said circuit including an ordinary diaphragm control mode circuit to control said exposure opening control means based on the output of said light sensing circuit and a flash diaphragm control mode circuit to control said exposure opening control means based on a prescribed diaphragm aperture value, d. a shutter time control circuit, including an ordinary photographing shutter control mode circuit to control the shutter with a set shutter time and a flash photographing shutter control mode circuit to control the shutter with a shutter time prescribed for flash photography, e. a diaphragm mode selection circuit connected to said diaphragm control circuit for selecting the flash diaphragm control mode circuit in response to said accumulation completion signal so as to control the diaphragm with said diaphragm control mode circuit, and f. a shutter mode selection circuit connected to said shutter control circuit for selecting the flash shutter control mode circuit in response to said accumulation completion signal so as to control the shutter with said shutter control mode circuit.