US4217523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic flash device
Assignee: West Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1977-11-09
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Granted: 1980-08-12
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Expires: 1997-11-09
Abstract
Abstract In a photographic flash device comprising a main capacitor (1) for storing a large electric energy, a gas-discharge flash tube (4) to be lit by the electric energy of the main capacitor (1), a switching circuit (5+9) which switches off the discharging of the flash lamp (1), a control circuit (20) which controls the switching circuit (5+9) in a manner to switch the switching circuit (5+9) off at a sending of a stopping signal from a triggering circuit (20) to the switching circuit (5+9), and a timer circuit which controls, responding to a selected guide number (G.N.) of flash photographing, the time period from the start of flashing of the flash tube (4) to a sending of a stopping signal to the control circuit (20) (namely the time period of flashing), the improvement is that the time period is adjusted responding to the voltage across the main capacitor (1).
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Hirata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/30; H05B41/32; H05B41/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, second switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced by the discharging of said first capacitor, an RC time constant circuit comprising said second capacitor and a variable resistor through which said charging of said second capacitor is made and with which a setting of a selection of said time period is made, and a triggering circuit which triggers said first switching means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, second switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced by the discharging of said first capacitor, an RC time constant circuit comprising said second capacitor and a variable resistor through which said charging of said second capacitor is made and with which a setting of a selection of said time period is made, and a triggering circuit which triggers said first switching means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor and is discharged based on a discharging in said flash tube, a resistor which produces a voltage thereacross by said discharging of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced across said resistor, a variable resistor through which a current is fed from one end of said resistor to said second capacitor, and a triggering circuit which triggers said first switching means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor and is discharged based on a discharging in said flash tube, a resistor which produces a voltage thereacross by said discharging of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced across said resistor, a variable resistor through which a current is fed from one end of said resistor to said second capacitor, and a triggering circuit which triggers said first switching means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
241 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, second switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a variable resistor which controls the discharging current of said first capacitor, a light-emitting diode which is connected to emit a light by said discharging current of said first capacitor, a triggering circuit comprising a photoelectric element which receives light from said light-emitting diode and produces an electric signal responding to intensity of said light and triggers said first switching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
In a photographic flash device comprising a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, first switching means which sends a signal to said triggering circuit means to cause it to produce a triggering signal, controlling circuit means which adjusts the time when said switching means sends said signal, said controlling circuit means including a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, second switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a variable resistor which controls the discharging current of said first capacitor, a light-emitting diode which is connected to emit a light by said discharging current of said first capacitor, a triggering circuit comprising a photoelectric element which receives light from said light-emitting diode and produces an electric signal responding to intensity of said light and triggers said first switching means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, a first switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced by the discharging of said first capacitor, an RC time constant circuit comprising said second capacitor and a variable resistor through which said charging of said second capacitor is made and with which a setting of a selection of said time period is made, and second switching means which triggers said triggering circuit means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
246 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, a first switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced by the discharging of said first capacitor, an RC time constant circuit comprising said second capacitor and a variable resistor through which said charging of said second capacitor is made and with which a setting of a selection of said time period is made, and second switching means which triggers said triggering circuit means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor and is discharged based on a discharging in said flash tube, a resistor which produces a voltage thereacross by said discharging of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced across said resistor, a variable resistor through which a current is fed from one end of said resistor to said second capacitor and a switching circuit which triggers said triggering circuit means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor and is discharged based on a discharging in said flash tube, a resistor which produces a voltage thereacross by said discharging of said first capacitor, a second capacitor which is charged by a voltage produced across said resistor, a variable resistor through which a current is fed from one end of said resistor to said second capacitor and a switching circuit which triggers said triggering circuit means when said second capacitor is charged up to a specified voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, first switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a variable resistor which controls the discharging current of said first capacitor, a light-emitting diode which is connected to emit a light by said discharging current of said first capacitor, a second switching means comprising a photoelectric element which receives light from said light-emitting diode and produces an electric signal responding to intensity of said light and triggers said triggering circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a photographic flash device including a gas discharge flash tube, a main capacitor which stores electric charge to be fed to said gas discharge flash tube, and a stopping circuit which stops discharging of said gas discharge flash tube after a selected time period from a start of the flashing, the improvement wherein said stopping circuit includes a circuit which adjusts said time period in response to a voltage of said main capacitor and comprises, discharge stopping means, triggering circuit means which sends a triggering signal to said discharge stopping means to stop a discharging of said gas discharge flash tube, controlling circuit means operative in response to said voltage of said main capacitor for adjusting the time when said triggering circuit sends said signal, said controlling circuit means comprising: a first capacitor which is charged to a voltage dependent on the voltage of said main capacitor, first switching means which turns on based on a discharging in said flash tube and discharges the charge of said first capacitor, a variable resistor which controls the discharging current of said first capacitor, a light-emitting diode which is connected to emit a light by said discharging current of said first capacitor, a second switching means comprising a photoelectric element which receives light from said light-emitting diode and produces an electric signal responding to intensity of said light and triggers said triggering circuit means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |