Light integrator circuit with built-in anticipation

Claim 2

A light integrator with generally uniform anticipation comprising: a photoresponsive element; means for connecting said photoresponsive element to operate in a constant current mode for a select light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element; and light integrating means responsive to the current output of said photoresponsive element for providing an output signal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined factor, said light integrating means comprising a resistive and capacitive component serially connected with respect to each other to provide said anticipation factor together with means for filtering the light integration signal from said resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 3

The light integrator circuit of claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said photoresponsive element in said constant current mode comprises an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to present an apparent input impedance of substantially zero and an output terminal connected to one side of said serially connected resistive and capacitive components with the other side of said serially connected resistive and capacitive components connecting to one of said input terminals to said amplifier so as to define a feedback path with respect to said amplifier.

Claim 4

The light integrator of claim 2 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in parallel connection with respect to said serially connected resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 5

The light integrator of claim 2 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in connection only with respect to said resistive component.

Claim 6

A light integrator with generally uniform anticipation comprising: a photoresponsive element; an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to present an apparent input impedance of substantially zero thereby permitting said photoresponsive element to operate in a current mode, said amplifier further comprising an output terminal; and feedback means interconnecting the output terminal of said amplifier to one of said input terminals to provide an output signal at said output terminal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined factor.

Claim 7

A light integrator with generally uniform anticipation comprising: a photoresponsive element; an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to present an apparent input impedance of substantially zero thereby permitting said photoresponsive element to operate in a current mode, said amplifier further comprising an output terminal; and feedback means interconnecting the output terminal of said amplifier to one of said input terminals to provide an output signal at said output terminal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined factor.

Claim 8

The light integrator of claim 5 wherein said feedback means comprises a resistive and capacitive component serially connected with respect to each other to provide said anticipation factor together with means for filtering the light integration signal from said resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 9

The light integrator of claim 6 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in parallel connection with respect to said serially connected resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 10

The light integrator of claim 6 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in connection only with respect to said resistive component.

Claim 11

A quench strobe comprising: a flash tube; circuit means responsive to an applied trigger signal for effecting a discharge of current through said flash tube to produce an illuminating flash of light; quench means responsive to another subsequently applied trigger signal for extinguishing said flash of light, said quench means having a predetermined reaction time from receipt of said other trigger signal to full extinguishment of said illuminating flash of light; a photoresponsive element; means for connecting said photoresponsive element to operate in a constant current mode for a select light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element; light integrating means responsive to the current output of said photoresponsive element for providing an output signal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined time corresponding to said reaction time of said quench means, said light integrating means comprising a resistive and capacitive component serially connected with respect to each other to provide said anticipation factor together with means for filtering the light integration signal from said resistive and capacitive components; and level detecting means responsive to said output signal from said light integrating means reaching a select level for providing said other trigger signal.

Claim 12

A quench strobe comprising: a flash tube; circuit means responsive to an applied trigger signal for effecting a discharge of current through said flash tube to produce an illuminating flash of light; quench means responsive to another subsequently applied trigger signal for extinguishing said flash of light, said quench means having a predetermined reaction time from receipt of said other trigger signal to full extinguishment of said illuminating flash of light; a photoresponsive element; means for connecting said photoresponsive element to operate in a constant current mode for a select light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element; light integrating means responsive to the current output of said photoresponsive element for providing an output signal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined time corresponding to said reaction time of said quench means, said light integrating means comprising a resistive and capacitive component serially connected with respect to each other to provide said anticipation factor together with means for filtering the light integration signal from said resistive and capacitive components; and level detecting means responsive to said output signal from said light integrating means reaching a select level for providing said other trigger signal.

Claim 13

The quench strobe of claim 9 wherein said means for connecting said photoresponsive element in said constant current mode comprises an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to present an apparent input impedance of substantially zero and an output terminal connected to one side of said serially connected resistive and capacitive components with the other side of said serially connected resistive and capacitive components connecting to one of said input terminals to said amplifier so as to define a feedback path with respect to said amplifier.

Claim 14

The quench strobe of claim 10 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in parallel connection with respect to said serially connected resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 15

The quench strobe of claim 10 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in connection only with respect to said resistive component.

Claim 16

A quench strobe comprising: a flash tube; circuit means responsive to an applied trigger signal for effecting a discharge of current through said flash tube to produce an illuminating flash of light; quench means responsive to another subsequently applied trigger signal for extinguishing said flash of light, said quench means having a predetermined reaction time from receipt of said other trigger signal to full extinguishment of said illuminating flash of light; a photoresponsive element; an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to operate in a current mode, said amplifier further comprising an output terminal; feedback means interconnecting the output terminal of said amplifier to one of said input terminals to provide an output signal at said output terminal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined time corresponding to said reaction time of said quench means; and level detecting means responsive to said output terminal reaching a select level for providing said other trigger signal.

Claim 17

A quench strobe comprising: a flash tube; circuit means responsive to an applied trigger signal for effecting a discharge of current through said flash tube to produce an illuminating flash of light; quench means responsive to another subsequently applied trigger signal for extinguishing said flash of light, said quench means having a predetermined reaction time from receipt of said other trigger signal to full extinguishment of said illuminating flash of light; a photoresponsive element; an operational amplifier having two input terminals connected across said photoresponsive element to operate in a current mode, said amplifier further comprising an output terminal; feedback means interconnecting the output terminal of said amplifier to one of said input terminals to provide an output signal at said output terminal representative of the integral of the light intensity incident to said photoresponsive element as anticipated by a predetermined time corresponding to said reaction time of said quench means; and level detecting means responsive to said output terminal reaching a select level for providing said other trigger signal.

Claim 18

The quench strobe of claim 13 wherein said feedback means comprises a resistive and capacitive component serially connected with respect to each other to provide said anticipation time together with means for filtering the light integration signal from said resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 19

The light integrator of claim 14 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in parallel connection with respect to said serially connected resistive and capacitive components.

Claim 20

The light integrator of claim 14 wherein said filter means comprises another capacitive component in connection only with respect to said resistive component.