Flash camera

Claim 2

A flash camera including an electronic flashing means for automatically artificially illuminating a photographic scene when a shutter button is depressed, comprising: light sensing means for producing a first signal when the natural illumination of said photographic scene is below a predetermined level; drive means responsive to said first signal for moving said flashing means from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined flashing position; limit switching means for detecting if said flashing means has moved to said predetermined flashing position and for inhibiting said drive means when said detected position of said flashing means is said predetermined flashing position; and illuminating means for artificially illuminating said photographic scene when said shutter button is depressed and said flashing unit is in said predetermined flashing position.

Claim 3

A flash camera comprising: an integral electronic flashing unit including a moveable flashing part; electric motor means for moving said flashing part at least from a predetermined resting position to a predetermined flashing position by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy; linking means for mechanically linking said motor means to said flashing part; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic object; motor control means responsive to said first signal for controlling said electric motor means; power supply means for providing power to said motor control means and said brightness detection means; and limit switching means for detecting if said flashing part has moved to said predetermined flashing position and for controlling said motor control means to de-energize said electric motor means when the detected position of said flashing part is said predetermined flashing position.

Claim 4

A flash camera comprising: an integral electronic flashing unit including a moveable flashing part; electric motor means for moving said flashing part at least from a predetermined resting position to a predetermined flashing position by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy; linking means for mechanically linking said motor means to said flashing part; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic object; motor control means responsive to said first signal for controlling said electric motor means; power supply means for providing power to said motor control means and said brightness detection means; and limit switching means for detecting if said flashing part has moved to said predetermined flashing position and for controlling said motor control means to de-energize said electric motor means when the detected position of said flashing part is said predetermined flashing position.

Claim 5

A flash camera in accordance with claim 2, wherein said brightness detection means comprises: a brightness measuring device; and switching means responsive to an output of said brightness measuring device and having a predetermined hysteresis characteristic for producing said first signal.

Claim 6

A flash camera in accordance with claim 2, wherein said limit switch means include means for connecting said power supply means to said integral electronic flashing unit when said flashing part is moved to said predetermined flashing position.

Claim 7

A flash camera comprising: an integral electronic flashing unit including a moveable flashing part; electric motor means for moving said flashing part at least from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined flashing position by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy; linking means for mechanically linking said motor means to said flashing part; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic object; motor control means responsive to said first signal for controlling said electric motor means; power supply means for providing power to said motor control means and said brightness detection means; limit switching means for controlling said motor control means to de-energize said electric motor means when said flashing part is moved to said predetermined flashing position; biasing means for biasing said flashing means toward said first predetermined retracted position; and electromagnetic engaging means responsive to said first signal for retaining said flashing means in said predetermined flashing position despite the bias of said biasing means.

Claim 8

A flash camera comprising: an integral electronic flashing unit including a moveable flashing part; electric motor means for moving said flashing part at least from a predetermined retracted position to a predetermined flashing position by converting electrical energy to mechanical energy; linking means for mechanically linking said motor means to said flashing part; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic object; motor control means responsive to said first signal for controlling said electric motor means; power supply means for providing power to said motor control means and said brightness detection means; limit switching means for controlling said motor control means to de-energize said electric motor means when said flashing part is moved to said predetermined flashing position; biasing means for biasing said flashing means toward said first predetermined retracted position; and electromagnetic engaging means responsive to said first signal for retaining said flashing means in said predetermined flashing position despite the bias of said biasing means.

Claim 9

A flash camera as in claim 5, further comprising: hysteresis means responsive to said first signal for controlling said electromagnetic engaging means to retain said flashing means in said predetermined flashing position for a predetermined time after said light sensing means ceases to produce said first signal to prevent fluctuations of short duration in the natural illumination of said photographic scene from affecting the position of said flashing means.

Claim 10

A flash camera including a camera and an electronic flashing unit to provide artificial illumination operatively combined with said camera, said electronic flashing unit comprising a flashing part movable between a predetermined rest position and a predetermined flashing position, the improvement comprising: shutter button means for actuating said camera and said electronic flashing unit; power supply means for providing electrical power; first switching means responsive to said shutter button means for connecting said power supply means to said electronic flashing unit; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic scene, comprising: light measuring means connected to said power supply means for detecting the brightness level of said photographic scene; and second switching means responsive to said light measuring means for producing said first signal; moving means for moving said flashing part between said predetermined rest position and said predetermined flashing position, comprising: motor means responsive to said first signal for converting electrical energy of said power supply means into mechanical energy; and linking means for transmitting said mechanical energy from said motor means to said flashing part to move said flashing part between said predetermined rest position and said predetermined flashing position; biasing means for exerting a force to bias said flashing part toward said predetermined rest position; retaining means for retaining said flashing part in said predetermined flashing position despite the force exerted by said biasing means, comprising: electromagnetic means responsive to said first signal for retaining said flashing part in said predetermined flashing position despite the force exerted by said biasing means once said flashing part is moved to said predetermined flashing position by said moving means; first limit switch means for disconnecting said motor means from said power supply means when said flashing part reaches said predetermined flashing position; second limit switch means for producing a second signal when said flashing part reaches said predetermined rest position; and time constant means responsive to said second signal for disconnecting said power supply means from said electronic flashing unit a predetermined time after said flashing part reaches said predetermined rest position.

Claim 11

A flash camera including a camera and an electronic flashing unit to provide artificial illumination operatively combined with said camera, said electronic flashing unit comprising a flashing part movable between a predetermined rest position and a predetermined flashing position, the improvement comprising: shutter button means for actuating said camera and said electronic flashing unit; power supply means for providing electrical power; first switching means responsive to said shutter button means for connecting said power supply means to said electronic flashing unit; brightness detecting means for producing a first signal indicative of the brightness of a photographic scene, comprising: light measuring means connected to said power supply means for detecting the brightness level of said photographic scene; and second switching means responsive to said light measuring means for producing said first signal; moving means for moving said flashing part between said predetermined rest position and said predetermined flashing position, comprising: motor means responsive to said first signal for converting electrical energy of said power supply means into mechanical energy; and linking means for transmitting said mechanical energy from said motor means to said flashing part to move said flashing part between said predetermined rest position and said predetermined flashing position; biasing means for exerting a force to bias said flashing part toward said predetermined rest position; retaining means for retaining said flashing part in said predetermined flashing position despite the force exerted by said biasing means, comprising: electromagnetic means responsive to said first signal for retaining said flashing part in said predetermined flashing position despite the force exerted by said biasing means once said flashing part is moved to said predetermined flashing position by said moving means; first limit switch means for disconnecting said motor means from said power supply means when said flashing part reaches said predetermined flashing position; second limit switch means for producing a second signal when said flashing part reaches said predetermined rest position; and time constant means responsive to said second signal for disconnecting said power supply means from said electronic flashing unit a predetermined time after said flashing part reaches said predetermined rest position.

Claim 12

A flash camera in accordance with claim 7, wherein said linking means comprises: revolution speed reduction means for reducing the angular velocity of the mechanical energy produced by said motor means; rack means connected to said flashing part, pinion means connected to an output end of said revolution speed reduction means for engaging with said rack means to rectilinearly move said flashing part; and gear clutch means for disconnecting said pinion means from said revolution speed reduction means when said flashing part is moving from said predetermined flashing position to said predetermined rest position.

Claim 13

A flash camera in accordance with claim 7, wherein said first limit switch means supplies power from said power supply means to said electronic flashing unit when said flashing part reaches said predetermined flashing position.

Claim 14

A flash camera as in claim 7, wherein said time constant means comprises: a first circuit connected to said power supply means through said second limit switch means comprising: a first resistance; a second resistance connected in series with said first resistance; and a capacitance connected in parallel with said second resistance; and a switching device, the trigger terminal of which is connected to the common connection of said first resistance, said second resistance and said capacitance, said switching device being controlled by a voltage produced at said common connection for disconnecting said power supply means from said electronic flashing unit when said voltage reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 15

A flash camera as in claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic means comprises: electromagnetic solenoid means responsive to said first signal produced by said brightness detecting means for retaining said flashing part in said predetermined flashing position, said electromagnetic solenoid means including an extensible first engaging means for projecting from said solenoid means when said solenoid means is actuated by said first signal; and second engaging means fixed to said flashing part for engaging with said first engaging means.

Claim 16

A flash camera as in claim 7, further comprising: a main capacitor which is charged to a predetermined voltage when said electronic flashing unit is ready to flash; voltage detecting means for producing a third signal when said main capacitor is charged to said predetermined voltage; and hold-release inhibition means for inhibiting the deenergization of said electromagnetic means by causing said brightness detecting means to produce said second signal until said third signal is produced by said voltage detecting means after said flashing part has reached said predetermined flashing position, comprising: control switching means for preventing said second switching means of said brightness detecting means from producing said first signal when said third signal is produced.

Claim 17

An flash camera as in claim 7 wherein said first switching means includes means for connecting said light measuring means to said power supply means.