Patent US4545667A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4545667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camera with automatic strobe
Assignee: West Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-10-25
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Granted: 1985-10-08
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Expires: 2003-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A camera with automatic strobe is provided with an electric motor which rotates only in a predetermined single direction, a motion transmitting apparatus comprising to spring means and an abutting means to transmit the energy of rotation to the strobe part with freedom of manual pushing of the strobe part and the motor is controlled by a motor drive control circuit which is configurated to prohibit a necessary motion of the strobe part and protrude the strobe part only for necessary occasion.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuhisa Niwa
- 👤 Takahiro Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0503; G03B2215/0507
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A camera with automatic strobe having a strobe part which is automatically driven between a ready position where the strobe part is protruded out of a camera body for a flashing and a restored position where the strobe part is restored in the camera body when it is not used, comprising: a first energizing member for driving said strobe part in a direction to protrude out of a camera body, a second energizing member for driving said strobe part to restore into said camera body surpassing a force of said first energizing member, a driving lever fulcrumed on said camera body in a manner that a first part thereof being energized in a predetermined direction by said second energizing member and a second part thereof being abutting a receiving part of said strobe part thereby to energize said strobe part in a direction to restore it into said camera body, an electric motor rotating in a predetermined rotary direction, a cam which is to be rotated by said electric motor, thereby to drive said driving lever against said energizing force of said second energizing member, to allow a restoration of said strobe part into said camera body by the force of said second energizing member at a first predetermined rotary phase of said cam, and to allow a protrusion of said first energizing member at a second predetermined rotary phase period of said cam, a reversing-prohibition means which prohibit reversing rotation of said cam when said strobe part reaches said protruded position, a lever stopping means which prohibit motion of said lever in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction when said strobe part is in said restored position, and a motor drive control circuit for actuating said motor responding to plural input signals of photographic condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A camera with automatic strobe having a strobe part which is automatically driven between a ready position where the strobe part is protruded out of a camera body for a flashing and a restored position where the strobe part is restored in the camera body when it is not used, comprising: a first energizing member for driving said strobe part in a direction to protrude out of a camera body, a second energizing member for driving said strobe part to restore into said camera body surpassing a force of said first energizing member, a driving lever fulcrumed on said camera body in a manner that a first part thereof being energized in a predetermined direction by said second energizing member and a second part thereof being abutting a receiving part of said strobe part thereby to energize said strobe part in a direction to restore it into said camera body, an electric motor rotating in a predetermined rotary direction, a cam which is to be rotated by said electric motor, thereby to drive said driving lever against said energizing force of said second energizing member, to allow a restoration of said strobe part into said camera body by the force of said second energizing member at a first predetermined rotary phase of said cam, and to allow a protrusion of said first energizing member at a second predetermined rotary phase period of said cam, a reversing-prohibition means which prohibit reversing rotation of said cam when said strobe part reaches said protruded position, a lever stopping means which prohibit motion of said lever in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction when said strobe part is in said restored position, and a motor drive control circuit for actuating said motor responding to plural input signals of photographic condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
A camera with automatic strobe in accordance with claim 1, wherein said motor driving circuit comprises: a motor driving power circuit which makes said motor to rotate at reception of a high level signal, and a motor drive control circuit which comprises a network of logic gates which logically operate the following input signals, to produce a control signal for said motor driving power circuit: lens hood covering signal which corresponds to covering of lens hood, release-button half-push signal, self-timer operating signal, manual mode selection signal corresponding to an intentional selection of flashing, brightness signal, power source reset signal and strobe switch/flash position signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
A camera with automatic strobe in accordance with claim 2, wherein said motor drive control circuit comprises: signal retention circuits for retaining said inputs signals for predetermined time periods, a first plural AND gates group to selectively receive strobe motion signal, said lens hood covering signal, said release-button half-push signal, said self-timer operating signal, said manual mode selection signal, said brightness signal and said strobe switch/flash position signal through said signal retention circuits, to produce a signal to control timing of protruding said strobe part, a second plural AND gates group to selectively receive said lens hood covering signal, said manual mode selection signal, said brightness signal, said strobe switch/flash position signal through said signal retention circuits, to produce a signal to control timing of restoration of said strobe part, and a logic sum gate which receives all output signals of said first plural AND gates group and said second plural AND gates group, to produce a signal to be given to said motor driving power circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A camera with automatic strobe in accordance with claim 3, wherein said motor drive control circuit further comprises: a prohibition circuit which receives output signal of said logic sum gate and a prohibition signal from a prohibition control circuit, to prohibit transmission of said output signal of said logic sum gate to said motor driving power circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4472042A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-07 | 1989-04-08 | 1989-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-07 | 1993-04-08 | 1993-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-07 | 1997-04-08 | 1997-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |