Smart flash control system for cameras

Claim 1

An improved artificial illumination control system for controlling the energization of an electronic flash device during a photographic exposure interval in a camera, wherein (a) light level detecting means provides a measure of the level of ambient light intensity and (b) flash triggering means for energizing said electronic flash device is operated in a full flash mode to enable a full flash exposure and is operated in a fill flash mode to enable a fill flash exposure, and wherein the improvement comprises: comparator means for determining whether the measure of level of ambient light intensity provided by said light level detecting means is less than or equal to a first general brightness level which is too low for a proper daylight exposure, is greater than the first general brightness level but less than a second general brightness level which is substantially high as in bright sun, or is equal to or greater than the second general brightness level; and control means, acting subsequent to said comparator means determining that said measure of the level of ambient light intensity is less than or equal to the first general brightness level, for operating said flash triggering means in its full flash mode, acting subsequent to said comparator means determining that said measure of the level of ambient light intensity is greater than the first general brightness level but less than the second general brightness level, for preventing operation of said flash triggering means, and acting subsequent to said comparator means determining that said measure of the level of ambient light intensity is equal to or greater than the second general brightness level, for operating said flash triggering means in its fill flash mode, whereby a full flash exposure or a non-flash exposure or a fill flash exposure will automatically be selected in accordance with either one or two general brightness levels.