US4835564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aperture control apparatus of programming shutter
Assignee: Nidec Precision Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-23
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Granted: 1989-05-30
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Expires: 2007-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A drive current of a motor is controlled by an output of a pulse oscillator having a variable duty ratio in response to a shutter release operation. Shutter blades having the function of the diaphragm blade start to open the aperture for exposure in interlocked relationship with the rotation of the motor. The shutter blades are provided with a plurality of detection marks for use in detection of the shutter blade position, and every time each of the detection marks passes through a predetermined detection point, an aperture value detection circuit produces a detection pulse. Each of the detection pulses is supplied to an operation circuit which calculates a time interval between the detection pulses. The time interval between the detection pulses is compared with a reference time stored previously in a setting device so that the duty ratio of the output signal of the pulse oscillator in the next cycle of the detection pulse is controlled to control the rotational speed of the motor. Further, the duty ratio of the pulse oscillator is made equal to 100% so that the motive power at the initial operation is secured until the aperture value detection circuit produces a first detection pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 Norifumi Nakagawa
- 👤 Junichi Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/091; G03B7/097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter including a motor which is rotated by supplying a current thereto and shutter blades which function as diaphragm blades and which are connected to the motor to open an exposure aperture when the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the shutter blades, comprising: a plurality of detection marks disposed on at least one of said shutter blades along a moving direction of said shutter blades to detect a position of said shutter blades; an aperture value detection means for producing a detection pulse every time each of said plurality of detection marks passes through a predetermined detection point provided on a traveling path of said plurality of detection marks; a means for calculating a pulse interval of said detection pulses produced by said aperture value detection means each time said detection pulses are supplied thereto; a photometric means which is charged by photocurrent corresponding to the brightness of a subject to be photographed for producing an exposure ending signal when the charged level thereof reaches a predetermined level; a pulse oscillator for producing a pulse signal having a variable duty ratio for controlling turning on and off of a drive current of said motor; a gate means for passing said pulse signal produced by said pulse oscillator within a period of time from when a shutter release operation has been effected to when said exposure ending signal is produced by said photometric means; and a duty cycle control means for controlling the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator in accordance with the pulse interval of the detection pulses calculated by said calculating means; wherein said detection point is provided at a point where said aperture value detection means produces a first detection pulse before said shutter blades form a pinhole, and wherein said photometric means starts being charged when said first detection pulse is produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter including a motor which is rotated by supplying a current thereto and shutter blades which function as diaphragm blades and which are connected to the motor to open an exposure aperture when the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the shutter blades, comprising: a plurality of detection marks disposed on at least one of said shutter blades along a moving direction of said shutter blades to detect a position of said shutter blades; an aperture value detection means for producing a detection pulse every time each of said plurality of detection marks passes through a predetermined detection point provided on a traveling path of said plurality of detection marks; a means for calculating a pulse interval of said detection pulses produced by said aperture value detection means each time said detection pulses are supplied thereto; a photometric means which is charged by photocurrent corresponding to the brightness of a subject to be photographed for producing an exposure ending signal when the charged level thereof reaches a predetermined level; a pulse oscillator for producing a pulse signal having a variable duty ratio for controlling turning on and off of a drive current of said motor; a gate means for passing said pulse signal produced by said pulse oscillator within a period of time from when a shutter release operation has been effected to when said exposure ending signal is produced by said photometric means; and a duty cycle control means for controlling the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator in accordance with the pulse interval of the detection pulses calculated by said calculating means; wherein said detection point is provided at a point where said aperture value detection means produces a first detection pulse before said shutter blades form a pinhole, and wherein said photometric means starts being charged when said first detection pulse is produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter according to claim 1, wherein said duty cycle control means comprises a setting device which stores a reference time and a means for comparing the pulse interval of the detection pulses calculated by said calculating means with the reference time stored in said setting device, and wherein when the detected pulse interval is longer than the reference time, the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator is increased and wherein when the detected pulse interval is shorter than the reference time, the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator is decreased.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An aperture control appartus of a programming shutter according to claim 1, wherein said duty cycle control means maintains the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator at 100% until said first detection pulse is produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter according to claim 2, wherein said duty cycle control means maintains the duty cycle ratio of said pulse signal which is produced by said pulse oscillator at 100% until said first detection pulse is produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter according to claim 2, wherein said setting device comprises a memory having a plurality of addresses, and wherein each time said detection pulse is produced, reference times which have been stored in said plurality of addresses are successively read out.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An aperture control apparatus of a programming shutter according to claim 4, wherein said setting device comprises a memory having a plurality of addresses, and wherein each time said detection pulse is produced, reference times which have been stored in said plurality of addresses are successively read out.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-29 | 1992-11-28 | 1993-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-29 | 1996-11-28 | 1997-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-29 | 2000-11-28 | 2001-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |