Strobe-incorporated camera

Claim 2

A camera having a strobe incorporated therein including a strobe light emitter which moves between a retracted position in which said strobe light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light, comprising: an emission mode selecting means for selectively setting an automatic light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light upon exposure, when a brightness of an object to be taken or a shutter speed is within a predetermined range; and a light emitter moving and controlling means for moving said strobe light emitter to a waiting position located between said retracted position and said operating position when said automatic light emission mode is selected by said emission mode selecting means.

Claim 3

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter from said waiting position to said operating position when the brightness of an object to be taken or a shutter speed is within a predetermined range.

Claim 4

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, further comprising a compulsive light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter compulsively emits strobe light upon exposure, regardless of the object brightness which is selected by said emission mode selecting means.

Claim 5

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 3, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter to said operative position when said compulsive light emission mode is selected by said emission mode selecting means.

Claim 6

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 3, further comprising a main power switch means for supplying said emission mode selecting means and the light emitter moving and controlling means with power, so that when said main power switch means is activated, the light emitter moving and controlling means performs the operation.

Claim 7

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 3, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means still holds said strobe light emitter, which has been moved to the operative position at said compulsive light emission mode, in said operative position after the completion of the emission strobe light.

Claim 8

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, wherein said emission mode selecting means includes an emission prohibition mode in which no strobe light can be emitted, so that when said emission prohibition mode is selected by said emission mode selecting means, said light emitter moving and controlling means keeps said strobe light emitter in said retracted position.

Claim 9

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, further comprising a main power switch means for supplying said emission mode selecting means and said light emitter moving and controlling means with power, so that when said main power switch means is activated, said light emitter moving and controlling means performs the operation.

Claim 10

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 8, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter to said retracted position when said main power switch means is turned from ON to OFF.

Claim 11

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter, which has been moved to said operative position at said automatic light emission mode, to said waiting position upon the completion of the emission of strobe light.

Claim 12

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, further comprising a retractable supporting mechanism which supports said strobe light emitter so as to move between said retracted position and said operative position.

Claim 13

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 11, wherein said retractable supporting mechanism comprises a motor drive for moving said strobe light emitter.

Claim 14

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 11, wherein said retractable support mechanism comprises a stop means for restricting said strobe movement of the light emitter at said retracted position and the operative position, respectively.

Claim 15

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 1, further comprising three position detecting switches which detect said retracted position, the waiting position and the operative position, of said strobe light emitter, respectively.

Claim 16

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 14, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves and stops said strobe light emitter to said retracted position, said waiting position and said operative position, in response to the detection of said respective position detecting switches.

Claim 17

A camera having a strobe incorporated therein according to claim 1, wherein said strobe light emitter is positioned at the waiting position, located between said retracted position and said operating position, only when said automatic light emission mode is selected.

Claim 18

In a camera having a strobe incorporated therein including a strobe light emitter which moves between a retracted position in which said strobe light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light, a photometering means for arithmetically calculating exposure factors, and an exposure means, comprising: a strobe judging means for judging whether strobe light should be emitted from said strobe light emitter in accordance with the exposure factors obtained by said photometering means; an emission mode selecting means for selectively setting an automatic light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light upon exposure when said strobe judging means judges that the strobe light should be emitted, and a compulsive light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter compulsively emits the strobe light upon the operation of said exposure means, regardless of the exposure factors; and, a light emitter moving and controlling means for moving said strobe light emitter to a waiting position located between said retracted position and said operative position, and to said operative position when said automatic light emission mode and said compulsive emission mode are selected by said emission mode selecting means, respectively.

Claim 19

In a camera having a strobe incorporated therein including a strobe light emitter which moves between a retracted position in which said strobe light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light, a photometering means for arithmetically calculating exposure factors, and an exposure means, comprising: a strobe judging means for judging whether strobe light should be emitted from said strobe light emitter in accordance with the exposure factors obtained by said photometering means; an emission mode selecting means for selectively setting an automatic light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter emits strobe light upon exposure when said strobe judging means judges that the strobe light should be emitted, and a compulsive light emission mode in which said strobe light emitter compulsively emits the strobe light upon the operation of said exposure means, regardless of the exposure factors; and, a light emitter moving and controlling means for moving said strobe light emitter to a waiting position located between said retracted position and said operative position, and to said operative position when said automatic light emission mode and said compulsive emission mode are selected by said emission mode selecting means, respectively.

Claim 20

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 17, further comprising a first switch means for actuating said photometering means, and a second switch means for actuating said exposure means.

Claim 21

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 18, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means first moves said strobe light emitter to said waiting position when said automatic emission mode is selected by said emission mode selecting means, and then to said operative position when said first switch means is actuated and said strobe judging means judges that the strobe light should be emitted.

Claim 22

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 18, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter to said operative position when said compulsive emission mode is selected by said emission mode selecting means and when said first switch means is actuated.

Claim 23

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 18, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter, which has been moved to said operative position at said automatic emission mode, to said waiting position after the completion of the emission of the strobe light subsequent to the operation of said second switch means.

Claim 24

A strobe-incorporated camera according to claim 18, wherein said light emitter moving and controlling means moves said strobe light emitter, which has been moved to said operative position at said automatic emission mode, to said waiting position when the operation of said first switch means is released.

Claim 25

A camera having a strobe incorporated therein according to claim 17, wherein said strobe light emitter is positioned at the waiting position, located between said retracted position and said operating position, only when said automatic light emission mode is selected.