Automatic flash limiting apparatus in a camera

Claim 2

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light, and at each time, receiving as an input the photometric outputs from said split photometry means, and when at least one of said photometric outputs reaches a predetermined value, causing said preliminary flashing to be repeated while varying said quantity of emitted light, and stopping said preliminary flashing when the number of said photometric outputs reaching said predetermined value becomes null; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of the quantity of light during a last stage of preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means at said last stage.

Claim 3

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 1, wherein said predetermined value of said preliminary flashing control means is a flash limiting level during said preliminary flashing.

Claim 4

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 1, wherein said split photometry means has a plurality of divisional light receiving elements corresponding to said plurality of areas, and said predetermined value of said preliminary flashing control means is a saturation level of said divisional light receiving elements.

Claim 5

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of a quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and the photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 6

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of a quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and the photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 7

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 8

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing plural times at a fixed quantity of emitted light.

Claim 9

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 5, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while decreasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 10

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 5, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while increasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 11

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein said main flashing control means determines areas among said areas which are not used for said flash limiting control during said main flashing.

Claim 12

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein said main flashing control means determines a respective contribution rate at which each of said photometric outputs from said areas during said main flashing contributes to flash limiting.

Claim 13

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein the quantity of light on which said main flashing control means bases said flash limiting control is a quantity of light at a last stage of preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means.

Claim 14

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 4, wherein the quantity of light on which said main flashing control means bases said flash limiting control is the sum of the quantities of light in at least two times of preliminary flashing.

Claim 15

The automatic flash limiting appratus of the camera of claim 4, wherein the number of times of the preliminary flashing of said preliminary flashing control means is limited to a predetermined number of times.

Claim 16

The automatic flash limiting apparatus of the camera of claim 5, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light in the fashion of geometrical series.

Claim 17

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of the number of times of said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 18

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of the number of times of said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 19

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of a quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, said photometric outputs from said split photometry means, and a flash limiting level calculated by the use of said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 20

In a camera on which is mountable a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, automatic flash limiting apparatus comprising: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control during said main flashing on the basis of a quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, said photometric outputs from said split photometry means, and a flash limiting level calculated by the use of said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 21

In a camera system having an automatic flashing control device which controls main flashing on the basis of results of preliminary flashing conducted plural times prior to said main flashing, each time at a known quantity of emitted light, a flashing device, comprising: a flash emitting portion for effecting said main flashing during flash photographing and for effecting said preliminary flashing; means for receiving commands from said automatic flashing control device; flashing control means responsive to a preliminary flashing command received by said receiving means to cause said flash emitting portion to effect said preliminary flashing, and responsive to a later received main flashing command to cause said flash emitting portion to effect said main flashing.

Claim 22

In a camera system having an automatic flashing control device which controls main flashing on the basis of results of preliminary flashing conducted plural times prior to said main flashing, each time at a known quantity of emitted light, a flashing device, comprising: a flash emitting portion for effecting said main flashing during flash photographing and for effecting said preliminary flashing; means for receiving commands from said automatic flashing control device; flashing control means responsive to a preliminary flashing command received by said receiving means to cause said flash emitting portion to effect said preliminary flashing, and responsive to a later received main flashing command to cause said flash emitting portion to effect said main flashing.

Claim 23

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein said flashing control means effects said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 24

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein said flashing control means effects said preliminary flashing at a fixed quantity of emitted light plural times.

Claim 25

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein said flashing control means effects said preliminary flashing while decreasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 26

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein said flashing control means effects said preliminary flashing while increasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 27

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein the number of times of the preliminary flashing of said flashing control means is limited to a predetermined number of times.

Claim 28

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein said flashing control means effects said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light in the fashion of geometrical series.

Claim 29

The flashing device of claim 17, wherein the quantity of preliminary flashlight is smaller than the quantity of main flashlight.

Claim 30

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including, split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on a basis of the quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 31

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including, split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on a basis of the quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 32

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 33

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing at a fixed quantity of emitted light plural times.

Claim 34

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while decreasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 35

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while increasing said known quantity of emitted light.

Claim 36

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said main flahsing control means determines areas among said plurality of areas which are not used for said flash limiting control during said main flashing.

Claim 37

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said main flashing control means determines a respective contribution rate at which each of said photometric outputs from said areas during said main flashing contributes to flash limiting.

Claim 38

The camera system of claim 24, wherein the quantity of light on which said main flashing control means bases said flash limiting control is a quantity of light at a last stage of preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means.

Claim 39

The camera system of claim 25, wherein the quantity of light on which said main flashing control means bases said flash limiting control is the sum of quantities of light in at least two times of preliminary flashing.

Claim 40

The camera system of claim 25, wherein the number of times of the preliminary flashing of said preliminary flashing control means is limited to a predetermined number.

Claim 41

The camera system of claim 25, wherein said preliminary flashing control means causes said flashing device to effect said preliminary flashing while varying said known quantity of emitted light in the fashion of geometrical series.

Claim 42

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on the basis of the number of times of said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 43

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including: split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on the basis of the number of times of said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, and said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 44

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on a basis of the quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, said photometric outputs from said split photometry means, and a flash limiting level calculated by the use of said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 45

A camera system comprising a flashing device for effecting main flashing during flash photographing and preliminary flashing prior to said main flashing, and a camera having an automatic flash limiting apparatus, said camera system including split photometry means for metering reflected light from an object field divided into a plurality of areas and outputting a photometric output for each of these areas; preliminary flashing control means for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing each at a known quantity of emitted light; and main flashing control means for effecting flash limiting control of the main flashing of said flashing device on a basis of the quantity of light during said preliminary flashing controlled by said preliminary flashing control means, said photometric outputs from said split photometry means, and a flash limiting level calculated by the use of said photometric outputs from said split photometry means during preliminary flashing.

Claim 46

A camera system including a camera and a flashing device, comprising: a release switch provided on a body of the camera and operable externally of the camera body; a release circuit provided in the camera body for generating a release signal in response to an operation of said release switch; a photometry circuit including a divisional photometry element which performs photometry of an object field with the object field being divided into a plurality of areas; a flashing signal generating circuit which generates, in response to said release signal, a signal for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing and a signal for causing said flashing device to effect a subsequent main flashing; a flashing circuit responsive to the signals from said flashing signal generating circuit for effecting the preliminary flashing and the subsequent main flashing; and a flashing control circuit for controlling a quantity of emitted light of said flashing device; wherein during said preliminary flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the preliminary flashing reflected from the object field, and during said main flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the main flashing reflected from the object field; and wherein said flashing control circuit controls the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing based on a result of photometry of said photometry circuit for the preliminary flashing.

Claim 47

A camera system including a camera and a flashing device, comprising: a release switch provided on a body of the camera and operable externally of the camera body; a release circuit provided in the camera body for generating a release signal in response to an operation of said release switch; a photometry circuit including a divisional photometry element which performs photometry of an object field with the object field being divided into a plurality of areas; a flashing signal generating circuit which generates, in response to said release signal, a signal for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing and a signal for causing said flashing device to effect a subsequent main flashing; a flashing circuit responsive to the signals from said flashing signal generating circuit for effecting the preliminary flashing and the subsequent main flashing; and a flashing control circuit for controlling a quantity of emitted light of said flashing device; wherein during said preliminary flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the preliminary flashing reflected from the object field, and during said main flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the main flashing reflected from the object field; and wherein said flashing control circuit controls the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing based on a result of photometry of said photometry circuit for the preliminary flashing.

Claim 48

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied.

Claim 49

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected at a constant quantity of light.

Claim 50

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being decreased.

Claim 51

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being increased.

Claim 52

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said flashing control circuit determines an area among said plurality of areas which is not used for the control of the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing.

Claim 53

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said flashing control circuit determines a contribution rate of each of said plurality of areas in controlling the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing.

Claim 54

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein number of the times of said preliminary flashing is limited to a predetermined number.

Claim 55

A camera system according to claim 38, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied in a fashion of geometrical series.

Claim 56

A camera system including a camera and a flashing device, comprising: a release switch provided on the body of the camera and operable externally of the camera body; a release circuit provided in the camera body for generating a release signal in response to an operation of said release switch; a photometry circuit including a divisional photometry element which performs photometry of an object field with the object field being divided into a plurality of areas; a flashing signal generating circuit which generates, in response to said release signal, a signal for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing and a signal for causing said flashing device to effect a subsequent main flashing; a flashing circuit responsive to the signals from said flashing signal generating circuit for effecting the preliminary flashing and the subsequent main flashing; a flashing control circuit for controlling a quantity of emitted light of said flashing device; and a light shielding member movable between a position at which the shielding member shields a film surface and a position at which the shielding member does not shield the film surface; wherein during the preliminary flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the object field reflected by said light shielding member, and during the main flashing, said photometry circuit measures light of the object field reflected by the film surface; and wherein said flashing control circuit controls the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing based on a result of photometry of said photometry circuit for the preliminary flashing.

Claim 57

A camera system including a camera and a flashing device, comprising: a release switch provided on the body of the camera and operable externally of the camera body; a release circuit provided in the camera body for generating a release signal in response to an operation of said release switch; a photometry circuit including a divisional photometry element which performs photometry of an object field with the object field being divided into a plurality of areas; a flashing signal generating circuit which generates, in response to said release signal, a signal for causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing and a signal for causing said flashing device to effect a subsequent main flashing; a flashing circuit responsive to the signals from said flashing signal generating circuit for effecting the preliminary flashing and the subsequent main flashing; a flashing control circuit for controlling a quantity of emitted light of said flashing device; and a light shielding member movable between a position at which the shielding member shields a film surface and a position at which the shielding member does not shield the film surface; wherein during the preliminary flashing of said flashing device, said photometry circuit measures light of the object field reflected by said light shielding member, and during the main flashing, said photometry circuit measures light of the object field reflected by the film surface; and wherein said flashing control circuit controls the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing based on a result of photometry of said photometry circuit for the preliminary flashing.

Claim 58

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said light shielding member is a shutter blade.

Claim 59

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied.

Claim 60

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected at a constant quantity of light.

Claim 61

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being decreased.

Claim 62

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being increased.

Claim 63

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said flashing control circuit determines an area among said plurality of areas which is not used for the control of the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing.

Claim 64

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said flashing control circuit determines a contribution rate of each of said plurality of areas in controlling the quantity of emitted light of the main flashing.

Claim 65

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein number of the times of said preliminary flashing is limited to a predetermined number.

Claim 66

A camera system according to claim 47, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied in a fashion of geometrical series.

Claim 67

In a camera system including a camera and a flashing device, a method of performing flash photography, comprising the steps of: causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing upon input of a signal for starting the flash photography; performing photometry of light of said preliminary flashing coming from an object field and reflected by a light shielding member shielding a film surface; calculating a quantity of light required for a main flashing based on a result of said photometry; effecting the main flashing with said flashing device after shifting said light shielding member to a position at which said light shielding member does not shield the film surface; performing photometry of light of said main flashing coming from the object field and reflected by the film surface; stopping the main flashing when a photometry result of the light of the object field reflected by the film surface corresponds to said calculated quantity of light; and returning said light shielding member to a position in which said light shielding member shields the film surface.

Claim 68

In a camera system including a camera and a flashing device, a method of performing flash photography, comprising the steps of: causing said flashing device to effect plural times of preliminary flashing upon input of a signal for starting the flash photography; performing photometry of light of said preliminary flashing coming from an object field and reflected by a light shielding member shielding a film surface; calculating a quantity of light required for a main flashing based on a result of said photometry; effecting the main flashing with said flashing device after shifting said light shielding member to a position at which said light shielding member does not shield the film surface; performing photometry of light of said main flashing coming from the object field and reflected by the film surface; stopping the main flashing when a photometry result of the light of the object field reflected by the film surface corresponds to said calculated quantity of light; and returning said light shielding member to a position in which said light shielding member shields the film surface.

Claim 69

A method according to claim 57, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied.

Claim 70

A method according to claim 57, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected at a constant quantity of light.

Claim 71

A method according to claim 57, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being decreased.

Claim 72

A method according to claim 57, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being increased.

Claim 73

A method according to claim 57, wherein said photometry of light of said preliminary flashing and said photometry of light of said main flashing are conducted with the object field being divided into a plurality of areas.

Claim 74

A method according to claim 62, including the step determining an area among said plurality of areas which is not used in obtaining said photometry result of the light of the object field reflected by the film surface.

Claim 75

A method according to claim 62, including the step of determining a contribution rate of each of said plurality of areas in obtaining said photometry result of the light of the object field reflected by the film surface.

Claim 76

A method according to claim 57, wherein number of the times of said preliminary flashing is limited to a predetermined number.

Claim 77

A method according to claim 57, wherein said plural times of preliminary flashing are effected with the quantity of light being varied in a fashion of geometrical series.