PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS WITH BUILT-IN EXPOSURE METER

• US 3,568,581 A
• Filed: 09/05/1968
• Issued: 03/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rolf Heinzmann, Stieringer Albert
• Original Assignee: Rolf Heinzmann, Stieringer Albert
• Inventors: Heinzmann, Rolf, STIERINGER ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US04/757,673
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• US Class Current: 396/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0204 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/24 automatically in accordance with markings or other means indicating film speed or kind of film on the magazine to be inserted in the camera

Abstract

A photographic camera, which utilizes film-containing magazines having coding markers indicative of the film sensitivity, is provided with a built-in exposure meter which is adjusted by a detector serving to scan the coding marker of a magazine in the camera housing and to thereby adjust the exposure meter as a function of sensitivity of the respective film. The circuit of the exposure meter contains a normally operative variable resistor or a normally closed control switch which is opened by the detector when the detector assumes an end position while the magazine chamber of the camera housing is empty. The circuit of the exposure meter can be completed while the magazine chamber is empty by a locking member which can lock or unlock the door of the film chamber when the door is closed. When the door is closed and the locking member is moved to inoperative position to permit opening of the door, the locking member automatically causes the detector to leave its end position and to thus permit closing of the control switch or return movement of the slider in the variable resistor into engagement with the fixed portion of such resistor. This enables the operator to test the exposure meter while the magazine chamber is empty.

Claims

1. In a photographic apparatus for use with film magazines of the type provided with coding means indicative of the sensitivity of film therein, a combination comprising a housing including a magazine chamber having a door movable between open and closed position;

adjustable exposure meter means provided in said housing and arranged to assume operative and inoperative conditions;

detector means for scanning said coding means, said detector means being movable from a starting position to one of a plurality of intermediate positions in each of which said detector means adjusts said exposure meter means as a function of the sensitivity of film in the respective magazine in said chamber, and to an end position when said chamber is unoccupied;

control means operated by said detector means to place said exposure meter means into operative condition in the starting and intermediate positions of said detector means and to place said exposure meter means into inoperative condition in the end position of said detector means; and

locking means actuatable to lock and unlock said door in closed position, said detector means being movable by said locking means from said end position to another of said positions thereof in response to at least partial unlocking of said door so that said exposure meter means can assume said operative condition when said chamber is unoccupied.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposure meter means comprises an electric circuit which is completed in the operative condition and is deenergized in the inoperative condition of said exposure meter means, said control means comprising an electrical component arranged to complete said circuit in said starting and intermediate positions of said detector means and to deenergize said circuit in the end position of said detector means.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said electrical component is a switch which is normally closed and is opened by said detector means in response to movement of said detector means to said end positions.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical component comprises variable resistor means which completes said circuit in the starting and intermediate positions of said detector means and deenergizes said circuit in the end position of said detector means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said variable resistor means comprises a stationary portion and a second portion connected with and movable by said detector means to engage said stationary portion in the starting and intermediate positions of said detector means and to be disengaged from said stationary portion in the end position of said detector means.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said variable resistor means further comprises an insulator which is engaged by said second portion in the end position of said detector means.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for indicating the condition of said exposure meter means.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising window means, said exposure meter means comprising a movable output member and said indicator means comprising pointer means connected with said output member and being observable in said window means.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, further comprising view finder means including said window means.

10. In a photographic apparatus for usE with film magazines of the type provided with coding means indicative of the sensitivity of film therein, a combination comprising a housing including a magazine chamber;

adjustable exposure meter means provided in said housing and arranged to assume operative and inoperative conditions;

detector means for scanning said coding means, said detector means being movable from a starting position to one of a plurality of intermediate positions in each of which said detector means adjusts said exposure meter means as a function of the sensitivity of film in the respective magazine in said chamber, said detector means being further movable to an end position when said chamber is unoccupied;

control means operated by said detector means to place said exposure meter means into operative condition in the starting and intermediate positions of said detector means and to place said exposure meter means into inoperative condition in the end position of said detector means;

manually operated means for effecting movement of said detector means from said end position when said chamber is unoccupied; and

means for indicating the condition of said exposure meter means, comprising a pointer connected with said detector means.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10, further comprising a window provided in said housing, said pointer being in registry with said window in the end position of said detector means.