LOW INERTIA ELECTRONIC CAMERA SHUTTER

• US 3,836,982 A
• Filed: 07/23/1973
• Issued: 09/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph E. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US05/381,757
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 95/53EA,63 354/234,264
• US Class Current: 396/467
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/08 Shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/58 Means for varying duration of "open" period of shutter

Abstract

A low inertial electronic camera shutter is disclosed wherein a ring member coaxially aligned with a bore in a housing pivotally moves a plurality of shutter blades in registry with the bore between open and closed positions for controlling light radiation through the bore. In accordance with the invention, a low inertial means including a longitudinal wire member connected between the ring member and the frame at a pivot point thereon, drives the plurality of shutter blades between the two positions in response to a pulse applied to a solenoid having an armature connected to the wire member at a point thereon to amplify armature movement. The camera shutter includes a flash means including an electrical contact switch actuated by the ring member when the shutter blades are driven into the open position.

Claims

1. A camera shutter comprising:

a. a housing having a bore along an axis thereof, b. a ring member having an annular opening concentric with said bore of said housing along said axis, i. said ring member being rotatable within said housing about said axis, c. a plurality of shutter blades disposed within said housing in registry with said bore and said axis of said housing, i. said blades being pivotally connected in co-operative relationship with said ring member for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position for controlling light radiation through said bore, and d. low inertia means connected between said housing and said ring member for pivotally moving said shutter blades selectively into said open position and said closed position, i. said low inertia means includes a relatively light longitudinal wire member connected at one end to said ring member and at the opposite end to a pivot point on said housing, ii. said low inertia means further includes a pulse responsive solenoid means having an armature connected to said wire member at a point between said opposite ends for pivoting said plurality of shutter blades into said open position in response to an electrical signal pulse applied to said solenoid means, and iii. said low inertia means further includes a spring member connected at said pivot point on said housing for yieldingly urging said plurality of shutter blades into said closed position at the termination of said electrical pulse.

2. A camera shutter comprising:

a. a housing having a bore along an axis thereof, b. a ring member means having an annular opening rotatable about said axis within said housing, c. a plurality of shutter blades in registry with said bore and coupled to said ring member means for movement between open and closed positions for controlling light radiation through said bore in response to rotation of said ring member means in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, d. low inertia means including a low mass wire member pivotally connected at one end to a post fixed relative to said housing and to said ring member at the other end thereof, i. said low inertia means includes a solenoid fixed to said housing and having a movable armature connected to said wire member proximal to said one end for rotating said ring member means in a clockwise direction to drive said plurality of shutter blades in said open position in response to an electrical signal pulse applied to said solenoid, and ii. return spring Means disposed about said post and connected to said housing and said ring member for yieldingly driving said ring member means in a counter-clockwise direction so that said plurality of shutter blades are returned to the closed position at the termination of said electrical signal pulse.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said armature and said low mass wire member are normal to each other when said shutter blades are in the closed position.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said low mass wire member is relatively stiff and light.

5. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said post is a common mounting post for supporting said wire member and said return spring means.

6. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said ring member includes a drive pin fixed thereon and said wire member and said return spring means are coupled to said drive pin for rotating said ring member in said clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.

7. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said low inertia means includes a second low mass wire member pivotally connected to one end thereof to a second post fixed relative to said housing and to said ring member at the other end thereof diametrically opposed to said low mass wire member, i. said low inertia means further includes a second solenoid having another armature connected to said second wire member for rotating said ring member in a clockwise direction to drive said plurality of shutter blades in said open position in response to an electrical single pulse applied to said solenoid and said second solenoid, ii. second return spring means connected about said another post for yieldingly driving said ring member means in a clockwise direction so that said plurality of shutter blades return to the closed position at the termination of said electrical single pulse.

8. The invention defined in claim 2 further including another low inertia means mounted in said housing diametrically opposite to said low inertia means for deriving a force couple on said ring member in response to said electrical signal pulse applied thereto.

9. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said solenoid operates in a pull mode.

10. The invention defined in claim 2 further including a flash means positioned in cooperative relationship with said ring member for closing an electrical contact when said plurality of shutter blades achieve said open position.