Strobo discharge device with audio signal generator

• US 3,898,514 A
• Filed: 05/30/1973
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Akira Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Akira Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaRoche, E. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/365,085
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 315/241R,241P,241S,133,134,135,136 320/1 340/248R,248A,248C,248D,384E 354/127
• US Class Current: 315/136
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/34 to provide a sequence of flashes

Abstract

A strobo discharge device which generates audio signals when a main flash capacitor is charged in excess of a predetermined voltage capable of triggering a flash tube. When the voltage across the main flash capacitor rises above the predetermined level, a continuous wave voltage is intermittently interrupted and is converted by a speaker system into audio signals.

Claims

1. A strobo discharge device comprising a. a flash tube, b. a continuous wave voltage generator, c. a main capacitor for supplying energy to said flash tube, d. means for charging said main capacitor, e. means for detecting the voltage across said main capacitor, f. means for intermittently interrupting the continuous wave voltage from said continuous wave voltage generator in response to the signal from said detecting means generated when the voltage across said main capacitor is in excess of a predetermined level, and g. means for converting said intermittently interrupted continuous wave voltage into sound signals.

2. A strobo discharge device as defined in claim 1 wherein a. said means for charging said main capacitor and for generating said continuous wave voltage comprise a common blocking oscillator, b. said voltage detecting means comprises a neon bulb across which is applied a part of the voltage across said main capacitor and a photoelectric cell disposed to intercept the light emitted from said neon bulb, c. said means for intermittently interrupting the continuous wave voltage comprises an astable multivibrator, and d. said means for converting said intermittently interrupted continuous wave voltage into sound signals comprises a speaker system, whereby said continuous wave voltage is derived from said blocking oscillator and the signals for intermittently interrupting said continuous wave voltage are derived from said astable multivibrator.

3. A strobo discharge device as defined in claim 2 wherein said voltage-detecting means comprises a series circuit consisting of a resistor and said neon bulb and connected in parallel with said main capacitor.

4. A strobo discharge device having a flashtube having two main terminals and a trigger terminal and firing when a firing signal exceeding a selected value is applied to its main terminal and a trigger signal is applied to its trigger terminal, means for storing a firing signal connected across the main terminals of the flashtube, means for gradually charging the storing means from a level below said selected value to a level exceeding said selected value, and first normally open switch means closeable to apply a trigger signal to the trigger terminal of the flashtube to fire it when a firing signal exceeding the selected value is applied to the main terminals of the tube, wherein the improvement comprises a device for audibly indicating when the storage means stores a firing signal exceeding said preselected value, comprising:

means for generating a continuous wave form signal;

means for converting said continuous wave form signal into an audible signal;

second normally open switch means interposed between the generating and the converting means and closeable to apply said continuous wave form signal to the converting means;

means for detecting the level of the signal in said storage means and for generating an enabling signal when the signal in the storage means exceeds said selected value; and

means responsive to said enabling signal for intermittently closing said second switch means, whereby the converting means provides an intermittent audible signal when the storage means stores a firing signal of a level sufficient for firing the flash tube, to indicate to an operator that closing of said first switch means would fire the flash tube.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the storing means is a capacitor and the charging means is the means for generating a continuous wave form signal.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein the means for generating said continuous wave form signal is a blocking oscillator.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein the detecting means comprise a neon bulb across which is applied a selected portion of the voltage across said capacitor and a photoelectric cell disposed to intercept the light from the neon bulb.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein the means for intermittently closing the second switch means comprise an astable multivibrator.