Remote control system for photographic apparatus

• US 3,906,244 A
• Filed: 01/04/1974
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edison R. Brandt
• Original Assignee: Edison R. Brandt
• Inventors: Brandt, Edison R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, M.
• Application Number:
  US05/430,698
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 307/115,114 200/33R,39R 354/67,237,266,269
• US Class Current: 307/115
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/58 Means for varying duration of "open" period of shutter

Abstract

Photographic apparatus and a remote control system therefor which functions to carry out a series of operational events in response to the brief manual depression of a remote start switch. The control system incorporates an electronic latch which is activated only after select initial ones of these operational events are carried out. Additionally, the control system incorporates a feature insuring the successful commencement of a photographic cycle by delaying the deactuation of the start switch after a brief depression thereof.

Claims

1. A remote actuator for use with a photographic camera of the type having first electrical switch means for initiating a photographic cycle in parallel connection with first plural electrical contacts, including:

conductive cable means together with connecting means adapted for establishing an electrically conductive connection with said first plural electrical contacts;

second switch means for selectively establishing an electrically conductive parallel connection across said first plural electrical contacts by way of said cable means; and

means for delaying the opening of said electrically conductive parallel connection across said first plural electrical contacts by said second switch means for a predetermined interval.

2. The invention pursuant to claim 1, including second plural electrical contacts in electrically conductive parallel connection with said second switch means wherein said connecting means includes a plug assembly with said plug assembly adapted to releasably engage said first plural electrical contacts and said cable means being connected to said second plural electrical contacts.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein said second switch means includes electrically conductive means moveable between first and second positions together with means for engaging and disengaging said conductive means whereby said conductive means are engaged and disengaged, respectively, with said second plural electrical contacts.

4. The invention as delineated in claim 3, wherein said second switch means includes means for manually engaging and automatically disengaging said second plural electrical contacts engaging means.

5. The remote actuator of claim 4 further including means for moving said electrically conductive means while it remains in engagement with said second plural electrical contacts.

6. The invention as described in claim 5, wherein said predetermined delay interval is determined by the length of said electrically conductive means and its rate of movement whilst engaging said second plural electrical contacts.

7. The remote actuator of claim 6 including a housing wherein said means for moving said electrically conductive means includes a wheel member rotatively secured within said housing and wherein said electrically conductive means is disposed about A predetermined portion of the periphery of said wheel member.

8. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein said second plural electrical contacts are adapted to be resiliently urged into contact with the periphery of said wheel member to control the rate of rotation of said wheel member.

9. The remote actuator of claim 8, additionally including a shaft slideably disposed within said housing, wherein said means for moving said electrically conductive means also includes a rack member slideably disposed along said shaft;

and a pinion coaxially fixed to said wheel member for rotation therewith and adapted to engage said rack member such that movement of said rack member along said shaft will effect rotation of said wheel member.

10. The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for moving said electrically conductive means also includes an actuator spring adapted to be loaded, upon movement of said shaft in a first direction from an initial position to a first predetermined position, so as to urge said rack member in said first direction;

first latch means for retaining said rack member at an initial position until said shaft reaches said first position;

return spring means for biasing said shaft toward said initial position;

second latch means for securing said shaft in said first position against the bias of said return spring means; and

release means for disengaging said second latch means and permitting said return spring means to return said shaft and rack member to said initial position.