Exposure parameter information generating circuit in a single lens reflex camera

• US 4,275,953 A
• Filed: 09/07/1979
• Issued: 06/30/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kogaku KK (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyoda, Kenji, Ohtsubo, Yoshiaki, Watanabe, Sakuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brady, W. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/073,449
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 354/33, 354/27, 354/28, 354/29, 354/30, 354/37, 354/38, 354/41, 354/46, 354/286, 354/60 F, 354/60 R, 354/50, 354/34, 354/139, 354/149
• US Class Current: 396/159
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/16 in accordance with both the intensity of the flash source and the distance of the flash source from the object, e.g. in accordance with the "guide number" of the flash bulb and the focusing of the camera

Abstract

In a single lens reflex camera having an interchangeable photographing lens having a first and a second signal member, the camera being usable in combination with an electronic flash unit and having a third signal member, there is provided an exposure parameter information generating circuit which comprises first converter means for converting the mechanical outputs of the first and third signal members into electrical output information, second converter means for converting the mechanical output of the second signal member into electrical output information, an adder circuit for adding the electrical outputs of the first and second converter means and putting out electrical information, a first output terminal for applying the output of the first converter means to an exposure time operation circuit, and a second output terminal for applying the output of the adder circuit to the electronic flash unit.

Claims

1. In a single lens reflex camera whose photographing lens is interchangeable, said photographing lens having a first signal member for mechanically putting out the information of an exposure parameter A_vo -A_v (A_vo is an APEX symbol representing an aperture value when the diaphragm of said photographing lens forms a maximum aperture and A_v is an APEX symbol representing a present aperture value) and a second signal member for mechanically putting out the information of an exposure parameter A_vo, said camera being usable in combination with an electronic flash unit and having a third signal member for mechanically putting out the information of a preset exposure parameter S_v (this is an APEX symbol representing the ASA speed value), an exposure time operation circuit for metering the object light passed through the maximum aperture of the diaphragm of said photographing lens and operating a proper exposure time, and a circuit for generating exposure parameter information, said exposure parameter information generating circuit comprising:

(a) first converter means for converting the mechanical outputs of said first and third signal members into electrical output information S_v +A_vo -A_v ;

(b) second converter means for converting the mechanical output of said second signal member into electrical output information A_vo ;

(c) an adder circuit for adding the electrical outputs of said first and second converter means and electrically putting out S_v -A_v information;

(d) a first output terminal for applying the output of said first converter means to said exposure time operation circuit; and

(e) a second output terminal for applying the output of said adder circuit to said electronic flash unit.

2. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said first converter means in said exposure parameter information generating circuit includes first resistor means exhibiting a resistance value corresponding to the mechanical outputs of said first and third signal members, said second converter means includes second resistor means exhibiting a value resulting from subtracting from a predetermined resistance value a resistance value corresponding to the mechanical output of said second signal member, and said adder circuit includes a series circuit comprising said first and second resistor means.

3. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said first resistor means of said exposure parameter information generating circuit includes:

a first resistance element displaceable in accordance with the output of said third signal member; and

a first slider slidable on said first resistance element in the direction opposite to the direction of displacement of said first resistance element in response to the output of said first signal member.

4. A camera according to claim 2, wherein said second resistor means of said exposure parameter information generating circuit includes:

a second resistance element; and

a second slider slidable on said second resistance element in response to the output of said second signal member.

5. A camera according to claim 4, wherein said second resistor means of said exposure information generating circuit further includes:

a correction resistance element parallel-connected to said second resistance element.

6. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic flash unit has a quantity-of-light control circuit for metering the flash light reflected from an object and for stopping the emission of light when the metered quantity of light has reached a proper exposure amount determined by exposure parameters S_v and A_v, and said second output terminal of said exposure parameter information generating circuit is connected to said quantity-of-light control circuit.

7. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic flash unit has a detection circuit for detecting whether or not said unit can emit a proper quantity of light determined by the preset distance from said unit to an object and exposure parameters S_v and A_v, and said second output terminal of said exposure parameter information generating circuit is connected to said detection circuit.