Flash light discharge tube control device

• US 4,332,445 A
• Filed: 09/08/1978
• Issued: 06/01/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hosono, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perkey, William B.
• Application Number:
  US05/940,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 354/32-34, 354/60 F, 354/105-109, 354/129, 354/139, 354/145, 354/149, 354/22, 354/59, 354/250, 346/107 UP, 352/208, 352/214, 362/4, 362/5
• US Class Current: 396/205
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/32 for single flash operation

Abstract

In a camera provided with a data printing device in addition to a strobo flash light device, a charging stop switch is provided to stop the supply of power to the strobo flash light device while the data printing device is operated. A single power source is commonly used for energizing the strobo flash light device and the data printing device. The data printing device or a shutter release mechanism is connected with the charging stop switch so that the power source may be connected only with the data printing device while the data printing device is electrically operated to print data on a film in the camera. Upon completion of the operation of the data printing device, the power source is connected to the strobo flash light device to charge a main capacitor in the strobo flash light device.

Claims

1. In a photographic camera provided with an electronic flash light device including a capacitor used for discharging an electronic flash light tube, and an oscillator for charging the capacitor and an additional electrically operated data printing device wherein a single power source is commonly used for energizing the electronic flash light device and the data printing device;

the combination including a device for controlling the flash light tube comprising means for turning off the oscillator to stop the charging of the capacitor at least for the period from the discharging of the flash light tube to the completion of the operation of said data printing device.

2. In a photographic camera provided with an electronic flash light device including a capacitor used for discharging an electronic flash light tube and an oscillator for charging the capacitor, and an additional electrically operated data printing device wherein a single power source is commonly used for energizing the electronic flash light device and the data printing device;

the combination including a device for controlling the flash light tube comprising a first electronic switch provided in said oscillator of the electronic flash light device for turning off the oscillator to prevent the charging of said capacitor said first electronic switch selectively having two states in one of which said first electronic switch is operating to turn on said oscillator and in the other of which said first electronic switch turns off said oscillator, and a second electronic switch connected with said first electronic switch for keeping the first electronic switch put in the other state to turn off the oscillator at least for the period from the discharging of the flash light tube to the completion of the operation of said data printing device, whereby the charging of the capacitor by the single power source through the oscillator is stopped at least for the period from the discharging of the flash light tube to the completion of the operation on the data printing device.

3. In a photographic camera provided with an electronic flash light device including a capacitor used for discharing an electronic flash light tube and an oscillator for charging the capacitor, and an additional electrically operated data printing device wherein a single power source is commonly used for energizing the electronic flash light device and the data printing device;

the combination including a device for controlling the flash light tube comprising an electronic switch provided in said oscillator of the electronic flash light device for keeping the oscillator turned off to prevent the charging of said capacitor while said data printing device is being operated, said electronic switch selectively having two states in one of which said electronic switch is operating to turn on said oscillator and in the other of which said electronic switch turns off said oscillator, said electronic switch being connected with said data printing device for detecting operation of the data printing device and generating a signal which indicates that the data printing device is being operated, said electronic switch being put into said one state normally and put into said the other state upon receipt of the signal from said means, whereby the charging of the capacitor by the single power source through the oscillator is initiated in response to completion of the operation of said data printing device, and stopped in response to start of the operation thereof.

4. A camera with at least photoflash means and data photographic means operated with a single battery, said photoflash means having means for performing its preparatory operation of charging a main capacitor with high voltage produced in a step-up circuit by electrical oscillation with the battery used as a power source and its flash operation in synchronization with exposure operation for flash photography, said data photographic means being so arranged as to electrically control its operation of recording data on film with the same battery used as a power source, said camera comprising means for interrupting the preparatory operation of the photoflash means with an operating signal for the data photographic means during its recording operation, in case a picture is taken by operating the photoflash means and the data photographic means.

5. A camera as claimed in claim 4, wherein means is provided for stopping the oscillating operation of the photoflash means with the operating signal for the data photographic means during its recording operation, in case a picture is taken by operating the photoflash means and the data photographic means.