Apparatus for stopping the motor of a motor drive mechanism in a camera

• US 4,343,545 A
• Filed: 07/08/1980
• Issued: 08/10/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kogaku KK (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Onogi, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell E.
• Application Number:
  US06/166,793
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 354/173, 354/212, 354/213, 354/214
• US Class Current: 396/409
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/425 motor drive cameras

Abstract

Apparatus for stopping the motor of a motor drive mechanism in a camera is disclosed. The motor drive mechanism is of the type in which the motor is started driving by a film winding start signal and is stopped by a signal obtained at the moment of a film winding end signal being produced. Apparatus for stopping the motor according to the invention comprises a timer circuit and means for detecting an abnormality. The timer circuit normally outputs a first signal after the generation of the film winding start signal and before the generation of the film winding end signal, and also outputs a second signal after the generation of the film winding end signal. If the film winding end signal is being generating at the time of output of the first signal or if the film winding end signal has not yet been produced at the time of output of the second signal, said abnormality detecting means delivers to the motor drive mechanism a signal for stopping the motor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stopping the motor of a motor drive mechanism in a camera of the type in which the motor is started upon the occurrence of a film winding start signal and is stopped in response to a film winding end signal being generated upon completion of a film winding operation, said apparatus comprising:

timer circuit means for generating a first timing signal a first predetermined time after said film winding start signal, said first predetermined time being selected such that it is before the time said film winding end signal is generated during normal operation of the mechanism, and for generating a second timing signal a second predetermined time selected to be after said time said film winding end signal is normally generated, and

abnormality detection means responsive to the timing signals and to the film winding end signal for producing a stop signal for stopping the motor when said film winding end signal is being generated at the first predetermined time or when no film winding end signal is being generated at the second predetermined time.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first timing signal from said timer circuit means is generated immediately after the rotation of said motor is initiated by said film winding start signal.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first timing signal from said timer circuit means is generated about midway between the film winding start signal and the time the film winding end signal is generated during normal operation.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said abnormality detection means includes a warning device driven by said motor stop signal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising signal generating means for producing an output signal whenever the motor has rotated from a predetermined rotational position corresponding to the start and the end of a film winding operation, the absence of said output signal being said film winding end signal.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said signal generating means comprises light emitting means for producing light, light receiving means for receiving the light from the light emitting means, and means rotatable with the motor for interrupting said light received by the light receiving means when the motor is in said predetermined rotational position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said abnormality detection means comprises first and second AND circuits responsive to said first and second timing signals, respectively, and responsive to the presence and to the absence, respectively, of said film winding end signal.

8. Apparatus for stopping the motor of a motor drive mechanism in a camera of the type in which the motor is driven into rotation upon the occurrence of a film winding start signal and is stopped in response to a film winding end signal being generated upon completion of a film winding operation, said apparatus comprising:

a timer circuit which generates a timing signal a predetermined time after the generation of said film winding start signal and before the time said film winding end signal is generated during normal operation of the mechanism, and

an abnormality detector for providing a stop signal for stopping the motor when said film winding end signal is being generated at said predetermined time.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises:

another timer circuit which generates another timing signal another predetermined time selected to be after the time said film winding end signal is normally generated;

another abnormality detector for producing a stop signal for stopping the motor when no film winding end signal is being generated at said other predetermined time;

an OR gate for receiving the motor stop signals from both of said abnormality detectors and for outputting a driving signal when it receives at least either one of said motor stop signals; and

a warning device driven by said driving signal.

10. An apparatus for stopping the motor of a motor drive mechanism in a camera of the type in which the motor is energized upon the occurrence of a start signal that initiates a film winding operation and is de-energized in response to a stop signal generated upon completion of the film winding operation, comprising:

timer means for producing a first timing signal a first predetermined time after the occurrence of said start signal, said first predetermined time being selected to be less than the time required for completion of the film winding operation, and for producing a second timing signal a second predetermined time after said start signal, said second predetermined time being selected to be greater than the time required for completion of the film winding operation;

first means responsive to the first timing signal for producing a stop signal if the motor has not advanced beyond a predetermined rotational position at said first predetermined time; and

second means responsive to the second timing signal for producing a stop signal if the film winding operation has not been completed at said second predetermined time.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the motor is in said predetermined rotational position at the beginning and at the end of the film winding operation, and wherein the apparatus further comprises signal generating means for providing a film winding end signal when the motor is in said predetermined rotational position, said first and second means being responsive to said film winding end signal.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising warning means responsive to the stop signals produced by said first and second means for providing an indication that a normal film winding operation has not occurred.