Remote releasable camera

• US 4,363,544 A
• Filed: 02/26/1980
• Issued: 12/14/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takimoto, Hiroyuki, Nemoto, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, G. Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brady, W. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/124,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 354/60 R, 354/131, 354/238, 354/266, 354/267, 354/34, 354/60 A, 354/60 E, 354/60 F, 354/60 L, 352/141, 352/179
• US Class Current: 396/303
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/093 for control of exposure time

Abstract

The disclosed camera is capable of being operated either with a normal shutter release or a remote cable release. An exposure control circuit includes a photoelectric element for automatically controlling the exposure on the basis of the brightness of the object being photographed. A motor control circuit operates a photographic mechanism. A first switch operates in response of the first step of depression of a release button and a second switch responds to further depression of the release button. A third switch is connected to the remote release in parallel with the second switch for actuating the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit. A delay circuit starts in response to operation of either the first or third switches and produces a signal at a predetermind time after operation of either of the switches. Inhibiting means respond to the signal from the delay circuit to inhibit operation of the motor control circuit until the delay circuit produces its signal so that the automatic exposure control circuit can complete its operation whether it is actuated by the shutter release button on the camera or remotely.

Claims

1. A locally or remotely operable exposure control camera comprising:

a release button depressable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit having a photoelectric element so as to automatically control the amount of exposure in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor for driving the photographic mechanism;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position to operate the automatic exposure control circuit;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position in order to actuate the motor control circuit;

contact means contactable to an independently operable third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel only with the second switch for actuating the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit in response to operation of the third switch;

delay means arranged to be coupled to one of the first and third switches for providing a control signal for controlling the motor control circuit at a certain time after operation of any one of the first, second and third switches, said delay means being independent of closing of the second switch after the first switch is closed following depression of the release button; and

inhibiting means coupled between the second switch and the motor control circuit for inhibiting the motor control circuit to render the motor inoperative until the control signal is provided by the delay means even when the switch is closed.

2. A locally or remotely operable automatic exposure control camera comprising:

a release button depressable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit including a photoelectric element;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor for driving the photographic mechanism;

a power source for said circuits;

power source switching means for connecting the power source to said circuits;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position to close the power source switching means and actuate the automatic exposure control circuit;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position in order to actuate the motor control circuit;

a pair of connecting terminals for connection to an independently operating third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel with the second switch to close the power source switching means and to actuate the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit;

delay means arranged to be coupled to one of the first and third switches for providing a control signal for controlling the motor control circuit at a certain time after operation of any one of the first, and third switches, said delay means being independent of closing of the second switch after the first switch is closed following depression of the release button; and

inhibiting means coupled between the second switch and the motor control circuit for inhibiting the motor control circuit to render the motor inoperative until the control signal is provided by the delay means even when the second switch is closed.

3. A locally or remotely operable automatic exposure control camera comprising:

a release button depresssable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit including a photoelectric element to automatically control the amount of exposure in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor for driving the photographic mechanism;

a power source;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position to operate the automatic exposure control circuit;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position in order to actuate the motor control circuit;

contact means contactable to an independently operable third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel only with the second switch for actuating the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit in response to operation of the third switch;

a current supply control circuit for controlling the current to the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit;

power source switching means to be closed by either the first or the third switch to connect the power source to the current supply control circuit;

delay means arranged to be coupled to one of the first and third switches for providing a control signal for controlling the motor control circuit at a certain time after operation of any one of the first, and third switches, said delay means being independent of closing of the second switch after the first switch is closed following depression of the release button; and

inhibiting means coupled between the second switch and the motor control circuit for inhibiting the motor control circuit to render the motor inoperative until the control signal is provided by the delay means even when the second switch is closed.

4. A locally or remotely operable automatic exposure control camera comprising:

a release button depressable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit having a photoelectric element so as to automatically control the amount of exposure in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor;

a power source;

a current supply control circuit for controlling the current to the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position;

connector means connectable to an independently operable third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel only with the second switch;

power source switching means to be closed with the closing of either the first or the third switch so as to connect the power source to the current supply control circuit and for energizing the automatic exposure control circuit upon closing of the first switch, the motor control circuit upon closing of the second switch and the automatic exposure control circuit as well as the motor control circuit upon independent closing of the third switch;

delay means arranged to be coupled to one of the first and third switches for providing a control signal for controlling the motor control circuit at a certain time after operation of any one of the first, and third switches, said delay means being independent of closing of the second switch after the first switch is closed following depression of the release button; and

inhibiting means coupled between the second switch and the motor control circuit for inhibiting the motor control circuit to render the motor inoperative until the control signal is provided by the delay means even when the second switch is closed.

5. A locally or remotely operable automatic exposure camera comprising:

a release button depressable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit having a photoelectrical element so as to automatically control the amount of exposure in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor;

a power source;

a current supply control circuit for controlling the current to the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit, the current supply control circuit including;

power source maintaining means for keeping the power source switching means closed even after the opening of the second or the third switch;

shutter phase detecting means for producing a signal when the shutter has been closed; and

stop signal producing means for deactivating the power source maintaining means in response to the signal from the detecting means;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position;

connector means connectable to an independently operable third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel only with the second switch;

power source switching means to be closed with the closing of either the first or the third switch so as to connect the power source to the current supply control circuit and for energizing the automatic exposure control circuit upon closing of the first switch, the motor control circuit upon closing of the second switch, and the automatic exposure control circuit as well as the motor control circuit upon independent closing of the third switch; and

a delay circuit for starting operation in response to closing of the first or third switches and for inhibiting operation of said motor control circuit for a predetermined length of time after closing of the first or third switches, so that the automatic exposure control circuit and the delay circuit start operation in response to operation of the first switch, the motor control circuit starts operation in response to the second switch and an output of the delay circuit, the automatic exposure control circuit and the delay circuit start operation in response to operation of the third switch, and the motor control circuit can start operation in response to closing of the second or third switches after elapse of the predetermined length of time.

6. A locally or remotely operable exposure control camera comprising:

a release button depressable to a first and then to a second position;

an automatic exposure control circuit having a photoelectric element so as to automatically control the amount of exposure in accordance with the brightness of an object to be photographed;

a photographic mechanism, a motor for driving the photographic mechanism and a motor control circuit for controlling the motor for driving the photographic mechanism;

a first switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its first position to operate the automatic exposure control circuit;

a second switch in the camera to be closed when the release button reaches its second position in order to actuate the motor control circuit;

contact means contactable to an independently operable third switch outside of the camera and connected in parallel only with the second switch for actuating the automatic exposure control circuit and the motor control circuit in response to operation of the third switch;

delay means for producing a control signal a predetermined time after operation of any one of the first and third switches;

inhibiting means between the second switch and the motor control circuit for inhibiting response to the motor control circuit to the second switch closing before the control signal and permitting response to the second switch thereafter.