Full range variable proportional fill flash system
First Claim
1. In a photographic exposure control system of the type for controlling both the duration of a photographic exposure interval and the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval to provide a proportional fill flash exposure, the improvement comprising:
- means for further controlling the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval in a manner whereby the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval is increased in direct corresponding relation with increases in the camera-to-subject distance and the ambient scene light intensity in order to maintain the same proportional contribution to the film exposure from the ambient and artificial light during a fill flash exposure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photographic exposure control system of the type for controlling both the duration of a photographic exposure interval and the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval includes the capability of increasing the amount of artificial illumination in direct corresponding relation with increases in the camera-to-subject distance and the ambient scene light intensity in order to maintain the same proportional contribution to the film exposure from the ambient artificial light during a fill flash exposure.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a photographic exposure control system of the type for controlling both the duration of a photographic exposure interval and the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval to provide a proportional fill flash exposure, the improvement comprising:
means for further controlling the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval in a manner whereby the amount of artificial illumination provided during the exposure interval is increased in direct corresponding relation with increases in the camera-to-subject distance and the ambient scene light intensity in order to maintain the same proportional contribution to the film exposure from the ambient and artificial light during a fill flash exposure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for controlling the amount of light provided by a source of artificial illumination during an exposure interval for use with a photographic camera apparatus of the type having a photographic exposure control system for controlling the admission of scene light to a focal plane to define an exposure interval wherein the exposure control system also includes means responsive to the determination of camera-to-subject distance for providing an output response corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance and means for detecting the ambient scene light intensity and for providing a response to the ambient scene light so detected, said control system comprising:
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means for providing at least one pulse train output signal; means for counting the individual pulses from said pulse train; and gating means for gating said pulse train output signal to said counting means to enable said counting means to count the individual pulses therefrom during an interval corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance so as to input said counting means with a pulse count corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance, said gating means thereafter gating said pulse train output signal to said counting means to enable said counting means to offset the individual pulses counted therefrom against the previous pulse count during the interval in which the ambient scene light is detected prior to the exposure interval so as to input said counting means with a resultant pulse count corresponding to both the camera-to-subject distance and the ambient scene light intensity, said gating means thereafter responding to the ignition of the source of artificial illumination to gate said pulse train output signal to said counting means to enable said counting means to again offset the individual pulses counted therefrom against said previous resultant pulse count until reaching a zero count at which instant said gating means responds to provide a signal terminating the ignition of the source of artificial illumination. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system for controlling the amount of light provided by a source of artificial illumination during an exposure interval for use with a photographic camera apparatus of the type having a photographic exposure control system for controlling the admission of scene light to a focal plane to define an exposure interval wherein the exposure control system also includes means responsive to the determination of camera-to-subject distance prior to the exposure interval for providing a timed signal corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance and means for detecting the ambient scene light intensity prior to the exposure interval, said control system comprising:
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means for providing first and second pulse train output signals; means for counting the individual pulses from said first and second pulse trains; and gating means for gating said first pulse train to said counting means to enable said counting means to count the individual pulses therefrom during the interval of the timed signal thereby inputting said counting means with a pulse count corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance, said gating means thereafter gating said second pulse train to said counting means to enable said counting means to offset the individual pulses counted therefrom against the previous pulse count from said first pulse train during the interval in which the ambient scene light is detected prior to the exposure interval thereby inputting said counting means with a resultant pulse count corresponding to both the camera-to-subject distance and the ambient scene light intensity, said gating means thereafter responding to the ignition of the source of artificial illumination to gate said second pulse train to said counting means to enable said counting means to again offset the individual pulses counted therefrom against said previous resultant pulse count until reaching a zero count at which instant said gating means responds to provide a signal for terminating the ignition of the source of artificial illumination. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A photographic camera apparatus for use with a source of artificial illumination comprising:
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means responsive to the determination of the camera-to-subject distance for providing an output response corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance; a shutter blade mechanism; means for mounting the shutter blade mechanism for displacement between at least one arrangement wherein it blocks scene light from reaching a focal plane and another arrangement wherein it defines a maximum size aperture, said blade mechanism defining a range of progressively increasing sized apertures for admitting scene light to the focal plane as it moves from its scene light blocking arrangement to its maximum aperture defining arrangement; means for detecting the ambient scene light intensity prior to an exposure interval and for providing an output signal in response to the ambient scene light so detected, said detecting means also operating to detect scene light during an exposure interval in correspondence with the scene light admitted by said blade mechanism to provide an assertive output signal upon the detection of a select amount of scene light corresponding to a select exposure value; selectively actuatable drive means for driving said shutter blade mechanism from its scene light blocking arrangement to its scene light unblocking arrangement and for thereafter returning said shutter blade mechanism to its scene light blocking arrangement to terminate the exposure interval in response to the assertive output signal from said scene light detecting means; means for providing a signal for igniting the source of artificial illumination at the aperture defined by the blade mechanism when the aperture size corresponds to the camera-to-subject distance or, alternatively, at the aperture size defined by the blade mechanism upon receipt of said assertive output signal from said scene light detecting means when such aperture size is less than the aperture size corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance; and artificial illumination control means for controlling the amount of artificial illumination as a function solely of said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval when the source of artificial illumination is ignited at the aperture size corresponding to the camera-to-subject distance or, alternatively, for controlling the amount of artificial illumination as a function of both said output response which corresponds to said determined camera-to-subject distance and said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval when the source of artificial illumination is ignited at the aperture size defined by said blade mechanism upon receipt of said assertive output signal from said scene light detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photographic camera apparatus of the type having an exposure control system for controlling the admission of scene light to a focal plane to define an exposure interval and for use with a source of artificial illumination, said apparatus comprising:
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means responsive to the determination of the camera-to-subject distance for providing an output response corresponding to the determined camera-to-subject distance; means for detecting the ambient scene light intensity at least prior to an exposure interval and for providing an output signal in response to the ambient scene light so detected; and artificial illumination control means for controlling the amount of artificial illumination as a function solely of said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval when the said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval is less than a select value or, alternatively, for controlling the amount of artificial illumination as a function of both said output response which corresponds to said determined camera-to-subject distance and said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval when said output signal from said ambient scene light detecting means prior to the exposure interval is greater than said select value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification