Electronic flash camera having reduced cycle time
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-developing camera having a reduced exposure cycle time, comprising:
- an electronic flash for providing artificial illumination during an exposure;
a battery for supplying electrical power to said camera;
means for sensing the magnitude of the voltage of said battery;
means including an electrical drive motor for transporting and processing an exposed film unit; and
control means responsive to said voltage sensing means for enabling said electronic flash to operate in a charging mode during the operation of said drive motor when the voltage sensed by said voltage sensing means is equal to or greater than some predetermined magnitude, and for precluding the operation of said electronic flash in said charging mode when said sensed voltage is less than said predetermined magnitude while simultaneously maintaining operation of said drive motor to thereby reduce the overall time required to complete an exposure cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-developing camera system having an electronic flash, a film transport and processing system including a motor, and a battery for supplying electrical power to the electronic flash and to the motor. The camera system further includes a control system that connects the battery to the electronic flash for charging purposes and to the motor simultaneously during processing of an exposed film unit as long as the battery voltage does not go below a level that would interfere with the motor'"'"'s ability to properly drive the film transport system, thus reducing the overall camera cycle time.
20 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A self-developing camera having a reduced exposure cycle time, comprising:
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an electronic flash for providing artificial illumination during an exposure; a battery for supplying electrical power to said camera; means for sensing the magnitude of the voltage of said battery; means including an electrical drive motor for transporting and processing an exposed film unit; and control means responsive to said voltage sensing means for enabling said electronic flash to operate in a charging mode during the operation of said drive motor when the voltage sensed by said voltage sensing means is equal to or greater than some predetermined magnitude, and for precluding the operation of said electronic flash in said charging mode when said sensed voltage is less than said predetermined magnitude while simultaneously maintaining operation of said drive motor to thereby reduce the overall time required to complete an exposure cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of reducing exposure cycle time in a photographic camera of the self-developing type having an electronic flash, a film unit for forming a photographic image, a transport and processing means for transporting an exposed film unit during film processing and a battery for supplying electrical power to the camera, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the magnitude of the voltage of the electrical power supplied to the camera by the battery; and enabling the electronic flash to operate in a charging mode while the transport and processing means is transporting an exposed film unit for film processing when the magnitude of said sensed voltage is equal to or greater than some predetermined magnitude and precluding the electronic flash from operating in the charging mode while simultaneously maintaining the operation of the transport and processing means when the sensed voltage is less than the predetermined magnitude to thereby reduce the overall time required to complete an exposure cycle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification