Controlling circuit for electric shutters

• US 4,143,958 A
• Filed: 09/30/1977
• Issued: 03/13/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Copal Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Copal Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishiguro, Yasuo, Wakazono, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perkey, William B.
• Application Number:
  US05/838,225
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 354/50, 354/51, 354/60 R, 354/234, 354/235, 354/258, 354/267, 354/23 D, 353/91, 352/169, 352/204, 361/156
• US Class Current: 396/251
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/62 by varying interval of time between end of opening movement and beginning of closing movement

Abstract

A controlling circuit for electric shutters wherein, in an electric shutter adapted to start a shutter closing moton by energizing a driving coil with a discharge current from a capacitor, the capacitor is made to be discharged by a voltage drop detecting circuit provided so that the shutter may be positively closed even in case a current source switch is opened by an unexpected accident in the course of an exposure controlling operation.

Claims

1. A controlling circuit for electric shutters comprising a current source, a current source switch connected to said current source, an exposing operation starting switch connected to said current source, a first driving coil connected to said exposing operation starting switch and capable of being energized to start a shutter opening motion when said current source switch and exposing operation starting switch are closed, an exposure time controlling circuit connected to said current source through said current source switch and capable of starting its operation simultaneously with opening the shutter and capable of issuing an electric signal when a proper exposure time elapses, switching means connected to said exposure time controlling circuit and capable of being made conductive by the issuance of said electric signal from said exposure time controlling circuit, a second driving coil connected to said switching means and capable of starting a shutter closing motion when energized by the conduction of said switching means, a first capacitor connected between said second driving coil and switching means and capable of being charged by said current source when said current source switch is closed and capable of flowing a discharge current to said second driving coil when said switching means are made conductive, and a voltage drop detecting circuit connected between said first capacitor and said second driving coil, and said switching means, said switching means being made conductive through said voltage drop detecting circuit when said current source switch is opened before said exposure time controlling circuit issues said electric signal or when the voltage of said current source is lower than a predetermined value.

2. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a first transistor having an emitter connected to said first capacitor and having a collector connected to said driving coil, and said voltage drop detecting circuit consists of a second transistor having an emitter connected to the connecting point of said first capacitor with said driving coil and having a base operatively connected to said current source through said current source switch and having a collector operatively connected to the base of said first transistor and a diode operatively connected between the base and emitter of said second transistor.

3. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a first transistor having an emitter connected to said first capacitor and having a collector connected to said driving coil, and said voltage drop detecting circuit consists of a second transistor having an emitter operatively connected to the connecting point of said first capacitor with said driving coil and having a collector operatively connected to the base of said first transistor, a third transistor having a collector connected to the base of said second transistor, a reference voltage dividing circuit having a voltage dividing point connected to the base of said third transistor and a comparing voltage dividing circuit for detecting the voltage drop having a voltage dividing point connected to the emitter of said third transistor.

4. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 3 wherein said controlling circuit further comprises a second capacitor connected to said first capacitor, and a discharge current is fed to said voltage drop detecting circuit and said switching means from said second capacitor when said current source switch is opened during an exposure controlling operation.

5. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 4 wherein said reference voltage dividing circuit comprising a resistor and a zener diode connected to said third transistor.

6. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises of a transistor having an emitter connected to said first capacitor and having a collector connected to said driving coil, and said voltage drop detecting circuit consists of a reference voltage dividing circuit and a comparing voltage dividing circuit for detecting the voltage drop respectively connected to said first capacitor and a comparator having two input terminals connected to respective voltage dividing points of said two voltage dividing circuits and having an output terminal operatively connected to the base of said transistor.

7. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 6 wherein said controlling circuit further comprises a second capacitor connected to said first capacitor, and a discharge current is fed to said voltage drop detecting circuit and said switching means from said second capacitor when said current source switch is opened during an exposure controlling operation.

8. A controlling circuit for electric shutters according to claim 1 wherein said controlling circuit further comprises a constant current circuit connected to said first capacitor, and said first capacitor is charged through said constant current circuit by said current source when said current source switch is closed.