Electric control device for a camera

Abstract

An automatic shutter control system for a camera includes a continuous rotatable motor coupled to a pair of separately engageable electromagnetic clutches. The clutches are respectively operable, when engaged, for releasing the shutter to commence exposure and for winding up the shutter after exposure has terminated. When camera operation is initiated, the first clutch is engaged to release the shutter and to trigger the start of a manually selectable exposure duration. At the conclusion of the selected duration, the first clutch is disengaged and the second clutch is engaged to begin the wind-up of the shutter. An inertial sensor on the motor terminates the wind-up operation and disengages the second clutch when the increased torque on the motor from wind-up reaches a predetermined value. Where continuous operation of the camera is desired, the completion of wind-up triggers an interval control circuit which effects the reengagement of the first clutch after a prescribed time delay to initiate another cycle of operation. Facilities are provided for overriding the manually set exposure duration whenever the required film exposure time exceeds such set duration to automatically delay the completion of the shutter release operation until the completion of the exposure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric control device for a camera which comprises a first electro-magnetic clutch means for shutter release being able to be coupled to a motor being rotated, a second electro-magnetic clutch means for shutter wind-up also being able to be coupled to a motor being rotated, a first clutch control means placing said first electro-magnetic clutch means in a coupled state in association with pressing down of a release button, a lock means operable to lock a release member when said first electro-magnetic clutch means is in coupled state to initiate shutter release, a first switch means responsive to the operation of the lock means to place said first electro-magnetic clutch means in a noncoupled state, a photographing time control circuit rendered effective by the operation of said lock means, a lock release means operative to release the above mentioned lock means after a lapse of time set by said photographing time control circuit, a second electro-magnetic clutch control means responsive to the operation of the lock release means to place the above mentioned second electro-magnetic clutch means in a coupled state, and a second switch means operative upon the completion of the above mentioned shutter wind-up to place the above mentioned second electro-magnetic clutch means in a non-coupled state, whereby separate shutter release and wind-up operations may be accomplished while the motor is being continuously rotated. 
     
     
       2. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 1, in which the device further comprises, a triggerable photographing interval time control circuit operable upon triggering for establishing a predetermined time delay, means responsive to the operation of the second switch means for triggering the photographing interval time control circuit, and means rendered effective at the conclusion of the time delay established by the photographing interval time control circuit for again placing the fist electro-magnetic clutch means in the coupled state. 
     
     
       3. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 1, in which the device further comprises means responsive to the operation of the second switch means for terminating the rotation of the motor. 
     
     
       4. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 1, in which the photographing time control circuit comprises an adjustable R-C series circuit operable when selected for manually setting the above mentioned time lapse manually, an external input operable when selected for setting the above mentioned time lapse in accordance with an external parameter, and third switch means for selecting between the series circuit and the external input. 
     
     
       5. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 2, in which the photographing interval time control circuit comprises an adjustable R-C series circuit operable when selected for setting the above mentioned time delay manually, an external input operable when selected for setting the above mentioned time delay in accordance with an external parameter, and third switching means for selecting between the series circuit and the external input. 
     
     
       6. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 2 wherein the photographing time control circuit and the photographing interval time control circuit comprise timer circuits made as separate units from a main body of the camera. 
     
     
       7. An electrical control device for a camera according to claim 1, in which the photographing time control circuit comprises a plural number of timer circuits to set times, and in which the photographing time control circuit includes facilities for setting the photographing time equal to the time required for exposure of film when such exposure time exceeds any one of said set times. 
     
     
       8. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 7 in which the photographing time control circuit further comprises a means to indicate that the photographing time is over the set time. 
     
     
       9. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 7 in which the photographing time control circuit further comprises a means to indicate that the photographing time is within the set time. .Iadd. 10. In a camera having a shutter capable of being wound and a shutter release member, comprising a rotatable motor, a first electro-magnetic clutch means coupled to the shutter for releasing the shutter and coupleable to the motor, a second electro-magnetic clutch means coupled to the shutter for winding the shutter and coupleable to the motor being rotated, a first clutch control means coupled to the first electro-magnetic clutch means and the release member for engaging said first clutch means in response to operation of the release member, a lock means coupled to the release member and said first electro-magnetic clutch means for locking the release member in a release position when the first electro-magnetic clutch means is engaged, a first switch means responsive to the operation of the lock means for disengaging said first clutch means, a photographic time control circuit coupled to said lock means and rendered effective by operation of said lock means, said time control circuit including a timer, first signal means in said time control circuit coupled to the timer for producing an output signal in response to the timer, second signal means in the time control circuit for producing an output signal in response to external stimuli, a lock release means operative to release said lock means in response to the output signal of said first signal means and said second signal means, a switching means in the time control circuit coupled to said first signal means and said second signal means and said lock release means for selectively applying one of the signals from said first signal means and the signals from said second signal means to said lock release means, a second electro-magnetic clutch control means responsive to the operation of said lock release means for engaging said second clutch means to wind the shutter, a second switch means coupled to the shutter and coupled to said second clutch means for disengaging said second clutch means in response to the shutter being wound. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 10, in which the device further comprises a triggerable interval time control circuit operable upon triggering for establishing a predetermined time delay, means responsive to the operation of the second switch means for triggering the interval time control circuit, and means rendered effective at the conclusion of the time delay established by the interval time control circuit for again placing the first electro-magnetic clutch means in the coupled state. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 10, in which the device further comprises means responsive to the operation of the second switch means for terminating the rotation of the motor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 10, in which the photographing time control circuit comprises an adjustable R-C series circuit operable when selected for manually setting a time lapse, an external input operable when selected for setting the time lapse in accordance with an external parameter, and third switch means for selecting between the R-C series circuit and the external input. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 11, in which the photographing interval time control circuit comprises an adjustable R-C series circuit operable when selected for setting the above mentioned time delay manually, an external input operable when selected for setting the above mentioned time delay in accordance with an external parameter, and third switching means for selecting between the series circuit and the external input. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 15, wherein the photographing time control circuit and the photographing interval time control circuit comprise timer circuits made as separate units from a main body of the camera. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. An electrical control device for a camera according to claim 10, in which the photographing time control circuit comprises a plural number of time circuits to set times, and in which the photographing time control circuit includes facilities for setting the photographing time equal to the time required for exposure of film when such exposure time exceeds any one of said set times. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 16, in which the photographing time control circuit further comprises a means to indicate that the photographing time is over the set time. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. An electric control device for a camera according to claim 16, in which the photographing time control circuit further comprises a means to indicate that the photographing time is within the set time. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. An electric driving device for a camera in which a shutter release means and a winding means are driven by a driving means to sequentially release and wind a shutter, comprising: a first timer coupled to and actuated in response to the release means for producing a signal upon elapse of a predetermined time after actuation of the timer;   a first receiving means for receiving an external exposure completion signal;   a first gate coupled to said first receiving means and said first timer for applying the signal of either one of said first timer and said first receiving means to the winding means;   a second timer coupled to the winding means and actuated by completion of winding of said winding means to produce an output upon elapse of a prescribed time after actuation of said second timer;   a second receiving means to receive an external signal and producing an output; and   a second gate coupled to said second timer and said second receiving means for applying the output of one of said second timer and said second   
     
     
        receiving means to said release means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20.  A device according to claim 19, in which the first gate is a switch. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. An electric driving device for a camera in which a shutter release means and a winding means are driven by a driving means to subsequentially release and wind a shutter comprising; a first timer coupled to and actuated in response to the release means for producing a signal upon elapse of a predetermined time after actuation of the timer;   a switching means for connecting the first timer and the winding means in response to completion of an exposure;   a second timer coupled to the winding means and actuated by completion of winding of said winding means to produce an output upon elapse of a prescribed time after actuation of said second timer;   a receiver means to receive an external signal and producing an output; and   a gate coupled to said second timer and said receiving means for applying the output of one of said second timer and said receiving means to said   
     
     
        release means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22.  A device according to claim 21, which further comprises; second receiving means for receiving outside signals, and   selector means for adding the output of any of said first timer and the second receiving means. .Iaddend.