CA1143987A - Dual purpose flash/strobe socket assembly for a photographic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A dual purpose socket assembly is provided for a photographic camera for releasably connecting either a photoflash lamp device or an electronic flash device to the camera which operates in an artificial illumination mode to provide electrical signals for controlling either the photoflash lamp device or the electronic flash device each of which has differently structured connector plugs, having differently arranged electrical contacts, for releasably connecting with the socket assembly.

Description

This application is a divisional of copending Canadian application ~`
Serial No. 324,790 filed April 3, 1979 by Polaroid Corporation. ~ ~ `
This invention relates generally to photographic camera apparatus and particularly to a dual purpose socket assembly and an electronic flash connector plug for releasably connecting an electronic flash device to a photographic camera of the type which operates in an artificial illumination mode to provide electrical signals for controlling either the electronic flash device or a photoflash lamp device which has a particular structural -~
and electrical contact arrangement.
In the photographic arts, it is well known to provide means by which different types of artificial lighting devices, i.e., photoflash ~ ~;
lamp and electronic flash, can be conveniently mated with a camera so long as the camera and the artificial lighting devices are electrically compatible~
and the electrical requirements of the artificial lighting devices are not different.
For example, conventional electronic flash and photoflash devices which have self-contained power supplies (batteries) and conventional cameras which have shutter operated synchronizing switches are commonly coupled with one another via well-known "PC" connectors, hot shoe and foot~
arrangements, or bayonet plug and socket arrangements so that closure of~
the camera's synchronizing switch operates to complete a circuit at an appropriate time to either ignite a photoflash lamp of the photoflash devicé~
or fire the tube of the electronic flash device.
Most recently, an automatic type camera, exemplified by Polarold Corporation's SX-70 Land and Pronto! cameras, has become available with the capability of deriving power from a battery contained within a fil~n cassette and providing a current pulse, synchronized with the camera's shutter opening, to selectively ignite individual photoflash lamps that 3~

form part oE a linear, multilamp, photoflash array which is rather compact since it does not need a self-contained power supply-the lamp operating power being supplied by the camera. Such multilamp arrays are described, for example, in United States Patent No. 3,598,984 issued to Stanley L. -Slomski on August 10, 1971 and entitled "Photoflash Lamp Array".
Sockets for mechanically and electrically coupling such linear photoflash arrays to such automatic cameras are well known and are described , for example, in United States Patent No. 3,748,9~5 issued to Edison R.
Brandt on July 31, 1973 and entitled "Flash Socket Assembly".
Also well known are adapter plugs which fit into such sockets for the purpose of electrically connecting well-known, self-powered type electronic flash devices to such automatic cameras.
Such an adapter plug is described, for example, in United States Patent No. 3,858,227 issued to Seymour Ellin et. al. on D0cember 31, 1974 and entitled "Adapter Apparatus for Flash F:iring System". The adapter plug of the Ellin et. al. patent has a blade support configured to fit the Brandt socket. The adapting arrangement operates to utilize the camera's synchronized current pulse as a logic signaL to activate an SCR triggering circuit in the self-powered electronic flash device - the SCR, in turn, firing the electronic flash device's flashtube. Thus, the Ellin et. al.
disclosure permits such an automatic ramera~ which was designed for use with a photoflash type device, to be used with another type of artificial lighting device of the self-powered electronic type.
In United States Pa~ent No. 4,0649519 issued to Richard C. Kee on December 20, 1977 and entitled "Regulated Strobe for Camera with Sixth Flash Inhibit", there is described an electronic flash device and a socket and plug arrangement by which the electronic flash device can be directly mechanically and electrically coupled with such an automatic camera in such a way that the electronic flash device can derive its power from the battery of a film cassette used in the camera. Here the entrance slot of the ``
camera's socket~ which is of the Brandt type supra~ can receive either the connector blade of the disposable multilamp photoflash array or, alter-natively, a similarl~ configured connector blade of the electronic flash device. However, the socket has only a single set of contacts which operate to convert the camera from an ambienk exposure mode of operation in response to insertion of either the photoflash or electronic flash device therein and to provide ~he aforementioned sychronized current pulse to either selectivel~ ignite flashbulbs of the photoflash device or to trigger the electronic flash devlce. No provision is made via the socket and plug arrangement to suppl~ power to the strobe via the socket contacts. Instead power is supplied from the cassette's battery via a separate jack from the electronic flash device which connects to a separate socket associated with the camera's shutter housing. Thus two steps are required to prepare for illumination with the electronic flash device - insertion of the electronic flash device's plug into the camera's socket and insertion of its power jack into the camera's socket provided for the jack.
Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a connector plug or use in conjunction with a dual purpose socket assembly for releasably connecting an electronic flash device to a camera wherein the camera is of the type that includes means for converting from an ambient exposure mode of operation to an artificial illumination exposure mode of operation in response to receipt of the electronic flash device or a multi- ' lamp photo~lash device and, while in the arti~icial illumination exposure mode of operation) for providing a first set of electrical signals to the photoflash device by which the operation of the photoflash device can be ;~
controlled in a predetermined manner in conjunction with the camera operation ~' , and for provi.ding a second set of electrical signals~ which include selected signals from the first set~ by which the electronic flash device can also be controlled in a predetermined manner in conjunction with the camera operation, whsrein the photoflash device is of the type having an array of lamps arranged on oppositely facing sides thereof and includes a two-sided, elongated, thin-bladed plug with a set of electrical contacts corresponding to each array of lamps on each side of the plug such that only one side of the photoflash device can be utilized at a time, and wherein the dual purpose socket assembly is of the type which includes: an open-ended single cavity~ :
socket which cavity ~s defined b~ a series of spaced apart interconnecting ~all sect~ons two of which are arranged so that the open end thereof is a generally elongated slot of given depth; a first set of electrical contacts mounted along one of the cavity elongated wall sections in a spatial arrange- .
ment complementar~ to the spatial arrangeme:nt of the contacts on either side oE the photoflash device plug; a second set of contacts mounted on the cavity other elongated wall section in a predetermined spatial arrangement to face the first set of cavity contacts; and means positioned in the cavity and structured for guiding the photoflash device plug into only part of the cavity so that the contacts on one side of the photoflash device plug engage only~
ths first set of cavity contacts to provide an electrically conductive:con-2n nection between the camera and the photoflash device along which the ~irst ~
set of camera signals can be directed to control the photoflash device while ~;
keeping the contacts on the opposite side of the photoflash device plug :Erom engaging the second set of cavity contacts. ~ ~
According to the present invention, the connector plug comprises :~ :
nonconductive means for ~orming a thin elongated, blade-like, male plug member connected ~Yith respect to the electronic flash device, said plug member being formed of a series of interconnecting wall surfaces two of 3~

which are elongated to complement respective elongated wall sections of the cavityJ said series of interconnecting wall surfaces being further configured and arranged with respect to one another to complement the shape of the means in the cavity for guiding the photoflash device plug into only a part of the cavity such that said plug member fits the entire socket cavity; a first set of electrical contacts mounted on one said male plug member elongated wall surface in a spatial arrangement corresponding directly to the spatial arrangement of the socket first set of contacts; and a second set of electrical contacts mount-ed on said male plug member other elongated wall surface in a spatial arrange-ment corresponding directly to the spatial arrangement of the socket second set of elec*rical contacts, said connecting plug being configured and arranged in the foregoing manner so that when plugged into the socket cavity~ said first and said second sets of contacts thereof engage corresponding ones of the socket contacts to provide an electrically conductive path between the camera and the socket so that tlle camera second set of electrical signals can be directed to the electronic strobe device to control it.
Thc invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a photographic camera, with parts ~ -broken away, in which the dual socket assembly of the present invention is in-corporated; a linear photoflash lamp device which will fit the socket of the present invention; and an electronic flash device in which the connector plug ofthe present invention is incorporated;
Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the socket of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 .
of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary front-elevational view of the electronic flash device of Figure l;

3~3~'7 Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear-elevational view of the electronic flash device of Figure l; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an au~omatic, folding-reflex type camera 10~ a well-known multi-lamp, photoflash device 14 having a well-^known connector plug 18, and an electronic flash device 16 having a connector plug 20.
Incorporated in the camera 10 is a dual purpose socket assembly 12 which, as will be seen, is structured to releasably connect either the photoflash lamp device 14 or the electronic flash device 16 to the camera 10 The present invention is particularly concerned with the mechanical and electrical features of both the socket 12 and the connector plug 20 both of whose novel structure and function will be more readily understood by first describing certain characteristics of the camera 10, the photoflash device 14, and the electronic flash device :16.
The camera lO, as is more fully described in United States Patent No. 3,714,879 issued to Edwin H. Land et. al. on February 6, 1973 and entitled "Reflex Camera", is collapsible but is shown in its extended-operative position in Figure 1 wherein it can be seen to comprise a plurality of pivotally coupled housing members including a base housing member 22, a rear housing member 24, a top housing member 26, and a shutter-lens housing member 28. ~
An additional housing member 30 is hinged to the base housing -member 14 via a pair of pivots 31 ~only one shown). The housing member 30 is normally latched in the position shown in Figure 1 but can be unlatched and swung down to uncover the entrance to a film cassette receiving chamber ;

, ~not shown~ located in the base housing member 14 and adapted in a well-known ~ :
manner to receive a film cassette (also not shown) of the type which includes a stacked array of self-processable film units under which is positioned a flat, thin batter~ which is used to provide power to the various electrical components of the camera 10. An example of such a film cassette is described ~ ;
in considerable detail in, for example, United States Patent ~o. 3,872,487 issued to Nicholas Gold on March 18, lg75 and entitled "Photographic Film~ ~ ~
Assemblage and Apparatus". ~:
When in its latched position as illustrated in Figure l, the housing member 30 functions to retain the film cassette within the base: :
housing section 22 and also positions a pair of processing rollers ~not shown~
to sequentially transport and simultaneously process, in a well-known : ;
manner, exposed film units contained in the film cassette.
The aforementioned housing members in conjunction with a collapsible bellows 33 define a light~tight enclosure which surrounds the optical path of the camera 10.
The housing member 26 supports a collapsible viewing de~ice 40 which includes telescoping blades 41 and a mirror and lens system ~not shown~ :
to allow reflex viewing of any photographic scene through an objective t~aking~
lens 34 located in the shutter-lens housing member 28.
2Q The objective taking lens 34, which is centrally disposed in and~
extends through the shutter-lens housing member 28 to the camera's ~10): light-tight enclosure, is a uell-known, multi-element type which can be focused~froD :~
approximately 26 cm. to infinity by adjusting the axial air spac m g between~
its elements through a well-known front-element focusing arrangement~
To the right of the objective-taking lens 34 is located an optical :
element 36 which forms part of a photometer system which operates in a well-known manner to assist in controlling ambient exposure and to the left :

_7-.: , ` :~ '~ ~ ` ; ' 38~7 is located a camera cycle start button 38 commonly referred to as a shutter button.
Within the shutter-lens housing 28 is located an automatic exposure control system (not shown) which provides it with a distinct ambient exposure mode of operation and a distinct artificial illumination mode of operation as is more fully described in United States Patent No. 3,820,128 issued to John P. Burgarella et~al. on June 25, 1974 and entitled "Flash Photographic Control System".
Located above the shutter-lens housing member 28 is an automatic ranging and focusing unit 32, including a centrally disposed transducer 42, which operates in response to actuating the shutter button 38 to automatically determine the range of a scene to be photographed and adjust the objective ta~ing lens 34 to the proper focus. The ranging and focusing unit 32 derives its operating power from the film cassette's battery.
The photoflash lamp device 14, including its connector plug 18, is a well-known, multi-lamp flash array of the type described in United States Patent No. 3,598,984 issued to Stanley L. Slomski on August 10, 1971 and entit-led "Photoflash Lamp Array". Included in the photoflash device 14 are five ;;~
photo~lash lamps 44 in one array ~Figure 1) and five in another ~not shown)~so~
that five sequential e~posures can be made, each with a :, .

': ~ : ' ' ' 3~7 different bulb, when the photoflash lamp device 14 is interfaced via the dualpurpose socket 12 with a well-known flash selecting and firing system in a manner to be described.
The connector plug 18 is a thin, blade-like element, essentially rectangular in cross-section, which carries on it a linear array of six equally sized and spaced electrical contacts 48 and a wider conducting strip 46~
located to the left of the array of contacts 48. When the connector plug 18 is properly interfaced with the camera's flash selecting and firing system, the camera 10 is converted from its ambient exposure mode of operation to its artificial illumination mode of operation during which the photoflash lamps 44 are selectively ignited. A type of flash selecting and firing system which operates in the above described manner is described in considerable detail in United States Patent No. 4,005,449 issued to Seymour Ellin on January 25, 1977 and entitled "Flash Photographic System with Camera Inhibit Feature".
The camera 10 is equipped with a well-known so-called follow-focus exposure control system which, in cooperation with the automatic ranging and focusing unit 32, regulates film exposure while the camera 10 operates in its artificial illumination mode. By selecting a shutter "f-number" in accordance with subject range as determined by the autofocusing unit 32, the light output of the device 16 is selectively controlled for proper exposure.

~ .

3~37 :~:

The follow-focus exposure control system is not shown but is located ln the shutter-lens housing member 28 and is of the type described in United States Patent No. 3,750,543 issued to Vaito K. Eloranta et. al. on August 7, -1973 and entitled "Focus Responsive Exposure Control System".
The electronic flash device 16 is provided with electronic circuits by which it can convert the film cassette's battery voltage to a high dlrect voltage which it applies to an energy storage capacitor ~not shown) connected~
in parallel with a flash tube 50. Additionally, the electronic flash devlce 16 includes electronic circuits by which the flash fire pulse generated by the~
camera's flash selecting and fire circuit can be utilized to operate a~trig~
ger circuit (not shown) which in turn fires the flash tube 50 in synchrom za-tion with the camera's shutter opening.
A charge control system ~not shown) for the camera 10 which allows the~
flashtube capacitor of the device 16 to charge while other camera functions~
are inactive, and which can disable capacitor charging during automatic focus-ing and during the film-related operations of exposure and film transport and;
processing. In this manner, the charge control system of the camera 10 operates to schedule high current operations to occur one at a time so that the film cassette's single battery can power all of its operations. More par-~
ticularly, the camera's control system, when actuated to initiate an exposure~
cycle, generates logic signals which, when received by the electronlc flash~
device 16, discontinue charging of the electronic flash device 16. In add tion, the electronic flash device 16~ while it is charging, can present a simulated high impedance signal to the camera 10 to prevent its operation by way of a sixth flash inhibit feature which is described in the aforementioned United States ~ "~

: ~

398~ ~

Patent No. 4,064,519.
As is readily apparent from the foregoing discussion, the camera 10, when operated in its artificial illumination mode, provides electrical signals for controlling either the photoflash lamp device 14 or the electronic flash ~:
device 16. Some of these camera-provided electrical signals, such as the flash ~`
fire pulse, are commonly used by both devices while others, such as loglc~ ~
signals from the electronic flash device 16 are not. In addition, the elec- ~ -tronic flash device 16 can derive significant power from the film casset~te's ~ ~ `
battery to charge its capacitor while the photoflash lamp device 14 does not have a comparable power requirement. The electrical interfaces between each~of~
these devices and the camera 10 are therefore clearly different even though someof the electrical signals provided by the camera 10 are commonly shared by both devices. Consequently, the electrical connections between these devlces and the camera 10 must be different so that one connection is not confused wlth the other. It is by way of the dual flash socket 12 and the connector plug~20;
of this i.nvention that the p:roper mechanical and electrical connections are made between the camera 10, the photo:Elash device 14, and the electronlc flash devlce~
16.
~: :
Reference is now made to Figures 1, 2 and 3 wherein it can be seen that the socket 12 comprises socket forming means in the form of a generally~
rectangular parallelepiped-shaped structural member 52. The structural member~
52 is preferably made of a non-conducting material and includesa forward wal~
54, a rear wall 56 spaced from the forward wall 54, and a pair of spaced apart side walls~ 58 and 60, connecting the forward wall 54 and the rear wall 56.~
Additionally included in the structural member 52 are an elongated top wall~62 and an elongated bottom wall 64 spaced from the top wall 62. The aforementloned~walls of the structural member 52 cooperate to define a thin, generally elon~
- 11 - ~

~3~18~ :

gated slot 70 centrally disposed in the top wall 62 and extending toward the bottom wall 64 to a glven depth. The entrance to the slot 70, located in the top wall 62, is provided with a beveled peripheral edge 72 to ease insertion of the connecting plugs, 18 and 20, of the photoflash lamp device 14 and the electronic flash device 16, respectively.
As best shown in Figure 2, the slot 70 comprises two spaced apart elongated wall surfaces of given length including a forward substantially straight surface 74 and a rear broken wall surface 75. The wall surfaces, 74 and 75, are joined at their ends by two side wall surfaces, 77 and 79, of given width.
The broken wall surface 75 comprises two straight end surfaces, 76 and 78, spaced away from the elongated straight surface 74 by the given width of the side walls, 77 and 79, and a central straight surface 80 spaced from the elongated straight surface 74 by a distance :Less than the given width of the side wall surfaces 77 and 79.
Configured in the foregoing manner, the slot 70 is provided with a cross-sectional shape resembling that of a shallow, elongated "U". Part of the slot 7D, defined by the straight wall surface 74 and the central straight wall surface 80, is configured to releasably receive the connector plug 18, which, -as previously indicated, is essentially rectangular in cross-section. The entire slot 70 is configured to releasably receive the connector plug 20 which, as can be seen in Figure 6, is provided with a "~' shape which complements thae of the slot 70.
In this manner, part of the slot 70 is provided with a shape which complements the shape of the photoflash lamp device's connector plug 18 while the shape of the entire slot 70 is configured to compl~ment the shape of the flash device's connector plug 20.

3~37 Extending outwardly from the center of each side wall, 58 and 60, are a pair of wall sections, 66 and 68, respectively, each of which has a mounting hole, 65 and 67, respectively, which provide a means by which the structural member 52 can be mounted to the camera lO. As shown in Figure l, mounting can be accomplished by using conventional screw fasteners or the like to attach the socket 12 to a rear wall 25 of the automatic ranging and focus- :
ing unit 32 so that, when either artificial lighting device, 14 or 16, is mounted on the camera 10, it will be positioned to illuminate a scene to be ~ -~
photographed.
Referring now to Figure 2 and particularly to Figure 3, it can be~
seen that the forward wall 54 is provided with a plurality ~eight) of electrlcal contact receiving apertures 82 each of which extends through the forward wall:
54 terminating at the slot's straight wall surface 74. Each aperture 82 is ~ :
:
configured to receive a corresponding one of a first set of eight complemen~
tary configured electrical contacts generally designated at 86.
Interdigitated with the contacts 86 are spacing sections 87 ~Figure

2) which maintain the contacts 86 in paralle:l relationship and prevents them from moving into electrical engagement with one another.
Each of the contacts 86 are provided with a base portion 93 ~shown in phantom) for connection with leads on a flexible circuit (not shown),~ a generally "U" shaped section 92 which "snaps" around a portion of the bottom~
wall 64 and has a portion which is engaged in a corresponding complementary~
configured recess 95 therein, an exit ramp portion 90, a dimpIed contact portion : ~ ~

. , :,

3~

97, an entrance ramp portion 99~ and a re~erse bend portion which terminates ;~
in an end portion 94 which is loaded against a corresponding portion 100 of each aperture 82.
The entrance and exit ramp portions, 99 and 90, respectively, in- ~
sure smooth insertion and withdrawal of the connector 18 while the dimpled ~ -portions 97 of each contact 86 apply a normal loading force on the six corres-pondingly spaced contacts 46 and the conducting strip 48 of the connector plug~
18.
Likewise, the rear wall 56 of the socket 12 is provided with a~second~
set of four contacts, generally designated at 88. Two each of the contacts 88 are disposed in the straight end surfaces, 76 and 78, of the broken wall surface 75. Each of the contacts 88 is identical in structure to the contacts 86 and also extend through corresponding apertures 84 ~Figure 3) each of which is identical to the apertures 82.
As can best be seen in Figure 2, the contacts 86 and 88 are spaced~
apart from each other, some of each oppositely facing one another. Also each contact portion 97 of each contact 88 does not extend tow rd the contacts 86 beyond a line coincident with the central wall surface 80 of the broken wall~
surface 75. In this manner, the contacts of the photoflash device's connector~
plug 18 which are not engaged with the socket's eight contacts 86 cannot mate with any of the four contacts 88 when the connecting plug 18 is inserted in~lts~complementary shaped part of the slot 70.
All of the electrical contacts of the socket 12 are preferably com~
posed of a spring material having a high electrical conductivity and high tensile strength such as certain ~eryllium copper alloys. Also a nickel silver coating is preferably applied to each contact to minimize contact resls-tance.

' ' : ' ' ';
' ';, ;.; -3~38~ `

In the foregoing manner, the socket 12 is provided with a first set of eight electrical contacts 86 mounted thereon in a predetermined arrangement to engage only those electrical contacts associated with the photoflash lamp device's connector plug 18 to provide an electrically conductive connection bet~een the camera lO and the photoflash lamp device 14 along which a first set of preselected ones of the camera's electrical signals can be directed to oper-ate the photoflash lamp device 14 and a second set of four contacts 88 also mounted on the socket 12 in a predetermined arrangement and which, as will be seen more clearly in the description to follow, in combination with selected ones of the first set of contacts 86, engage only those contacts associated with contacts on the electronic flash device plug 20 to provide another elec-trically conductive connection between the camera 10 and the electronic fLash device 14 along which a second set of preselected ones of the camera's electri-cal signals can be directed to operate the electronic flash device 14.
Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8, it can be seen that the elec-tronic flash device's connector plug 20 comprises a male plug member 96 which is rigidly attached in a well-known manner to the electronic flash device 14.
The member 96 is a thin, elongated, blade-like element whose insertion end has ~ ;~
the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped ~see Figure 6) whose shap~e is complementary to the shape of the slot 70 (Figure 2). The plug member 96 ~ ;
depends from the electronic flash de~ice 16 to a given length ~less than the depth of the slot 70) and comprises two spaced apart elongated surfaces of given length - a straight surface 98 and a broken surface formed of two straight end surfaces 101 and 102 which are spaced from the straight surface 98 by a given distance and a central straight surface 104 spaced from the straight surface 96 by a distance less than that separating the end surfaces, 101 and 102, from the straight surface 98. ~

'. . ' ' :' .
.. ..

- . . ~ :

3~

In this manner the insertion end of the plug member 96 is provided with a cross-sectional shape in the form or an elongated, shallow "U" whose shape is complementary to that of the slot 70.
Arranged in a predetermined manner on the straight surface 98 are three electrical contacts, 106, 108 and 110; on the straight end surface 101 a pair of contacts, 112 and 114; and on the straight end surface 102 another pair of contacts~ 116 and 118.

.
The purpose of the electrical contacts 106 through 118 is to estab-lish an electrically conductive path between the electronic circuits of the electronic flash device 14 and its connector plug 20. ~y comparing the contact arrangement of the photoflash lamp device 14 ~Figure 1) with the con~act arrange-ment on the electronic strobe device 16 (Figure 6), it is clear that the contact arrangements on the connector plugs of these devices is different. The contact arrangement of the electronic flash device's plug 20 is complementary tc the socket's (12) second set of four contacts 88 and selected ones of the socket's first set o eight contacts 86 which, in combination with the socket's second set of four contacts 88, provide the other electrically conductive connection between the camera 10 and the socket 12 so that, when the connector plug 20 is inserted in the socket 12, the second set of the camera's electrical signals can be directed to the electronic flash device's electronic circuits. In ~this~
manner the second set of contacts 88 can provide flash charging power from the ~ ;
camera 10 and logic inhibit signals which operate to inhibit the flash charglng ;~;
operation during periods when *he camera is consuming battery power.
From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the dual purpose socket 1~ in combination with the electronic flash device's connector plug 20 provide a means for releasably connecting the electronic flash device 14 to the camera 10.

Certain changes may be made in the above-described embodiment wlth-out departing from the scope of the invention, and those skilled in the art may make other changes according to the teachings of the invention. Therefore, ;~
it is intended that all mat~er contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

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Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A connector plug for use in conjunction with a dual purpose socket assembly for releasably connecting an electronic flash device to a camera wherein the camera is of the type that includes means for converting from an ambient exposure mode of operation to an artificial illumination exposure mode of operation in response to receipt of the electronic flash device or a multi-lamp photoflash device and, while in the artificial illumination exposure mode of operation, for providing a first set of electrical signals to the photoflash device by which the operation of the photoflash device can be controlled in a predetermined manner in conjunction with the camera operation and for providing a second set of electrical signals, which include selected signals from the first set, by which the electronic flash device can also be controlled in a predetermined manner in conjunction with the camera operation, wherein the photoflash device is of the type having an array of lamps arranged on oppositelyfacing sides thereof and includes a two-sided, elongated, thin-bladed plug with a set of electrical contacts corresponding to each array of lamps on each side of the plug such that only one side of the photoflash device can be utilized at a time, and wherein the dual purpose socket assembly is of the type which includes: an open-ended single cavity socket which cavity is defined by a series of spaced apart interconnecting wall sections two of which are arranged so that the open end thereof is a generally elongated slot of given depth, a first set of electrical contacts mounted along one of the cavity elongated wall sections in a spatial arrangement complementary to the spatial arrangement of the contacts on either side of the photoflash device plug; a second set of contacts mounted on the cavity other elongated wall section in a predetermined spatial arrangement to face the first set of cavity contacts; and means posi-tioned in the cavity and structured for guiding the photoflash device plug into only part of the cavity so that the contacts on one side of the photoflash device plug engage only the first set of cavity contacts to provide an electri-cally conductive connection between the camera and the photoflash device along which the first set of camera signals can be directed to control the photoflash device while keeping the contacts on the opposite side of the photoflash de-vice plug from engaging the second set of cavity contacts, said connector plug comprising: nonconductive means for forming a thin elongated, blade-like, male plug member connected with respect to the electronic flash device, said plug member being formed of a series of interconnecting wall surfaces two of which are elongated to complement respective elongated wall sections of the cavity, said series of interconnecting wall surfaces being further configured and arranged with respect to one another to complement the shape of the means in the cavity for guiding the photoflash device plug into only a part of the cavity such that said plug member fits the entire socket cavity; a first set of electrical contacts mounted on one said male plug member elongated wall sur-face in a spatial arrangement corresponding directly to the spatial arrangement of the socket first set of contacts; and a second set of electrical contacts mounted on said male plug member other elongated wall surface in a spatial arrangement corresponding directly to the spatial arrangement of the socket second set of electrical contacts, said connecting plug being configured and arranged in the foregoing manner so that when plugged into the socket cavity, said first and said second sets of contacts thereof engage corresponding ones of the socket contacts to provide an electrically conductive path between the camera and the socket so that the camera second set of electrical signals can be directed to the electronic strobe device to control it.

2. The connector plug of claim 1 wherein said male plug member has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, depending from the electronic strobe device to a given length and comprises two side wall surfaces of given depth joined to said elongated wall surfaces at their respective ends, said one elongated wall surfaces is substantially straight and said other elongated wall surfaces comprises two straight end surfaces spaced away from said straight elongated wall surface by said given depth and a central straight surface spaced from said straight elongated wall surface by a distance less than said given depth to provide said plug member with a cross-sectional shape in the form of a shallow "U".

3. The connector plug of claim 2 wherein said first set of contacts thereof are arranged on said straight elongated wall section thereof as a linear array to contact complementary arranged selected ones of the first set of the socket contacts and said second set of contacts are arranged linearly on both of said straight end sections thereof to engage in complementary fashion said second set of the socket contacts.