JPH04347Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a camera with a built-in strobe, and more particularly to a strobe mode switching device for switching between three modes: low-brightness automatic flash mode, daytime sync mode, and flash stop mode.

Most 35mm compact cameras have a built-in strobe, and the strobe switch can be turned on from the OFF position.
When it is slid into position, the strobe light emitting section pops up, allowing strobe photography. Recently, low-brightness auto-flash type cameras with built-in strobes have become available on the market, allowing the strobe light-emitting section to pop up automatically to perform strobe photography when the subject brightness is lower than a predetermined value. There is.

This type of camera, which automatically fires a strobe when the brightness is low, causes inconveniences when performing synchronized photography during the day, or conversely when you do not want to use the strobe even when the brightness is low. In order to solve these inconveniences, it is possible to incorporate a daytime synchro switch or a strobe OFF switch into the strobe circuit, but when these switches are used,
If you forget to put it back, the strobe will always fire,
The strobe may stop firing.
Since the camera originally has a low-brightness automatic judgment function, the user may not notice these abnormalities and continue shooting, thereby ruining the film that has been taken with great effort.

The present invention focuses on the above-mentioned drawbacks and has been improved so that when the strobe light emitting unit is stored after shooting, the strobe mode switch is returned to low-brightness automatic flash mode, and the low-brightness automatic flash function is activated the next time it is used. The object of the present invention is to provide a strobe mode switching device.

The present device is provided with a locking member that locks the strobe mode switching operation member, which is biased to return to the low-brightness automatic flash mode position, when it is moved to the daytime synchronization mode position or the flash stop mode position, The strobe mode switching member and the lock member are disengaged from each other when the strobe light emitting unit moves to the storage position.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, on the front of the camera body 1, there are
A photographic lens 2, a strobe light emitting section 3, a finder 4, distance measuring windows 5 and 6, a release button 7, and a strobe mode switching operation member 8 are provided. This strobe mode switching operation member 8 is marked “A”.
A restoring force is applied so that it remains at the low-brightness automatic flash mode position shown by , and against this restoring force, it moves to the daytime sync mode position shown by the mark "D" or the flash stop mode position shown by the mark "O". It locks into these positions. Furthermore, code 9
is the ranging window.

In the low-brightness automatic flash mode, the strobe light emitting unit 3 automatically pops up at low brightness and switches from EE photography to strobe photography. In the daytime synchronization mode, the strobe light emitting unit 3 pops up regardless of the subject brightness, and daytime synchronization photography can be performed using the strobe light as auxiliary light. In the light emission stop mode, the low brightness automatic light emission mode is canceled and the strobe light emitting section 3 does not emit light. Note that the strobe light emitting section 3 may be one that is popped up by hand.

FIG. 2 shows the pop-up mechanism of the strobe light emitting section. The strobe light emitting unit 3 is fixed to an apron 10, and fixing pins 12a and 12b are fitted into elongated holes 11a and 11b of the apron 10, respectively. If the foot lever 13 resists the weak spring 14 and rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 15, it will come off the protrusion 16 provided on the apron 10, so that the strobe light emitting part 3 and the apron 10 will be moved upward by the spring 17. , and the strobe light emitting section 3 protrudes from the camera body 1.

A permanent magnet 18 is fixed to one end of the foot lever 13, and is normally attracted to an electromagnet 19. When the coil 20 of the electromagnet 19 is energized, a repulsive force acts between the iron core 21 and the permanent magnet 18, causing the foot lever 13 to rotate counterclockwise against the spring 14, causing the strobe light emitting unit 3 to pop up. let

3 to 5 show the main parts of the present invention. The strobe mode switching operation member 8 has a finger hook 8a formed on its front side, and a protrusion 8 on its back side.
b to 8d are provided. Further, the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is provided with spring hooks 8e and 8f, with which both ends of the spring 24 are in contact. This spring 24 is held by a shaft 25, and its position is regulated by pins 26 and 27.

The locking member 29 has two locking grooves 29a and 29b formed in the front of its upper surface, and is guided by a guide groove 30 formed in the camera body 1 to move in the vertical direction. This locking member 29 is pushed by the apron 10 and moves downward against the spring 31 when the strobe light emitting section 3 is displaced from the popped-up position to the retracted position shown in FIG.

On both sides of the strobe mode switching operation member 8, a daytime synchro switch 33 and a light emission stop switch 34 are installed.
and are arranged. Note that there is a pop-up switch 35 (sixth
(see figure) are arranged.

In the low-brightness automatic light emission mode, the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is located at the center, and at this time, neither switch is turned on. When the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is moved to the left, the strobe light emitting part 3 pops up and the protrusion 8b enters the locking groove 29a, so that the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is locked in the daytime synchro mode position. be done. At this time, the daytime synchro switch 33 and the pop-up switch 35 are held in the ON state by the protrusion 8d. When the strobe mode switching member 8 is moved to the left when the strobe is in pop-up mode, the protrusion 8b enters the locking groove 29b, so that the strobe mode switching member 8 is locked in the light emission stop mode position. At this time, the light emission stop switch 3 is turned off by the protrusion 8c.
4 is kept in the ON state.

If the strobe light emitting unit 3 is moved to the storage position when the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is in the daytime sync mode position or the light emission stop mode position,
The locking member 29 is pushed down at the lower end of the apron 10, and the engagement between the protrusion 8b and the locking groove 29a or 29b is released. As a result, the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is returned to the low brightness automatic light emission mode position by the spring 24.

FIG. 6 shows a strobe circuit. The photometry circuit 38 includes a light receiving element placed behind the photometry window 9 shown in FIG. 1, and measures the subject brightness as is well known. The brightness information measured by this photometry circuit 38 is input to a low brightness determination circuit 39 having a comparator, and is compared with a preset reference value. When this luminance information is lower than the reference value, a high-level signal is output from the low-luminance determination circuit 39; otherwise, a low-level signal is output and input to the control circuit 40 and the OR circuit 41. Control circuit 4
0 is composed of an analog switch circuit or a relay, and turns ON when a high-level signal output at low brightness is input, applying the voltage of the battery 42 to the booster circuit 43. The daytime synchro switch 33 is connected in parallel with the control circuit 40, and can operate the booster circuit 43 when turned on.

A main capacitor 44, a series circuit of a resistor 45 and a neon tube 46, and a flash discharge tube 47 are connected in parallel with the booster circuit 43, respectively. A series circuit including a light emission stop switch 34, a trigger capacitor 48, a transformer 49, and a synchro switch (X contact) 50 is connected in parallel with the neon tube 46. A trigger electrode 47a of the flash discharge tube 47 is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer 49.

A resistor 52 is connected in series with the pop-up switch 35, and the voltage at this connection point is the same as that of the pop-up switch 35.
It is input to the OR circuit 41. When the output of the OR circuit 41 is "H", the transistor 53 is turned on, and the second
The coil 20 of the electromagnet 19 shown in the figure is energized. In this embodiment, during the daytime synchronization mode, the electromagnet 19 is operated to pop up the strobe light emitting section 3, but instead of this, a member interlocked with the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is used to rotate the foot lever 13 counterclockwise. By moving the strobe light emitting section 3, the strobe light emitting section 3 may be popped up. In addition, code 54
is the main switch, and when it is turned on, all circuits are powered.

When the subject is high brightness, the low brightness judgment circuit 39
Since the output is at a low level, the control circuit 40 and the transistor 53 are turned off. Therefore, the strobe light emitting section 3 is held in the retracted position, and the flash discharge tube 47 does not emit light in synchronization with the shutter.

When the subject has low brightness, the low brightness determination circuit 39
Since the output of the transistor becomes high level, the control circuit 40 and the transistor 53 are turned on. The control circuit 40
When turned ON, the booster circuit 43 operates and charges the main capacitor 44 and the trigger capacitor 48. When the transistor 53 is turned on, the electromagnet 19 is excited, so a repulsive force acts between it and the permanent magnet 18, which causes the foot lever 13 to rotate counterclockwise, causing the strobe light emitting unit 3 to move to the second position. Pop it up to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure.

Synchronous switch 5 is activated in synchronization with the shutter operation.
0 turns on, the discharge current of the trigger capacitor flows to the primary coil of the transformer 49. A high voltage is generated in the secondary coil of the transformer 49, and is applied to the trigger electrode 47a of the flash discharge tube 47. The flash discharge tube 47 is supplied with power from the main capacitor 44 and momentarily emits light.

If the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is set to the light emission stop mode position when the strobe light emitting unit 3 is popped up, the light emission stop switch 34
turns on. Since the trigger capacitor 48 is kept in a discharged state by turning on the light emission stop switch 34, the flash discharge tube 47 will not emit light even if the synchro switch 50 is turned on.

It is known that when the subject is highly bright, the strobe does not fire, but when the subject is backlit, you can take beautiful pictures by using the strobe as an auxiliary light and using synchronized photography during the day. Therefore, if the strobe mode switching operation member 8 is set to the daytime sync mode position during high brightness, the daytime sync switch 33 and pop-up switch 35 will be turned on.
Similar to the low-brightness automatic flash mode described above, the strobe light emitting section 3 pops up and emits light in synchronization with the shutter.

The present invention having the above configuration has three modes: low brightness automatic flash mode, daytime synchronization mode, and flash stop mode.
Mode selection can be performed with a simple mechanism, and moreover, when the strobe light emitting section is returned to the storage position, the low brightness automatic light emission mode can be automatically set. Therefore, I forgot to change the mode and mistakenly thought that the low brightness automatic flash mode was selected while the daytime sync mode or flash stop mode was selected.
You can prevent the film you have taken with great effort from being ruined.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a built-in strobe according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the pop-up mechanism of the strobe light emitting section. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the main parts of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the main parts of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a strobe circuit. 1... Camera body, 3... Strobe light emitting part,
8... Strobe mode switching operation member, 1... Apron, 13... Foot lever, 18... Permanent magnet, 19... Electromagnet, 29... Lock member, 8b
...Protrusion, 29a, 29b...Latching groove, 33...
Daytime synchronization switch, 34... Light emission stop switch, 35... Pop-up switch, 47...
Flash discharge tube.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) Automatically fires a strobe light emitting unit that has been moved from a storage position to a pop-up position by detecting that the subject brightness is lower than a predetermined value. In a camera with a built-in strobe that performs strobe photography, a strobe mode switching operation member that can be moved to three positions: a low-brightness automatic flash mode position located in the center, and a daytime sync mode position and a flash stop mode position located on each side of this mode position. a spring that urges the strobe mode switching member to remain stationary in a low-intensity automatic flash mode position; and a locking member that locks the strobe mode switching member in a daytime sync mode position or a flash stop mode position. , in conjunction with the displacement of the strobe light emitting unit from the pop-up position to the storage position, the locking between the protrusion and the locking member is released, and the strobe light is locked in the daytime sync mode position or the light emission stop mode position. A strobe mode switching device for a camera with a built-in strobe, comprising a release member that returns the mode switching operation member to the low-intensity automatic light emission mode position. (2) The locking member has a locking groove structure that locks the protrusion formed on the strobe mode switching operation member in each of the daytime synchro mode position and the flash stop mode position, and the strobe light emitting part is in the pop-up position. At one time, the protrusion is urged by a spring to a locking position where the protrusion is fitted into the locking groove, and the release member resists the spring to push the locking member when the strobe light emitting section is moved to the storage position. A strobe mode switching device for a camera with a built-in strobe according to claim 1, characterized in that the strobe mode switching device for a camera with a built-in strobe is retracted from a locking position.