JPS5964821A - Adapter for controlling multiple electronic flash light emitting devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit and receive signals between a camera and a strobe without hindrance, by providing an adapter equipped with a charging completion control part, a trigger control part, a release signal part, etc. CONSTITUTION:When an aperture control circuit DA is switched to the program flash photographing mode, only an X contact closing signal is transmitted from an X contact switch of the camera to a flash trigger circuit of an electronic flash light emitting device (strobe) through the first terminal of an adapter AD. A charging completion signal and a dimming completion signal are transmitted from the strobe to the camera through the second terminal to display them and switch an exposure time control circuit, and a release signal is transmitted from the camera to the strobe to reset a dimming completion signal generating circuit. A P signal indicating a private strobe is transmitted from the camera to the strobe through the third terminal, and a stop signal to stop the light emission of the flash is transmitted similarly. Thus, signals between the camera and the strobe are transmitted and received smoothly.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field The present invention provides a camera and an electronic flash emitter that are connected through a plurality of terminals, and a rectangular wave charge completion signal is sent from the electronic flash emitter to the camera through one terminal. , the camera responds by indicating that charging is complete, setting the shutter control circuit to flash photography mode, and connecting one camera to multiple cameras in a flash photography system that communicates through the same or other terminals. The present invention relates to an adapter that allows the above-mentioned signals to be exchanged with an electronic flashlight.

Prior Art - As described above, when various signals are exchanged between one camera and a plurality of electronic flash units, if the corresponding terminals of each electronic flash unit are connected in parallel to the terminals of the camera,
It is difficult to align the phases of the rectangular wave signals output from each electronic flash light emitter, and as a result, the rectangular waves overlap and overlap, causing the signal waveform to become distorted or becoming essentially a DC signal. . In addition, when such parallel connections are made, when the signal is distributed to multiple electronic flash emitters, the desired operation may not be achieved due to changes in the impedance of the person, insufficient signal output level, increase in signal current, etc. Sometimes it is not done.

Purpose The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system that is interposed between one camera and a plurality of electronic flash devices so that signals can be exchanged between the camera and the electronic flash devices without causing the above-mentioned inconveniences. Embodiment for Providing an Adapter to Use the Embodiment Before explaining the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention, a signal exchange system between a camera and an electronic flash device in which the adapter is used will be explained. This signal exchange system is used in the commercially available Minolta X-700 camera and is well known. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a signal exchange system between a camera and an electronic flashlight (hereinafter referred to as a strobe in the description of the embodiment);
The figure simplifies it and shows the relationship between the three terminals and each functional block of the camera and strobe, and FIG. 3 shows the change in signal level at each terminal.

In Figure 1, the power switch (
ps) flashes, the voltage of the power supply battery (PB) is boosted by the booster circuit (VB), and when the main capacitor m (not shown) is charged to a predetermined level, the voltage detection circuit (VD) outputs a detection signal. In response to the detection signal, a charge completion signal generation circuit (CP) generates a signal indicating that charging of the main capacitor of the strobe is completed. This charge completion signal is generated by, for example, operating a transmitting circuit in response to the detection signal as shown in U.S. Pat. The desired frequency of the output signal is extracted and output, and as shown in the (cps) part of the second terminal signal in Figure 3, the signal has a voltage of 1.2 V and 2.6 V This is a 2 11z square wave signal in which the voltage changes alternately between 2 and 11z. When the camera side receives this charging completion signal (cps), the light emitting diodes of the light emitting diode array for displaying exposure time arranged so as to be visible in the viewfinder of the camera, which do not indicate a shutter speed of 1/60 seconds, are outputted from the above signal. The shutter flashes at 2 Hz synchronized with the flash to indicate charging completion, and the exposure time control circuit responds to flash firing from the normal shooting mode, which controls the shutter speed according to the photometry value or manual setting value, as described below. switch to flash photography mode and close the shutter.

In addition, on the strobe side, in response to the detection signal, the P signal generation circuit (ps) or the middle terminal signal (PSS) in FIG.
A 1V P signal indicated by 5- is output from the small terminal. This P signal is treated on the camera side as a signal that determines whether the strobe connected to the camera can exchange various signals with the camera, and the mode selector circuit (MS) controls the aperture of the camera. Circuit (D
A), for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-150716,
The P mode display circuit (1) is switched to a programmed flash photography mode that is controlled according to a predetermined program in cooperation with such a strobe.
I) causes a program mode (P mode) display to indicate that the camera operates in such mode.

Next, when a shirt release button (not shown) is pressed on the camera side and a release signal is output from the release signal circuit (RL), the release signal is sent to the third terminal via the second terminal.
As shown in the second terminal signal (RLS) section in the figure, a signal that short-circuits the second terminal to ground for 1 ms is transmitted to the strobe, and in the strobe, when the camera is released,
If a dimming completion signal, which will be described later, is being output again, the dimming completion signal generating circuit 61 is reset to stop the signal, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 146932/1982. On the camera side, when the aperture control circuit (DA) is switched to the program flash photography mode as described above, a P mode signal is generated from the P mode signal circuit (PM) in response to the release signal. This P mode signal is transmitted to the strobe via the third terminal.
, '30, the restriction on the maximum light emission amount of strobes is lifted.

The camera is activated by the release operation, and the aperture control circuit (D
A) controls the aperture to a desired aperture and opens the shutter. When the synchro contact, the so-called X contact, is closed when the shutter is fully open, the X contact close signal is
S) is transmitted to the strobe through the first terminal, makes the trigger switch element in the light emission control circuit (FC) in the strobe conductive, and generates a trigger voltage.
Lights up the xenon tube (Xe). On the camera side, reflected light from a subject illuminated by a xenon tube (Xe) enters the camera through the camera's photographic lens and aperture, and is reflected by the exposed film and is received by the photoreceptor element of the photometry circuit. Then, the photometric output is integrated by the photometric circuit (LM), and when the integrated value reaches a predetermined level, the light emission stop circuit (FS
) generates a stop signal. This stop signal is
The (FSS) part of the third terminal signal in Fig. 3 is transmitted to the strobe, and the flash emission control circuit (FC)
) to stop the xenon tube (Xe) from emitting light. In addition, in the strobe, the dimming signal generation circuit (FD) starts operating in response to this stop signal, and a second signal is output through the second terminal.
The signal of the (FDC) part of the terminal signal, that is, the voltage], 2
It outputs an 811Z square wave signal that varies between V and 2.6V. On the camera side, the 1/1
8112 light emitting diode for displaying shutter speed of 60 seconds
Flashes at a cycle of

If the above signal transmission and reception is summarized in Figure 2, the first terminal transmits only the X contact close signal from the camera's X contact switch to the flash trigger circuit of the strobe, and the second terminal transmits the charging completion signal from the strobe to the camera. A signal and a light adjustment completion signal are transmitted to switch the respective display and exposure time control circuits, and a release signal is sent from the camera to the strobe to reset the light adjustment signal generation circuit. The third terminal is
A P signal indicating that the strobe is a dedicated strobe that can exchange various signals with the camera is transmitted from the strobe to the camera, a P mode signal and a stop signal to stop the flash from firing are transmitted from the camera to the strobe. be done. The second terminal is connected to the X-contact close signal, which causes the xenon tube (Xe) to emit light, the main capacitor to discharge, and after the voltage drops below the predetermined level, until it is charged again to the predetermined level. The time is also at zero level.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the adapter according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the connection state of the camera, adapter, and strobe. In the figure, the camera (CM) and adapter (AD)
is connected to the adapter (CM) and the three strobes (STI) (Sr1) (Sr1) are connected to each other through the connectors (CNI) (CN2) (CN3). terminals (T1), (t
ll) (t12) ([3) is the first terminal, the terminal (T
2) (t2D(t22Xt23)9- is the second terminal, terminal (T3) (t31) (t32)
(t33) corresponds to the third terminal, and through these terminals, signals such as those described above are applied from the camera or strobe to the corresponding terminals, respectively. As described below, the connectors (CN2) and (CN3) are not connected with the adapter unless the connector (CNI) is connected to the adapter.

First, if a charging completion signal is output from the second terminal (122) or (t23) of the strobe (Sr1) or (Sr1), but a charging completion signal is not output from the terminal (t21) of the strobe (STI), the terminal ( , t22) or (t23
), the transistor (Q7) becomes conductive and the third terminals of the three strobes (t31) (t32)
(t33) is shorted to ground to prevent the P signal from being output from those terminals. Also, strobe (Sr1)
Since the second terminals (t22) and (t23) of (Sr1) are not connected to the second terminal (T2) of the connector (CNo) on the camera side, their charging signals are not transmitted to the camera side. When the charging completion signal is output from the second terminal (t21) of the strobe size 1), the signal is sent to the connector (C
It is applied to the camera through the second terminal (T2) of the transistor (No.
) is made non-conductive and the third terminal (t31) (t32) (
t33), and connect those terminals to the connector (
The P signal is transmitted to the camera via the third terminal (T3) of CNo.

In this way, the charge completion signal is sent to the first strobe (Srl).
This prevents the charging completion signals from interfering with each other by transmitting the signal from the battery to the camera. The same applies to the dimming completion signal. When the charging completion signal is output from the second terminal (t21) of the strobe (STI), the resistor (R:
3) Capacitor (C1) is rapidly charged through (R4).

When the release signal from the camera is output through the second terminal (T2) of the connector (CNo), the second terminal (T2)
) is shorted to ground for 1ms. As a result, the capacitor (
Transistor (Q2) becomes conductive using C1) as a power source, voltage division is generated by resistor (R5) (R14), transistor (Q5) becomes conductive, and connector (CN2) (
CN3) second terminal (t22) (t23), therefore,
The second terminals of the strobes (Sr2) (Sr3) are shorted to ground. In this way, the strobe (STI) is directly connected to the strobe (Sr2) through the terminals (T2) (t21).
) (Sr3) is given a release signal by a transistor (Q5)1, so even if the circuit on the camera side only has the ability to short-circuit one strobe with a release signal, it can short-circuit three strobes. A release signal is given. The purpose of the capacitor (CI) is to prevent the transistor (Q2) from conducting due to the current of the diode (DI). P synchronized with the release signal
The mode signal is applied in parallel to terminals (t31), (t32), and (t33) of the strobe side connector, respectively, via the terminal (T3). That is, since the third terminal does not have a rectangular wave signal like the second terminal, the terminals are connected in parallel, and both the P mode signal and the light emission stop signal are sent in parallel.

When the X contact close signal is output from the camera through the third terminal (T3), the base of the transistor (Q4) is grounded through the X contact, and the transistor (Q4) becomes conductive using the charging completion signal from the second terminal as a power source. As a result, the resistance (R
1) Transistor (Ql) (Q
3) becomes conductive. Due to the conduction of transistor (Q3),
The first terminal (tllXt12) (t1
3), therefore three strobes (S'rl) (Sr2) (
The first terminal of Sr3) is simultaneously grounded and the X contact close signal is input. Due to the conduction of the transistor (Ql),
The capacitor (CI) is discharged. This is a strobe (
When an X contact closing signal (trigger signal) is applied to the Xenon tube (STI) and the xenon tube emits light, its main capacitor is discharged, the charge completion signal is no longer output, and the second terminal (
t2υ becomes the ground level, but at this time, the capacitor (C
This is to prevent the voltage of I) from occurring on the line of the second terminal. The transistor (Q3) has a second terminal (t21
) becomes non-conducting as the voltage decreases to zero level.

In this embodiment, the synchronization contact of the camera is closed as long as the shutter is fully open. However, as described above, the transistor (Q3) becomes non-conductive when the strobe (STI) emits light. Therefore, in the case of long exposure such as bulb photography, the main capacitor of the strobe (ST1) is recharged during exposure, and when the charging completion signal is output from the terminal (t21), the transistor (Q4)
Since it is grounded by the synchro switch, the charge completion signal is used as a power source to conduct the transistor (Q3), and the strobe (STI) (Sr2) is turned on again while exposure continues.
(Sr3) will be emitted. Resistance (R
12) The diode (D4) and capacitor (C3) are for preventing this. The first terminal of the strobe is
As shown in Figure 1, a capacitor (C) is connected so as not to be affected by noise such as synchronized switch chattering, and this is normally charged to a predetermined level by a constant current source (Is). The above transistor (Q
When grounded by 3), the trigger signal is transmitted to the trigger circuit via the transistor (QX).A capacitor with a time constant determined by the parallel connection of (C) (C3) and the resistor (R12) and diode (D4). A discharge path (C) is formed, and
As long as the contacts are closed, the capacitor (C) also remains grounded and will not be retriggered.

Also, by grounding this capacitor (C), the strobe 14
- The above time constant is the time constant required when the strobe is triggered via transistor (Q4) (Q3) by the X contact closing signal (transistor Q3 has a time constant due to its large capacity). ), only the strobe (STI) has a resistor (R12) and a diode (1
) 4), etc., to prevent it from being triggered first.

(TS) is a test switch. When the strobe is fully charged and is closed before the camera is released, transistors (Q4) (Q3) become conductive and the strobe (ST)
I) (Sr1) Trigger (Sr1) to emit light,
It shows the terminal structure whether the strobe works normally or not.

The adapter body (AD) has four socket parts (SKo
) (SKI) (SK2) (SK3) are provided,
A connector (CKo) connected to the camera is inserted into the socket portion (SKo). Socket part (S
KI) (SK2) (SK3) have four terminal holes (TH) and one notch (Co), respectively, as shown in Figure 8 (A).
) is formed, and as shown in Fig. 8(B), four pins (P
Connectors (CNI) (CN2) (CN3) each having a positioning protrusion (PJ) and a positioning protrusion (PJ) at their tips are inserted and connected, respectively. One of the four pins is a ground terminal, the others are
These are the eleventh second and third terminals. Connector (CNI)
When l is not connected, the tip of the detection rod (BR) is inserted into the notch of the socket (SKI), and the detection rod (BR) is guided by the bearing (BGI) (BO2). It can be moved up and down.

A blocking piece (pv) is fixed to the detection rod (BR), and a coil spring (S
PI) is provided surrounding the detection rod (BR), and the detection rod (BR) is provided surrounding the detection rod (BR).
When the connector (CKI) is not connected, the blocking piece (pv) is guided by the upper bearing and (BO2) (BO6) at the solid line position, and the blocking bar (VB2) is pushed upward. (VB3) are provided so as to be able to slide left and right in the figure, and are biased outwardly by springs (SF3).
3) protrudes into the notch. Kokote blocking rod (VB2
) (VB3) is bent in the middle as shown in FIG. 8(C), passes over the guide part (BG4XBG6), and the guide part (BO3) (BO2) passes through. Spring (SF3
) (SF3) is the bending part and guide part of the blocking rod (BO3)
or (BO2). The rear end of the blocking rod faces the blocking piece (PV) at the solid line position.

With this configuration, when the connector (CNI) is not inserted into the socket part (SKI), the spring (SPI)
Due to the urging force, the tip of the detection rod (BR) is pushed into the socket (S
K1), and the blocking piece (pv) is located at the solid line position in the figure. Therefore, the connector (CN2) or (CN3
) into the socket (SK2) or (SK3), the blocking rod (VB2J or (VB3)
SK2) or (SK3), and even if the positioning protrusion of the connector (CN2) or (CN3) hits it, the blocking bar (VB2) or (VB3j) will not touch the blocking piece (PV).
Connector (CN2) or (CN
3) cannot be inserted into the corresponding socket. When the connector (CKI) is inserted into the socket (SKI), the detection rod (BR) is pushed down by the positioning protrusion of the connector (CKI) and the blocking piece (PV) is retracted to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. , the blocking rods (VB2) (VB3) are retracted 17- to enable insertion of the connectors (CK2) (CK3).

Effects According to the present invention as described above, a plurality of electronic flash emitters can be combined into one
It can be connected to a camera on a stand, and various signals can be sent and received between them without any problems.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a flash photography system to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing connection terminals and signal relationships in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing connection terminals and signal relationships in FIG. A chart showing signal changes at each terminal between the camera and the strobe; FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a camera,
An explanatory diagram showing the wiring relationship between the adapter and the strobe; FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit portion connected to the first terminal of the strobe in FIG. 4; FIG. 7 shows the internal structure of the adapter according to the present invention. The sectional view, FIG. 8, is a partial explanatory view of FIG. 7. CM: Camera, CNO, CNI, CN2. CN3: Connector, STI, Sr1. Sr1: electronic flashlight,
18-Q6. Q7: Charging completion signal control unit, C], DI, Q2. Q5 Nirelies signal section, Q4. Q
3. D3. D5. D6: Trigger Signal Department Applicant: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The camera and the electronic flash emitter are electrically connected via a plurality of terminals, and a rectangular wave signal is sent to the electronic flash emitter when charging of the main capacitor of the electronic flash emitter is completed. A release signal indicating that the camera has been released is sent from the camera to the electronic flash unit via the same terminal, and an IJ signal is sent from the camera to the electronic flash unit via another terminal. A plurality of electronic flash emitters used in a flash photography system are connected, and one
A charge completion signal control unit outputs a charge completion signal when a first flashlight emitter is connected to the camera, and a charge completion signal is output when a charge completion signal is generated and a flash trigger signal is given from the camera. a trigger signal section that responds to each of the plurality of electronic flash emitters by giving a light emission command signal;
An adapter comprising a release signal section that responds to a release signal and sends a signal equivalent to the release signal to a plurality of electronic flash units. 2. A patent claim in which the connection terminal portion connected to a plurality of electronic flash devices is provided with a blocking means for preventing connection of other electronic flash devices before the first electronic flash device is connected. The adapter described in item 1 of the range.