Compact mechanically-powered electric generator for a camera or other apparatus

A mechanically-powered generator for producing a pulse of electric energy, said generator comprising the combination of;

• magnetic circuit means consisting essentially of a pair of pole pieces and a single permanent magnet that is located between said pole pieces and is of such size that the pole pieces extend beyond the magnet in the same general direction so that portions of said pole pieces are disposed in spaced-apart relationship adjacent one another,
• means for rapidly altering the reluctance of said magnetic circuit means comprising a magnetic member that is movably coupled to said magnetic circuit means and is swingable from a cocked position along a prescribed path which places said member in substantially bridging relationship with the spaced-apart portions of said pole pieces for a sufficient period of time to enable the movement of the magnetic member along said path to produce a rapid change in the distribution of the flux in the magnetic circuit means,
• electrical conductor means disposed in inductive ralationship with said magnetic circuit means and oriented to generate a pulse of electrical energy in response to changes in the reluctance of the magnetic circuit means produced by the movement of the magnetic member along said prescribed path,
• means for swinging said magnetic member along said prescribed path comprising a spring that is coupled to said magnetic member in a manner such that the spring is in tension when said swingable magnetic member is located at said cocked position, and
• means for maintaining said spring in tension and the generator in actuable condition comprising a latch means for engaging and releasably holding the magnetic member at said cocked position against the force exerted on said member by the tensioned spring.