US 4,054,887 AGranted

Exposure control device for photographic cameras

AssigneeErnest Leitz GmbH

InventorsWerner Holle, Walter Bletz, Rolf Magel

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Abstract

Exposure control device for a photographic camera wherein, in a part of the exposure control device, electronic means are provided in order to form, from the luminous density of an object, the film sensitivity, and the preselected time, a voltage analogous to a diaphragm setting, and wherein a storage means is provided for storing this value, the improvement comprising the combination of the following features: A. when the camera release is actuated, the diaphragm begins to operate from an initial position corresponding to the maximum diaphragm opening, a diaphragm path meter coupled therewith operating simultaneously with this diaphragm and yielding a value corresponding to the change in aperture; B. means are provided which compare the value produced by the diaphragm path meter with the stored value and, in case of identical values, or compensation of the values, stop the operation of the diaphragm by a stop member; C. furthermore, means are provided which add the remaining difference value between the formed value and the value formed by the diaphragm path meter to the value corresponding to the preselected time; and D. the open time of the shutter is formed by conventional electronic means in correspondence with the value delivered by the time setter, taking the difference value into account.

Claims7

Dependent claims

In an exposure control device for a photographic camera having a shutter, a diaphragm release, a diaphragm automatically movable from one starting position in the closing direction after diaphragm release, first means for generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the brightness of an object to be photographed, second means for generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the exposure time, third means for generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the film sensitivity, means for deriving from said analogous voltages a voltage logarithmically analogous to the required diaphragm setting, and means for storing said voltage logarithmically analogous to the required diaphragm setting, the improvement comprising:

a. a diaphragm setting mechanism and fourth means for generating a voltage coupled with said diaphragm setting mechanism and actuated by said diaphragm release, said fourth means generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the actual aperture of the diaphragm;
b. means for comparing said voltage analogous to the diaphragm aperture and said stored voltage analogous to the required diaphragm setting and stopping said diaphragm when said compared voltages are equal;
c. means for determining a difference between said voltage analogous to the actual aperture and said stored voltage analogous to the required diaphragm setting and adding said difference to said voltage analogous to the exposure time;
and
d. means for opening said shutter for a period of time actuated by the sum of said voltage analogous to the exposure time and said difference between said voltage analogous to the aperture and said stored voltage analogous to a diaphragm setting.

2 more elements

An exposure control device for a photographic camera having a shutter and a diaphragm release, comprising:

a. a light metering circuit including a light meter and being adapted to generate a voltage logarithmically analogous to the brightness of the object to be photographed;
b. means for generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the film sensitivity;
c. means for generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the selected exposure time;
d. an analog computer to which said analogous voltages are supplied, said analog computer generating a voltage logarithmically analogous to the required diaphragm setting;
e. a storage including a pulse generator, an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-to-analog converter generating voltage output signals;
f. a comparator to which said voltage logarithmically analogous to said required diaphragm setting and said voltage output signals are supplied for comparing these signals whereby signals of equal magnitude stop said analog-to-digital converter so that the magnitude of said retained voltage output signal represents a voltage identical to said required diaphragm setting analogous voltage;
g. a diaphragm setting mechanism coupled with means for generating a voltage and actuated by said diaphragm release so as to vary the diaphragm aperture continuously after start from one end position:
said means generating a voltage analogous to the actual aperture of the diaphragm;
h. means for comparing said voltage logarithmically analogous to the required diaphragm setting and said voltage generated by said means coupled to said diaphragm setting mechanism and stopping said diaphragm when said voltages are equal;
i. means for adding the difference between said voltage analogous to the actual diaphragm aperture and said voltage analogous to the required diaphragm setting to said voltage analogous to the exposure time;
and
j. means for opening said shutter for a period of time generated by said voltage analogous to the exposure time and said difference between said voltage logarithmically analogous to the actual diaphragm aperture and said voltage logarithmically analogous to the required diaphragm setting.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.