Electronic flash device

An electronic flash device comprising:

• (a) flash tube means responsive to a discharge current for illuminating an object to be photographed to obtain a desired exposure level;
• (b) main switching means connected in series with said flash tube means to form a discharge path for the discharge current when said main switching means is in a conductive state;
• (c) subsidiary switching means coupled to said main switching means for rendering said main switching means non-conductive when the desired exposure level is obtained;
• (d) a commutating capacitor connected between said flash tube means and said subsidiary switching means so that said commutating capacitor is charged in a forward direction through said main switching means when said subsidiary switching means is in a non-conductive state and said commutating capacitor is charged in the reverse direction through said subsidiary switching means when said subsidiary switching means is in a conductive state;
• (e) a series circuit coupled across said commutating capacitor and including coil means and third switching means;
• and
• (f) trigger means connected to said third switching means for applying a closing signal to close said third switching means to form a ringing circuit of said commutating capacitor and said series circuit after said subsidiary switching means is in the non-conductive state and said commutating capacitor has been charged in the reverse direction so that said commutating capacitor then discharges through said series circuit.