# US 5,347,335 A · Lid latch device in camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,347,335 A - Document ID: US5347335A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/138,435 - Filed: 1993-10-20 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-10-28 - Assignees: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masayuki Misawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347335A ## CPC - G03B 17/02: Bodies - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A lid latch device is provided, which is adapted to be used for a back lid openable to a camera. The back lid latch device is provided with a latch member for latching the back lid in a closed position, an open button for releasing the latch member upon movement of the open button from a latched position to a released position, and a detection switch for switching an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level. The switch device is actuated directly by the back lid only when the back lid is moved to the closed position and latched by the latch member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lid latch device adapted to be used for a back lid openable to a camera, said device comprising: latch means for latching said back lid in a closed position; release means for releasing said latch means, said back lid being unlatched from said closed position when said latch means is released; and switch means for switching an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, said switch means being actuated directly by said back lid only when said back lid is moved to said closed position and latched by said latch means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lid latch device according to claim 1, wherein said back lid includes an engaging portion, said latch means includes a latch member movable between a latched position and a released position, said latch member also having a hook portion for engaging said engaging portion, and said switch means is directly switched by said engaging portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lid latch device according to claim 2, wherein said release means includes an open button which is operated manually and which is formed on said latch member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lid latch device according to claim 3, wherein said engaging portion and said hook portion are disengaged when said open button is moved from a resting position to an operating position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The lid latch device according to claim 2, wherein said latch means further includes urging means for forcing said latch member from said released position to said latched position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lid latch device according to claim 5, wherein said release means includes an open button which is formed on said latch member and is manually movable from a resting position to an operating position against the force of said urging means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lid latch device according to claim 1, wherein said camera includes an auto-loading mechanism, said auto-loading mechanism being initiated when a level of said signal output by said switch means is said second predetermined level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The lid latch device according to claim 2, wherein said switch means is provided on said latch member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The lid latch device according to claim 2, wherein said switch means includes a stationary terminal plate attached to said latch member and a movable terminal plate arranged to be electrically insulated from said stationary terminal plate, and said movable terminal plate is deformable so as to electrically contact said stationary terminal plate when said back lid is closed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lid latch device according to claim 9, which further comprises: a pressure lever arranged between said movable terminal plate and said engaging portion of said back lid when said back lid is in the closed position, said pressure lever pressing said movable terminal plate such that said movable terminal plate deforms and electrically contacts said stationary terminal plate. ### Claim 11 A lid latch device adapted to be used for a back lid openable to a camera, said device comprising: latch means for latching said back lid in a closed position; release means for releasing said latch means, said latch means being released when said release means is moved from a resting position to an operating position, said back lid being unlatched by said release of said latch means; an engaging portion which is formed on one of said back lid and said latch means; and switch means provided on the other of said back lid and said latch means, for switching a level of an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, said switch means being actuated directly by said back lid only when said back lid is moved to said closed position and latched by said latch means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lid latch device according to claim 11, wherein said engaging portion is formed on said back lid, and said latch means, said release means and said switch means are provided on said camera. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lid latch device according to claim 12, wherein said latch means includes a latch member movable between a latched position and a released position, said latch member having a hook portion for engaging said engaging portion, and said switch means is directly switched by said engaging portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lid latch device according to claim 13, wherein said release means includes an open button which is operated manually and is formed on said latch member, said open button moving between said resting position and said operating position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lid latch device according to claim 14, wherein said engaging portion and said hook portion are disengaged when said open button is moved from said resting position to said operating position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The lid latch device according to claim 13, wherein said latch means further includes urging means for forcing said latch member from said released position to said latched position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lid latch device according to claim 16, wherein said release means includes an open button which is formed on said latch member and is manually movable from said resting position to said operating position against the force of said urging means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The lid latch device according to claim 11, wherein said camera includes an auto-loading mechanism, said auto-loading mechanism being initiated when a level of said signal output by said switch means is said second predetermined level. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The lid latch device according to claim 13, wherein said switch means is provided on said latch member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The lid latch device according to claim 13, wherein said switch means includes a stationary terminal plate attached to said latch member and a movable terminal plate arranged to be electrically insulated from said stationary terminal plate, and said movable terminal plate is deformable so as to electrically contact said stationary terminal plate when said back lid is closed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The lid latch device according to claim 20, which further comprises: a pressure lever arranged between said movable terminal plate and said engaging portion of said back lid is in said closed position, said pressure lever pressing said movable terminal plate such that said movable terminal plate deforms and electrically contacts said stationary terminal plate. ### Claim 22 A lid latch device adapted to be used for a back lid openable to a camera, said device comprising: latch means for latching said back lid in a closed position; release means for releasing said latch means upon movement of said release means from a resting position to an operating position; urging means for forcing said release means in the direction of said resting position, during said movement of said release means from said resting position to said operating position; and switch means for switching a level of an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, said switch means being actuated directly by said back lid only when said back lid is moved to said closed position and latched by said latch means. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The lid latch device according to claim 22, wherein said back lid includes an engaging portion, said latch means includes a latch member movable between a latched position and a released position, said latch member having a hook portion which engages said engaging portion, and said switch means is switched by said engaging portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The lid latch device according to claim 23, wherein said release means includes an open button which is operated manually and which is formed on said latch member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The lid latch device according to claim 24, wherein said engaging portion and said hook portion are disengaged when said open button is moved from said resting position to said operating position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The lid latch device according to claim 22, wherein said camera includes an auto-loading mechanism, said auto-loading mechanism being initiated when a level of said signal output by said switch means is said second predetermined level. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The lid latch device according to claim 23, wherein said switch means is provided on said latch member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The lid latch device according to claim 23, wherein said switch means includes a stationary terminal plate attached to said latch member and a movable terminal plate arranged to be electrically insulated from said stationary terminal plate, and said movable terminal plate is deformable so as to electrically contact said stationary terminal plate when said back lid is closed. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The lid latch device according to claim 28, which further comprises: a pressure lever arranged between said movable terminal plate and said engaging portion of said back lid when said back lid is in said closed position, said pressure lever pressing said movable terminal plate such that said movable terminal plate deforms and electrically contacts said stationary terminal plate. ### Claim 30 A detection mechanism for detecting a closing of a back lid of a camera, said camera including latch means for latching said back lid in a closed position; and release means for releasing said latch means, said back lid being unlatched from said closed position when said latch means is released, said mechanism comprising: an engaging portion provided to said back lid, said latch means including a hook portion for engaging said engaging portion thereby latching said back lid in the closed position; and switch means for switching an output signal from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, said switch means being actuated directly by said engaging member of the back lid only when said back lid is moved to said closed position and latched by said latch means. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The detection mechanism according to claim 30, wherein said latch means includes a latch member movable between a latched position and a released position, said hook portion is provided to said latch member. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The detection mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said release means includes an open button which is operated manually and which is formed on said latch member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The detection mechanism according to claim 32, wherein said engaging portion and said hook portion are disengaged when said open button is moved from a resting position to an operating position. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The detection mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said latch means further includes urging means for forcing said latch member from said released position to said latched position. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The detection mechanism according to claim 34, wherein said release means includes an open button which is formed on said latch member and is manually movable from a resting position to an operating position against the force of said urging means. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The detection mechanism according to claim 30, wherein said camera includes an auto-loading mechanism, said auto-loading mechanism being initiated when a level of said signal output by said switch means is said second predetermined level. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The detection mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said switch means is provided on said latch member. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The detection mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said switch means includes a stationary terminal plate attached to said latch member and a movable terminal plate arranged to be electrically insulated from said stationary terminal plate, and said movable terminal plate is deformable so as to electrically contact said stationary terminal plate when said back lid is closed. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The detection mechanism according to claim 38, which further comprises: a pressure lever arranged between said movable terminal plate and said engaging portion of said back lid when said back lid is in said closed position, said pressure lever pressing said movable terminal plate such that said movable terminal plate deforms and electrically contacts said stationary terminal plate.