U.S. patent number 3,581,637 [Application Number 04/767,348] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-01 for device for igniting percussion-ignitable flash lamps.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Eastman Kodak Company. Invention is credited to Donald M. Harvey.
United States Patent |
3,581,637 |
Harvey |
June 1, 1971 |
DEVICE FOR IGNITING PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE FLASH LAMPS
Abstract
A device is provided for igniting a percussion-ignitable
flashlamp in use with photographic apparatus such as a camera, the
device comprising a socket to receive a flash unit including a
percussion-ignitable lamp, an actuating member movable into contact
with such a unit received in the socket to ignite the lamp, and
electromagnetic means, such as a solenoid, for effecting movement
of the actuating member into contact with the unit, so that the
lamp is ignited in response to energization of the electromagnetic
means. The device may be connected to the photographic apparatus or
it may be located remotely from the apparatus and used as a slave
flash device. The electromagnetic means may be energized by
electrical energy received through electrical conductors connected
to the apparatus or by signal energy, such as light, radio
frequency energy, or a sonic signal, transmitted from the
apparatus. The electromagnetic means may move the actuating member
directly into contact with the flash unit or it may release the
actuating member for movement by a spring or other biasing means
into contact with the unit. The actuating member may percussively
contact the lamp itself or it may contact a striking member on the
received flash unit to move the striking member into percussive
contact with the lamp. The socket of the device may be adapted to
receive a multilamp flash unit having a plurality of
percussion-ignitable flash lamps, and means may be provided in the
device for rotating such a socket in response to energization of
the electromagnetic means. The socket may conveniently be adapted
to receive alternatively a percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit and
an electrically ignitable flashlamp unit, in which case a pair of
electrical contacts connected electrically in parallel with the
electromagnetic means and connectable to an electrically ignitable
flashlamp of a unit received in the socket may be provided to
effect ignition of an electrically ignitable lamp in response to
energization of the electromagnetic means.
Inventors: |
Harvey; Donald M. (Webster,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Eastman Kodak Company
(Rochester, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25079202 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/767,348 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/7; 431/359;
362/4; 396/191; 362/276; 396/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B
15/0494 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03B
15/04 (20060101); G03B 15/03 (20060101); G03b
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;95/11,11.5 ;431/92,93
;240/1.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Matthews; Samuel S.
Assistant Examiner: Greiner; Robert P.
Claims
I claim:
1. An adapter to enable the use of a first type of flash unit
having at lest one lamp ignitable by the application of mechanical
force to the unit with a photographic apparatus having a socket and
electrical circuit for receiving and actuating a second type of
flashlamp unit having at least one lamp ignitable electrically,
said adapter including:
means for receiving a flash unit of the first type;
means movable from a first position to a second position for
applying a mechanical force to a unit of the first type received by
said receiving means;
support means receivable by said socket of said photographic
apparatus for removably attaching said adapter to said photographic
apparatus;
electromagnetic means energizeable to move said force applying
means from said first position to said second position; and
circuit means for connecting said electromagnetic means into the
electrical circuit of said photographic apparatus when said support
means is received by said socket.
2. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means is
a rotatable socket adapted to receive a multilamp flash unit having
a plurality of lamps ignitable by striking, and further comprising
means responsive to said electromagnetic means for rotating said
socket to sequentially position said lamps at a lamp firing
position in response to energization of said electromagnetic
means.
3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotating means
includes:
a. biasing means for urging said socket rotatively from a
lamp-firing position to a succeeding lamp-firing position; and
b. retaining means for releasably retaining said socket in a
lamp-firing position in opposition to said biasing means, said
retaining means being movable by said electromagnetic means, in
response to energization of said electromagnetic means, to release
said socket and thereby permit said socket to be rotated by said
biasing means to a succeeding lamp-firing position.
4. For use with flashlamp units of a first type having at least one
lamp actuatable by the application of a mechanical force to the
unit, and with flashlamp units of a second type having at least one
lamp actuatable by the application of electrical energy to the
unit, a photographic apparatus comprising;
means for interchangeably receiving both types of such flashlamp
units;
actuating means movable from a first position to a second position
to contact and apply an actuating mechanical force to a received
unit;
a pair of electrical contacts positioned with respect to said
receiving means to contact electrically a received unit having a
lamp ignitable electrically;
electrical circuit means including electromagnetic means
energizeable for moving said actuating means from its first
position to its second position; and
means connecting said electrical contacts in parallel with said
electromagnetic means whereby energization of said circuit is
effective to fire either an electrical flashlamp or a flashlamp
ignitable by the application of force depending upon which type of
unit is received in said receiving means.
5. Photographic apparatus comprising:
means for interchangeably receiving a flashlamp unit of the type
having lamps ignitable electrically and a flashlamp unit ignitable
by the application of mechanical force; and
an electrically energizeable circuit including:
means for applying an actuating mechanical force to a unit of said
second type received in said receiving means in response to
energization of said circuit; and
means for applying actuating electrical energy to a unit of said
first type received in said receiving means in response to
energization of said circuit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Reference is made to the following commonly assigned, copending
U.S. Pat. applications:
Ser. No. 765,930, entitled MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed Oct. 8, 1968
in the name of David E. Beach;
Ser. No. 765,931, entitled SOCKET FOR MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed
Oct. 8, 1968 in the name of David E. Beach; and Ser. No. 766,739,
entitled APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING FIRING OF PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE
FLASH LAMPS AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR, filed Oct. 11, 1968
in the name of William T. Hochreiter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to photographic apparatus, and
particularly to a device for igniting a percussion-ignitable
flashlamp in use with photographic apparatus such as a camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has long been known in the prior art to ignite a photoflash
device by percussive means, as illustrated, for example, in U.s.
Pat. No. 942,941, issued in 1909 to J. A. Smith, relating to the
firing of photographic flash powders.
Of more recent vintage is a self-contained, percussion-ignitable
flashlamp unit having a lamp envelope enclosing a combustible
material and a combustion-supporting gas, with a metal tube
extending from the bottom of the lamp envelope and containing a
primer charge that is ignitable in response to percussive contact
with the tube by a mechanically actuated striking member or hammer
built into photographic apparatus adapted to receive such a unit. A
flashlamp unit of this kind is described in commonly assigned,
copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 765,930, entitled
MULTILAMP FLASH UNIT, filed Oct. 8, 1968 in the name of David E.
Beach.
Also known in the art is a slave-type of flash device, located
remotely from an associated photographic apparatus, utilizing an
electrically ignitable flashlamp that is energizable by energy
received from the associated apparatus. Such a unit may receive its
energy in the form of electrical energy received through
electricity conducting wires connecting the unit to the associated
apparatus, as is well known, or in the form of radio frequency
energy received from a transmitter on the associated apparatus, as
illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,056, issued in
1965 to N. Gold et al., or in the form of light energy received
from a master flash unit on the associated apparatus, as
illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,086, issued in
1967 to O. T. Casebeer et al.
None of the prior art, however, teaches or suggests a way of
effecting ignition of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit of the
kind described other than by direct mechanical actuation of the
striking member or hammer so as to permit ready use of a
percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit in a slave-type of device that
may be located remotely from the associated apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention was to provide a
device for readily igniting a percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit
that may be located remotely from and/or unconnected to
photographic apparatus with which such a device may be used.
Another object was to provide such a device that is suitable for
receiving and igniting a multilamp flash unit having a plurality of
percussion-ignitable flashlamps therein.
A further object of this invention was to provide such a device
that is equally suitable for receiving and igniting either a
percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit or an electrically ignitable
flashlamp unit.
To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides a
device for effecting ignition of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp
being used with photographic apparatus such as a camera, the device
comprising a socket adapted to receive a flash unit including one
or more percussion-ignitable flash lamps, an actuating member
movable into contact with a flash unit received in the socket to
ignite a percussion-ignitable lamp of the received unit, and
electromagnetic means, such as a solenoid, that is operatively
associated with the actuating member to effect movement of the
actuating member into contact with the received unit in response to
energization of the electromagnetic means.
The electromagnetic means may be energized by electrical energy
received through electrical conductors connecting the device to the
photographic apparatus. Or the electromagnetic means may be
energized by one form or another of signal energy that is
transmitted from the photographic apparatus, received by a sensor
in the device, and then communicated through appropriate circuit
means in the device to the electromagnetic means. With the latter
type of energization, the signal energy may be, for example, in the
form of light emitted by a master flash unit on the photographic
apparatus and received by a photoelectric cell included in the
device, or it may be in the form of radio frequency energy emitted
by a transmitter on the apparatus and received by an antenna
included in the device, or it may be in the form of a sonic signal
emitted by a sonic emitter on the apparatus and received by a sonic
pickup included in the device. Thus, the present invention may be
embodied in a flash device that is connectable to the photographic
apparatus with which it is being used, or the invention may be
embodied in a slave flash device that is locatable remotely from,
without physical connection to, the associated photographic
apparatus.
The socket in either type of device may be adapted to receive,
alternatively, a percussion-ignitable flashlamp unit and an
electrically ignitable flashlamp unit, in which case a pair of
electrical contacts connected electrically in parallel with the
electromagnetic means and connectable to an electrically ignitable
flashlamp of a unit received in the socket are provided to effect
ignition of the connected lamp in response to energization of the
electromagnetic means. The socket in either type of device may also
be adapted to receive a multilamp flash unit having a plurality of
percussion-ignitable flashlamps, in which case means may be
provided in the device for rotating the socket from one lamp-firing
position to another in response to energization of the
electromagnetic means.
The electromagnetic means in either type of device may effect
movement of the actuating member into contact with a flash unit
received in the socket either by directly moving the actuating
member itself or by releasing the actuating member for movement by
a spring or other biasing means. Similarly, the actuating member in
either type of device may ignite a percussion-ignitable lamp of a
received flash unit either by directly moving into percussive
contact with the lamp or by moving into contact with a striking
member on the received flash unit, or with another part of the unit
holding the striking member, so as to cause the striking member to
move into percussive contact with the lamp.
The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more
apparent in the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments
presented below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the
invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adapter that could incorporate
either of the forms of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1a and 1 b, the
adapter having a socket for receiving a multilamp flash unit and a
foot insertable into a shoe atop a photographic apparatus;
FIG. 1 a is a schematic view of one form of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention wherein the electromagnetic
means is connected electrically to synchronizing contacts in a
photographic camera and wherein the electromagnetic means moves the
actuating member directly;
FIG. 1b is a schematic view of another form of the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1 a wherein the electromagnetic means releases
a spring-loaded actuating member;
FIG. 1 c is a fragmentary view of the form of the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1b, showing schematically the actuating member
in operative relationship to a multilamp flash unit;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slave flash device that could
incorporate any of the forms of an alternative embodiment of the
present invention illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and
2c, the device having a socket for receiving a multilamp flash unit
and a sensor to receive signal energy transmitted from a
photographic apparatus;
FIG. 2 a a schematic view of one form of the alternative embodiment
of the present invention wherein a slave flash device includes a
photoelectric cell to receive signal energy in the form o light
transmitted from a master flashlamp on the photographic camera;
FIG. 2 b is a schematic view of another form of alternative
embodiment of the present invention wherein a save flash device
includes an antenna to receive signal energy in the form of radio
frequency energy transmitted from a transmitter on a photographic
camera; and
FIG. 2 c is a schematic view of still another form of the
alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a slave
flash device includes a sonic pickup to receive signal energy in
the form of a sonic signal transmitted from a sonic emitter on a
photographic camera.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Because certain parts of photographic and related apparatus are
well known, the following description is directed in particular to
those elements forming, or cooperating directly with, the present
invention, elements that are not specifically shown or described
herein being understood to be selectable from those known in the
art.
FIG. 1 a of the drawings illustrates, schematically, one form of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which
electromagnetic means such as a solenoid 10 is connected by a pair
of wires 11 to synchronizing contacts 12 in a photographic camera
13. Included in the circuit 14 containing the coil 15 of the
solenoid and the synchronizing contacts is a source of electrical
potential such as a battery 16, as shown. The solenoid 10 is
disposed in an electromagnetically attracting relationship to a
movable actuating member such as hammer 17, the actuating member
being attracted to the solenoid coil upon energization of the coil
by the closing of the synchronizing contacts. The actuating member,
or hammer 17, is shown schematically in the form of a simple,
spring-biased lever pivotally mounted in the device and having, at
the opposite end thereof, a wedge-shaped portion 18 that moves into
percussive contact with the primer element or ignition tube 19 of a
percussion-ignitable flashlamp 20 seated in a suitable socket (not
shown). In operation, the preferred embodiment as illustrated in
FIG. 1 a effects ignition of the percussion-ignitable lamp 20 in
response to the camera's movement of a shutter-release member 21 on
the camera, such movement of the shutter-release member causing
simultaneous release of the camera shutter (not shown) and closing
of synchronizing contacts 12, whereupon solenoid 10 becomes
energized and thereby moves the actuating member or hammer 17 into
percussive contact with the primer element or ignition tube 19 of
the percussion-ignitable flash lamp 20.
FIG. 1 b illustrates, schematically, another form of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, in which the actuating member
30, instead of being moved directly by the solenoid, is moved by a
spring 31 or other biasing means into percussive contact with the
primer element or ignition tube 32 of a percussion-ignitable
flashlamp 33, the solenoid 34 operating, when energized, to move a
retaining member 35 and thereby release the actuating member 30 for
movement by the spring 31 into percussive contact with the
lamp.
FIG. 1 c illustrates, schematically, a portion of the form of the
embodiment of FIG. 1b with the actuating member 30 shown cocked by
retaining member 35 for movement by spring 31 into contact with a
multilamp flash unit 40 containing a plurality of
percussion-ignitable flashlamps such as the type disclosed, for
example, in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser.
No. 765,930, filed Oct. 8, 1968 in the name of David E. Beach.
The forms of the preferred embodiment illustrated schematically in
FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c may be incorporated in an adapter connectable
to a photographic camera, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, or in a
remotely located device connectable to a photographic camera by
means of electrical conductors such as flexible wires. The adapter
50 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a body portion 51, a socket 52 for
receiving a percussion-ignitable multilamp flash unit 56, and a
foot 53 insertable into a shoe 54 atop a photographic camera 55.
Sockets of the type suitable for receiving a percussion-ignitable
multilamp flash unit are described, for example, in commonly
assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application ser. No. 765,931, filed
Oct. 11, 1968 in the name of David E. Beach. Insertion of the foot
into the shoe effects an electrical connection, by suitable
contacts in both members, between a solenoid (not shown) in body
portion 51 and a synchroflash circuit (not shown) in camera 55, as
is well-known in the art. The adapter of FIG. 1 thus provides a
convenient means of adapting a photographic camera having a
synchroflash circuit intended for the ignition of an electrically
ignitable flashlamp to effect the ignition of a
percussion-ignitable flashlamp.
As a possible modification of the adapter illustrated in FIG. 1,
the foot 53 could be replaced by a base similar to the base of a
multilamp flash unit for insertion into a multilamp flash unit
socket on the photographic camera. With such an arrangement, some
means would have to be provided for preventing rotation of the
adapter by the socket rotating mechanism usually preset in such a
camera. Such a means is shown, for example, in commonly assigned,
copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 563,904, filed July 8,
1966 in the name of Manfred Radtke. In addition to serving as an
adapter, such a device as that illustrated in FIG. 1 may serve as
an extender for the purpose of extending the distance between the
picture taking axis of the camera and the photoflash lamp being
used, thereby aiding in preventing the condition known in the
photographic art as "red eye". For an illustration of a flash
extender, reference is made to commonly assigned, copending U.S.
Pat. application Ser. No. 467,278, filed June 28, 1965 in the name
of Lawrence M. Wood.
FIG. 2 illustrates a slave type of flash device incorporating an
alternative embodiment of the present invention. Such a unit may be
responsive to photoflash illumination received from a master flash
unit on an associated photographic camera, as is known for the
purpose of igniting an electrically energizable flashlamp unit
received in the slave device socket, as shown, for example in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,312,086, issued Apr. 4, 1967 in the name of O. T.
Casebeer et al. The slave flash device illustrated in FIG. 2,
however, has been adapted, by incorporation of the present
invention, to receive signal energy, in one form or another, from a
remotely located photographic apparatus to ignite a
percussion-ignitable lamp of a multilamp flash unit on the device.
The slave flash device 60 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a housing
61, a rotatable socket 62 for receiving a multilamp flash unit 63
of the percussion-ignitable type and a sensor 64, which can be
conveniently oriented by rotating the sensor until the arrow 65
thereon points toward a signal emitter on the associated
photographic apparatus.
FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2 c illustrate, schematically, three forms of the
alternative embodiment of the present invention which may be
incorporated in a slave flash device of the type illustrated in
FIG. 2. FIG. 2 a shows, in the left-hand portion thereof, a
photographic camera 70 having a flash unit 71 thereon aimed to emit
flash light L in direction parallel with the picture taking axis O
of the camera. In the right-hand portion of FIG. 2 a is shown,
schematically, a form of the alternative embodiment that is
suitable for use with camera 70. In this form of the embodiment is
a photoelectric cell 72 connected by suitable circuit means 73 to
an electromagnetic means such as solenoid 74. Included circuit
means 73 are electronic means 75 for filtering and amplifying
signal energy received by cell 72 in order to render such signal
energy suitable for energizing solenoid 74. Also included in
circuit means 73 is a source of electrical potential such as
battery 76 connected to the electronic means 75 as shown. The
solenoid 74 includes an electromagnet 77 and a spring-biased
movable member 78 which is electromagnetically attracted to the
electromagnet upon energization of the electromagnet. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2a, the movable member 78 is
pivotally mounted, as at 79, on a fixed portion of the device for
pivotal movement toward and away from the electromagnet 77.
Schematically pictured above the electromagnet is a multilamp flash
unit 80 having a plurality of percussion-ignitable flashlamps 81,
each of which lamps has a primer element or ignition tube 82
depending therefrom as shown, the ignition tube of the lamp that is
in a lamp-firing position being located in the path of movement of
end portion 83 of movable member 78. With this arrangement,
energization of solenoid 74 causes movement of movable member 78
into contact with the ignition tube 82 of a lamp 81 in the unit 80,
thereby effecting percussion ignition of the lamp.
Percussion ignition may result from movement by the movable member
of the solenoid in either of two ways. First, the movable member,
hereinafter referred to as the actuating member, may directly
strike the ignition tube in a percussive fashion, thereby causing
percussion ignition of the lamp. Second, the multilamp flash unit
may have a spring-biased striking member mounted thereon in a
cocked position adjacent to but spaced from each ignition tube, the
striking member, or another part of such a unit holding the
striking member in its cocked position, being in the path of
movement of the actuating member, the actuating member then
contacting either the striking member or the other part of the unit
holding it, as the case may be, to thereby release the striking
member for movement into percussive contact with the ignition tube.
A multilamp flash unit of the type just referred to, having a
biased striking member adjacent to each ignition tube, is disclosed
in commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.
766,739, filed Oct. 11, 1968 in the name of William T.
Hochreiter.
Also, as shown schematically in FIG. 2a, the movable actuating
member 78 may be associated with means 84 for rotating the
multilamp flash unit socket (not shown). The socket rotating means
84 includes a shaft portion 85 coupled to the socket, biasing means
such as spring 86 for rotating the shaft portion, and a plurality
of ratchet teeth 87, corresponding in number to the number of lamps
81 in the multilamp flash unit 80, for stopping socket rotation at
each lamp-firing position of a unit in the socket. For each
lamp-firing position, one of the ratchet teeth 87 is engaged by a
portion 88 of the solenoid actuating member 78, as apparent in FIG.
2a. Movement of the actuating member 78 into contact with the flash
unit 80 simultaneously disengages portion 88 of the actuating
member from the ratchet tooth 87 with which it has been engaged,
thereby permitting spring 86 to rotate the shaft portion 85, and
hence the socket and multilamp flash unit in the socket, to a
succeeding lamp-firing position.
Also shown in FIG. 2a is another feature of the present invention
whereby the device of either embodiment can be used to ignite,
alternatively, a percussion-ignitable flash unit received in the
socket and an electrically ignitable flash unit received in the
socket. Means for igniting a percussion-ignitable flash unit so
received have already been described. The means for igniting an
electrically ignitable flash unit so received (not shown) comprises
a pair of electrical contacts 89 connected electrically in parallel
with the solenoid 74 and connectable to suitable flashlamp contacts
on the received flash unit. With such an arrangement, energization
of the solenoid 74 also effects energization of the electrical
contacts 89, thereby igniting the connected electrically ignitable
flashlamp. Thus the device illustrated in FIG. 2a is operable, upon
receipt of flash illumination from the photoflash camera 70, to
ignite either a percussion-ignitable flash lamp or an electrically
ignitable flashlamp, and may also effect rotation of the flash-unit
socket to a succeeding lamp-firing position. FIG. 2b illustrates,
schematically, another form of the alternative embodiment of the
invention which may be incorporated in a slave flash device of the
type illustrated in FIG. 2. In the left-hand portion of FIG. 2b is
shown a photographic camera 90 having radio-frequency-energy
transmitting means 91 therein. In the right-hand portion of FIG. 2b
is shown, schematically, a form of the alternative embodiment that
is suitable for igniting a percussion-ignitable flashlamp in
response to radio frequency energy R transmitted by camera 90.
Included in this form of the embodiment is an antenna 92 for
receiving the transmitted radio frequency energy. The antenna is
connected to a suitable circuit means 93, similar to circuit means
73 shown in FIG. 2a, for filtering and amplifying the received
signal energy and then communicating the filtered and amplified
energy to an electromagnetic means such as solenoid 94. As in the
FIG. 2a embodiment, the solenoid 94 includes a spring-biased,
movable, actuating member 95 pivotally mounted, as at 96, on a
fixed portion of the device for pivotal movement, upon energization
of electromagnet 97, into contact with a percussion-ignitable flash
unit 98 received in an appropriate socket (not shown). With this
arrangement, transmission of radio frequency energy from camera 90
is effective to ignite a percussion-ignitable flash lamp received
in the device. Although not shown, socket rotating means and
electrical igniting means such as those illustrated in FIG. 2a may
also be incorporated in the device illustrated in FIG. 2b.
FIG. 2c illustrates, schematically, still another form of the
alternative embodiment of the present invention which may be
incorporated in a slave flash device of the type illustrated in
FIG. 2. In the left-hand portion of FIG. 2c is shown a photographic
camera 100 having means 101 for emitting a sonic signal S, and in
the right-hand portion of FIG. 2 c is shown, schematically, a form
of the alternative embodiment that is suitable for receiving,
filtering, amplifying, and communicating the sonic signal to
thereby energize a solenoid 102 to effect ignition of a
percussion-ignitable flash unit 103 received in an appropriate
socket (not shown). The sensor in this instance, which receives the
signal energy emitted by camera 100, is a sonic pickup 104 that is
connected by suitable circuit means 105, similar to circuit means
73 in FIG. 2a, to solenoid 102. The circuit means here, as in the
forms illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and 2b, includes means for filtering
and amplifying the received signal. The solenoid and alternative
ways of effecting percussive contact with an ignition tube of a
received flashlamp unit also are similar to those previously
described with reference to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the different
forms of the two embodiments shown and described herein are not
illustrations of ways in which the present invention may be
utilized to effect ignition of percussion-ignitable flashlamps,
particularly such lamps that are located remotely from photographic
apparatus with which the lamps are to be used.
The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to the illustrated preferred and alternative embodiments
thereof, but it will be understood that variations and
modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *