U.S. patent number 3,820,132 [Application Number 05/359,847] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-25 for exposure setting device in photographic apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to PEN PENTACON DRESDEN Kamera-und Kinowerke. Invention is credited to Fritz Lindner.
United States Patent |
3,820,132 |
Lindner |
June 25, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
EXPOSURE SETTING DEVICE IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Abstract
The device for setting exposures in photographic apparatus is
provided with a light indicator by which the set exposure factor
combination is indicated as corresponding to under-exposure, over
exposure or the correct exposure. The indicator is provided with a
luminous surface the light-dark egee of which is displaceable in
dependence upon the brightness of the subject and the exposure
factor combination set. The light-dark edge can be aligned from
opposite directions with a linear or punctiform fixed mark which is
arranged directly adjacent the luminous surface and along the range
of movement of the light-dark edge.
Inventors: |
Lindner; Fritz (Diedlung,
DT) |
Assignee: |
PEN PENTACON DRESDEN Kamera-und
Kinowerke (Dresden, DT)
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Family
ID: |
26829293 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/359,847 |
Filed: |
May 14, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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131259 |
Apr 5, 1971 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 11, 1970 [DT] |
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WP 57a/151126 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
396/287 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J
1/44 (20130101); G03B 17/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01J
1/44 (20060101); G03B 17/20 (20060101); G03b
007/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;95/1R,1C,1CE ;116/124.4
;340/366R ;334/32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"Radio Set," George H. Waltz, Jr., Poluarl Science Monthly, Sept.,
1933 pp. 56-57..
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Primary Examiner: Matthews; Samuel S.
Assistant Examiner: Adams, Jr.; Russell E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Drucker; William Anthony
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application, Ser. No. 131,259 filed Apr.
5, 1971, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. An exposure setting device including a light sensitive detector
influenced by prevailing light conditions, a control element
connected in circuit with the light sensitive detector which
control element is influenced by presetable exposure factors, an
amplifier having an input connected with the light sensitive
detector, an electro-luminescent diode having a control electrode
connected with an output of the amplifier which electroluminescent
diode has a display surface progressively illuminatable in
dependance on the signal supplied to its control electrode to
provide a displaceable illuminated area boundary, and a fixed index
mark disposed adjacent the display wherein the mark is formed when
the exposure setting device is connected with a source of suitable
supply potential the position of the illuminated area boundary is
influenced by the prevailing light conditions and the exposure
factor combination and its position relative to the fixed index
mark distinguishes between correct exposure, over exposure and
under exposure setting.
2. An exposure setting device according to claim 1, wherein the
fixed index mark comprises a slit illuminated by an auxilliary
source of light.
3. In a photographic camera having a viewfinder provided with a
mask defining the picture area, the provision of an exposure
setting device according to claim 1 wherein the fixed index mark is
formed by an opening in the mask which opening is illuminated by
light emanating from the subject to be photographed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for exposure-setting in
photographic appliances, by means of a light indicator.
In known apparatus of this kind, two glow or incandescent lamps are
used which are regulable in their illumination behaviour. The
criterion of correct exposure-setting is either the lighting up of
both lamps together or the burning of both lamps with equal
brightness. In the case of deviation from the correct
exposure-setting either only the one or the other lamp burns or the
two have different brightnesses.
Glow lamps possess different ignition and extinguishing voltages so
that exact exposure-settings with these light indicators are not
possible. Moreover the voltage necessary for the glow lamps, and
thus the space requirements necessary for the voltage source, are
too high. The accuracy of the exposure-setting with brightness
balancing of two lamps is dependent upon the subjective
distinguishing capacity of the operator.
It is the purpose of the invention to simplify the exposure-setting
apparatus both in its construction and in its handling.
The problem of the invention consists in providing an apparatus for
exposure-setting with a light indicator which is minimal in cost
and guarantees a hysteresis-free continuous setting of the correct
exposure which is free from subjective errors and always indicates
the degree of a set under-exposure or over-exposure and, without
additional components, the direction of rotation of the setting
members necessary for the purpose of correct exposure-setting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention this problem is solved in that a
luminous surface is used the light-dark edge of which is
displaceable in dependence upon the respective object brightness
and the diaphragm stop, exposure time and film sensitivity set in
each case and can be aligned from opposite directions to a linear
or punctiform fixed mark which is arranged adjoining the luminous
surface and along the region of movement of the light-dark edge.
The luminous surface is formed by an illuminating diode into the
control electrode of which a variable current capable of displacing
the light-dark edge of the illuminating diode is fed through an
amplifier which is controllable by the object brightness and the
exposure-setting members. The luminous surface can also be formed
by a gap illuminated by means of an unregulated incandescent lamp,
while over the one half of the incandescent lamp there is arranged
an electromagnetically movable mask generating a defined light-dark
edge. The fixed mark adjoining the variable luminous area can
formed by a cut-away portion illuminated by the object brightness,
of the framing mask in the view-finder of a photographic camera.
The fixed mark can however also be formed by a gap illuminated by
an unregulated auxiliary light source, upon the nondisplaceable
light-dark edge of which the light-dark edge of the variable
luminous surface can be aligned.
Thus a simple and exactly obtainable alignment of edges serves as
criterion for correct exposure-setting. The magnitude of the
deviation of the displaceable light-dark edge from the fixed mark
always indicates the degree of incorrectness of exposure and the
direction of the deviation indicates the necessary direction of
rotation of the setting members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter by
reference to illustrated examples of embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram for exposure-setting with
illuminating diode,
FIG. 2 shows a lateral elevation of a controllable illuminating
diode,
FIG. 3 shows a cut-away framing maks with regulable luminous
surface,
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the light balance with different
exposure-settings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
According to FIG. 1, in series after a voltage divider formed from
a photoconductive cell 1 and a variable resistor 2 there is
connected an amplifier 3 which feeds a current of variable
magnitude into an illuminating diode 7 known per se having three
electrodes 4, 5 and 6 (see FIG. 3) when the apparatus is connected
through a switch 8 to a current source 9. 10 designates an
unregulated incandescent lamp which can serve for the illumination
of a gap 11 forming the fixed mark (see FIG. 4). According to FIG.
5 an unregulated incandescent lamp 12 is used which illuminates two
gaps 13, 14 adjoining one another (FIG. 6) and over one half of
which a rotatable mask 15 is arranged. The latter is coupled with a
spring loaded rotating magnet 16 which is controlled by an
amplifier 17 while a photoconductive cell 18 and a potentiometer 19
are connected into the input of the amplifier. 20 designates a
diaphragm, for example the picture-taking lens diaphragm. According
to FIG. 3 a framing mask 21 fitted in the viewfinder of a
photographic camera is provided with a cut-away portion 22 the
point of which adjoins the variable luminous surface of the
illuminating diode 7. The light balance according to FIG. 4
consists of two luminous surfaces adjoining one another, of which
the one can be formed by the illuminating diode 7 and the other by
the gap 11 illuminated by means of the incandescent lamp 10 in
constant length. The two luminous surfaces can however also be
formed by the gaps 13, 14 illuminated by the incandescent lamp 12,
the gap 14 being darkenable more or less by the maks 15. 23 and 24
designate the reference edges of the gaps 11 and 13 respectively
and 25 and 26 designate the light-dark edges of the illuminating
diode 7 and of the variable illuminating gap 14 respectively.
When the exposure-setting apparatus is used in a photographic
camera the following manner of operation occurs:
When the variable resistor 2 coupled with the time and film
sensitivity setting elements of the camera and lens diaphragm 20
are in a position which corresponds to correct exposure, the
amplifier 3 feeds into the control electrode 6 of the illuminating
diode 7 a current by reason of which its light-dark edge 25 forms
one line with the point of the cut-away portion 22 or with the
light-dark edge 23 of the illuminating gap 11. If now the object
brightness and thus the value of the photoconductive cell 1 should
vary, by reason of the varied control current the illuminating
surface of the illuminating diode 7 will reduce or enlarge. The
light-dark edge 25 thus shifts to left or right in relation to the
point of the cut-away portion 22 or to the reference edge 23, and
thus unambiguously indicates a set under-exposure or over-exposure.
Since for the purpose of correct exposure-setting the light-dark
edge 25 must always be returned to the cut-away portion 22 or the
edge 23, the direction of the deviation from the ideal position at
the same time determines the necessary direction of movement of the
lens diaphragm 20 or of the time-setting member of the camera. In
the apparatus according to FIG. 5, in dependence upon the
respective values of the photoconductive cell 18 and of the
potentiometer 19 coupled with the time-setting member the rotating
magnet 16 is rotated more or less and thus so also is the mask 15.
In this way the gap illuminated by the lamp 12 is more or less
darkened, that is to say the light-dark edge 26 travels in the
direction of the longitudinal extent of the gap 14. Here again a
correct exposure is set when the edges 24 and 26 form one line with
one another.
The apparatus according to the invention, although described above
in connection with a photographic camera, is of course also usable
in hand exposure meters.
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