摘要:
Pulses of radiation are emitted from the camera to the subject, reflected back to the camera, and incident upon two detectors. The successive pulses produced by the two detectors are applied to respective integrators which trip respective threshold circuits when and if their integral signals reach the threshold value. This inherently reduces detector and other noise present in the processing circuitry. A tolerance-range counter ascertains whether or not, after one threshold circuit is tripped, the other becomes tripped within a predetermined time interval.
摘要:
A motion picture camera wherein the diaphragm is adjusted in automatic response to signals from two outputs of a digital comparator which receives a first set of signals during each revolution of the shutter at a frequency varying as a function of changes of shutter speed and of changes of scene brightness. The comparator further receives a set of reference signals from a digital selector circuit during normal operation of the camera or from a binary counter when the camera is set for making exposures with fade-in, fade-out or lap dissolve. The counter forms part of a program circuit.
摘要:
A focussing system of the type which emits radiation from the camera towards the subject, with the radiation reflected from the subject being incident upon a receiving transducer generating an electrical signal from which focus-control information is derived. The emitted radiant-power level is automatically controlled in dependence upon camera-to-subject distance, preferably in dependence upon the power level of the reflected-back radiation incident upon the receiving transducer, even when the focus-control information required for primary system operation is independent of such power level. This makes possible various important improvements, including: automatic lowering of the emitted-power level in close-up contexts, especially where a danger of eye damage might exist; more generally, automatic matching of emitted-power level to the needs of the signal-processing circuitry, permitting signal-processing stages of narrower operative range to be employed on account of the narrower variations in power level of the signal produced by the receiving transducer; and lowered power consumption. Preferably, when a focussing operation is initiated, the emitted power level is initially low or zero and is progressively increased to an automatically selected value without overshoot.
摘要:
First and second photodetector signals, whose relative amplitudes depend upon focus error, are integrated to form respective first and second integral signals whose relative rates of change are dependent upon focus error. Each integral signal is applied to two comparators, one whose threshold level is reached first and the other having a threshold level which would be reached second. When one or the other of the two integral signals reaches its first-reached threshold level, this applies a corresponding signal to the data input of a respective flip-flop, and when this faster-changing integral signal then reaches its second-reached threshold level this clocks both such flip-flops. The time elapsing between the faster-changing integral signal reaching its first-reached and then its second-reached threshold level constitutes a tolerance interval, during which the slower-changing integral signal is given an opportunity to try to reach its respective first-reached threshold level. If the slower-changing integral signal reaches its first-reached threshold level within the tolerance interval, then a corresponding signal is applied to the data input of its associated flip-flop as well before the two flip-flops are clocked, with the result that the states of the two flip-flops are the same as if both integral signals had indentical rates of change of value.
摘要:
An infrared measuring beam is emitted from the camera towards the subject, and reflected back as a tiny light spot projected, by an optics which transversely shifts in dependence upon exposure-objective subject-distance setting, onto one, the other or both of two infrared photodiodes. The signals from the two photodiodes are transmitted in processed form to two output flip-flops through the intermediary of a single, shared signal-processing stage, employing time-division-multiplexed transmission of the two photodiode signals, to assure that the signal processing of the two photodiode output signals be as identical as possible.
摘要:
A photographic still or motion-picture camera has a viewfinder and a manually moved focus adjuster, such as a focussing ring. When the user peers into the viewfinder, there is a visible indication of the direction in which the focus adjuster should be manually moved to reduce the state-of-focus error, for example two curved illuminated errors, one pointing clockwise and the other counterclockwise, only one of which lights up to indicate the direction in which the focussing ring should be manually turned. When the state-of-focus error has been reduced to zero or a minimum, this is likewise indicated, for example because neither curved arrow is illuminated. To control the activation of the indicating elements, use can be made of components of a conventional completely automatic focussing system, but minus the adjusting motor of such system and minus superfluous motor-energization control circuitry. In this way, the user is provided a simple and unequivocal guide when manually focussing, without the cost, complexity, bulkiness and power consumption of a complete automatic focussing system including an adjusting motor and motor-energization control circuitry.
摘要:
A camera includes a viewfinder, an objective and a manually operated focus adjuster. An optical system located in the path of incoming image light splits the incoming image light beam into two component beams projected into respective first and second focal planes. First and second planar arrays of photosensitive elements are located in respective first and second photodetector planes. When the objective is correctly focussed and then defocussed in a first direction, the sharpness of the image on the first array increases and that on the other decreases; if the objective is defocussed in the opposite direction, the opposite occurs. A comparator has two outputs, connected to the elements of the first and second arrays via respective first and second circuit branches. Each circuit branch includes at least one subtractor producing an absolute-value output signal independent of the polarity of the difference between the input signals applied thereto. The subtractor inputs are connected to the outputs of respective elements of the respective one of the two arrays. The comparator output signal controls an indication, visible in the camera viewfinder, informing the user of the direction in which he should manually move the focus adjuster to improve the state of focus.
摘要:
When a trigger lever is depressed, both a focus adjuster ring and a control disk commence to rotate in unison, driven by a spring mechanism. Position-sensing switches receive signals indicating which subject-distance setting the focus adjuster ring should be arrested at, and furthermore are opened and closed by the control disk during movement of the latter. When the focus adjuster ring reaches the required subject distance setting, it is arrested and kept arrested, thereby completing an automatic focussing operation, but the control disk continues to turn on to its end position, at which it causes the shutter mechanism of the camera to open and furthermore the exposure-timing circuit of the camera to initiation a scene-light-dependent exposure-timing operation.
摘要:
A semiconductor switch connected in the motor current path is controlled by a clocked flip-flop having a switch-ON and a switch-OFF state, capable of changing states only in response to a clock pulse. RPM is selected by establishing the initial count on a downwards counter having a carryover output at which a carryover signal appears when zero count is reached. A first higher-frequency pulse train is counted by the counter. A second lower-frequency train of set pulses has a repetition frequency dependent upon motor speed. The leading end of each set pulse starts the counter counting. An unclocked flip-flop responds to the carryover signal by assuming a motor-speed-too-low state. The clocked flip-flop when clocked responds to the state of the unclocked flip-flop. The trailing flank of the set pulse clocks the clocked flip-flop so that the latter can respond to the state of the unclocked flip-flop and slightly thereafter sets the unclocked flip-flop to the motor-speed-too-high state. Thus, at the time when the clocked flip-flop responds to state of the unclocked flip-flop, the latter is in the speed-too-low state only if the carryover signal was produced before the trailing end of the set pulse.
摘要:
A digital circuit is described for controlling functions of a camera wherein the circuit is powered by a potential source which is connected to the circuit through a relay actuated switch. The circuit employs a plurality of D-flip flops to regulate functions such as film transport and opening and closing of the camera shutter as a function of the light intensity of the scene being photographed. A reset signal generator is used to provide stable and reliable control over the starting condition of the flip flops and render the circuit insensitive to voltage transients as may occur from contact bounce effects at the relay actuated switch. The reset signal generator employs an inverter delay chain to provide like reset pulses when such contact bounce occurs. Various control features are described.