JPS589132A - Electronic flash device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an electronic flash device which is widely suitable for cameras of various types, by installing an auxiliary rack suitable for a control system and a rack contact constitution of a camera body, to the electronic flash device, and using it. CONSTITUTION:In accordance with the contact constituion of a rack 3 of a camera body 2 of various types, each contact constitution of mounting beses 8-1, 8-2 and 8-3 of auxiliary rack 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3 is provided, and on each auxiliary rack, an electric circuit suitable for each type is provided. On the auxiliary rack, rack parts 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3 fitted into a mounting part 5 of a flash device body 1 are provided, and when the auxiliary rack serving as an adaptor, and the flash device main body are used as one body, an electronic flash device suitable for various systems is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic flash device that can be applied to cameras each having an automatic switching mechanism to various flash photography modes.

In recent years, electronic flash devices used as light sources for flash photography have become smaller and lighter, and as shown in FIG.
The so-called Kuriragon type, which is used by being attached to a so-called hot shade with one touch, has become widely used.

On the other hand, the camera body 2 is AE (Automatic I).
With the advancement of Cxposars), many cameras have appeared that perform automatic exposure photography by controlling the aperture value or shutter speed.

However, even if the camera is equipped with this flexible E mechanism, when taking flash photography using the electronic flash device 1,
In particular, if the camera body 2 is of the focal plane type, it is necessary to cause the bevel device 1 to emit a flash in synchronization with the timing when the focal plane and membrane are fully opened. It is necessary to switch from AID mode to flash photography mode. Switching of the flash photography (IP) mode is generally performed by manually setting the shutter speed to a predetermined value.

In recent years, there has been an attempt to automatically control this mode switching, and each company has developed a dedicated electronic flash device to perform the above control integrally with the camera body. ing. For this reason, looking at the contact structure of the hot shade 3, for example, as illustrated in Figures 2 (&) to (d), the negative terminal 3 is made by bending the ring part into a "U" shape.
Although the structure of the synchro contact terminal 3b provided at the center via the insulating part is the same, the control signal terminal 3c
The location of is determined differently. Furthermore, not only are the positions of the control signal terminals 3c different, but also the formats of signals sent and received via the terminals 3c and the switching detection methods are also different, so there is little compatibility between them.

Therefore, if the electronic flash device 1 and the camera body 2 are connected incorrectly, there is a risk that one of them may malfunction. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to be compatible with cameras having various types of shooting mode switching control mechanisms, and to be able to control the camera body when the flash is ready to emit light. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic flash device that can provide appropriate photographic mode switching information and has a wide range of compatibility.

The outline of the electronic flash device according to the present invention is that the main body of the electronic flash device performs its functions by itself, and also uses an auxiliary mount as an adaptor, which is provided to correspond to camera bodies with different control methods. The above object is effectively achieved by generating photographing mode switching information that is compatible with the control method of the camera body and providing it to the camera body.

FIG. 3 shows the concept, and the electronic flash device according to the present invention includes an electronic flash device main body 1 and a plurality of auxiliary devices each having an electric circuit and a contact structure respectively adapted to the camera main body of various control methods. Frame 1j-1r 6-2 e 6-
5 K and p are constructed・These auxiliary stands'-1, 6-
2, -s are the mounting parts 11fc and mount parts 7, which are the legs of the main body 1 of the flash device. 7. -1-2-3, and on the opposite side thereof, a stand 8, . The circle with 8 is also -1'-2-5. And these installations are done using the base 8-4゜'-2,
'-! The configuration of each contact point of s is shown in FIG. 2 (b) to (d) above.
As shown in example C, each contact is electrically connected accurately in correspondence with the contact configuration of the mount 1 of the camera body 2 of various types. Also, pedestal section 7-1 # 1-x
, 1-s has a contact configuration in which the electronic flash device main body 1 is attached in nine ways corresponding to the part 5, and the auxiliary mount 1j-t a.
The electric circuit incorporated in If-2, 6-5 obtains the operating voltage of the flash device main body 1 detected through the contacts of the above-mentioned mounting section 5, and performs control compatible with the control method of the camera main body 2. Signals are applied to the camera body 2 from the contacts a-1, g-, g-, and O of the mount 3 via the contacts of the mount 3. Upon receiving this control signal, the camera body 2 detects the completion of charging of the flash device body 1, that is, the completion of flash emission preparation, and performs control such as switching the photographing mode to the flash photographing mode.

Next, an embodiment of the inventive device will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the apparatus, in which reference numeral 1 indicates the main body of the electronic flash apparatus, and numeral 6 indicates an auxiliary pedestal mounted on the main body 1 of the apparatus as an adagetor.

The electronic flash device main body 1 shown here includes a light emitting unit 1 containing an X-flash lamp, a battery compartment containing a battery, and a power source containing an electronic circuit for driving the above-mentioned flashlight to emit light. The light emitting part 1a
is rotatably provided with respect to the power supply unit 1bK so that it can also be used for so-called parody photography.

Therefore, the mounting part 5 provided at the lower part of the housing of the power supply part 1b has a groove 51 that fits into the mount 3 of the camera body 2 on the side.
A ground contact layer 5b is embedded in the side thereof, and a trigger contact terminal 5c is provided in the bottom thereof. Each of these contact terminals is connected to the ground contact layer (
The negative terminal) s& and the synchro contact terminal JbK are brought into contact with each other and electrically connected.

On the other hand, the pedestal section 1 of the auxiliary pedestal 6 is provided with contact terminals having the same contact configuration as the standard pedestal 3 described above, as shown in FIG. 1, these contacts are electrically connected to each other. Then, bend both sides of the metal plate into a U-shape and use it as the negative terminal 1a, and connect the terminal II & area 1k to the center of the metal plate.
A first relay terminal 7e (corresponding to a synchro contact terminal) which is electrically separated from the first relay terminal 7e (corresponding to a synchro contact terminal) is provided, thereby forming a pedestal section 1 having an optical contact structure.

The mounting portion 8 of the auxiliary mount σ is provided with contacts corresponding to the control method and contact structure of the camera body 2, as shown in its planar configuration in FIG. In this installation, the part 80 contact is connected to the negative terminal 8a1 on the side.
A second relay terminal sb (corresponding to the trigger contact terminal) is located in the center of the terminal, and at a position electrically separated from these terminals,
In addition, the control signal terminal 8C is arranged at a position corresponding to the specifications of the mount 3 of the camera body 2.

It should be noted here that the pedestal section 1 of the auxiliary pedestal 6 is provided with a protrusion 9, and the flash device body 1 is provided with a recess 10 that faces the protrusion 9 when the auxiliary pedestal 6 is attached. 0 This protrusion 9 only allows the attachment of the specified flash device main body 1 to the auxiliary pedestal 6 69, and does not allow the installation of other flash device main bodies that are not provided with the recess 10, that is, the electrical connection between the contacts. The auxiliary pedestal 6 is prevented from being attached to other flash device bodies for which connection is not permitted by the engagement between the protrusion 9 and the device body. These protrusions 9 and recesses 10 mechanically prevent attachment of the auxiliary stand σ and the flash device main body 1 that are not compatible, thereby preventing accidents between the two due to incorrect attachment. Ru. In addition, this simply mechanically prevents incorrect use of the secondary device.

As shown in FIG. 7 (1), a structure to prevent the flash device main body 1 and the auxiliary pedestal 6 from being incorrectly attached is as shown in FIG. 7 (1).
The pedestal part 1 of the auxiliary pedestal has a deep groove shape with cheeks,
A notch 5d may be provided in the mounting portion 5 of the flash device main body 1 so as to escape from contact with the side wall of the deep groove. By doing this, it is possible to create a structure that allows only the attachment of the dedicated flash device main body 1 and the auxiliary frame 6, as shown in FIGS. A similar effect can be achieved.

By the way, the electrical circuit of such an electronic flash device is as follows.
It is configured as follows.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the internal electric circuit of the electronic flash device body 1, FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of its dimming circuit, and FIG. This shows the configuration of a typical electric circuit.

The configuration diagram of the flash device illustrated here is of a dimming type series control system using a DC power supply drive board.

The electrical circuit of the flash device main body 1 is well known, so to briefly explain it, a DC voltage obtained from a DC power supply 11 via a main switch 12 is connected via a self-excited inverter 1'3. The voltage is boosted and rectified, and the main capacitor J4 is charged with this voltage. The charging voltage of the main capacitor 14 is configured to be applied to both ends of the flasher rung 16 via the SCR 15, and this charging voltage is also supplied to the N-lung circuit 17. The Ne rande of this N-lung circuit 11 lights up and emits light when the charging voltage reaches a high enough voltage for the flash discharge of the flash discharge of the sherang circuit 16. Therefore, this Ne rung circuit 17 is provided with a trigger circuit 18 including an SCB in parallel. is made conductive, and the trigger voltage generated at that time is applied to the trigger electrode of the fludge/erang 16 via the t4 transformer 20. The seven laser range 16 is triggered to emit a flash by the trigger signal, and emits a flash due to the charge in the capacitor 14. Incidentally, the light control circuit 21 is configured as shown in FIG. It is configured as follows. When the integrated charge of this dimming circuit 21 reaches a predetermined level, 5CRJ becomes conductive, and the sCRJ s turns off due to the conduction with
The flash light emission is stopped by series control.

By the way, the feature here is that the lead-out point for the trigger contact terminal is provided at a point via the transistor 2B, which is supplied with voltage from the power source 11 through a separate route. The conduction of this transistor 25 is controlled by the operating voltage of the N-rung circuit 17, that is, the lighting of the N-rung. Therefore, when the N-rung is lit, that is, when the charging of the capacitor 1 is completed, the above-mentioned The above state is monitored from the trigger contact terminal aO terminal voltage.

The electric circuit of the auxiliary pedestal 6 described above is configured to generate a control signal suitable for the control method of the camera body 20 from the voltage generated at the trigger contact terminal a.゛Figure 10(,)(b) shows an example of the configuration of the electric circuit of this auxiliary mount 6, and Figure 10(a) shows an example in which the control system for the camera body is adapted to operate by current extraction. FIG. 5B shows an example of a circuit that is suitable for a control system in which the camera body is operated by voltage supply. In other words, what is shown in Figure 1 (a) is that the negative terminal 7a connected to the ground contact terminal 5b (contact b in Figure 18) of the flash device body 10 is directly connected to the negative terminal 81. death,
It is connected to the terminal 3c of the mount 3 of the camera body 2. Also, trigger contact terminal 5C (blank point a in Figure 8)
The relay terminal 1 of tube 1 is connected to the relay terminal 8b of tube 2 via diode WB2. Also, a resistor 112.31 is connected in series between terminals 7 and 8a. The voltage generated across the terminals is divided and applied to the transistor J4.This transistor 34 has its emitter connected to a terminal 8*Ks and its collector connected to a control signal terminal 8C via a resistor 36. Therefore, 1.The trigger contact terminal 1 (
Terminal 1・)K When a voltage is generated due to the completion of charging of the capacitor 14 of the electronic flash device body 1, the transistor 34
is now conductive. Due to this conduction of the transistor 34, a control circuit (not shown) on the side of the camera body 2 conducts current through the control signal terminal 8.
This causes a control operation to switch the photography mode to the flash photography mode.

On the other hand, in the one shown in Fig. 10, the voltage level of the divided voltage of resistors 32 and 33 is adjusted through a 7zener diode 36, and this is output as a control signal through a control signal terminal 8C. configured. The Zener diode 36 defines a control signal at a voltage level that conforms to the control signal specifications of the camera body 2. Therefore, depending on the control method of the camera body 2, FIG.
) is attached to the electronic flash device main body 1, and is attached to the mount 3 of the camera main body 2, considering this as an integrated electronic flash device. Then, the tribo contact of the device body 1 and the synchronization contact of the camera body 2 are electrically connected, and the shooting mode switching control mechanism of the camera body 2 is notified that the flash device body 1 is fully charged.
In other words, the control signal is sent to the camera body 2 when the flash is ready to fire.
It will be provided in a form that is compatible with the control system.

In the electric circuit of the electronic flash device body 1, in order to generate a voltage at the trigger contact terminal 1 upon completion of charging, a voltage is generated at the trigger contact terminal 1 through a transistor 25 controlled by a Ne rung circuit 17, as shown in FIG. The voltage may be taken out from the inverter circuit 13, or the operating voltage of the N-lung may be directly led as shown in FIG. In addition, the electronic flash device main body 1 is controlled in parallel (/4
Of course, it may be one that adopts a dimming method based on Inos control), or it may be one that does not have such a dimming function.

As described above, this electronic flash device includes the electronic flash device main body 1, the auxiliary mount C-□, 6. .

Consisting of σ ~, auxiliary frame σ-1+ 6-2 F g-
5 to 3 are attached to the camera body with a different control method, and the mount 3
It is adapted to each contact configuration. In addition, each of the auxiliary mounts '-1''-2''S to ridges has a pedestal structure that can only be attached to the electronic flash device main body 1, so that it may not be used with other electronic flash devices that incorporate different electronic circuits. Mounting coupling is now prevented.

Therefore, the electronic flash device main body 1 functions as an independent electronic flash device itself, and can be used by being directly attached to the mount 3 of the camera main body 2, and can also be used on the camera main body 20 to be used.
Auxiliary stand corresponding to control method #-1+ 6-2 + 6
-H~ is used in combination, and this alternatively selected auxiliary stand σ is attached to the mounting section 5 to integrally satisfy other specifications and function as a high quality electronic flash device. However, in this case, the auxiliary frame f obtains the charging completion signal detected via the trigger contact terminal 5c of the flash device main body 1, generates a control signal to be applied to the camera main body 2, and generates a control signal to be applied to the control signal terminal. 8@
This is then supplied to the camera body 2 via. Therefore, in the camera body 2, by obtaining this control signal, it is possible to automatically switch from automatic exposure photography mode to flash photography mode, for example. Furthermore, at this time, since the auxiliary pedestal 6 having a contact structure compatible with the pedestal 3 of the camera body 2 is used, it goes without saying that electrical signals can be properly transmitted and received between the two.

Further, according to the electric circuit configuration of the auxiliary frame C shown in FIG. Since it is electrically routed, an inadvertent voltage signal generated on the camera body 2 side flows into the electronic flash device main body II@, thereby preventing an unexpected accident such as causing a failure of the flash device main body 1. be prevented by. Moreover, as shown in Figure 10(b), the Zener diode 1p
3# generates a control signal whose voltage level is limited (adjusted), and this K prevents malfunctions such as applying unwanted voltage to the control circuit of the power camera body 1 and causing failure. Prevented.

However, when using the electronic flash device main body 1 alone,
It is possible to synchronize the flash light emission with the shirt release of the camera body 1 by only connecting the shutter and contacts, and when the auxiliary mount 6 is also used, the control signal suitable for the control method ( When the flash device main body 1 is ready to emit a flash, it is given to the camera main body 2, and after the shooting mode of the differential main body 2 is changed, it is sent to the camera body 2 through the synchro contact point.
It becomes possible to emit flash light in synchronization with the Raylies. Therefore, by selectively using the auxiliary pedestal 6 according to the type 10 camera body to be used, the operability can be simplified, and when the auxiliary pedestal d is not required, the electronic flash device main body can be used. 1 can be used alone, allowing for a wide range of uses.

Further, as mentioned above, since incorrect use of the auxiliary frame 6 can be prevented by the projections 9, etc., breakdowns and accidents due to incorrect usage can be effectively prevented.

Note that the present invention is not limited only to the above embodiments. For example, when installing the auxiliary frame 6, the contact configuration at the part 81c,
In other words, the arrangement position of the control signal terminal 8c may be determined to be suitable for a device other than that illustrated in FIG. There are different types of camera bodies equipped with mounts 3 that have control terminals for different functions in the same position, but in this case, for example, if you ignore the control signal terminal for TTL automatic light control, Its misuse can be prevented.

That is, if only the photographing mode switching control signal is generated and applied to the camera body 2 when the flash device body 1 is ready to emit a flash, the camera body 1 with a control system compatible with this signal can be generated.
The number of models can be increased. Further, the structure of the auxiliary stand σ and the structure for preventing connection with an electronic flash device having a different electric circuit other than the tab shim flash device main body 1 can also be modified in various ways. It goes without saying that the electric circuits of the flash device main body 1 and the auxiliary pedestal 6 can be modified in any way without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As explained above, the present invention includes an electronic flash device main body equipped with a flash tube and a power supply section, and a trigger signal terminal provided in the power supply section of the electronic flash device main body that is connected to a synchronization contact terminal of the camera main body. an auxiliary pedestal comprising a trigger f signal transmission circuit and a control signal circuit that generates a photoelectric completion signal compatible with the control method of the camera body from the voltage detected from the trigger signal terminal and supplies the signal to the camera body as a control signal; Here, it is possible to provide an electronic flash device that can be adapted to be used with a camera equipped with a photographing mode switching control mechanism of various types.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing how the electronic flash device is attached to the camera body, Figures 2 (a) to (d) are diagrams illustrating various different contact configurations of the mount of the camera body, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing how the electronic flash device is attached to the camera body. A diagram showing an overview of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention,
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the auxiliary pedestal, Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the contact configuration of the auxiliary pedestal attachment section, and Fig. 7 (,) to (,) show other structural examples of the auxiliary pedestal and their functions. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of an electric circuit of an electronic flash device, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a dimming circuit □ in the electric circuit shown in FIG.
10(a) and 12(b) are configuration diagrams showing different examples of the electric circuit of the auxiliary pedestal, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams each showing another example of the configuration of the electric circuit of the electronic flash device main body. . 1... Electronic flash device body, 2... Camera body, 3...
... Frame, 5... Mounting part, 6... Auxiliary frame, 1.
... Frame part, 8... Mounting part, 9... Protrusion, 10-
... recess, 11... power supply, I J-... inverter circuit, 14... capacitor f, 15... 5CR1Jg.
...7 Ratssieran! , 17...N rung circuit, 1
8...8CR, 21...Dimmer circuit, 24...5C
R1Jl...Diode, sx, ss, ss...Resistor, 34...Transistor 136...Zener diode.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) The electronic flash device main body is provided with a mounting section that fits into the mount having at least a synchronization contact terminal of the camera body, and the above-mentioned mounting of the electronic flash device main body is provided in the section and when it is attached to the mount. A trigger terminal connected to the synchronization contact terminal, a mount part that is fitted to the mounting part of the electronic flash device main body, and a mount part that is fitted and mounted to the mount of the camera main body. an auxiliary pedestal, a first relay terminal provided on the pedestal portion of the auxiliary pedestal and to which the bird is connected to the terminal when attached to the electronic flash device main body; A second relay terminal connected to the synchronization contact terminal when attached to the camera body and the auxiliary pedestal are provided on the base, and when attached to the camera body, the attachment of the camera body is provided on the part. A signal terminal connected to a control terminal, and an operating state signal of the electronic flash device main body built in the auxiliary frame and electrically connecting the first and second relay terminals and obtained from the first relay terminal. An electronic flash device comprising: an electric circuit that generates a control signal from the signal layer and applies it to the signal layer. (2) The pedestal part of the auxiliary pedestal has a structure that allows it to be fitted only to the specified mounting part of the electronic flash device main body, and the mounting part of the electronic flash device main body is fitted only to the pedestal part of the auxiliary pedestal and The electronic flash device according to claim 1, which has a structure that can be fitted to a frame of a camera body. (3) The pedestal part of the auxiliary pedestal has a protrusion that fits into a recess defined by the specified electronic flash device main body IpS, and this protrusion makes it possible to attach an electronic flash device main body other than the above-determined electronic flash device main body. The electronic flash device according to claim 2, which is mechanically blocked.