US3801890A

US3801890A - Timer device and a camera using said device

Info

Publication number: US3801890A
Application number: US00308780A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Ichiyanagi
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 1971-11-25
Filing date: 1972-11-22
Publication date: 1974-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-02
Also published as: DE2257725C2; JPS4859765A; DE2257725A1

Abstract

A timer device is arranged for electrical connection to equipment to be controlled, such as a movie camera, including a source of potential, such as a battery in operative association with driving means such as an electric motor. The timing device includes a time constant circuit of the RC type in which the capacitor is charged solely from the battery or the like in the equipment. The equipment is of the type having a pair of remote control terminals controlling a supply circuit connecting the battery and the motor. The timer device has a pair of timer terminals arranged for connection to the remote control terminals, and a switching means, such as a transistor, is connected across the timer terminals so that, when the transistor is conductive, the supply circuit connecting the motor to the battery is closed. When a switch is operated, the capacitor means of the time constant circuit is charged, and the capacitor means discharges through the resistor means of the time constant circuit to apply a control current to the base of the transistor during the time required to discharge the capacitor means.

Description

United States Patent Ichiyanagi 5] Apr. 2, 1974 [54] TIMER DEVICE AND A CAMERA USING DEVICE 57 ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Toshikazu Ichiyanagi, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: 'Nov. 22, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 308,780

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 25, 1971 Japan 46-94742 [52] US. Cl. 318/484, 320/1 [51] Int. Cl. H02p 5/16 [58] Field of Search 318/484; 320/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,401 3/1959 Hansburg 318/484 X 3,546,479 12/1970 Lundin et al. 318/443 X 3,707,661 12/1972 King 318/484 Primary Examiner-B. Dobeck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle A timer device is arranged for electrical connection to equipment to be controlled, such as a movie camera, including a source of potential, such as a battery in operative association with driving means such as an electric motor. The timing device includes a time constant circuit of the RC type in which the capacitor is charged solely from the battery or the like in the equipment. The equipment is of the type having a pair of remote control terminals controlling a supply circuit connecting the battery and the motor. The timer device has a pair of timer terminals arranged for connection to the remote control terminals, and a switching means, such as a transistor, is connected across the timer terminals so that, when the transistor is conductive, the supply circuit connecting the motor to the battery is closed. When a switch is operated, the capacitor means of the time constant circuit is charged, and the capacitor means discharges through the resistor means of the time constant circuit to apply a control current to the base of the transistor during the time required to discharge the capacitor means.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 2 I974 sum 1 [If a F iG.

PEG. 3

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sum

3 or 3 PATENTED APR 2 I974 FIG. 8

TIMER DEVICE AND A CAMERA USING SAID DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a timer device and a photographic camera using said device, and particularly to a timer device which does not contain a power source but effects time limit action electrically.

PRIOR ART Heretofore, there have been many instances where, in a device which does not contain a timer device, for example, in a photographic camera, it is desirable to provide a timer device to conduct various actions. For example, when an operator actuates a photographing camera at a predetermined time before actual photographing so that the photographing action is effected after a lapse of a predetermined length of time,- ordinarily an auxiliary attachment or so-called self-timer is mounted onto a camera and the operator actuates the self-timer and, after a lapse of a predetermined length of time as counted by the self-timer, the photographic camera is operated to take the photograph. The socalled self-timer used here is either a mechanical selftimer having a delay device comprising a mechanical gear group, or an electric self-timer having an electrical delay device, in which an electromagnetic member, which a CR time constant circuit and a switching circuit connected to a power source and to a switching circuit output, is made to engage with a lens operating part of the camera, etc. as usually used. In these conventional types of self-timer, either an electric or mechanical delay device as a time limit mechanism, and a power source or a spring source to actuate the abovementioned device, are provided, wherein an actuating piece coupled with a camera operating member is electrically or mechanically driven by the output of the delay device so that an operation of a camera is effected. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate various members mechanically, making the set-up complicated, and at the same time it is necessary to couple the same with the equipment to be controlled, e.g. a camera, with the operating member thereof in the mechanism, so that itis necessary to exercisegreat care, to insure reliability of action, in installation of the same, etc.

When a control'device for a camera, etc. is desired to be activatedconsecutively at intervals of a predetermined length of time, for example for consecutively photographing thestate a flower or vegetable to bloom for a long pe riodoftime at intervals of a predetermined length of time, the camera needs to repeat consecutively the actuation .and'stop. In order to have the control'device for a camera, etc. perform such actionas mentioned above, the accessory device and'its'set-up have to be very complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of a conventional timer device, and particularly'to provide a timer device which is attached electrically to aremote terminal of a control device fora camera, etc., and which-has a time constant circuit to effect timer action by a power source at the control device and a switching circuit having its conductance controlledby the time constant circuit. Particularly it is intended to provide a timer device to a be attached to remote terminal of the control device.

The other objects of the present invention shall become clear from the concrete examples of the present invention which will be now explained in detail.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a principle circuit diagram of the timer device of the present invention.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 modified circuit diagrams of the timer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view in which a timer device containing the circuits shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 is applied as a timer device for a cinecamera.

FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of the camera shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 a is a partial side elevation view of the release device shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 b is left end elevation view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 a.

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of a circuit to activate the release device shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an electric circuit diagram to indicate the arrangement and the principle of the timer device according to the present invention, wherein I is a timer circuit in a timer device, and II is a control device to which the timer device is connected, for example a driving circuit for a cine-camera. The output terminals b, b of the timer circuit I of the timer device are electrically connected to the circuit II at the camera by remote terminals a, a at the camera and lead wires or sockets, l 1 C is a capacitor, R is a resistance which constitutes a time constant circuit with the capacitor C, 8,, indicates interlocking duplex switches, S is a switch composed of such switching elements as transistors, etc., S is a release switch closed in association with the release button of a camera, M is a motor to drive a film, a shutter, etc., and E is a power source battery at a camera. The driving circuit at a camera is linked with a shutter release button, and the motor M is driven by closing the switch 8,, to activate the camera so that photographing action is initiated, and the camera continues photographing action as long as the switch S is closed.

Next, for effecting timer action photographing using timer circuit I, first the interlocking switches S are changed from the state shown in FIG. 1 over to the contacts C C instantly. As a result of this action, the capacitor-C is charged by closing the circuit, battery E motor M l switch 5;, (C resistance R capacitor'C I E. Next, the switch S ischanged overand theis returned to C C As S is returned the transistor S will be conducted through as the charged voltage of'the capacitor C is impressed to the base of the same, and the motor M is driven by the circuit E M I, 5;; (C S l E. The electric charge of thecapacitor C is discharged through the baseof the transistor S via the resistance R, and the motor-M continues driving until the switching transistor S becomes non-conductive aftera time constant periodwhich is determined by the product of the resistanceR and the capacitor C, and the camera continues 3. photographing action. As the transistor S becomes non-conductive, the motor Mis stopped. As has been explained, the timer circuit in the timer device is activated by the power source E at a camera and after a time counting action for a predetermined length of time, stops the functioning of the driving circuit at a camera. Therefore no power source at all is needed at the timer device itself, and it is not necessary to provide a power source supplying terminal separately. Thus the device can be very easily constructed, and sure action can be expected by only attaching the device to the remote terminals of a camera. Concerning repeated use thereof, it can be used many times by only changing over the switch S so'that its handling is very simple.

FIG. 2 is a circuit connection diagram showing an example of the timer device of the present invention, wherein a motor circuit as, for example a driving motor for a cine-camera or a driving motor for an electric wind up camera as in FIG. 1 is shown as an equipment to be controlled. In the drawing, 1 and 2, 2 are bleeder resistances, 3 is a uni-junction transistor (UJT), and 4,4 are resistances equivalent to R in FIG. ,1. 5 is a-capacitor, 6 is a resistance in a base circuit, 7 is a capacitor, 8 is a switching transistor, and 9 is a diode for preventing reverse current. D, is a luminous diode and is lighted when the transistor 8 is not conductive thus indicating the conductive state of the transistor.

In-operating this device, the power source switch S, of main body is placed in the off state and the timer device is connected to the remote terminals a,a' of the main body. Next, as the starting switch S, at the timer device] is placed in theon state, the capacitor 5 is charged by the power, source E of the main body through the motor and the resistances 4,4. If the values of the resistances 4,4 are suitably selected, and the impedance at the terminals b,b' of the timer circuit is set at a higher value than the impedance of the motor, the motor will not be activated. As the charging of the capacitor 5 proceeds and the voltage at the point C becomes higher than the voltage at the point (I of the bleeder circuit, UJT3 is placed in a conductive state, and there will be a voltage drop across resistance 6. This is impressed on the base of the transistor 8 placing it in the on state. As the transistor 8 is placed in the on state driving curent flows to the motor M from the power source E, activating the same. The electric charge of the capacitor 5 is discharged through the diode 9 and the transistor 8, and the UJT transistor becomes non-conductive. In this state, a portion of the electric charge of the capacitor 5 has been charged at the capacitor 7, and the transistor 8 is in, on state during such time (T as this chargeis discharged through the resistance 6, so that the motor continues rotation. That is during such time (T,) as from the moment the switch S, becomes on till'the momentthe UJT3 becomes on, the-motor is stopped, and during such time (T,) as from the moment the UJT becomes off till the moment the transistor 8 becomes ofi the motor rotates, thus repeating the above-mentioned action. By varying the variable resistances 2 and4' the working time can be suitably established." i I FIG. 3 is a circuit connection diagram showing another example of the present invention. In the drawing, 10 and 11 are capacitors,,12 is a diode, 13 is a transistor, l4, l5, l5are resistances, l6, and 17 are switching transistors, 18 is a change over switch,-l9 is a series resistance. This device is connected to the circuit ll of the equipment to be controlled, such as a camera, etc., at

the remote terminals b,b as in the case of FIG. 2.

In operating this device, the power source switch S, at the circuit II is placed in the off state and the change over switch 18 is placed on at the e side, and the capacitors 10, 11 are charged by the power source E through the motor M, the series resistance 19 and the diode 12. As the resistance 19 in this circuit is made to have a sufficiently higher value than the impedance of the motor M, the motor M will not be energized. Next, as the change over switch 18 is placed on at the f side, the capacitor 11 is charged in the opposite direction by the electric charge of the capacitor 10, and as it becomes higher than the V M of the transistor 13, the transistor 13 becomes on. By this, the electric charge of the capacitor 10 is discharged through the resistance 14, and the switching

transistors

16 and 17 become on by the terminal voltage of the resistance 14. Therefore driving current flows from the power source E through the transistor 17 to the motor M, rotating the same. After a lapse of such time as set by the resistance 14, the discharging of the capacitor 10 is completed, and the

transistors

16, 17 become non-conductive and the motor is stopped. The time (T during which the capacitor 11 is reversely charged can be set by varying the resistance 15. As has been explained above, in this device after a lapse of time (T since the manual change over switch l8is changed over from e to j, the motor is" energized and is rotated as long as such time (T that the capacitor 10 is discharged. Then the motor is stopped.

' FIG. 4 is a circuit diagramfor another modified example of the timer device. accordingto the present invention, wherein b,b' are terminals formed in remote jack shape to be connected to the remote terminals of the equipment to be controlled, such as a camera, etc. to which the timer device is to be attached. S is a timer starting switch, and is changed over instantly from the contact D to the contact E at the time the timercircuit I is initiated, and is returned to the contact D again. C is a capacitor, 0 is a switching transistor with the resistances R,,,, R,, connected to its collector, and the resistance R,, to its base. 0 is a transistor forming a Schmidt circuit together with the transistor 0 R,,, to R,,, are resistances. D is a constant voltage or Zener diode, and D D are diodes for preventing reverse current. C is a capacitor for a time constant'circuit. Q 0,, are transistors forming a switching circuit with a Darlington connection, and diode D is a luminous diode. For initiating the equipment to be controlled such as camera by connecting the terminals b,b' to the remote terminals a,a' of the camera driving circuit II as in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, first the starting switch S is changed over to E side. By this change over the capacitor C is charged by the power source battery at the camera driving circuit through the resistance R,,, and the diode D At this time the capacitor C is not charged as the current flows th'rough the diodes D D.,. On the other hand, since the driving circuit at a camera is held at lower'value than the actuating current value of load by'the resistance value of the resistance R,,,, the the load within the driving circuit, for example, the motor, is not actuated. Since the capacitor C is always charged to'a constant electric potential by the Zener diode D it is always charged to a constant potential even if the power source battery voltage at the camera driving circuit varies, for instance by becoming exhausted causing voltage droppage. When pressing of the starting switch S is released and the switch S is returned to contact D", charging current flows through the resistances R R to the capacitor C to start the charging, which will be completed after a lapse of time constant period of time which is determined by the product of the capacity of the capacitor C and the resistances R R The transistor 0, is made conductive by the start voltage of the resistance-R generated by the charging current of the capacitor until the charging of the capacitor is completed, and as a result the electric potential of the base of transistor Q drops, so that the transistor Q becomes non-conductive, and as no base current flows to the transistor transistor Q becomes non-conductive, and the charged electric charge of the capacitor C is not discharged. On the other hand, when the charging of the capacitor C is completed and the transistor Q becomes nonconductive, the transistor Q becomes conductive and the base current of the transistor Q flows so that the transistor 0 becomes conductive and the electric charge of the capacitor C is discharged. As a result the base current of the transistor Q flows and the transistor Q becomes conductive, so that the luminous diode, which has been on, will be put out. As the transistor 0,, becomes conductive, the driving current flows within the camera driving circuit (the circuit II of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3), and the motor M within the driving circuit is driven thus conducting the prescribed driving of the shutter, film etc. As the conductive state of the transistor O is retained during such time constant period of time as will be determined by the charged electric charge of the capacitor C flowing through the resistances R R the driving of the motor is continued. As the electric charge of the capacitor C is discharged, the transistors 0 0,, become non-conductive, and the motor M is stopped.

As has been explained above, after the starting switch S is released, after a lapse of such time constant period of time T, as determined by the capacitor C and the resistances R R the driving circuit at a camera is started and its operating state is retained for such time constant period of time T as determined by the capacitor C andthe resistances R R when the driving circuit is stopped.

FIG. 6 shows a camera set-up when the timer device, having the circuit shown in FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 incorporated therein, is used as a control device for a cine-camera. FIG. 6 shows the arrangement when the timer device of the present invention is connected to the camera shownin FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, l0l.is a camera main body having its external outline shown by a chain line, and 102 is a film magazine as loaded into a camera main body. 103 is a zoom lens body, and 104 is a relay lens body, wherein the optical systems are of a publicly known type. l05is a driving motor connected to a power source, not shown in the drawing. It is so constructed that the driving power of the motor 105 is transmitted through a gear 107 provided on driving ax-le106 of the motor, and an intermediate gear 108 engaging with gear 107, so that theshutter 109 and the film take up axle 110. are driven. The gear 108 is supported rotatably on the main body of a camera, and the driving power of the motor 105 is transmitted through its engagement with the shutter axle gear 111, and the shutter 109 is rotated with the shutter axle 112 used as a rotation axis. 113 is a driving gear which engages with intermediate gear 108 and is rotated in a pair with the shutter axle, thereby rotating the driving axle 114. At the other end of the driving axle 114 a worm gear 115 is attached, and this worm gear transmits the rotation of the axle 1 14 to the film wind up gear 117 through the worm wheel 116, and gear 117 drives the film take up axle 110. The arrow mark in the drawing shows rotation direction of each transmitting member when the motor 105 is rotated to the direction of arrow. At the end of driving axle 114 having the gear 113 attached thereto, a cam 118 of such shape as will be explained later is provided. 119 is a stopper installed on a sliding bar 120 in such manner as to be engaged with and disengaged from cam 118. 121 is an electro-magnet coil retained at the sliding bar 120. 122 is a coil wound with counter polarity against that of the coil 121 at the same place as the coil 121. 123 is a permanent magnet. 124 is a shutter release button, and by pressing the same the camera starts to function and the shutter 109 rotates performing one frame photographing or continuous photographing, details of which will be explained later.

The incident path of light beam is shown by an alternating long and short dash line. The beam after penetrating through the zoom lens is divided into two by a beam splitter not shown in the drawing, and one of the split beams proceeds without changing its direction and passes through the relay lens 104, giving an exposure to the film 126 through an aperture part shown by broken lines. The other beam proceeds through the upper part of the camera main body to a finder part.

Next, explanations shall be made on the arrangement of one example of the above-mentioned electromagnetic release device, referring to FIGS. 7a, and b.

InFIG. 7a and FIG. 7b, 123 is a permanent magnet installed in a first yoke 127. 121 is an electromagnetic coil installed in a second yoke 128'. Permanent magnet 123 and the second yoke 128 are combined in close contact with each other so as to compose a magnetic circuit. 120 is a sliding bar which is slidably supported by the first and the

second yokes

127, 128 and also serves asa core for the electro-magnetic coil 121.

Ferromagnetic pieces

129, 130 are fixed on bar 120 so that they are positione'dbetween the two

yokes

127, 128, and stopper 119 is installed at the left end of said sliding bar 120. This stopper 119 has a beveled part 119a, a cylindrical part 119b, and an end plane 119c. 131 is a switch for a driving motor circuit for a shutter rotating axle which is to be described later in connection with an electric circuit diagram. 114 is a driving axle which rotates at a l 1 ratio with the shutter axle 112 shown in FIG. 6. 118 is a cam installed on axle 114. Cam- 118 has, as shown in FIG. 7b, a concave part 118a cut away, an arc vertex'part 1 18b projecting out of the cut away part, and an end plane118'c having the profile as shown in FIGS. 7a and b. 132 is a plate for mounting the electromagnetic releasedevice on the camera main body.

FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b show a state wherein the stopper 119 engages with the cam 118 and the switch 131 is opened, and nocurrent is flowing through the electro magnetic coil 121, with a fixed state of the axle 114 in which the

ferromagnetic pieces

129, 130 are attracted to the first yoke 127 and the second yoke 128, respectively, that is the position of the shutter being stopped. In this state, when electric current flows to the electromagnetic coil 121 in such direction that the ferromagnetic piece 129 becomes an N-pole and the ferromagnetic piece 130 becomes an S-pole, the ferromagnetic piece 129 and the first yoke 127 repulse each other while the ferro-magnetic piece 130 and the second yoke also repulse each other, and the sliding bar 120 is shifted in a direction to close the switch 131, making the stepped part 11% of the stopper 119 come off the end plane l18c of the cam 118, but while the oblique plane part 1 19a of the stopper 119 has not come off the end plane 1180, the andswitch 131 is closed, thereby driving the motor 105 shown in FIG. 2 so that axle 114 starts rotation.

On the other hand, the sliding bar 120 further slides until the ferromagnetic pieces 129, 130' are attracted by the

yokes

128, 127 thus proceeding to the right hand direction in FIG. 3. Even if the current for the electromagnetic coil 121 is cut off the sliding piece 120 retains its position by the attractive force of the

ferromagnetic pieces

129, 130 and of the

yokes

128, 127.

Next, when current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil 121 in a direction reverse to the above, the polarity of the ferro-

magnetic pieces

129, 130 will be reversed to that, in the case of FIG. 3, therefore the

ferromagneticpieces

129, 130 and

yokes

128, 127 repulse each other, respectively, and the sliding piece 120 moves in a direction to open the switch 131. However, ordinarily the are part 118b of the cam 118is at an engaging position with the 1 stopper 119 in many cases. Thus even when the stopper 119 returnsin the left hand directionin the drawing, first the left end plane 119c of the stopper 11 9 comes in contact with the right end plane 1 180 of the cam 118. In this position the switch 131 has not been open-'circuited yet, and the cam 118 rotates as shown byan arrow mark in FIG. 7b,

given to such direction as to offset the attractive force which attracts the

ferromagnetic pieces

129, 130 and the

yokes

127, 128. 152 and 153 show adjusting screws to adjust the springiness of the springs 150,151. 133is a cam member provided at an extended part of the axle 114 having a concave part 133a so made as to close the switch 134. As the shaft 114 rotates in a ratio of 1 1 with the shutter axle 112,,it is so arranged that the convex part- 133a of the cam closes the switch 134 when the shutter blades 109 cover the photographing openingl25, and this switch is connected to a connecting jack 135 shown in FIG. 5. A coupling connector 136a can be connected to this jack 135 in such manner that a well-known flashing means 136 can be attached to an attaching shoe 137 of a camera.

The outline of a camera having the above-mentioned set-up is shown as FIG. 5. A jack 138 is provided as a coupling means for an outside trigger means to actuate the above-mentioned electromagnetic release means at this camera. To this jack, for example, plugs 139a,

140a or 141a for a self timer device 139, a short period timer device 140 or a remote control device 141, respectively can be selectively connected asan outside trigger means, as will be explained later. The self timer device 139 is to effect shutter release with a predetermined length of time by incorporating therein the timer circuit shown in FIG. 4, and the short period timer device 140 has the timer circuit shownin FlG. 2 incorporated therein and is to repeatedly effect the shutter reand when its concave part 118a comes to an engaging position with the stopper 119, the stopper 119 further returns to left hand direction as the plane restricting the end plane 1190 is cut away. Then the switch 131-is open-circuited at such position that the beveled surface 119a engages with the concave part 118a, opencircuiting the motor circuit at the same time, so that the driving force of motor becomes zero'but it further continues rotation by inertia, and the axle 114 stops rotation at such position that the stepped part 11% of the stopper 119 engages with the concave part 118a of the cam 118, thus retu'ming to the state shown in FIG.6a, FIG. 6b.

When the above steps are made to function as one continuous cycle, one frame photographing is possible, and when electric current is kept blowing to the motor circuit'while the engagement between the stopper 119 and the cam 1 18 is released, continuous photographing can be -made, whereinthe 'photographing'can 'be'finlease with a predetermined length of time which is adjustable with a predetermined cycle, and the remote controldevice is to effect the running lock, etc. of the ON, OFF state or ON state of the release switch. 13% is a button linked with the above-mentioned switch S shown in FIG. 4, 1390 is an indication window for the luminous diode D and 140c shows an indication window for the luminous diode D shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a part of an electric circuit connection diagram for a main body, 101 of a cine-camera. ln-the drawing, 124 is a release switch, 131 is an electromagnetic release switch,S is a change-over switch for continuous photographing and one frame photographing, S is a main switch, 105 is a motor, B, is a battery, 121, 122 are electromagnetic coils, Q Q are transistors, D is a diode, C C are capacitors, R R R R are resistors, and J l is a jack, corresponding to the 138 I in FIG. 1. When the main switch S and the switch S are closed, continuous action is obtained. Now when the release switch 124 is closed, the base current of the transistor Q flows through C, R placing the transistor 0, in ON state, with electric current flowing through the coil 21, and the switch 31 is closed as mentioned before. As a result electric current flows to the motor 105' and the motor 105 rotates. Since the current flowing through the resistance R, goes through the switches S ,124-and jack J the base current of the transistor 0 will not flow and the transistor is placed in OFF state.

As the release switch 124 is opened, capacitor C is charged through resistance R and the base current of the transistor O5 flows and the current-flows through the coil 22, and the switch13-l for the electro-mag'netic release is opened so that the motor 'stops. When the release switch 124 is closed in -a state that themain switch S is closed and the changeover switch S is opened, the base current of thetransistor Q flows through the C R and the transistor Q, becomes ON state then current flows through the electro-magnetic coil 12], and as a result the switch 131 is closed. Thereby current flows through the motor 105 and the motor will rotate. The capacitor C is charged through the resistance R.,, the base current of the transistor 0, flows, and current flows through the coil 122. Then the switch 131 is opened and the motor 105 stops after one frame is photographed.

When the plug 140a of the timer device 140 is connected to the jack J, shown in FIG. 8 and the release switch 124 is closed, C is charged through the R,, R VR As the current flowing through R, is small, the voltages at both its ends are of low potential. Thus the base current of the transistor Q, will not flow through C,, R,,. When the capacitor C is sufficiently charged and the electric potential at the point A shown in FIG. 5 becomes higher than that at the point B the electric charge of the C flows through the transistor 0,, and is charged at the C and at the same time the base current of the transistor Q flows through the R placing the O in ON state, discharging the electric charge of the C through the diode D then the base current of the transistor Q, flows through the C,, R placing the Q, in ON state, flowing current through the coil 121, closing the switch 131 and the motor 105 is rotated.

As the switch S is opened, when the C is sufficiently charged through the R the base current of the transistor Q flows, placing the O in ON state, flowing current through the coil 122, opening the switch 131. Since the electric charge charged at the capacitor C is discharged through the R the transistor is placed again in OFF state. The C is charged again through R,, R VR then with an interval of every T, hour, one frame photographing is repeated.

In FIG. 8, the switches 24, S S. are closed and the timer device 139 is connected instead of the timer device 140 by inserting jack plug 139a in the 1,. In FIG. 4 when the switch S, is changed over from D to E by pressing the button 139b, C is charged through R,, R D As the current flowing through R, is small, the base current of transistor Q, will not flow through the C,, R;,. When S is changed over to D, the electric charge of C is charged at the C through R,,,. When C is sufficiently charged, the Schmidt circuit composed of Q 0,, R R R R, R is reversed, and O is changed from ON state to OFF state. 0,, is changed from OFF state to ON state and the transistors 0 Q 0,, also are changed from OFF state to ON state. The base current ofQ, flows through C,, R placing Q, in ON state, flowing current through the coil 121 and closing the switch 131, and the motor 105 is rotated. When the discharging of the electric charge of C is finished, Q 0,, are placed in OFF state, and the current of R, will not flow through 124, S S 0 Thus C is sufficiently charged through R and the base current of O thereafter flows, placing Q in ON state, flowing current through the coil 122 and opening the switch 131, and the motor 105 is stopped. That is, the cine-camera will not work for the period of T, time during which C is charged through R,,,, and the cine-camera works for the period of T time during which C is discharged through R,,,, and the camera stops thereafter. Therefore by making C R variable, T, can be made variable, and by making the C R variable T, can be made variable. 139 b is an adjustment knob therefor.

As has been explained above the timer device of the present invention does not need any power source within itself. Further a terminal for a supplying power source does not have to be provided, so that, the device can be made up simply and the timer action can be so made that either one of a repeated action or one action and stop may be selected. Thus the present invention provides a timer device convenient for attaching to various types of electrical appliances.

What is claimed is:

l. A timer device, for electrical connection to equipment to be controlled and which equipment includes a source of potential, a driving means connected to the source, a controlled mechanism coupled to the driving means and actuated thereby and a pair of remote control terminals included in a supply circuit connecting the driving means to the source, for remotely controlled energization of the driving means, said timer device comprising, in combination, a time constant circuit including resistor means connected to a first capacitor; a pair of timer terminals for connection to respective remote control terminals; switching means having a control element connected to said time constant circuit, said switching means being connected across the timers terminals for completion of said supply circuit when said control element is energized by discharge of said first capacitor; and means operable to connect said time constant circuit across said timer terminals for charging of said first capacitor solely by said source of potential in said equipment; said first capacitor discharging through said resistance means to supply a control current to said control element, so that said timer device controls connection of said driving means to said source.

2. A timer device, as claimed in claim 1, including a second capacitor connected to said first capacitor and charged by said first capacitor; a second resitance means forming a second time constant circuit with said second capacitor; a second switching means connected in the discharge circuit of said second capacitor and triggered conductive when the charged voltage of said capacitor attains a predetermined value; and means including said second switching means impressing the charge of said second capacitor on said first capacitor.

3. A timer device, as claimed in claim 1, including a second capacitor connected to said first capacitor and charged thereby; second switching means connected in the discharge circuit of said second capacitor; and means connecting said first capacitor to the control element of said second switching means.

4. A timer device, as claimed in claim 1, including constant voltage means connected to said first capacitor and maintaining the voltage applied thereto from said source of potential in the equipment at a constant value; said switching means comprising a Schmidt trigger circuit.

5. A timer device, as claimed in claim 1, including blocking diodes connected to both terminals of said first capacitor and preventing reverse current flow.

6. A timer device, as claimed in claim 1, including a luminous diode connected in parallel with said switching means and constituting an indicator.

7. A timer device, as claimed in claim 2, in which said second resistance means includes a variable resistor operable to adjust the conductance time of said second switching means whereby triggering conductive of said first-mentioned switching means is cyclically repeated at timed intervals controlled by said second switching means.

8. A timer device, as claimed in claim 3, in which said first-mentioned switching means comprises transistors connected to form a Darlington switching circuit.

Claims

1. A timer device, for electrical connection to equipment to be controlled and which equipment includeS a source of potential, a driving means connected to the source, a controlled mechanism coupled to the driving means and actuated thereby and a pair of remote control terminals included in a supply circuit connecting the driving means to the source, for remotely controlled energization of the driving means, said timer device comprising, in combination, a time constant circuit including resistor means connected to a first capacitor; a pair of timer terminals for connection to respective remote control terminals; switching means having a control element connected to said time constant circuit, said switching means being connected across the timer''s terminals for completion of said supply circuit when said control element is energized by discharge of said first capacitor; and means operable to connect said time constant circuit across said timer terminals for charging of said first capacitor solely by said source of potential in said equipment; said first capacitor discharging through said resistance means to supply a control current to said control element, so that said timer device controls connection of said driving means to said source.