US3603133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for camera shutter timing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-10-10
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for timing photographic shutters, functions related thereto (i.e. sync advance or delay), or any occurrence that can be translated into a pulse of light within the timing range of the system. The system includes activating the camera shutter so that a pulse of light passes therethrough, sensing the duration of the light as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; generating a plurality of electrical clock pulses during the time between half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; counting said electrical clock pulses generated; and displaying shutter speed as a function of counted pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A Westhaver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:32
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04F; G04F10/00; G04F10/04; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B43/00; G03B43/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. Activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating a plurality of electrical clock pulses during the time between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. counting said electrical clock pulses generated; and F. displaying speed as a function of counted pulses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. Activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating a plurality of electrical clock pulses during the time between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. counting said electrical clock pulses generated; and F. displaying speed as a function of counted pulses.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the pulse of light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the pulse of light between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. gating said electrical pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; and F. measuring shutter speed as a function of said clock-timing pulses.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the pulse of light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the pulse of light between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. gating said electrical pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; and F. measuring shutter speed as a function of said clock-timing pulses.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the pulse of light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the pulse of light between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. gating said pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; F. measuring shutter speed as a function of said clock-timing pulses; and G. displaying said shutter speed as a digital readout.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for measuring shutter speed in a camera comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter, so that a pulse of light passes therethrough; C. sensing the duration of the pulse of light, as it passes between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the pulse of light between the half-open and half-closed positions of the shutter; E. gating said pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; F. measuring shutter speed as a function of said clock-timing pulses; and G. displaying said shutter speed as a digital readout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method of measuring shutter speed as in claim 3, including: H. selectively varying the clock-timing rate, according to the anticipated length of the electrical pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method for measuring shutter speed as in claim 4, including generating of said electrical pulse, such that said pulse swings between a negative voltage and a positive voltage of equal magnitude and has zero voltage at the half-open position of the shutter and zero voltage at the half-closed position of the shutter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of measuring shutter speed as in claim 5, wherein said clock-timing pulse rates are an integer power of 10.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method of measuring shutter speed as in claim 6, including displaying ''''overflow'''' when the number of counted timing pulses exceeds the capacity of the counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
Method of measuring frames per second in a motion picture camera, comprising: A. positioning a light source in the camera film gate; B. operating the camera for a period of a least 10 seconds; C. sensing the pulses of light passing through the shutter during the period of operation; D. initiating a 10-second timing cycle upon the receipt of said first pulse; E. generating electrical pulses equal in number to the pulses of light; F. gating said electrical pulses with the 10-second cycle; G. counting said electrical pulses during said 10-second cycle; and H. displaying frames per second rate of the camera as a function of counted pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
Method of measuring frames per second in a motion picture camera, comprising: A. positioning a light source in the camera film gate; B. operating the camera for a period of a least 10 seconds; C. sensing the pulses of light passing through the shutter during the period of operation; D. initiating a 10-second timing cycle upon the receipt of said first pulse; E. generating electrical pulses equal in number to the pulses of light; F. gating said electrical pulses with the 10-second cycle; G. counting said electrical pulses during said 10-second cycle; and H. displaying frames per second rate of the camera as a function of counted pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
Method of measuring absolute time interval between shutter opening and synch contacts closure in cameras comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter so that a pulse of light passes through the shutter and so that said synch contacts close; C. sensing the pulse of light, as it passes the half-open position of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the absolute time interval between the half-open point of the shutter and the closure of the synch contacts; E. gating said pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; and F. measuring absolute time interval between shutter opening and synch contacts closure, as a function of passed clock-timing pulses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
Method of measuring absolute time interval between shutter opening and synch contacts closure in cameras comprising: A. supporting the camera shutter adjacent a light source; B. activating said shutter so that a pulse of light passes through the shutter and so that said synch contacts close; C. sensing the pulse of light, as it passes the half-open position of the shutter; D. generating an electrical pulse equal in duration to the absolute time interval between the half-open point of the shutter and the closure of the synch contacts; E. gating said pulse with a source of clock-timing pulses; and F. measuring absolute time interval between shutter opening and synch contacts closure, as a function of passed clock-timing pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2261010A
Cited
US2477578A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |