Camera system having photographic camera and electronic flash device

Claim 2

An electronic flash device detachably attached to a photographic camera, comprising; (a) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a flash photography, (b) input means for receiving a first start signal from said photographic camera and for outputting the same, (c) outputting means responsive to a manual operation for outputting a second start signal, and (d) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry, input means and outputting means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, including; (1) power supply start means for starting the power supply to said circuitry by receiving the start signals, (2) power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to said circuitry when a predetermined time period has passed since said power supply start means starts the power supply, (3) judging means for judging by which signal said circuitry is started, and (4) changing means for changing the predetermined power supply time period in response to the judged result of said judging means.

Claim 3

An electronic flash device as defined in claim 1, wherein said changing means changes the predetermined time period such that the predetermined time period set when said circuitry is started by the first start signal is shorter than the predetermined time period set when said circuitry is started by the second start signal.

Claim 4

An electronic flash device as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes at least a voltage boosting circuit.

Claim 5

An electronic flash device as defined in claim 1, wherein said power supply hold means includes means for resetting and restarting the predetermined power supply time period each time either of the start signals is input thereto.

Claim 6

A photographic camera system having a camera capable of interval photography and an electronic flash device detachably attached to said camera, comprising: (a) said camera including; (1) interval photography signal output means for outputting an interval photography signal indicating an interval photography, (2) first start signal output means for outputting a first start signal commanding said electronic flash device to start operating, (b) said electronic flash device including; (1) first input means for inputting the interval photography signal from said interval photography signal output means, (2) second input means for inputting the first start signal from said first start signal output means and for outputting the same, (3) means for outputting the second start signal in response to a manual operation, (4) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a flash photography, and (5) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry, first and second input means and outputting means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) power supply start means for starting the power supply to said circuitry by receiving the start signals, (ii) power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to said circuitry when a predetermined time period has passed since said power supply start means starts the power supply, (iii) judging means for judging whether the interval photography signal is input or not, and (iv) changing means for changing the predetermined power supply time period in response to the judged result of said judging means.

Claim 7

A photographic camera system having a camera capable of interval photography and an electronic flash device detachably attached to said camera, comprising: (a) said camera including; (1) interval photography signal output means for outputting an interval photography signal indicating an interval photography, (2) first start signal output means for outputting a first start signal commanding said electronic flash device to start operating, (b) said electronic flash device including; (1) first input means for inputting the interval photography signal from said interval photography signal output means, (2) second input means for inputting the first start signal from said first start signal output means and for outputting the same, (3) means for outputting the second start signal in response to a manual operation, (4) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a flash photography, and (5) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry, first and second input means and outputting means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) power supply start means for starting the power supply to said circuitry by receiving the start signals, (ii) power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to said circuitry when a predetermined time period has passed since said power supply start means starts the power supply, (iii) judging means for judging whether the interval photography signal is input or not, and (iv) changing means for changing the predetermined power supply time period in response to the judged result of said judging means.

Claim 8

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 5, wherein said changing means controls the power supply time period such that as said judging means judges the input of the interval photography signal the power supply to said circuitry is stopped each time one photography operation is completed in the interval photography.

Claim 9

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 6, wherein said changing means changes the predetermined time period such that the predetermined time period set when said circuitry is started by the first start signal is shorter than the predetermined time period set when said circuitry is started by the second start signal.

Claim 10

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 5, wherein said circuitry includes at least a voltage boosting circuit.

Claim 11

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 8, wherein said first start signal output means outputs the first start signal after waiting for a certain time period before the interval photography is carried out and said certain time period is a time period needed for permitting said voltage boosting circuit to complete preparatory operation thereof for the flash photography.

Claim 12

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 6, wherein said system further comprising a control device detachably attached to said camera for controlling the interval photography of said camera, and said electronic flash device is electrically connected through said camera to said control device.

Claim 13

A photographic camera system having a camera and an electronic flash device, comprising: (a) said camera, including; (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree from each other, (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means, and (v) start signal output means for outputting a start signal to said electronic flash device in response to the disagreement signal, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period, and (4) first terminal means electrically connected to said electronic flash device and adapted for providing therethrough the start signal and the lens information to said electronic flash device, and (b) said electronic flash device, including; (1) second terminal means electrically connected to said first terminal means, (2) a second circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a flash photography, (3) control means for controlling said second circuitry in response to the lens information input through said second terminal means, and (4) second power supply hold means connected to said second circuitry and second terminal means and adapted for supplying power to said second circuitry, having; (i) power supply start means for starting the power supply to said second circuitry in response to the input of the start signal through said second terminal means, (ii) power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to said second circuitry when a predetermined time period has passed since said power supply start means starts the power supply, and (iii) changing means for changing the predetermined power supply time period when the start signal is input through said second terminal means in the course of the power supply operation.

Claim 14

A photographic camera system having a camera and an electronic flash device, comprising: (a) said camera, including; (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree from each other, (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means, and (v) start signal output means for outputting a start signal to said electronic flash device in response to the disagreement signal, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period, and (4) first terminal means electrically connected to said electronic flash device and adapted for providing therethrough the start signal and the lens information to said electronic flash device, and (b) said electronic flash device, including; (1) second terminal means electrically connected to said first terminal means, (2) a second circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a flash photography, (3) control means for controlling said second circuitry in response to the lens information input through said second terminal means, and (4) second power supply hold means connected to said second circuitry and second terminal means and adapted for supplying power to said second circuitry, having; (i) power supply start means for starting the power supply to said second circuitry in response to the input of the start signal through said second terminal means, (ii) power supply stop means for stopping the power supply to said second circuitry when a predetermined time period has passed since said power supply start means starts the power supply, and (iii) changing means for changing the predetermined power supply time period when the start signal is input through said second terminal means in the course of the power supply operation.

Claim 15

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 11, wherein the lens information includes focal length information, said electronic flash device further includes illumination angle change means for varying an illumination angle in response to the focal length information and said control means further controls said illumination angle change means in response to the focal length information.

Claim 16

A photographic camera system having a camera and an electronic flash device, comprising: (a) said camera, including; (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree to each other, and (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period, and (4) first terminal means electrically connected to said electronic flash device and adapted for providing therethrough the start signal and the lens information to said electronic flash device, and (b) said electronic flash device, including; (1) second terminal means electrically connected to said first terminal means, and (2) control means for carrying out predetermined operations in response to the lens information input through said second terminal means.

Claim 17

A photographic camera system having a camera and an electronic flash device, comprising: (a) said camera, including; (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree to each other, and (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period, and (4) first terminal means electrically connected to said electronic flash device and adapted for providing therethrough the start signal and the lens information to said electronic flash device, and (b) said electronic flash device, including; (1) second terminal means electrically connected to said first terminal means, and (2) control means for carrying out predetermined operations in response to the lens information input through said second terminal means.

Claim 18

A photographic camera system, as defined in claim 13, wherein the lens information includes focal length information, said electronic flash device further includes illumination angle change means for varying an illumination angle in response to the focal length information and said control means further controls said illumination angle change means in response to the focal length information.

Claim 19

A photographic camera, comprising: (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, and (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree from each other, and (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means in response to the disagreement signal, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period.

Claim 20

A photographic camera, comprising: (1) lens information output means for outputting lens information, (2) a circuitry for carrying out preparatory operation for a photography, and (3) power supply hold means connected to said circuitry and lens information output means and adapted for supplying power to said circuitry, having; (i) timer means for measuring a predetermined time period, (ii) information input means for periodically inputting the lens information, (iii) comparison means for comparing the lens information previously input by said information input means with newly input lens information and for outputting a disagreement signal when said two information disagree from each other, and (iv) reset means responsive to the disagreement signal for resetting the measuring time of said timer means and for restarting said timer means in response to the disagreement signal, wherein said power supply hold means holds the power supply to said circuitry until said timer means has measured said predetermined time period.

Claim 21

A photographic camera, as defined in claim 15, wherein said camera includes a camera body and an exchangeable zoom lens.

Claim 22

A photographic camera, as defined in claim 16, wherein the lens information includes focal length information fed from said exchangeable zoom lens.

Claim 23

A photographic camera, as defined in claim 15, further comprising display means for displaying the lens information.