Gte Products Corporation

Gte Sylvania Incorporated

Donald E Armstrong

Ronald E Sindlinger

John W Shaffer

Emery G Audesse

Donald W Hartman

William J Harvey

Andre C Bouchard

David R Broadt

Carl F Kackenmeister

David W Mecone

Daniel W Bricker

Paul M Marecek

John E Tozier

Thomas B McDonough

Bernard Cohen

Emergy G Audesse

A multilamp photoflash array and fabrication process is provided wherein electrically conductive leads of a plurality of flashlamps are embedded in and wrapped about the ends of a plastic reflector unit which is, in turn, affixed to a circuit board to provide contact between the bent leads and a printed circuit on the circuit board.

Multilamp photoflash array fabrication

A photoflash unit comprising a plurality of 2n flashlamps attached to a printed circuit board and disposed in a linear array with the longitudinal axes of respective lamps aligned in parallel. Circuit patterns on the circuit board include a plurality of n selective terminal means, each associated with a respective pair of the lamps and connected to one lead-in wire of each of the lamps of the associated pair, and a common terminal associated with all of the 2n lamps but directly connected to the other lead-in wire of one lamp of each pair. The circuit board has a substantially rectangular portion with n spaced apart extensions projecting vertically from a longer side thereof, the extensions being located behind alternate lamps of the linear array. Each extension contains portions of the circuit patterns spaced apart to form predetermined gaps, and a mass of switch material is disposed on each extension to bridge the gap between circuit patterns to thereby provide a solid state radiation switch on each extension behind and adjacent to a respective lamp for receiving radiant energy emitted by that lamp. In this manner, a respective normally open switch on each circuit board extension is coupled between the common terminal and a lead-in wire of the other lamp of each pair of lamps, so that the n normally open switches are coupled between the common circuit lead-in wire of associated pairs of the 2n lamps.

Photoflash unit with circuit board radiation switches for selective

A packaging means for a multilamp photoflash unit ('flip-flash') having an elongated body portion and a pair of connectors extending therefrom. The packaging means comprises a single ply sheet member (e.g., paperboard) having a pair of foldable tabs spacedly located thereon. Each tab is designed for projecting from the planar sheet member to engage and surround a respective connector and thus retain the unit flush against the planar front surface of the sheet member. A fully packaged photoflash unit including the aforementioned packaging means and a multilamp photoflash unit is also described.

Package means for photoflash unit

A high-voltage type photoflash lamp filled with a filamentary combustible material and oxygen and having an ignition structure including a pair of spaced-apart lead-in wires sealed in one end of the glass envelope of the lamp and encapsulated within an interior protruding portion of the envelope glass. The termination of each of the lead-in wires within the envelope is bare of sealing glass and substantially flush with the surrounding glass surface, and a coating of primer material about the inner end of the protruding portion of glass within the envelope covers and bridges the bare terminations of the lead-in wires. Also disclosed is a method of making a lamp including the steps of heating one end of a length of glass tubing to seal it closed, pushing a pair of spaced-apart metal lead-in wires through the heated, closed end of the glass tubing whereby the heated glass thereat is stretched and sealed over the wires to provide a protruding portion of glass within the tubing which encapsulates the termination of the lead-in wires, selectively removing only the glass covering the terminations of the lead-in wires to expose the bare metal thereof, applying a coating of primer material about the end of the protruding portion of glass within the tubing so as to cover and bridge the bare terminations of the lead-in wires, and then finishing the lamp.

Photoflash lamp construction and method of making same

A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of photoflash lamps mounted on a printed circuit board disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member having an enclosing cover panel of light-transmitting material. The housing channel has a semi-rectangular cross-section and reflective surfaces on the sidewalls adjacent the flashlamps. A flat sheet of material, such as white paper adhesively coated on one side, is secured to the circuit board and interposed between the lamps and the circuitry for reflecting heat and light away from the circuit board and insulating at least portions of the circuitry from the radiant output of the lamps.

Multilamp photoflash unit with reflective-protective circuit board

A multilamp photoflash unit including an elongated plastic housing having a longitudinal channel therein. Within the channel is positioned a thin, flat circuit board to which are connected several (e.g. six) flashlamps arranged in a linear array. The lamps are divided into two opposing pluralities such that those in the plurality being fired are inverted during firing.

Photoflash unit with inverted flashlamps

A photoflash unit comprising a plurality of high voltage type flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit board containing circuitry for sequentially igniting the flashlamps. A plurality of electrically conductive reflectors respectively associated with the flashlamps are disposed between the lamps and the circuit board, with each reflector having an aperture in alignment with a corresponding aperture in the circuit board. Connected in series with each but the last lamp of the array is a radiant-energy-activated disconnect switch comprising a strip of electrically conductive heat-shrinkable polymeric material which is attached at both ends to the circuit board so that the midportion of the strip bridges a respective one of the apertures therein. A sheet of electrically insulating material is interposed between the reflectors and circuit board to prevent shorting therebetween. A plurality of deformations, such as dimples, are formed in the insulating sheet for spacing the sheet from the disconnect switch strips.

Photoflash unit with formed insulating sheet

A photoflash unit comprising two parallel columns of horizontally disposed lamps mounted in a planar array with flash indicators aligned behind each lamp. The lamps of one column are staggered with respect to the other, and the two columns are located on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of the unit. The lamps are connected to switching circuitry for sequentially flashing the lamps in response to firing pulses applied to a connector at one end of the unit. The two columns of staggered lamps are positioned so that the lowest lamp is located on the side of the unit centerline opposite that on which the lens axis is located when the unit is connected to a camera, thereby farther removing the closest lamp from the lens axis to minimize the 'red-eye' effect. The switching circuitry is connected to provide an order of flashing that proceeds alternately between the two columns from the lowest to the highest lamp of the array, thereby providing a more readily interpretable flash indicator pattern.

Multilamp photoflash unit

A photoflash lamp-reflector module for use in a photoflash unit having a plurality of such lamp-reflector modules arranged in a compact array. Each reflector has a substantially parabolic surface with a centrally disposed elongated cylindrical recess having a longitudinally extending central slot. The associated tubular lamp is nested within the recessed portion of the reflector, whereby an oversized lamp is accommodated by the reflector with little or no loss of light output.

Reflector-lamp module for photoflash array

A photoflash unit comprising a plurality of high-voltage type flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit board containing circuitry for sequentially igniting the flashlamps in response to successive high-voltage firing pulses applied thereto. One lead-in wire of each of the flashlamps is connected to a common circuit conductor. Electrostatic protection is provided by a conductive array of reflectors positioned between the lamps and one side of the circuit board and a planar shield of conductive material disposed parallel to and spaced from the opposite side of the circuit board, both the reflector array and shield being electrically connected to the common circuit conductor and thereby effecting a static 'grounding' system. The assembly is enclosed in a plastic housing having a light-transmitting side wall adjacent to the flashlamps. The present disclosure additionally provides static grounding protection for the front face of the unit by means of conductive elements which project from the reflector array and protrude through respective openings in the light-transmitting side wall of the housing.

Multilamp photoflash unit with static grounding system

A high-voltage type photoflash lamp filled with a filamentary combustible material and oxygen and having a beadless ignition structure comprising a pair of spaced apart lead-in wires with spherically shaped terminations, a glass frit coating over the lead-in wires with scraped-off portions exposing the bare metal of the wire adjacent each termination, and a coating of primer material over the frit-coated terminations and bared portions of the wires. The primer may bridge the wire terminations or comprise separate spaced apart coatings on the respective terminations, with the filamentary combustible being in contact with both terminations to provide a conducting path therebetween. The frit coating is thick enough to prevent preignition short circuits. Also disclosed is a method of making the lamp including the steps of applying a flame to melt down the ends of the lead-in wires to provide smooth and rounded terminations, dipping the wires in a liquid suspension of glass frit, air drying, passing a blade between the wires to scrape away portions of the frit coating and expose bare wire adjacent the terminations, sealing the lead-in wires into one end of a length of glass tubing, dipping the coated lead-in wires into a primer cup to provide a coat of primer over the terminations and scraped portions, and then finishing the lamp.

Photoflash lamp and method of making same

A photoflash lamp having a borosilicate glass envelope with a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion and a depending metal primer tube, or set of lead-in wires, sealed to the glass envelope. The envelope maintains or enhances strong containment characteristics while at the same time economically providing an improved glass-to-metal seal wherein the glass is in radial compression.

Photoflash lamp

A multilamp photoflash array with lamp-reflector units in linear rows facing in opposite directions and nested back-to-back. The rows of reflectors for both sides of the array are vacuum-formed from a single sheet web between the reflector rows for providing a spring-hinged center support. Each reflector has a parabolic surface with an elongated cylindrical recess behind its associated tubular lamp whereby an air space is provided between the reflector and lamp which functions as a thermal insulator for minimizing heat distortion of adjacent reflectors upon flashing of the lamp.

Growing community of inventors

Williamsport, PA, United States of America

Donald E Armstrong