Rollei-werke Franke & Heidecke

Stefan Borejko

Armin Stiller

Axel Schulze

An electronic flash unit having the conventional flash tube, storage capacitor dischargeable through the flash tube, measuring device for recording the quantity of light emitted by the flash tube and reflected back from the subject being photographed, a pulse generator responsive to the measured reflected light, and means for quenching the flash in response to a pulse produced when the measured reflected light reaches a threshold value. The present flash unit, in addition to the conventional features just mentioned, includes the novel feature of a light-emitting diode which becomes illuminated when the light measuring means and the pulse generator circuit become operative, thus signalling to the user of the device that the so-called 'computer' mechanism has actually operated. Circuit means is provided for extinguishing the light-emitting diode at the proper time. By incorporating such a light-emitting diode in the flash unit, the operator is informed of the operativeness of the computer in a more satisfactory way than is possible with prior art devices which notify the operator, the present invention being particularly useful in informing the operator of the functioning of the computer mechanism during each flash in a rapid succession of flashes, not possible in the customary prior art constructions.

Electronic flash unit with operational signal

An arrangement for supplying a load with controlled current of a predetermined voltage which remains uniform notwithstanding variations in voltage of the alternating current supply, and notwithstanding differences in the frequency of the alternating current supply. A monostable trigger stage of the switch mechanism is connected to a DC voltage which is proportional to the voltage of the alternating current source, and its resistor which is connected with the capacitive coupling of the trigger stage transistors and determines the reset time of the trigger stage, is connected to a constant DC voltage. The mechanism includes a voltage divider, the division ratio of which is variable by means of a frequency recognition circuit.

Arrangement for supplying a load with controlled current from an

An electronic flash unit for photographic purposes, in which there is a first thyristor in series with the flash tube, and a second thyristor which, in series with a quenching capacitor, is in parallel with the first thyristor. The first thyristor is quenched at the appropriate time, by quenching current from the quenching capacitor, and after the first thyristor has been rendered non-conductive, the second capacitor is also rendered non-conductive by forced commutation. The arrangement shortens the recovery time of the apparatus, as compared with prior art apparatus of this same general type, to such an extent that the flash apparatus may be used with a motion picture camera as well as a still camera, to produce one or more flashes during each shutter-open cycle of the motion picture camera. In a further development of the invention, a circuit is provided for producing three separate flashes during each opening of the shutter of a motion picture camera, thereby overcoming the stroboscopic effect which might be unpleasantly noticeable to a person being photographed, and producing flashes with such rapidity that to a person being photographed they will appear as a single continuous flash.

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Munich, Georgia

Stefan Borejko