The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 1978
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1977
William T Colville, Williamsport, PA (US);
David W Mecone, Williamsport, PA (US);
Emery G Audesse, Beverly, MA (US);
GTE Sylvania Incorporated, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A photoflash lamp array comprising a plurality of low voltage filament-type flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit board containing circuitry for sequentially igniting the flashlamps in response to successive low voltage firing pulses applied thereto. A plurality of 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. The lamps are divided into upper and lower groups, with the circuit board having an upper connector coupled to the lower group of lamps and a lower connector coupled to the upper group of lamps, whereby one group of lamps functions as an extender for the other group to reduce the 'red-eye' photographic effect. Connected in series with each but the first lamp of each group is a radiant-energy-activated quick-connect switch comprising a patch of heat shrinkable polymeric material attached to the circuit board and extending across a respective one of the apertures therein, a fixed contact attached to a first portion of the circuitry, and a resilient movable contact, such as a segment of spring wire, connected at one end to a second portion of the circuitry and having a bent segment at the other end which contacts the polymeric material in alignment with the respective aperture. The movable contact overlies the fixed contact and is held in a preenergized spaced apart relationship therefrom by the bent segment bearing against the polymeric material. Upon ignition of a flashlamp aligned with the respective aperture, the resulting radiant output rapidly melts away the heat shrinkable material from the aperture and thereby releases the movable contact to resiliently engage the fixed contact as the bent segment enters the circuit board aperture.