Shutter device in automatic focusing and exposure camera

Abstract

A shutter device of a camera which includes first and second sector mechanisms which constitute a lens shutter and which are independently opened and closed to define an aperture. A photometer, for detecting the luminance of an object to be photographed, and a diaphragm controller for controlling the aperture defined by the second sector mechanism, in accordance with luminance data detected by the photometer, are provided. A shutter opening element is provided which normally closes the first sector mechanism and opens the first sector mechanism when the second sector mechanism is held to define a predetermined aperture determined by the diaphragm controller, and a shutter closing element is provided which closes the second sector mechanisms at a predetermined timing in accordance with the luminance data of the photometer after the first sector mechanism is opened by the shutter opening element.

We claim: 
     
       1. A shutter device for a camera comprising: first and second sector mechanisms comprising a lens shutter and which are independently opened and closed to define an aperture;   photometer means for detecting the luminance of an object to be photographed;   diaphragm control means for controlling the aperture defined by said second sector mechanism in accordance with luminance data detected by said photometer means, said diaphragm control means comprising a stepping motor which rotates by a predetermined number of pulses in accordance with luminance data of said photometer means;   a single drive source for said first and second sector mechanisms, said single drive source comprising: shutter opening means for normally closing said first sector mechanism and opening said first sector mechanism when said second sector mechanism is held to define a predetermined aperture determined by said diaphragm control means; and   shutter closing means for closing said second sector mechanism at a predetermined timing in accordance with the luminance data of said photometer means after said first sector mechanism is opened by said shutter opening means.   
     
     
       2. A shutter device according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm control means further comprises an operational plate which is rotated by said stepping motor to open said second sector mechanism. 
     
     
       3. A shutter device according to claim 2, further comprising a cam mechanism positioned between said stepping motor and said operational plate to determine the angular displacement of said second sector mechanism in accordance with the angular displacement of said operational plate. 
     
     
       4. A shutter device according to claim 1, wherein said second sector mechanism comprises a pair of sector blades of predetermined shape which are associated with each other to open and close the aperture. 
     
     
       5. A shutter device according to claim 4, further comprising an engaging member for holding or releasing said sector blades, which is disengageably engaged by ratchet teeth which are directly formed on said sector blades of the said second sector mechanism. 
     
     
       6. A shutter device according to claim 5, further comprising biasing means for continuously biasing said engaging member to engage with said ratchet teeth. 
     
     
       7. A shutter device according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means for continuously biasing said second sector mechanism to close the same. 
     
     
       8. A shutter device according to claim 7, wherein said diaphragm control means comprises a stepping motor which opens said second sector mechanism to a predetermined aperture against said biasing means in accordance with the luminance data of said photometer means, and a second sector abutment means for holding said second sector mechanism at said predetermined aperture against said biasing means. 
     
     
       9. A shutter device according to claim 8, wherein said shutter closing means comprises releasing means for releasing said engagement of the second sector mechanism by said second sector abutment means. 
     
     
       10. A shutter device according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means for continuously biasing said first sector mechanism to open. 
     
     
       11. A shutter device according to claim 10, wherein said shutter opening means comprises a motor which closes said first sector mechanism against said biasing means, and first sector abutment means for holding said first sector mechanism at said closed position and for releasing said first sector mechanism at a predetermined timing. 
     
     
       12. A shutter device according to claim 11, wherein said motor is a stepping motor which drives said second sector mechanism to a predetermined aperture in accordance with luminance data of said photometer means, said first and second sector mechanisms being actuated by rotation of said stepping motor in the forward and reverse directions. 
     
     
       13. A shutter device according to claim 1, wherein said camera includes a strobe and a daylight synchro photographing mode, and said shutter device further comprises control means, for sequentially performing: opening said second sector mechanism and holding said second sector mechanism at the open position;   controlling said first sector mechanism to have an aperture in accordance with luminance data of said photometer means;   scanning a trigger signal to said strobe at a predetermined timing before the aperture of said sector mechanism becomes a predetermined value; and,   closing said second sector mechanism.   
     
     
       14. A shutter device according to claim 13, wherein said control means further performs increasing the aperture .[.em.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.the second sector mechanism even after the strobe light emission when the object distance is smaller than a predetermined value. 
     
     
       15. The shutter device according to claim 2, further comprising a first sector operational bar for operating said first sector mechanism; a second sector operational bar for operating said second sector mechanism, and a plurality of cams provided on the outer periphery of said operational plate. 
     
     
       16. The shutter device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein said stepping motor actuates said first and second sector mechanisms in accordance with forward and reverse rotation of said stepping motor. 
     
     
       17. A shutter device for a camera comprising first and second sector mechanisms which independently open and close a photographing aperture, and first sector mechanism adapted to open a shutter, said second sector mechanism adapted to set the aperture and close the shutter, said first and second sector mechanisms being controllably moved to open and close the shutter and set the photographing aperture in response to rotation of a stepping motor-driven plate containing a plurality of sector mechanism actuating cam surfaces. 
     
     
       18. The shutter device for a camera according to claim 17, further comprising control means for sequentially opening and holding said second sector mechanism at the opened position, for positioning said first sector mechanism to have a predetermined aperture in accordance with luminance data of a photometric means, for sending a trigger signal to a strobe at a predetermined time before an aperture defined by said first sector mechanism reaches said predetermined aperture, and for closing said second sector mechanism. 
     
     
       19. The shutter device for a camera according to claim 17, wherein said second sector mechanism comprises a plurality of sector members, at least one of said members being provided with a plurality of rachet teeth, said rachet teeth being adapted to be disengagably engaged by means for holding said sector members in a predetermined aperture defining position. 
     
     
       20. A shutter device of a camera comprising: a first sector mechanism which is normally biased to open by first biasing means;   first sector mechanism abutment means for holding said first sector mechanism at an optional aperture;   a second sector mechanism which is normally biased to close by second biasing means;   second sector mechanism .Iadd.abutment means for holding said second sector mechanism .Iaddend.at an optional aperture; and   a stepping motor, .[.which opens and closes.]. .Iadd.said stepping motor comprising means for opening and closing .Iaddend.said first and second sector mechanism;   said camera comprising a strobe and photometer means for detecting luminance data of an object to be photographed;   said camera comprising a normal photographing mode in which said second sector mechanism is opened by said stepping motor to a predetermined diaphragm aperture in accordance with said luminance data, so that said second sector mechanism is held by said second sector mechanism abutment means, and then, said first sector mechanism abutment means and said second sector mechanism abutment means release said first .[.biasing means.]. .Iadd.sector mechanism .Iaddend.and said second sector mechanism .[.by said first biasing means and said second biasing means.]. to open said first sector mechanism and close said second sector mechanism .Iadd.by said first biasing means and said second biasing means .Iaddend.to complete the exposure; and a daylight synchro photographing mode in which said second sector mechanism is opened by said stepping motor, to hold said second sector mechanism by said second sector mechanism abutment means, and then said first sector mechanism is opened .Iadd.by said stepping motor .Iaddend.to a predetermined diaphragm aperture in accordance with luminance data .[.by said stepping motor.]., and finally said second sector mechanism abutment means is released to close said second sector mechanism by said second biasing means to complete the exposure;   said shutter device further comprising daylight trigger means for sending a light emission signal to said strobe at a predetermined light emission timing before said first sector mechanism provides said predetermined diaphragm aperture, in said daylight synchro photographing mode.   
     
     
       21. A shutter device according to claim 20, said camera comprising object distance detecting means for detecting the distance of an object to be photographed, and wherein said daylight trigger means controls the light emission timing in accordance with object distance data of said object distance detecting means. 
     
     
       22. A shutter device according to claim 20, wherein said diaphragm aperture defined by said second sector mechanism is increased by further rotation of said stepping motor even after said strobe light is emitted when the object distance is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
       23. A daylight synchro photographing method in a camera having first and second sector mechanisms which constitute a lens shutter and which are independently opened and closed, a strobe, and .[.a.]. photometer means for detecting the luminance of an object to be photographed, comprising .[.a.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.sequence; opening said second sector mechanism and holding said second sector mechanism at a predetermined open position;   opening said first sector mechanism to a predetermined diaphragm aperture in accordance with the luminance data of the object;   sending a light emission signal to said strobe at a predetermined timing before said diaphragm aperture defined by said first sector mechanism becomes a predetermined value; and   closing said second sector mechanism.   
     
     
       24. A shutter device for a camera comprising: first and second sector mechanisms comprising a lens shutter adapted to be independently opened and closed to define an aperture;   photometric means for detecting the luminance of an object to be photographed;   diaphragm control means for controlling an aperture defined by said second sector mechanism in accordance with luminance data detected by said photometric means;   shutter opening and closing means for moving said first sector mechanism from a closed position to an opened position when said second sector mechanism defines an aperture, and moving said second sector mechanism from an aperture defining position to a closed position a predetermined time after said first sector mechanism is moved to the opened position; and   means for biasing at least one of said first and second sector mechanisms to one of said opened and closed positions. .Iadd.   
     
     
       25.  A camera comprising: photometry means for providing luminance data of an object to be photographed;   first and second sector mechanisms which are independently openable and closable, said first and second sector mechanisms comprising a lens shutter;   operation means for controlling an aperture defined by said second sector mechanism, said operation means comprising a stepping motor operable to rotate by a predetermined amount in accordance with luminance data provided by said photometry means;   shutter opening means for normally closing said first sector mechanism and for opening said first sector mechanism when said second sector mechanism is held to define a predetermined diaphragm aperture controlled by said operation means; and   shutter closing means for closing said second sector mechanism at a predetermined timing in accordance with luminance data provided by said photometry means, after said first sector mechanism is opened by said shutter opening means,   wherein said stepping motor is rotatable for closing said first sector mechanism after said second sector mechanism is closed..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The camera according to claim 25, further comprising first sector biasing means for continuously biasing said first sector mechanism to open..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The camera according to claim 26, said shutter opening means comprising first sector abutment means operable for holding said first sector mechanism at a closed position and for releasing said first sector mechanism at a predetermined timing, said shutter opening means being movable by said stepping motor, said stepping motor being operable to close said first sector mechanism against a bias of said first sector biasing means..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The camera according to claim 27, said first sector abutment means comprising an electromagnet..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The camera according to claim 25, further comprising second sector biasing means for continuously biasing said second sector mechanism to close..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The camera according to claim 29, said shutter closing means comprising a second sector abutment means operable for holding said second sector mechanism at said predetermined diaphragm aperture, said operation means comprising means for operating said stepping motor to open said second sector mechanism to said predetermined diaphragm aperture against a bias of said second sector biasing means..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The camera according to claim 30, said second sector abutment means comprising engaging means for holding said second sector mechanism at said predetermined aperture diaphragm, said shutter closing means comprising releasing means for releasing said   
     
     
        engaging means..Iaddend..Iadd.32.  The camera according to claim 31, said engaging means comprising an operational plate arranged for rotation by said stepping motor, for controlling the aperture defined by said second sector mechanism..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The camera according to claim 32, further comprising a cam mechanism provided between said stepping motor and said operational plate to determine angular displacement of said second sector mechanism in association with an angular displacement of said operational plate..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The camera according to claim 33, said operational plate comprising ratchet teeth formed thereon, said engaging means further comprising an engaging member for disengagedly engaging said ratchet teeth for holding or releasing said second sector mechanism..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The camera according to claim 34, said releasing means comprising an electromagnet..Iaddend..Iadd.36. The camera according to claim 30, said second sector mechanism comprising a pair of said second sector blades which are associated with each other for opening and closing..Iaddend..Iadd.37. The camera according to claim 36, further comprising ratchet teeth formed on at least one of said second sector blades, said second sector abutment means comprising an engaging member for disengagedly engaging said ratchet teeth for holding said second sector blades, said shutter closing means comprising releasing means for 
     
     
        releasing said engaging member..Iaddend..Iadd.38.  The camera according to claim 37, further comprising biasing means for continuously biasing said engaging member to engage with said ratchet teeth..Iaddend..Iadd.39. The camera according to claim 38, wherein said releasing means comprises an electromagnet..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The camera according to claim 30, further comprising a strobe unit and a daylight synchro photographing mode, said shutter opening means comprising means movable by said stepping motor, and control means for actuating, in said daylight synchro photographing mode, said operation means to operate said stepping motor in a first direction to rotate, to open and hold said second sector mechanism at an open position, and for actuating said stepping motor to rotate in an opposite direction to move said shutter opening means to open said first sector mechanism to provide an aperture in accordance with luminance data provided by said photometry means when said second sector mechanism is held in said open position, and to provide a trigger signal to said strobe unit at a predetermined timing before an aperture defined by said first sector mechanism becomes a predetermined value..Iaddend..Iadd.41. The camera according to claim 39, further comprising a strobe unit and a daylight synchro photographing mode, said shutter opening means comprising means movable by said stepping motor, and control means for actuating, in said daylight synchro photographing mode, said operation means to operate said stepping motor in a first direction to rotate, to open and hold said second sector mechanism at an open position, and for actuating said stepping motor to rotate in an opposite direction to move said shutter opening means to open said first sector mechanism to provide an aperture in accordance with luminance data provided by said photometry means when said second sector mechanism is held in said open position, and to provide a trigger signal to said strobe unit at a predetermined time before an aperture defined by said first sector mechanism becomes a predetermined value..Iaddend..Iadd.42. The camera according to claim 40, further comprising object distance detecting means, said control means sending said trigger signal in accordance with object distance data detected by said object distance detecting means..Iaddend..Iadd.43. The camera according to claim 41, further comprising object distance detecting means, said control means sending said trigger signal in accordance with object distance data detected by said object distance detecting means..Iaddend..Iadd.44. The camera according to claim 42, wherein, when an object distance is smaller than a predetermined value, said control means actuates said operation means to rotate said stepping motor to further open said second sector mechanism even after strobe light emission..Iaddend..Iadd.45. The camera according to claim 43, wherein, when an object distance is smaller than a predetermined value, said control means actuates said operation means to rotate said stepping motor to further open said second sector mechanism even after strobe light emission..Iaddend..Iadd.46. A method of providing a daylight synchro photographing mode for a camera having first and second sector mechanisms which independently open and close a photographing aperture, said method comprising: (a) opening the second sector mechanism and holding the second sector mechanism at an open position;   (b) starting an exposure in the daylight synchro photographing mode by opening the first sector mechanism to a predetermined diaphragm aperture in accordance with luminance data of an object to be photographed;   (c) actuating a strobe at a predetermined timing before a diaphragm aperture defined by the first sector mechanism becomes a predetermined value; and   (d) closing said second sector mechanism to finish an exposure in the daylight synchro photographing mode..Iaddend..Iadd.47. A shutter device for a camera comprising:   first and second sector mechanisms comprising a lens shutter and which are independently opened and closed;   photometering means for detecting luminance of an object to be photographed;   diaphragm control means, responsive to luminance data of said photometering means, for controlling an aperture defined by said second sector mechanism in accordance with the luminance data detected by said photometering means;   shutter opening means for normally closing said first sector mechanism and opening said first sector mechanism when said second sector mechanism is held to define a predetermined aperture defined by said diaphragm control means;   shutter closing means for closing said second sector mechanism at a predetermined timing in accordance with the luminance data of said photometering means after said first sector mechanism is opened by said shutter opening means; and   a single drive source, said single drive source comprising said shutter   
     
     
        opening means and said shutter closing means..Iaddend..Iadd.48.  A shutter device for a camera according to claim 47, and further comprising means for returning said first sector mechanism to a closed state after said second sector mechanism is closed, said returning means comprising a stepping motor and means for rotating said stepping motor in a first direction to determine an aperture defined by said second sector mechanism, and rotating said stepping motor in a direction opposite said first direction for returning said first motor mechanism to the closed state after the second sector mechanism is closed..Iaddend.