Controller for lapping photography of cinecamera

Controller for the lapping, fade out and fade in photography of a cinecamera, in which a diaphragm is slowly stopped down partially, photography is interrupted, and the diaphragm is further rapidly stopped down to its full stroke with the shutter being shut off. The film is rewound a predetermined amount with shutter and diaphragm under that condition. The diaphragm is then rapidly opened with the shutter being shut off to effect the stand-by operation so that the fade-in photography may be started.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a controller for the lapping photography 
of a cinecamera. 
In the controller for lapping photography according to the prior art, the 
diaphragm aperture or shutter angle is gradually reduced to a zero 
position, where the photography is interrupted to rewind the film. Then, 
the diaphragm aperture or shutter angle is gradually increased so that the 
double exposure for fade-out and fade-in photographies is effected. This 
technical concept is disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,966,312 and 
3,972,607 and D.O.S. Nos. 2,362,506, 2,460,675 and 2,512,519. 
In the prior art technique, the diaphragm aperture control system is used 
more frequently than the shutter angle control system because the former 
requires no special shutter. However, the diaphragm aperture control 
system is accompanied by the problems that the number of the frames of the 
film used for the fade-out and fade-in photographies becomes so different 
as to make the desired lapping effects difficult and that the film itself 
is wasted to a considerable extent. In the practical viewpoints, more 
specifically, in case the brightness is different for the fade-out and 
fade-in photographies, the lapping effects are remarkably reduced. On the 
other hand, in case the fade-out photography is performed until the 
diaphragm is stopped down to its full stroke, the number of the frames of 
the film to be used for that photography is so increased that the film is 
accordingly wasted. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a controller 
for the lapping photography of a cinecamera, in which with a view to 
establishing a proper shutter speed in accordance with the progress of the 
operating mode such as the overlap, fade-in or fade-out photography both 
the control signals generated in accordance with the progress of the 
operating mode and the signals generated by a light receiving detector 
means are so effectively used that the shutter speed of the previous shot 
may be maintained until the detector means generates the signals 
indicative of the arrival at a preset exposure level when the control 
signals are returned to their initial condition. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller of the 
above type, in which with a view to automatically establishing a proper 
shutter speed in accordance with the operating mode in various 
photographic modes such as fade-in, fade-out or overlap photography there 
is provided a gate circuit for selecting the drive frequency of a stepping 
motor for driving a diaphragm control mechanism from a plurality of 
frequencies divided from an original oscillation frequency so that the 
above operating mode may be digitally controlled. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a controller of the 
above type, in which a delay circuit for generating no output unless its 
input signals continue for a preset time period is connected between the 
light receiving detector means and a motor control circuit so that noises 
of a short pulse width may not be generated. Prominent effects can be 
obtained especially for a logic circuit including a flip-flop for changing 
the shutter speed in accordance with the output of the light receiving 
detector means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 1 generally indicated at reference numeral 1 is a diaphragm control 
mechanism which is controlled by a stepping electric motor 2. At the back 
of the diaphragm control mechanism 1, there is arranged light receiving 
detector means 3 which is made operative to convert the variation in the 
quantity of light having passed through the diaphragm control mechanism 1 
into the variation in current (or voltage). 
Generally indicated at reference numeral 4 is an oscillatory circuit which 
is made operative to generate a plurality of pulse trains having different 
frequencies for turning the stepping motor 2 at different speeds. The 
oscillatory circuit 4 thus made is composed of a primary oscillator 5 and 
a frequency dividing circuit 6 for dividing the frequency generated by the 
oscillator 5. Incidentally, the embodiment under discussion employs the 
stepping motor 2, which may be replaced by a pulse motor so as to control 
the pulses. 
Generally indicated at reference numeral 7 is a gate circuit, which is 
controlled by either the output of the light receiving detector means 3 or 
the control signals generated in accordance with the progress of the 
respective operating mode such as the lap or fade photography so that it 
may select a single pulse from the plural pulse trains of the output of 
the oscillatory circuit 4. Generally indicated at reference numeral 35 is 
a gate control circuit which is made operative to control the gate circuit 
7 in response to the signals of the output of a delay circuit 25 through 
an inverter circuit 34. 
In addition to the terminals W.sub.A and W.sub.B which are connected with 
the light receiving detector means 3, there are provided the V, B, D and A 
terminals, to which are fed the control signals generated in accordance 
with the respective operating mode such as the lap photography, the A/M 
terminal, to which are fed signals at an H level (high level) during an 
automatic photography and signals at an L level (low level) during a 
manual photography, and the F/E terminal, to which are fed the signals at 
the L level upon the fade photography and the signals at the H level 
during the lap, double exposure and EE (electric eye) modes. 
There are connected, as illustrated, D flip-flop circuits 8, 9 and 10, 
inverters 11, 12 and 13, and NOR gates 14 to 22. Here, an inverter 23 is 
connected between the F/E terminal and the input terminal of the D 
flip-flop circuit 8. Incidentally, the terminal V takes the H level in the 
lap mode and the L level when a preset number of frames are photographed 
from the instant 6 of the timing chart of FIG. 2. The terminal B takes 
the H level in the lap mode and the L level when a release switch (not 
shown) is turned on at the instant 6 of the timing chart. The terminal D 
takes the H level upon completion of the fade-out photography and the L 
level when a preset number of frames are rewound. The terminal A takes the 
same levels as those of the terminal D. 
The aforementioned stepping motor 2 is connected with the output terminal 
of the NOR gate 20 through a motor control circuit 24. D flip-flop 
circuits 26 to 28 and a NOR gate 29 are connected within the 
aforementioned delay circuit 25 in the manner, as illustrated. This delay 
circuit 25, the light receiving detector means 3, the gate circuit 7 and 
the motor control circui 24 are connected, as illustrated, by means of NOR 
gates 30 to 32 and inverters 33 and 34. 
FIG. 3 shows a circuit 36 exemplifying means for interrupting the film 
feeding operation at a preset film feed and for rewinding the film a 
preset feed after the diaphragm control mechanism 1 is stopped down to its 
full stroke. The circuit 36 is used in a sound system for simultaneously 
recording sounds in the film. Indicated at reference numeral 37 is a 
counter, which is made so operative while it is receiving the pulses of 
the terminal B at the H level, as shown in FIG. 2, from a terminal 53 as 
to generate pulses, when the film is fed a preset feed, e.g., about 80 
frames by a film feeding motor 40, thereby to trigger a flip-flop 38 so 
that the output of the flip-flop 38 is reduced to the L level. This 
flip-flop 38 is triggered, when it is rendered conductive to shift the 
release switch to the fade-in position, by the pulses, which are prepared 
by differentiating the rising portion of the pulses coming from a terminal 
52 with the use of a differentiator circuit 39, so that its output is 
reset to the H level. As better shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 
indicates a timer, which is made operative to generate pulses at the H 
level with a time delay either after the film is fed about 80 frames by 
the motor 40 or after the film is rewound about 80 frames by the motor. In 
addition, AND gates 42 to 47, a NOT gate 51 and inverters 48 to 50 are 
connected in the manner, as illustrated. 
In the circuit thus connected, the motor 40 rotates forward (Reference 
should be made to FIG. 2.) under the conditions that the output C of the 
flip-flop 38 is at the H level, that the output of the terminal 52 of the 
release switch is also at the H level and that the output of the timer 41 
is at the L level. On the contrary, the motor 40 rotates backward 
(Reference should also be made to FIG. 2.) under the conditions with the 
output C of the flip-flop 38, the output R of the terminal 52 of the 
release switch and the output timer 41 being all at the L level. Under the 
conditions other than the above two, the motor 40 is halted so that the 
motor 40 can be prevented from rotating backward under the condition 
having the pinch roller of a recording mechanism forced into contact with 
the film, thus preventing the film from being rewound and accordingly 
damaged. 
Turning to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the circuit shown in FIG. 3, 
AND gates 54 and 55 and inverters 56 to 58 are connected in the manner 
illustrated, and the operating conditions thus constituted are the same as 
those of the circuit of FIG. 3. 
FIG. 5 shows a modification of and is different from the circuit of FIG. 4 
in a point that there is connected with one input terminal of the AND gate 
55 the terminal 59 of a diaphragm stop-down switch which is made operative 
to generate pulses at the H level under the condition where the diaphragm 
control mechanism 1 is stopped down to its full stroke. In the circuit 
thus constituted, the motor 40 rotates forward under the conditions with 
the output C of the flip-flop 38 and the output R of the terminal 52 being 
both at the H level and the output of the terminal 59 being at the L level 
and rotates backward under the conditions with the output C of the 
flip-flop 38 and the output R of the terminal 52 being both at the L level 
and the output of the terminal 59 being at the H level. Under the 
conditions other than the above two, the motor 40 is held under its halted 
condition so that the damage of the film by the pinch roller can be 
prevented (Reference should be made to FIG. 2.). 
A circuit shown in FIG. 6 is used in a silent system for recording no sound 
in the film. In this circuit, the inverter 56 of FIG. 4 is dispensed with, 
and AND gates 54' and 55' and the inverters 57 and 58 are connected in the 
manner illustrated. In the circuit thus connected, since the pinch roller 
of the recording mechanism is not forced into contact with the film, the 
motor 40 is made to rotate backward, too, even in case the output C of the 
flip-flop 38 and the output of the timer 41 are at the L level and the 
output R of the terminal 52 is at the H level in addition to the 
conditions described in connection with FIG. 4. 
A circuit shown in FIG. 7 is also used in the silent system, in which the 
inverter 56 of FIG. 5 is always dispensed with and in which the AND gates 
54' and 55' and the inverter 57 are connected, as illustrated. In the 
circuit thus connected, the motor 40 is made to rotate backward, too, 
under the conditions with the output C of the flip-flop 38 being at the L 
level and both the output R of the terminal 52 and the output of the 
terminal 59 being at the H level in addition to the conditions described 
in connection with FIG. 5. 
The operations of the controller thus constituted will be described in the 
following. Incidentally, the controlling manner of the motor 40 will be 
described in connection with the circuit shown in FIG. 3. 
(A) Lap Mode (or the so-called Overlap Photography) 
The operations to be performed by a cinecamera are explained with reference 
to FIG. 2. For normal photography, specifically, the shutter speed is at 
its middle level. If the f-number immediately before the lap mode is 
preset to take 0 eV, the shutter speed takes its low level, when the lap 
mode is to be effected, so that the f-number is reduced from 0 eV to -5 eV 
(if necessary, to -7 eV). When a preset number of frames are advanced, the 
shutter speed is changed to its high level so that the diaphragm is fully 
closed in an abrupt manner, and the film is rewound a preset number of 
frames after a preset time elapses. 
When the film is rewound, the diaphragm is opened at a high speed until the 
f-number takes -5 eV, at which the shutter speed is changed to its low 
level so that the stand-by of the cinecamera is continued until the 
photography of the next scene. When this photography is started, the 
f-number is changed at a low speed from -5 eV to 0 eV for the brightness 
at that time. When the f-number of 0 eV is reached, the shutter speed 
restores its middle level. 
The operations thus far described will be explained with reference to FIG. 
1. Here, let it be assumed that the terminal A/M and the terminal F/E is 
at the H level. First of all, since the terminal D is at the L level at 
the instant 1 in the timing chart of FIG. 2, the output Q of the D 
flip-flop 10 takes its L level. On the other hand, the terminals B and V 
are at their L level, and the output Q of the D flip-flop 8 takes its H 
level because the terminal F/E is at its H level so that the output of the 
NOR gate 21 takes its H level and that the output Q of the D flip-flop 9 
takes its L level. As a result, the NOR gates 15 and 17 are inhibited by 
the outputs of the D flip-flops 9 and 10, and the NOR gate 18 is also 
inhibited by the output of the NOR gate 14 so that only the frequency of 
100 Hz from the frequency dividing circuit 6 is allowed to pass through 
the NOR gates 16, 19 and 20 and is fed to a motor control circuit 24 
thereby to turn the stepping motor 2 at a middle speed. 
Upon the start of the lapping operation (at the instant 2 of FIG. 2), the 
terminals V and B take their H level so that the output of the NOR gate 21 
takes its L level whereas the output Q of the D flip-flop 9 takes its H 
level. Here, the output of the D flip-flop 10 maintains its previous 
condition. As a result, the NOR gates 16 and 17 are inhibited so that only 
the frequency of 25 Hz from the frequency dividing circuit 6 is allowed to 
pass through the NOR gates 19 and 20 and is fed to the motor control 
circuit 24 thereby to turn the stepping motor 2 at a low speed. Under this 
particular condition, the motor 40 rotates forward to continue the film 
feed. 
When the film is fed a preset number of frames (e.g., about 80 frames) (at 
the instant 3 of FIG. 2), the terminal D takes its H level. Then, the 
output Q of the D flip-flop 10 also takes its H level. As a result, the 
NOR gates 15 and 16 are inhibited so that only the frequency of 200 Hz is 
fed through the NOR gates 19 and 20 to the motor control circuit 24. On 
the other hand, when the film is fed the preset number of frames, the 
signals at the H level are fed to the terminal A so that the output of the 
NOR gate 30 takes its L level. As a result, the output of the NOR gate 31 
takes its L level independently of the output of the light receiving 
detector means 3 so that the command of rotations in the fully closing 
direction is fed to the motor control circuit 24. This results in the full 
stop-down of the diaphragm control mechanism 1 at a high speed. Under this 
condition, in the circuit shown in FIG. 3, the flip-flop 38 is at its L 
level whereas the terminal 52 and the timer 41 are at their H level so 
that the motor 40 is kept halted to advance no film. Under the same 
condition, the shutter is shut off. 
After a preset time lapse from the rise of the terminal D, i.e., when the 
output of the timer 41 takes its L level, the outputs of the flip-flop 38, 
the terminal 52 and the timer 41 are all at their L level, the motor 40 
rotates backward to rewind the film a preset number of frames (e.g., about 
80 frames) so that the terminal D takes its L level at the end of the 
rewinding operation (at the instant 4 of FIG. 2). At this instant, the 
terminal S of the D flip-flop 10 takes its L level but this condition is 
continued until the input terminal .phi. receives clock signals. As a 
result, the speed is left at a high level. 
When, on the other hand, the film is rewound a preset number of frames (at 
the instant 4 of FIG. 2), the signals at the L level are fed to the 
terminal A so that the NOR gate 30 is released from its inhibited 
condition. Since, at this time, the exposure level of the light receiving 
detector means 3 is left at a level of -5 eV so that the diaphragm control 
mechanism 1 is under its full closed condition, the detector means 3 has 
its terminal W.sub.A generating the signals at the L level and its other 
terminal W.sub.B generating the signals at the H level. These signals of 
the terminals W.sub.A and W.sub.B are fed as the signals at the H level 
(i.e., the stop releasing command) to the motor control circuit 24 from 
the NOR gate 31 so that the diaphragm control mechanism 1 is opened toward 
-5 eV. Under this particular condition, since the flip-flop 38 is at its L 
level whereas the terminal 52 and the timer 41 are at their H level, the 
motor 40 is under its halted condition to feed no film. 
When the light receiving detector means 3 detects that the diaphragm 
control mechanism 1 is opened up to -5 eV so that the delay circuit 25, 
which will be detailed later, generates (at the instant 5 of FIG. 2) 
such rising clocks as are shown at K in the timing chart of FIG. 2, the 
terminal .phi. of the D flip-flop 10 receives the breaking signals, which 
are inverted by the inverter 34, the flip-flop 10 is triggered to invert 
its output so that the output Q is changed to its L level. As a result, 
the NOR gates 16,17 are inhibited so that only the frequency of 25 Hz is 
fed through the NOR gates 14, 19 and 20 to the motor control circuit 24. 
When the photography of the next scene is started (at the instant 6 of 
FIG. 2), the terminal B takes its L level, and the D flip-flop 9 holds its 
previous condition until its terminal .phi. receives the clocks. When the 
light receiving detector means 3 detects that the diaphragm control 
mechanism 1 takes 0 eV, such rising clocks are generated (at the instant 
7 of FIG. 2) as are shown at K in the timing chart. In response to these 
clock signals, the output Q of the D flip-flop 9 takes its L level. As a 
result, the NOR gates 15 and 17 are inhibited so that only the frequency 
of 100 Hz is fed through the NOR gates 16, 19 and 20 to the motor control 
circuit 24. 
When a preset number of frames (e.g., about 80 frames) are photographed (at 
the instant 8 in the timing chart) from the instant 6 in the timing 
chart, the terminal V takes its L level so that the reset signals at the 
end of the lap mode are generated in the system after a preset delay time. 
The following descriptions are concerned with not only the operations by 
the time the control signals K are generated at the output terminals 
W.sub.A and W.sub.B of the light receiving detector means 3 but also the 
GO-STOP commands and the directive commands to the motor control circuit 
24. 
Here, the light receiving detector means 3 is preset to generate the L 
level signals at both of the terminals W.sub.A and W.sub.B, when the 
f-number of the diaphragm control mechanism 1 is at a desired level; the H 
level signals at the terminal W.sub.A and the L level signals at the 
terminal W.sub.B, when the mechanism 1 has to be stopped down more; and 
the L level signals at the terminal W.sub.A and the H level signals at the 
terminal W.sub.B when the mechanism 1 has to be opened more. 
First of all, with the terminals W.sub.A and W.sub.B being at the H and L 
levels, respectively, the output of the NOR gate 31 takes its L level so 
that the rotational commands to the stepping motor 2 in the stopping 
direction are fed to the motor control circuit 24. On the other hand, the 
output of the NOR gate 32 takes its L level so that the delay circuit 25, 
which will be detailed later, generates the L level signals as its output 
signals K. If these signals K are at their L level, the GO command is fed 
to the motor control circuit 24. 
Likewise, in case the terminal W.sub.A is at its L level whereas the 
terminal W.sub.B is at its H level, the signals at the H level are 
generated from the NOR gate 31 so that the rotational command in the 
diaphragm opening direction is generated. Here, the output signals K are 
at the L level. 
When both of the terminals W.sub.A and W.sub.B take their L level, the 
output of the NOR gate 32 is raised to the H level so that the output 
signals K take their H level with such a delay time as is determined by 
the delay circuit 25. Here, the reason for the provision of the delay 
circuit 25 will be explained in the following. 
More specifically, when a preset level of exposure is changed while the 
system is being operating at each of the operating modes including the lap 
and fade modes, short pulses may be instantly generated from the light 
receiving detector means 3. In response to the resultant pulses, the gate 
circuit controlling the shutter speed may effect an erroneous operation. 
In other words, the output of the light receiving detector means 3 is fed 
to the clock terminals .phi. of the D type flip-flops 9 and 10 of the gate 
circuit. As a result, if the aforementioned short pulses or noises are 
generated, the D flip-flops 9 and 10 invert their conditions so that the 
logic condition of the gate circuit is accordingly changed. Thus, 
generation of the output is inhibited by the delay circuit 25 so long as 
the output of the NOR gate 32 is not continued for a preset time period. 
This delay time is preset at a suitable value taking the operating speed 
of the system into consideration. 
The reason for the provision of the latch or gate control circuit 35 will 
also be explained in the following. 
For instance, in case the lap mode shown in FIG. 2 is being effected, the 
signals from the system are generated at the instants 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 
so that the shutter speed has to be changed to a suitable value in 
response to those signals. In this instance, there arises no problem from 
the fact that the shutter speed is changed in the first half of the 
aforementioned mode in response to the signals generated at the instants 
2 and 3 . However, if the shutter speed is changed in the second half of 
the mode in response to the signals generated at the instants 4 and 6 , 
this change is deteriorative to the functions and operations of the lap 
mode. As a result, the shutter speed is held at its previous value by the 
action of the latch circuit 35 until the signals indicative of the fact 
that the f-number reaches the preset value for the next shot are generated 
so that it may be changed to a new value in response to those signals 
(i.e., the rise of the signals K). 
(B) Fade Mode 
This mode is used for the fade-in and fade-out photographies. In this mode, 
the shutter speed is preset at a low level while the fade-in or fade-out 
photography is being performed. The terminals V, B and D are preset at 
their L level during the fade mode. When the terminal F/E is at its H 
level, the shutter speed is selected to a middle level in a similar manner 
to that in the aforementioned lap mode. 
When the terminal F/E is then made to take its L level (at the beginning of 
the fade operation), the output signal Q of the D flip-flop 8 take the L 
level as well as the output of the NOR gate 21 so that the output signal Q 
of the D flip-flop 9 take the H level. As a result, the NOR gates 16 and 
17 are inhibited so that only the frequency of 25 Hz is fed through the 
NOR gates 15, 19 and 20. 
(C) Manual Mode 
Since the terminal A/M is made to take its L level, the terminal A also 
takes its L level so that the output of the NOR gate 14 takes its H level. 
As a result, the NOR gate 19 is inhibited so that the frequency of 25 Hz 
is fed through the NOR gates 18 and 20 thereby to set the stepping motor 2 
at its low speed. Thus, the diaphragm control mechanism 1 can be opened 
and stopped down to a desired f-number by an operator independently of the 
output of the light receiving detector means 3. 
When, in this mode, the double exposure is performed, the signals at the H 
level are impressed upon the terminal A when the film is fed a preset 
number of frames (i.e., at the instant 3 of FIG. 2). As a result, the 
output of the NOR gate 30 is lowered to its L level independently of the 
output of the light receiving detector means 3 so that the rotational 
commands in the full stop-down direction are fed to the motor control 
circuit 24. Since, on the other hand, the output of the NOR gate 14 takes 
its L level, the NOR gate 18 is released from its inhibited condition. As 
a result, the motor control circuit 24 is supplied with the frequency of 
200 Hz at the instant 3 in the timing chart of FIG. 2 so that the 
stepping motor 2 stops down the diaphragm control mechanism 1 in the fully 
closed direction at a high speed. 
Thus, if the double exposure is performed in the manual mode, the desired 
exposure level can be manually preset upon the first exposure level 
presetting operation so that the diaphragm can be stopped down in the 
fully closed direction at a high shutter speed when the preset feed of the 
film is finished. Upon the second exposure level presetting operation, 
moreover, the desired exposure level can be manually preset. 
Since the controller according to the present invention is constructed in 
the manner thus far described, the material range of the lap can be 
effectively preset so that the film can be prevented from being wasted 
while being left unexposed. Moreover, the lap is so ensured that the 
picture frame can be free from being out of register. As a result, the 
resultant picture becomes easy to see with the advantage of the lapping 
effects. 
In the exposure control mechanism of a cinecamera, still moreover, a proper 
shutter speed can be established in accordance with the progress of the 
operating mode such as the overlap, fade-in or fade-out mode. More 
specifically, both the control signals generated in accordance with the 
progress of the modes and the signals generated by the light receiving 
detector means are so effectively used that the previous shutter speed can 
be held, when the control signals are to restore their initial condition, 
until the light receiving detector means generates the signals indicative 
of the fact that the preset exposure level is reached. 
Still moreover, both the control signals generated in accordance with the 
progress of the modes and the signals generated by the light receiving 
detector means are so effectively used that the proper shutter speed can 
also be established even at the second half of the operating mode.