Single-lens reflex camera with built-in flash

A single-lens reflex camera with a flash unit built into the camera body above the viewing pentaprism. The unit is movable from an operating position to a non-operating position, preferably enclosed in the camera body. The built-in flash unit may be automatically closed by inserting an external flash in a flash shoe. A display panel may be included on the top of the flash unit housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a single-lens reflex camera with a 
built-in flash. 
The present invention also relates to a built-in flash changeover mechanism 
which makes it possible to attach an external flash to a single-lens 
reflex camera having another flash built therein. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Conventionally, a flash is attached over the pentaprism of a single-lens 
reflex camera every time the flash is used for photography. If the flash 
is heavy, it is coupled to the body of the camera by a special strong 
coupling device. 
When a flash is secured over a pentaprism, the joint of the flash and the 
body of a camera has such a low mechanical strength that the joint is very 
likely to be damaged when the camera fitted with the flash on the body of 
the camera is carried. For that reason, the flash needs to be attached and 
detached to and from the camera body at a place where the flash is used. 
The number of photographers who want to perform sophisticated photography 
of a subject by using not only ambient light around the subject but also 
auxiliary light has been increasing due to the appearance of 
high-sensitivity films. Such photographers tend to carry flashes with them 
all the time. 
Since an object at a very small distance is likely to be photographed under 
flash light by a single-lens reflex camera, it is more desirable to place 
a flash tube on a vertical plane containing the central optical axis of 
the camera than to place the flash tube at the side of the camera. 
In a single-lens reflex camera of the type with an exchangeable lens, a 
flash is embedded in the side part of the body of the camera near its 
front as in a compact camera of the lens shutter type. In a single-lens 
reflex camera, there is mounted thereon a flash having a flash emitting 
section which can be protruded from the body of the camera. 
Objects in a range from a very small distance to a very large distance are 
photographed by a single-lens reflex camera, particularly a single-lens 
reflex camera of the lens exchange type. The lens of the camera of the 
lens exchange type is often replaced with another one of appropriate focal 
length. For that reason, when a flash is built in the single-lens reflex 
camera, it is necessary to avoid making its lens barrel intercept light 
emitted from the flash. However, in a conventional single-lens reflex 
camera, having a flash, a light emitting section is located near, beside 
the lens of the camera. For that reason, the light from the flash of the 
conventional single-lens reflex camera does not sufficiently illuminate an 
object when a long lens barrel is attached to the camera. 
When a flash is used to photograph a flower, an insect or the like at a 
small distance by a single-lens reflex camera, it is desirable to 
irradiate light upon the object from the central part of the camera. For 
that reason, the flash is secured over the pentaprism (view ping prism) of 
the camera by electric contacts provided over the rear of the pentaprism. 
However, the structural strength of the secured portion of the flash is so 
low that the connecting portion is likely to be damaged. It is impossible 
to photograph an object at a very small distance by a compact camera of 
the lens shutter type. As for a single-lens reflex camera, it is desirable 
to easily use a flash to photograph an object at a very small distance. It 
is desired that a photographer not skilled in single-lens reflex 
photography can more easily use a flash. 
A flash unit may be built into the body of a single-lens reflex camera of 
the lens exchange type in such a manner that the light emission means of 
the flash is located in the film rewinding section of the camera or in its 
pentaprism casing. Typically, objects at various distances including 
extremely small distances and very large distances are photographed by a 
single-lens reflex camera, particularly for a single-lens reflex camera 
whose lens is often replaced by other lenses of desired focal lengths. 
Since the performance of zoom lenses has recently been enhanced, the 
number of persons who usually do not use a standard lens but instead use 
such a zoom lens which covers the functions of a wide-angle lens, a 
medium-distance photographing lens and a telephoto-lens has been 
increasing. As for zoom lenses in general, the total length of a lens tube 
does not change even if the focal length of the lens is decreased for 
wide-angle photography. For that reason, it is necessary to build the 
flash in the single-lens reflex camera so that the light from the flash is 
not blocked by the lens barrel. 
However, the light emission means of a flash built in such a conventional 
single-lens reflex camera is protruded nearly upwards from the body of the 
camera so that the light from the flash is blocked by a long barrel and 
therefore not enough light is irradiated upon an object to be 
photographed. 
On the other hand, a flash for a large quantity of light is not much needed 
these days because high-sensitivity films such as the ISO 400 and the ISO 
1000 have become available on the market. In addition, there is an 
increasing desire to reduce the weight of a camera, namely, to make its 
accessories light and compact. 
In the prior art, since the light emission surface of an external flash 
which is attached to a conventional camera by inserting the attaching foot 
of the flash into the attaching shoe of the camera is placed nearer an 
object to be photographed, the attaching foot is placed behind the light 
emission surface of the external flash. 
When a built-in flash is to be used which has a light emission means 
mounted over and in front of a pentaprism casing and is incorporated in a 
single-lens reflex camera, the light emission means is protruded up from 
the pentaprism casing. When the built-in flash is not to be used, the 
built-in flash is housed in the pentaprism casing. 
When the built-in flash of the single-lens reflex camera is in the 
operational position, namely, the light emission means is protruded up 
from the pentaprism casing, an external flash cannot be attached to the 
camera because the attaching foot of the external flash cannot be 
completely inserted into the attaching shoe of the camera. As a result, a 
synchronization terminal might not be properly connected. 
On yet another point, the automated control of a single-lens reflex camera 
has been recently so much advanced that the number of pieces of camera 
control information such as exposure information, film information and 
flash information, which are given to a photographing person, has become 
quite large. The space required for displaying these items of information 
has also become large along with the increase in the number of the items 
of information. For that reason, the use of a large-size display member 
made of an LCD display panel or the like has lately begun for such a 
single-lens reflex camera because of the low electric power consumption of 
the display member. However, it is a problem where the large-size display 
member should be located in the camera. 
Since photography is often performed by using a flash these days, the flash 
is a common requirement. For that reason, various types of single-lens 
reflex cameras have been devised such as one with a built-in flash, which 
is protruded from the body of the camera at the time of use of the flash 
and is retracted into the body except during use for the sake of the 
convenience of carrying of the camera. Several such built-in flashes are a 
subject of this application. Since an object at a large distance is often 
photographed by such a single-lens reflex camera these days, a flash with 
a large quantity of light needs to be provided in the camera. Since the 
volume of the flash with the large quantity of light is large, the flash 
occupies a large space in the body of the camera. 
However, it has been difficult to provide a large-size display member and a 
large-size flash in a single-lens reflex camera without degrading its 
handling and carrying properties. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-described 
difficulties. 
In particular, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a 
single-lens reflex camera having a flash built in the body of the camera. 
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a mechanism for 
lifting a built-in flash in such a manner that the light from the flash is 
not blocked by a lens barrel. 
According to another aspect of the invention, it is a further purpose to 
provide a built-in flash changeover mechanism for a single-lens reflex 
camera, wherein a built-in flash is automatically housed in a 
non-operating position and replaced by an external flash when the external 
flash is attached to the attaching shoe of the camera while the built-in 
flash is withdrawn into a housed position. 
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a camera having 
a flash built therein at the center of the top of the body of the camera, 
and particularly a single-lens reflex camera having a flash built therein 
over a pentaprism. 
It is a further purpose of the present device to provide a single-lens 
reflex camera wherein a flash is built in and a large and easily-seen 
display member is compactly provided. 
According to the present invention, a light emission means is fitted with a 
lifting mechanism and disposed in a housing chamber provided preferably 
over the front of a pentaprism casing. When the built-in flash is to be 
used, the light emission means is protruded up and preferably forwards out 
of the housing chamber by the lifting mechanism so as to avoid the 
above-mentioned problem. Since the light emission means is not only lifted 
but also moved toward an object at the time of the use of the built-in 
flash, the light from the flash is not blocked by the lens barrel and the 
height of the lifted flash can be made small. 
The single-lens reflex camera according to one aspect of the present 
invention includes a flash light emission tube over the viewing prism and 
a flash light emission tube housing is manually or automatically shifted 
to move the flash light emission tube from a housed and tightly-closed 
position to an operational or protruded position in which flash light can 
be emitted forwards from over the viewing prism. Because of such a 
construction, a flash can be used with the single-lens reflex camera as 
easily as with a camera of the lens shutter type or a compact camera. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, the light emission 
means of the built-in flash is moved to the non-operating position by the 
attaching foot of the external flash when the attaching foot is inserted 
into the attaching shoe mounted on the pentaprism casing of the camera. 
According to this aspect, even if the built-in flash is in the operational 
position, the light emission means of the built-in flash is housed in the 
non-operating position by the attaching foot of the external flash to 
thereby put the built-in flash in the non-operating position by the action 
of the attaching foot of the external flash being inserted into the 
attaching shoe. For that reason, even if the external flash is attached to 
the shoe when the built-in flash is in the used position, both the flashes 
never interfere with each other and the external flash can be properly 
operated. 
In the camera provided in accordance with another aspect of the present 
invention and having the flash built therein, a projecting portion 
projects upwards and has a backward and downward slope at the center of 
the top of the camera. The lamp housing of the flash is rotatably 
supported on this slope. A switch is turned on or off depending on the 
turned position of the lamp housing to render the flash operable or 
inoperable. When the flash is placed in an operating position, the light 
emission surface of the lamp housing is oriented straight forwards with 
respect to the center of the front of the camera and the flash is put in 
the state of light emission operability by the switch. When the flash is 
placed in the non-operating position, the light emission surface of the 
lamp housing is oriented backwards and the flash is put in the state of 
light emission inoperability by the switch. 
According to the present invention, the display member for showing camera 
control information or the like is provided on the top of a movable 
built-in flash section in the single-lens reflex camera. The movable flash 
section may be moved so as to be either housed in the body of the camera 
or protruded from the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Several embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described with 
reference to the drawings. 
FIGS. 1A and 1B show exterior views of a single-lens reflex camera 10 
according to the present invention. FIG. 1A indicates that a flash light 
emission tube 12 is housed over a pentaprism. FIG. 1B indicates that the 
tube 12 is protruded above in the forward direction to illuminate an 
object in order to photograph it. A push button 14 shifts the flash light 
emission tube 12 from a position shown in FIG. 1A to a position shown in 
FIG. 1B. The push button 14 is hereinafter described in detail. 
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the first embodiment of the present invention. 
FIGS. 2A and 2B show sectional views along a vertical place containing the 
photographic optical axis of a single-lens reflex camera. FIG. 2C shows a 
partially cutaway view of the main part of the camera, which is seen from 
the front of the camera. 
A pentaprism 20 is used for an optical unit for a view finder. The 
pentaprism 20 is provided in a pentaprism casing 22. A chamber 26 for 
housing a lamp support 24 is provided over the central edge of the upper 
front facet of the pentaprism 20. A light source unit comprising a xenon 
tube 28, a reflector 30 and a wind-and-dust shield glass 32 is mounted in 
the front portion of the lamp support 24. The xenon tube 28 extends 
horizontally toward the right and left ends of the camera, namely, 
perpendicularly to the surfaces of FIGS. 2A and 2B. 
The lamp support 24 is supported by matching levers 34a and 34b located at 
both sides of the lamp support 24 and coupled to the pentaprism casing 22 
and finally to the body of the single-lens reflex camera. The levers 34a 
and 34b are rotatably supported at one end of each of them by pins 36a and 
36b at both the sides of the lamp support 24 behind the xenon tube 28, and 
are also rotatably supported near their other ends by shafts 38a and 38b 
on the pentaprism casing 22. At least one (34a) of the two levers 34a and 
34b is provided with a spring 40 engaged at one end thereof with a secured 
pin 42 on the lever 34a and at the other end thereof with a secured pin 44 
on the pentaprism casing 22. This spring is wound on the corresponding 
shaft 38a so as to apply a counterclockwise turning force to the lever 
34a. 
Guide plates 46a and 46b, which extend in parallel with each other in the 
front-to-rear direction of the camera, project from the top of the 
pentaprism casing 22 and have slender guide holes or grooves 48a and 48b 
extending in the front-to-rear direction of the camera. Guide pins 50a and 
50b project from the rear portion of the lamp support 24 and are always 
fitted in the guide holes 48a and 48b. As a result, a force for shifting 
the lamp support 24 from a closed position shown in FIG. 2A to a protruded 
or open position shown in FIG. 2B is applied to the lamp support 24 when 
the lever 34a is turned counterclockwise about the shaft 38a. 
A front panel 52, in front of the housing chamber 26 tightly closes the 
housing chamber 26 in cooperation with the lamp support 24 when the lamp 
support 24 is housed as shown in FIG. 2A. An engaging mechanism located 
inside the front panel 52 keeps the lamp support 24 in the housed position 
against the force of the spring 40 and either manually or automatically 
releases the lamp support 24 as necessary. The engaging mechanism includes 
a side shaft 54 which extends in the sideward direction of the camera and 
is secured to the front panel 52 or to the wall of the housing chamber 26. 
An engaging plate 56 is rotatably supported about the side shaft 54. A 
clockwise turning force is applied to the engaging plate 56 by a return 
spring 58 wound on the side shaft 54. The upper end 56a of the engaging 
plate 56 is horizontally bent. A pin 60 projects from a side of the lower 
and of the lever 34a and is located in such a position that, when the lamp 
support 24 is closed as shown in FIG. 2A, the pin 60 is frictionally 
engaged with the bent upper end 56a of the engaging plate 56 to maintain 
the lamp support 24 closed. 
The front panel 52 is fitted with a push button 62 in a position 
corresponding to the lower portion of the engaging plate 56. When the push 
button 62 is pressed, the engaging plate 56 is turned counterclockwise 
about the shaft 54 to release the frictional engagement between the upper 
end 56a of the engaging plate and the pin 60 on the lever 34. As a result, 
the lamp support 24 protrudes out of the housing chamber 26 by the force 
of the spring 40. An electro-magnet 64 is provided at the lower portion of 
the panel 52 opposite the push button 62. When the electromagnet 64 is 
energized, it performs the same action as when the push button 62 is 
pressed. 
FIG. 3 shows a circuit which causes the electromagnet 64 to automatically 
project the zenon tube 28 to the open position depending on the quantity 
of light from an object to be photographed. A comparator circuit 66 
compares the output voltage Vx of a TTL light measuring element 68 with a 
reference voltage Vr. When the output voltage Vx is higher than the 
reference voltage Vr, the comparator circuit, 66 generates a low output L. 
When the output voltage Vx is not higher than the reference voltage Vr, 
the comparator circuit 66 generates a high output H. A normally open 
switch 70 connects and disconnects the output terminal of the comparator 
circuit 66 to ground. This switch 70 can be used to disable the automatic 
control circuit. The output terminal of the comparator circuit 66 is 
connected to the base of a PNP transistor 72. The electromagnet 64 is 
connected to the collector of the transistor 72. When the output voltage 
Vx of the TTL light measuring element 68 is not higher than the reference 
voltage Vr, that is, the quantity of light from the object is not larger 
than a prescribed value, an electrical current flows through the 
electromagnet 64 to turn the engaging plate 56 counterclockwise to project 
the lamp support 24 upwards and forwards. 
FIG. 4 shows an example of a flash circuit adopted in the first embodiment 
of the present invention. The flash circuit comprises a voltage increase 
circuit 74, a main capacitor 76, a charging completion display circuit 78 
having a neon tube 77, a light emission circuit 80, the zenon tube 28 and 
a light emission stop circuit 82. The terminal TRIG of the light emission 
circuit 80 is a light emission trigger signal input terminal. The terminal 
QUENCH of the light emission stop circuit 82 is a light emission stop 
signal input terminal. The flash circuit itself is conventional. However, 
two normally open switches 84 and 86 are connected in parallel with each 
other between the voltage increase circuit 74 and a power supply +V. The 
first switch 84 is closed in conjunction with the protrusion of the lamp 
support 24. The second switch 86 is used to manually operate the flash 
circuit. The first switch 84 is located near one of many moving parts in 
this embodiment so that the switch performs its proper function. 
A wire 87 for electrically connecting the light emission circuit 80 and the 
xenon tube 28 to each other extends from the light emission circuit 80 in 
the body of the camera to the xenon tube 28 through the hole 88 of the 
upper front portion of the pentaprism casing 22, a wire support hole 90 
inside the lamp support 24 and a hole 92 of a frame which supports the 
reflector 30 and the xenon tube. 
In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, if the quantity of 
light from the object is not enough, the electromagnet 64 is automatically 
energized to protrude the flash support 24 upward and toward the object. 
Meanwhile, the main capacitor 76 of the flash circuit is charged to enable 
the emission of flash light. When the flash is to be used regardless of 
the quantity of light from the object, for example, to perform synchronous 
photography in the daytime, the push button 62 on the front panel 52 is 
pressed to release the lamp support 24 to protrude it. At that time, the 
switch 84 is closed to charge the main capacitor 76. The manual operation 
switch 86 of the flash circuit is used to check the function of the flash 
circuit. 
When the lamp support 24 protruding up and forwards is to be retracted into 
the housing chamber 26, the top of the lamp support 24 is pushed down. At 
that time, the guide pin 50a is moved down and backwards while being 
guided by the guide hole 48a. Also, the pin 60 at the lower end of the 
lever 34a slides on the bent upper end 56a of the engaging plate 56 so 
that the pin 60 is frictionally engaged with the bent upper end 56a. The 
lamp support 24 is thus engaged in the housing chamber 26. 
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show the second embodiment of the present 
invention, which employs a lifting mechanism of the linkage type. FIG. 5A 
shows a view of the lifting mechanism in its housed position. The view is 
illustrated with the side wall of the housing chamber for a lamp support 
removed. FIG. 5B shows the lifting mechanism in a protruded or lifted 
position. FIG. 5C shows a sectional view along a line C--C shown in FIG. 
5A. FIG. 5D shows a sectional view along a line D--D shown in FIG. 5A. 
In the second embodiment, support plates 100a and 100b are secured to the 
right and left of the housing chamber by screws 101a and 101b at the upper 
front portion of a pentaprism casing 22. 
The lifting linkage mechanism includes L-shaped first levers 102a and 102b 
and second levers 104a and 104b at the right and left of the mechanism. 
The first levers and the second levers are rotatably linked to each other 
at their central portions. 
The L-shaped first levers 102a and 102b are rotatably supported at their 
heels on vertical projections 106a and 106b of the support plates 100a and 
100b, and are biased at their lower ends by helical tension springs 108a 
and 108b in the forward direction or in such a direction as to be turned 
clockwise as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The inner sides of the upper 
ends of the first levers 102a and 102b are fitted with sliding pins 114a 
and 114b fit into guide grooves 112a and 112b of the side plates 110a and 
110b of the lamp support 24. Shown at 115a and 115b in FIG. 5C are lock 
washers. One of the helical springs 108a and 108b may be omitted. 
The upper end of the second lever 104a is rotatably attached to the side 
plate 110a of the lamp support 24 by a pin 111a. The inner side of the 
lower end of the second lever 104a is fit with a sliding pin 118a sliding 
in the guide groove 116a of the support plate 100a. 
The forms of the guide grooves 112a, 112b, 116a and 166b are determined 
depending on the actual forms and dimensions of related members so that 
the lifting linkage mechanism is smoothly moved up and down. 
A locking pin 118 is affixed to a side portion of the lamp support 24. A 
hook 120, with which the locking 118 can engage when the lamp support 24 
is closed, is provided inside the front panel 52 located in front of the 
housing chamber 26. The hook 120 is always urged clock-wise about a shaft 
124 by a hair-pin spring 122. When the push button 62 on the front panel 
52 is pressed, the hook 120 is turned counterclockwise to release the 
locking pin 118. At that time, the lamp support 24 is pushed up by the 
lifting linkage mechanism through the actions of the helical tension 
springs 108a and 108b. In the same manner as the first embodiment of FIGS. 
2A-2C, the electromagnet 64 (not shown) is provided near the hook 120 to 
perform the same action as when the push button 62 is pressed. 
The control circuit for the electromagnet 64 and the flash circuit are the 
same as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Although FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D do 
not show a wire for electrically connecting the zenon tube 28 and a light 
emission circuit 80 to each other, the wire can be provided in such an 
appropriate location as not to hinder the action of the linkage mechanism. 
In the second embodiment, when the push button 62 is pressed or when the 
electromagnet 64 is energized due to an insufficient quantity of light 
from an object to be photographed, the hook 120 and the locking pin 118 
are disengaged from each other to move up the lamp support 24 by the 
forces of the helical tension springs 108a and 108b. When the lamp support 
24 is pushed in and downward, the locking pin 118 is engaged with the hook 
120 to keep the lamp support 24 closed. Since the lamp support 24 is moved 
up high in comparison with the region of the housing chamber 26, flash 
light is not intercepted by a long lens unit such as a telephoto lens. 
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A 
shows a sectional view of a single-lens reflex camera with a flash in a 
housed position, along a central vertical plane. FIG. 6B shows along the 
same plane a sectional view of the camera with the flash in an operational 
position. A lamp support 122 has a form of inverted U in the plan view of 
the lamp support. Legs 124 of the lamp support 124 are located at both the 
sides of the xenon tube 28 and are supported at their rear ends on the 
pentaprism casing 22. At least one of the supported rear end portions of 
the legs 124 is wound with a spring 126 which is engaged at one end 
thereof with the step of the corresponding leg 124 and at the other end 
thereof in a hole in the pentaprism casing 22. The spring 126 acts to turn 
the lamp support 122 clockwise in FIGS. 6A and 6B. 
A locking pin 128 extending to the side is affixed to the mid-section of 
the leg 124. A hook 130, which is engaged with the locking pin 128 to keep 
the lamp support 122 housed as shown in FIG. 6A, is attached to the 
pentaprism casing 22 so that the hook 130 can be turned about a shaft 132 
secured to the pentaprism casing 22. A spring 134 wound on the shaft 132 
urges the hook 130 in such a counterclockwise direction as to turn the 
hook to engage it with the pin 128. A pin 136 is affixed sidewards in the 
hook 130 beneath the shaft 132 of the hook 130. A sliding mechanism 138 
can move the pin 138 forward and backward. A portion of the sliding 
mechanism 138 is exposed at a side of the pentaprism casing 22 so that 
when the exposed portion is moved forward by the photographer, the sliding 
mechanism is displaced forward to move the pin 136 forward. When the 
sliding mechanism 138 is displaced forward from a position shown in FIG. 
6A, the hook 130 is turned counterclockwise to release the locking 128. It 
is desirable that an electromagnet for turning the hook 130 
counterclockwise depending on the quantity of light from a photographed 
object to release the engaging pin 128 is provided at the hook 130 as in 
the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C. 
All that needs to be done to shift the lamp support 122 from a housed 
position to a protruded or used position in the third embodiment is to 
displace the sliding mechanism 138 forward. When the sliding mechanism 138 
is displaced forward, the pin 128 is disengaged from the hook 130 so that 
the lamp support 122 is protruded out of a housing chamber 26 by the force 
f the spring 126. When a magnet drive circuit shown in FIG. 3 is adopted 
in the third embodiment, the electromagnet is energized when the quantity 
of light from the object is smaller than a prescribed value, so as to turn 
the hook 130 counterclockwise to protrude the lamp support 122. 
All that needs to be done to shift the lamp support 122 from the protruded 
position to the housed position is push the lamp support into the housing 
chamber 16. When the lamp support 122 is pushed into the housing chamber, 
the engaging pin 128 slightly turns the hook 130 counterclockwise while 
sliding on the head of the hook, and is finally placed under the head of 
the hook. Even if the photographer's hand is then removed from the lamp 
support 122, the hook 130 holds the engaging pin 128 stationary by the 
force of the spring 134 so that the lamp support 122 is kept in the housed 
position. In the third embodiment, the mechanism for lifting the lamp 
support 122 is very simple and can be manufactured at a low cost. 
FIGS. 7A and 7B show the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 
7A shows a sectional view of a single-lens reflex camera with a flash in a 
housed position, along a central vertical plane. FIG. 7B shows along the 
same plane a sectional view of the camera with the flash in an operational 
position. In this embodiment, the lamp is neither protruded nor lifted, 
but instead a mirror 140 is lifted. The xenon tube 28, the reflector 30 
and the wind and dust shield glass 32 are secured in the housing chamber 
26 and oriented so that flash light is obliquely projected up and 
backwards. The mirror 140 and a mirror support 142 are provided so that 
they cover the housing chamber 26. The mirror support 142 is rotatably 
supported at its rear end on the to top of the pentaprism casing 22. A 
spring 144 wound on a shaft for rotatably supporting the mirror support 
142 is provided to always bias the mirror support 142 in such a clockwise 
direction as to turn the mirror support to move the mirror 140 to a 
position in which light from the xenon tube 28 is reflected forwards by 
the mirror. 
One end of a lever 146 is rotatably attached to the mid-section of the 
mirror support 142. A pin 148 is affixed to a side of the lever 146 at its 
other end and fitted in the guide groove 150 of the side wall of the 
housing chamber 26. The guide groove 150 and the pin 148 are positioned so 
that the mirror 140 is placed at an appropriate angle when the pin 148 
comes to the upper end of the guide groove 150 in the upward movement of 
the mirror support 142. At least one the opposed sides of the camera is 
provided with the group of the lever 146, the pin 148 and the guide groove 
150. 
A hook 152 for engaging the pin 148 to a standstill as the mirror 140 is 
moved down is provided at the bottom of the housing chamber 26. The hook 
152 is dog-legged as a whole, supported at its center, and always biased 
by a spring 154 in such a direction as to engage the pin 148 to be 
stationary. When a push button 156 exposed outside is pressed, the hook 
152 is turned clockwise against the force of the spring 154. The hook 152 
can be turned clockwise by an electromagnet (not shown) in the same manner 
as the preceding embodiments. The electromagnet is not shown in the 
drawings. 
In the fourth embodiment, the xenon tube 28 is secured in a stationary 
position. For that reason, a wire for electrically connecting the xenon 
tube 28 to the flash circuit may be secured and therefore can be laid 
easily through a hole provided in a portion of the pentaprism casing 22. 
The mirror 140 may be any of a plane mirror, a convex mirror and a concave 
mirror, and can be replaced depending on the focal length of a 
photographing lens. 
When the flash is to be used, the push button 156 is pressed to turn the 
hook 152 clockwise to release the pin 148. As a result, the mirror support 
142 is turned clockwise by the spring 144 and stopped in a position where 
the pin 148 comes to the upper end of the guide groove 150. When the 
quantity of light from an object to be photographed is small, the 
electromagnet is energized to turn the hook 152 clockwise to move up the 
mirror 140 in the same manner as when the push button 156 is pressed. 
After the flash is used, all that needs to be done is push down the mirror 
support 142. When the mirror support 142 is pushed down, the pin 148 is 
guided by the guide groove 150, pushes away the head of the hook 152, and 
is then engaged in a stationary position by the hook 152. As a result, the 
housing chamber 26 is tightly closed by the mirror support 142. 
FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B show the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
FIG. 8A shows a sectional view of a single-lens reflex camera with a lamp 
in a housed position, along a central vertical plane. FIG. 8B shows along 
the same plane the camera with the lamp in a used position. FIG. 9A shows 
an exterior side view of the camera with the lamp in the housed position. 
FIG. 9B shows an exterior side view of the camera with the lamp in the 
used position. In this embodiment, a lamp support 160 is provided over the 
upper rear facet of the pentaprism 20. Since a space is defined over the 
upper front facet of the pentaprism 20, an auxiliary lamp 162 may be 
secured in the space. In that case, a wind and dust shield glass 164 needs 
to be provided in front of the auxiliary lamp 162. 
The lamp support 160 is supported to the pentaprism casing 22 by a shaft 
166 located over the center of the pentaprism 20 and extending toward the 
sides of the camera. When the lamp support 160 is in a housed position, 
the shield glass 32 extends horizontally and a protective cover 168 covers 
the top of the support 160. The protective cover 168 is rotatably attached 
to the camera by a shaft 169 provided at the intersection of the top and 
rear of the camera. Guide plates 170 are provided at both the sides of the 
lamp-holding portion of the lamp support 160 and located on the right and 
left of the cover 168. The side portion of each guide plate 170, which 
faces the lamp support 160, has a guide groove 172 whose form is 
determined so that the cover 168 follows the rear of the lamp support 160 
when the lamp support is turned about the shaft 166. A guide pin 174, 
which is fitted in the guide groove 172, is affixed to the side of the 
lamp support 160. 
Pins 176 project from both the sides of the lamp support 160 near the shaft 
of 166 of the lamp support 160. Each pin 176 is pinched between the legs 
of a U-shaped engaging member 178 coupled at a slender-cross-section hole 
182 to a slider 180 exposed outside. When the slider 180 is moved in a 
direction A shown in FIG. 8A, the lamp support 160 is turned 
counterclockwise about the shaft 166 so that the lamp support is put in a 
position shown in FIG. 8B. A snap spring 184 is acts against both the 
shaft 166 and the pin 176 to keep the lamp support 160 either housed or 
protruded. 
In this embodiment, an optical unit for a view finder, which includes the 
pentaprism, is sealed from the lamp support 160 and its lifting mechanism 
in order to prevent external light and dust from entering into the optical 
unit when the lamp support is housed or protruded, although such a sealing 
means is not shown in the drawings. An electromagnet may be provided to 
protrude the lamp support 160 depending on the quantity of light from the 
object in the same manner as the preceding embodiments. When the sliders 
180 provided at both the sides of the pentaprism casing are pushed inwards 
and pulled backwards, the lamp support 160 is protruded. When the 
protruded lamp support 160 is to be housed, it is pushed in by a hand. 
According to the present invention, a light emission tube is integrally 
provided over the pentaprism of a single-lens reflex camera, as described 
above. For that reason, flash photography, daytime synchronous photography 
and the like can be performed by the camera as easily as in a conventional 
compact camera. Although a connection for a separated-type flash which is 
manufactured separately from a conventional camera and coupled thereto in 
the use of the flash has such a low mechanical strength that the 
connection is very likely to be damaged, the connection of the single-lens 
reflex camera provided according to the present invention has a high 
mechanical strength because the flash is built into the single-lens reflex 
camera. 
According to the above embodiments of the present invention, the top of the 
single-lens reflex camera is made flat over its pentaprism so that the 
degree of freedom of positioning of a large-size LCD panel, which recently 
is often provided on the top of such a camera, is increased. 
A sixth embodiment of the present device is hereafter described with 
reference to the drawings. FIGS. 10 and 11 show sectional views of a 
single-lens reflex camera along a central vertical plane containing the 
photographic optical axis of the camera to which the embodiment is 
applied. 
A pentaprisum 210 is used as an optical unit for a view finder. The 
pentaprisum 210 is provided in a pentaprism casing 212. A lamp support 214 
serves for a light emission means comprising a xenon tube, a reflector and 
a wind and dust shield glass not shown in these drawings. A housing 
chamber 216 for the lamp support 214 is provided over the central edge of 
the upper front facet of the pentaprism 210. 
The lamp support 214 is supported by the pentaprism casing 212 and finally 
by the body of the camera, through levers 218 (only one of which is shown 
in the drawings) located at both the sides of the lamp support 214. Each 
lever 218 is rotatably attached at one end to the middle portion of the 
side of the lamp support 214 by a pin 220, while the lever 218 is 
rotatably supported near the other end by a shaft 222 on the pentaprism 
casing 212. At least one of the two levers 218 is provided with an 
engaging projection 224 opposite the pin 220 across the shaft 222. A 
tension spring 228 is provided on the engaging projection 224 and 
projection 226 affixed to the pentaprism casing 212. The tension spring 
228 biases the lever 218 so as to turn it clockwise. 
A seventh embodiment of the present device, which is a single-lens reflex 
camera to be used with an external flash, is hereafter described in 
detail. FIGS. 12 and 13 show sectional views of the camera along a 
vertical plane containing the photographic optical axis of the camera. 
FIG. 12 shows the camera fitted with an external flash. FIG. 13 shows the 
camera with a built-in flash in a used position. 
An upper cover 310 of the pentaprism casing is located at the top of the 
body of the camera. A shoe 311 is secured to the top of the upper cover 
310. A housing chamber 312 is provided near the front 310a of the upper 
cover 310. The light emission means 314 of the built-in flash is housed in 
the housing chamber 312. The light emission means 314 includes a housing 
316 containing a xenon tube 316a and a reflector 316b and having a dust 
and wind shield lens 316c located in front of the reflector 316b and 
covering the xenon tube 316a and the reflector 316b. 
Levers 318 are intergrally provided on both the sides of the bottom of the 
housing 316. The rear ends of the levers 318 are rotatably attached to the 
upper cover 310 by a shaft 320. The levers 318 are swung about the shaft 
320 to move the light emission means 314 between an non-operational 
position in which it is housed in the housing chamber 312 and an 
operational position in which the light emission means 314 is protruded 
from the front 310a of the upper cover 310. When the light emission means 
314 is in the non-operational position, the top of the housing 316 serves 
as a part of the upper cover 310 to close the housing chamber 312. 
Each lever 318 is provided with a projection 318a near the shaft 320. When 
the light emission means 314 is housed inside the front 310a of the upper 
cover 310, the projection 318a is located inside the upper cover 310. As 
shown in both FIGS. 13 and 15, when the light emission means 314 is 
protruded up from the front 310a of the upper cover 310 in order to be 
used, the projection 318a is fitted in the notch 311a of the shoe 311. 
A helical spring 322 is wound on the shaft 320. One end of the spring 322 
is engaged with the lever 318, while the other end of the spring is 
engaged with the inside surface of the upper cover 310. The spring 22 
always biases the lever 318 in the clockwise direction of FIGS. 12 and 13 
so that the light emission means 314 is protruded up from the front 310a 
of the upper cover. A cross section of this structure is shown in FIG. 14. 
A lever 324 is attached by a shaft to the inside surface of the upper cover 
310 so that the lever 324 can be swung. A hook 324a, which is engaged with 
a pin 318b affixed to the lever 318, is provided at one end of the lever 
324. A notch 24 extending in the longitudinal direction of the lever 324 
is provided at the other end of the lever. A helical spring 326 is fitted 
on the shaft for the lever 324. One end of the spring 326 is engaged with 
the lever 324, while the other end of the spring is engaged with a pin 
planted in the upper cover 310. The spring 326 always urges the lever 324 
in the counterclockwise direction of FIGS. 12 and 13 so that the hook 324a 
is engaged with a pin 318b for the lever 318. 
A sliding button 328 is fitted on a side of the upper cover 310 so that the 
button 328 can slide horizontally. A portion of the button 328 is exposed 
through a window in the upper cover 310. A pin 328a which is fitted in the 
notch 324b of the lever 324, is affixed to the sliding button 328. When a 
photographer has slid the button 328 to the left in FIGS. 12 and 13 by 
operation from outside the upper cover 310, the pin 328a affixed to the 
button 328 is slid leftwards together with the button 328 so that the 
lever 324 having the notch 324b fitted with the pin 328a is turned 
clockwise and the hook 324a of the lever 324 and the pin 318b for the 
lever 318 are disengaged from each other. The lever 318 thus released form 
the lever 324 is turned clockwise by the biasing force of the spring 322 
so that the light emission means 324 is protruded from the front 310aof 
the upper cover 310 and the projections 318a of the levers 18 are put in 
the shoe 311. As a result, the built-in flash is put in the operational 
position shown in FIG. 13. 
When the attaching foot 332 of the external flash 330 is inserted forwards 
(to the left in FIG. 13) into the shoe 311 when the light emission means 
314 remains protruded in the operating position of the built-in flash as 
shown in FIG. 13, the tip of the attaching foot 332 comes into contact 
with the projections 318a of the levers 318 and pushes the projections 
forwards to turn the levers 318 and the light emission means 314 against 
the biasing force of the spring 322. As a result, the light emission means 
314 is returned to within the housing chamber 12. Immediately before the 
attaching foot 332 is completely inserted into the shoe 311, the pin 318b 
for the lever 318 slides on the slope of the hook 324a to first push aside 
the lever 324 in the counterclockwise direction and thereafter to engage 
with the engaging surface of the hook 324a. The light emission means 314 
is thus put in the unused position so that no light is emitted from it. 
A control means not shown in the drawings is provided so that when the 
light emission means 314 is in the unused position, the power supply for 
the built-in flash is disconnected and so that when the light emission 
means 314 is protruded in the used position, the power supply is connected 
to apply working power to the built-in flash. 
The present device is not confined to the embodiment described above. 
Particularly, a lifting mechanism and an engaging mechanism which are for 
protruding and housing the light emission means 314 can be provided in 
various arrangements. 
If a notch is provided in the front portion of the attaching foot 332 of 
the external flash 330 so as to prevent the foot 332 from coming into 
contact with the projections 318a of the levers 318 at the time of the 
insertion of the foot 332 into the shoe 311 and if a means is provided to 
prevent a trouble such as the external flash coming into contact with the 
built-in flash to hinder each other's normal operation, both the flashes 
can be simultaneously used as far as the external flash 330 and the 
housing 316 do not interfere with each other. 
According to this embodiment of the present invention, a built-in flash 
changeover mechanism is provided as described above, so that when an 
external flash is attached to a shoe while a built-in flash is in a 
operational position, projections fitted in the shoe are pushed by the 
attaching foot of the external flash to return the built-in flash to an 
unused position so that the external flash can be surely attached to the 
shoe. While the external flash remains attached to the shoe, the built-in 
flash cannot be put in the operational position and therefore cannot 
unexpectedly operate. 
An eighth embodiment of the present invention is hereafter described with 
reference to the drawings. FIG. 16 shows a perspective exterior view of a 
camera of this embodiment. FIG. 17 shows a partial view of the camera 
having a flash in an operating position. A body 410 of the camera has 
mounted thereon a lamp housing 412 wherein a flash tube and a reflector 
are housed. Although a light emission control circuit and a power supply 
for the flash tube are provided in the camera body 410, the circuit and 
the power supply may be partly or wholly located in the lamp housing 412. 
The lamp housing 412 is rotatably supported on a backward and downward 
slope over the rear of the pentaprisum, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. When 
a flash is not in the operating position, a light emission surface 414 of 
the lamp housing 412 is oriented backwards. When the flash is in the 
operational position, the flash housing 412 is rotated by 180 degrees to 
orient the light emission surface 414 forwards at such an angle as to 
illuminate an object located directly in front of the camera. Both the 
sides of the lamp housing 412 are provided with a large number of grooves 
413 or projections for facilitating the manual rotation of the lamp 
housing. Because of esthetic design, the top of the lamp housing 412 is 
also provided with grooves extending to the grooves 413 of both the sides 
of the housing 412. 
FIG. 18 shows a sectional view along a central vertical plane of the camera 
with the flash in its unused position. FIG. 19 shows a sectional view 
along the plane of the camera with the flash in its used position. As 
shown in FIG. 18, the lamp housing 412 is provided on the backward 
downhill slope of an upper cover 417 for the pentaprism 416 so that the 
rear surface 418 of the lamp housing 412 set almost horizontal when the 
flash tube 420 faces backwards. As shown in FIG. 19, a wind and dust 
shield glass 422 is set vertical when the flash tube 20 faces forwards. A 
slender parabolic reflector 24 directs the flash light. 
FIG. 20 shows a plan view of a bottom plate 426 of the lamp housing 412 in 
the unused position of the flash. The bottom plate 426 is provided with a 
shaft 427 at the center of rotation of the lamp housing 412. The shaft 427 
has a through hole 428 for a wire for electric connection. The bottom 
plate 426 is also provided with an arc-shaped guide hole 430 extending 
through a rotation angle of 180 degrees and being centered on the shaft 
427. The underside of the bottom plate 426 has click recesses 432 and 433 
at both the sides of the through hole 428. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, 
the central portion of the backward downhill slope of the upper cover 417 
has a hole 436 in which the shaft 427 is fitted. A rotation restraint pin 
438 is affixed the backward downhill slope and is fitted in the guide hole 
430. Click stops 434 and 435 project to the underside of the bottom plate 
426 and are in such positions that the click stops 434 and 435 can be 
engaged in the click recesses 432 and 433. 
The shaft 427 is secured to a disk 440 inside the upper cover 417. Plan 
views of the disk 440 are shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The lamp housing 412 
is attached to the upper cover 417 by the disk 440 Springs 442 are 
interposed between the disk 440 and the inside surface of the upper cover 
417 to always pull the lamp housing 412 toward the body of the camera to 
restrain the movement of the lamp housing in two positions in which the 
click stops 434 and 435 drop into the click recesses 432 and 433. The 
positions and forms of the guide hole 430, the pin 438, the click recesses 
432 and 433 and the click stops 434 and 435 are determined so that the 
orientation shown in FIGS. 16 and 18 and that shown in FIGS. 17 and 19 are 
established in the above-mentioned two positions. Wires 39 electrically 
connect the flash tube 420 to a flash circuit (which is not shown in the 
drawings). If the flash circuit is provided in the lamp housing 412, a 
flash trigger signal, a quench signal and electric power are supplied 
through the wires 439. 
FIGS. 21 and 22 show views of the disk 440 as seen from the pentaprism 416. 
The orientation shown in FIG. 21 is the same as that shown in FIG. 18, 
while the orientation shown in FIG. 22 is the same as that shown in FIG. 
19. A projection 444 is provided on the peripheral portion of the disk 
444. A flash control switch 450 of the flash circuit is provided near the 
disk 440 so that when the lamp housing 412 is oriented forwards, namely, a 
photographer intends to use the flash, the switch 450 is turned on by the 
projection 344. The switch 450 connects and disconnects the power supply 
of the flash circuit with its voltage increase circuit, connects and 
disconnects the voltage increase circuit with a main capacitor, or 
connects and disconnects the main capacitor with the flash tube 420. 
When the photographer is to use the flash for photographing, all he needs 
to do is orient the lamp housing 412 forwards. When he is wishes to house 
the camera in a camera case or box, he orients the lamp housing 412 
backwards to make the form of the whole camera easy to house. 
In this embodiment, the switch of the flash is automatically turned on by 
orienting the lamp housing 412 forwards. Therefore, it can be immediately 
judged from the appearance of the camera whether the flash is in a usable 
state or not. When the flash is not in its used position, the lamp housing 
is so flat on the whole camera that it is easy to house the camera. 
Although the front of the lamp housing 412 is slightly obstructive to the 
photographer seeing the object through the finder of the camera in the 
state shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the obstructiveness can be eliminated by 
attaching a compensatory mask or the like to the finder. 
The present invention can be applied not only to a single-lens reflex 
camera but also to other types of cameras. When the present invention is 
applied to the single-lens reflex camera, the light emission surface of a 
lamp housing can be placed in a high position because of the presence of 
the pentaprism so as to produce a desirable effect that the photographing 
lens of the camera is less obstructive. When the present invention is 
applied to a conventional compact camera of the lens shutter type, a 
projecting portion similar to the pentaprism casing of a single-lens 
reflex camera is provided at the center of the top of the compact camera 
and a lamp housing is provided on the backward downhill slope of the 
projecting portion. 
According to the present invention, a flash can be compactly built in a 
camera. Since the light emission surface of the flash is located over the 
central axis of the camera, light can be uniformly irradiated upon an 
object such as a flower and an insect being photographed at a small 
distance from the camera. 
A ninth embodiment of the present invention incorporating a display panel 
is hereafter described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of a single-lens reflex camera 501 which 
is this embodiment of the present device. A movable flash section 503 is 
mounted over the pentaprism section 502 of the camera 501. 
FIG. 24 also shows a pentaprism 515 which is used for viewing through the 
main lens 516 and a viewing port 517 and an associated lens 518. An axis 
519 of the main lens 516 defines a principal photographic direction. 
FIG. 24 shows the construction of the movable flash section 503. The 
movable flash section 503 has a housing 507 wherein a light emission unit 
comprising a xenon tube 504, a parabolic reflector 505 surrounding the 
xenon tube 504 and a protective front glass 506 covering the front opening 
of the parabolic reflector 505 is provided at the front of the housing 
507. 
The housing 507 is supported at its rear with a shaft 507a on the body of 
the camera 501 at the pentaprism section 502. A torsion spring 508 is 
wound on the shaft 507a so that one end of the spring 508 is engaged with 
the edge of the housing 507 and the other end of the spring 500 is engaged 
with a pin 509 affixed to the camera body at the pentaprism section 502. 
The elastic restoring force of the torsion spring 508 always biases the 
housing 507 so as to turn it in such a direction that the light emission 
unit at the front of the housing is protruded from the pentaprisum section 
501. 
A pin 507b is affixed to a side portion of the housing 507 near its front. 
The pentaprism section 502 is provided with an engaging lever 510 on which 
a hook, which is engaged with the pin 507b, is provided at the tip of the 
lever 510. When the pin 507b is engaged to be stationary by the engaging 
lever 510, the housing 507 is held within the pentaprism section 502 
despite the biasing force of the torsion spring 508. 
The engaging lever 510 is supported at its butt end with a shaft 510a on 
the body of the camera 501. A torsion spring 511 is wound on the shaft 
510a extending in parallel with the shaft 507a. One end of the torsion 
spring 511 is engaged with the edge of the engaging lever 510, while the 
other end of the torsion spring is engaged with a pin 512 affixed to the 
camera body. The elastic restoring force of the torsion spring 511 always 
biases the engaging lever 510 so as to turn it in such a direction that 
the lever 510 is engaged with the pin 507b of the housing 507. 
In this embodiment, a means for disengaging the engaging lever 510 from the 
pin 507b is made of a sliding switch 513 provided on the outside of the 
pentaprism section 502. When the sliding switch 513 is caused to slide, 
the engaging lever 510 interlocked with the switch 513 is turned against 
the biasing force of the torsion spring 511 so that the engaging lever 510 
is disengaged from the pin 507b. An electromagnetic plunger or the like 
may be provided instead of the sliding switch 513 in order to 
automatically protrude the housing 507 depending on a photographing 
condition. 
An LCD display panel 514 is provided over the entire top of the movable 
flash section 503. The panel 514 shows desired information such as film 
information and flash information which includes exposure information on 
the speed of a shutter, the diameter of an aperture and the like, the 
sensitivity of the film, the number of photographed pictures, etc. When 
the movable flash section 503 is protruded, the LCD display panel 514 is 
inclined to directly face a photographer to enable him to very easily look 
at the panel 514. 
Although the present device is described with reference to the embodiment 
above, the present device is not confined thereto. The movable flash 
section 503 is provided in the pentaprism section 502 in the embodiment 
described above, because the camera 501 is of the manual winding type. If 
the camera 501 was of the automatic winding type, the movable flash 
section 503 might be provided on a winding section A or a rewinding 
section B at the upper part of the camera body, because a winding lever 
and a rewinding lever do not need to be provided on the winding section A 
and the rewinding section B. In order to protrude the movable flash 
section 503, a conventional mechanism such as a mechanism which vertically 
slides the movable flash section on a guide may be used. The display panel 
is not confined to the LCD type, and may be made of light emission 
elements. The information to be shown on the display panel may be 
optionally selected depending on the functions of the camera and other 
considerations. 
According to this embodiment of the present invention, a display panel for 
showing various pieces of information to a photographer is provided on the 
top of the movable flash section of a single-lens reflex camera as 
described above. For that reason, the size of the display panel can be 
made large without enlarging the camera itself. When the movable flash 
section is housed in the body of the camera, the camera can be easily 
handled and carried. Furthermore, the display panel can be easily seen.