A disposable camera uses a capacitor to power the flash.
To power a flash unit, disposable cameras use an electronic circuit to charge a large capacitor. The flash needs several hundred volts to operate, far higher than the camera's battery can provide. The electronic circuit builds voltage in the capacitor, which then powers the flash.
Description
A disposable camera is an inexpensive, convenient package containing the film pack, lenses, electronics, flash, and battery. The camera is used once, then sent in for film processing. Disposable cameras are handy for parties, sightseeing, and emergencies.
Battery
The camera gets its power from a 1.5 volt AA battery. As disposable cameras are single-use, the batteries needn't be rechargeable. This small battery provides more than enough power for the camera's short lifetime.
Capacitor
A capacitor is an electronic component that stores an electric charge. Unlike a battery, it can be charged and discharged very fast. A disposable camera uses a high-voltage capacitor to accumulate voltage from a circuit.
Charge Pump
A charge pump is an electronic circuit used to build a capacitor's voltage in small steps. With a fresh battery, it can accumulate several hundred volts in the capacitor in a fraction of a second. When the capacitor voltage reaches a set value, the charge pump stops.
Flash
When you take a picture, the camera dumps all the stored voltage from the capacitor into the flash This discharges the capacitor, bringing it down to no stored charge and zero volts. When you take another picture, the charge pump builds the voltage in the capacitor again.
Tags: charge pump, disposable camera, electronic circuit, builds voltage, builds voltage capacitor, camera uses, capacitor voltage
