Method and apparatus for triggering a remote flash on a camera with a panoramic lens
First Claim
1. A method for triggering at least one remote flash device when capturing a panoramic still image of a panoramic scene, said method comprising steps of:
- configuring an image capture device, said image capture device including a panoramic image capture optical system and a first flash, said first flash capable of emitting both visible light and invisible light, said first flash and said panoramic image capture optical system positioned such that said visible light if emitted would be directly captured by the panoramic image capture optical system, said first flash covered by a visible-light filter, said visible-light filter capable of blocking said visible light while passing a sufficient portion of said invisible light;
placing at least one remote flash device to illuminate at least a portion of the said panoramic scene, said at least one remote flash device capable of being triggered by detection of said invisible light; and
triggering said first flash, whereby said sufficient portion of said invisible light is passed through said visible-light filter to trigger said at least one remote flash device that in turn illuminates at least a portion of said panoramic scene for capture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A panoramic flash system is disclosed that filters out visible light (but not invisible light) from a flash unit that is directly connected to a camera equipped with a panoramic lens. The invisible light is then used to trigger a remote flash located in a blind spot of the field of view of the panoramic lens. The remote flash then illuminates the scene within the field-of-view of the panoramic lens. The visible-light filter can be an adhesive tape that is placed over the lens of a flash unit that is integral with the camera body. The panoramic lens can have the remote flash unit attached to the lens in the lens'"'"' blind spot.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for triggering at least one remote flash device when capturing a panoramic still image of a panoramic scene, said method comprising steps of:
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configuring an image capture device, said image capture device including a panoramic image capture optical system and a first flash, said first flash capable of emitting both visible light and invisible light, said first flash and said panoramic image capture optical system positioned such that said visible light if emitted would be directly captured by the panoramic image capture optical system, said first flash covered by a visible-light filter, said visible-light filter capable of blocking said visible light while passing a sufficient portion of said invisible light;
placing at least one remote flash device to illuminate at least a portion of the said panoramic scene, said at least one remote flash device capable of being triggered by detection of said invisible light; and
triggering said first flash, whereby said sufficient portion of said invisible light is passed through said visible-light filter to trigger said at least one remote flash device that in turn illuminates at least a portion of said panoramic scene for capture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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an image capture device;
a panoramic image capture optical system attached to the image capture device;
a first flash capable of emitting both visible light and invisible light, the first flash and the panoramic image capture optical system positioned such that said visible light if emitted would be directly captured by the panoramic image capture optical system;
a visible-light filter, said visible-light filter configured to block said visible light from the first flash while passing a sufficient portion of said invisible light; and
at least one remote flash device configured to illuminate at least a portion of the panorama, said at least one remote flash device capable of being triggered by detection of said invisible light. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A panoramic lens comprising:
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a panoramic image capture optical system configured to capture light from a panoramic scene and capable of being optically connected to an image capture device, the panoramic image capture optical system having a field-of-view with a blind spot; and
at least one remote flash device attached to the panoramic image capture optical system within said blind spot and the at least one remote flash device capable of being triggered by invisible light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification