LED flash device for camera

• US 20030180037A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sommers, Mathew
• Application Number:
  US10/063,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20030180037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/155
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0503 Built-in units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0592 installed in front of light emitter

Abstract

An electronic flash apparatus for a camera includes a housing, a white light LED (light emitting diode) mounted in the housing, and a cover lens mounted on an open end of the housing. A DC power supply and control circuit provide power to the LED via lead wires. The activation of the LED may be synchronized with the taking of a picture by an associated camera. The LED allows for an improved flash by reducing the manufacturing cost and the number of parts needed for a conventional flash using a discharge tube.

Claims

1. An electronic flash apparatus for a camera comprising:

a housing having an open end;

a white light LED mounted in said housing; and

a cover lens positioned over said open end of said housing for transmitting light emitted from said LED.

2. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a DC power supply.

3. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 2, wherein said DC power supply includes a battery cell of a type selected from the group consisting of alkaline, nickel cadmium, standard, heavy duty, lithium, and nickel metal hydride batteries.

4. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power and control circuit.

5. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 4, wherein said power and control circuit includes a switch that allows power from a DC power supply to be selectively provided to said LED.

6. The electronic flash of claim 4, wherein said power and control circuit allows said LED to by synchronized with an associated camera such that said LED is activated when a picture is taken with said camera.

7. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover lens is a fresnel lens.

8. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover lens is a refractive lens.

9. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LED is a white light UV-phosphor LED.

10. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 8, wherein said LED is a high brightness or ultra high brightness LED.

11. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover lens is mounted such that it is flush mounted with a front surface of a body of an associated camera.

12. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LED includes a transparent protective portion and an LED chip embedded in said protective portion.

13. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of LEDs.

14. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LED has a light emission angle such that the LED does not emit light directed at said housing.

15. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, comprising a single LED.

16. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flahs apparatus is free of a reflector.

17. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reflector mounted in said housing for directing light emitted by said LED toward said open end of said housing.

18. An electronic flash apparatus for a camera comprising:

a housing having an open end;

a white light LED mounted in said housing; and

a reflector mounted in said housing.

19. The electronic flash apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reflector comprises a reflective interior surface of said housing.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of providing a white light LED is performed by providing a UV-phosphor white light LED.

20. A camera comprising:

a camera body;

a housing having an open end;

an LED mounted in said housing such that light emitted from said LED is directed through said open end of said housing toward an object to be photographed;

a cover lens mounted on said open end of said housing for transmitting light

emitted from said LED;

a DC power supply;

a control circuit; and

,

a means for connecting said DC power supply and said control circuit to said LED.

21. A method for producing an LED electronic flash apparatus for a camera

comprising the steps of:

providing a white light LED;

providing a housing having an open end;

providing a cover lens;

providing a DC power source;

mounting said LED in said housing;

mounting said cover lens over said open end of said housing;

operatively connecting said DC power source to said LED; and

,

mounting said housing, said LED and said DC power source in a camera.