EDGE LIGHT DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY SYSTEM

• US 20190196302A1
• Filed: 02/27/2019
• Published: 06/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lifetouch Incorporated (Shutterfly, LLC)
• Inventors: Peterson, Trygve D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/041 Separatable flash apparatus; Means for mounting the flash apparatus on the photographic apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/07 Arrangements of lamps in studios

Abstract

An edge light device of the present disclosure creates edge light effects, such as spectral highlight or artistic effect, on a subject. The edge light device emits light to provide an illumination zone which can be generally out of the field of view of the camera. The edge light device includes a housing having features for controlling light to create edge light effects on a subject. In certain examples, the housing provides a light blocker for concentrating light toward the subject and blocking the light from illuminating the other areas, such as the camera, in the photography station. The housing further includes at least one aperture that cooperates with the light blocker and defines a light passage through which the light is directed toward the subject.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A housing for an edge light assembly of a photography system, the housing comprising:

an enclosure elongated in one direction and configured to at least partially receive a plurality of lighting elements in a linear distribution along the one direction, the plurality of lighting elements configured to emit light, the enclosure comprising;

a light blocker configured to at least partially surround the plurality of lighting elements; and

a plurality of apertures, wherein each one of the plurality of apertures corresponds to one of the plurality of lighting elements and is configured to define a respective light passage therethrough.

22. The housing of claim 21, wherein the one direction is a vertical direction.

23. The housing of claim 21, wherein the plurality of apertures are elongated in the one direction.

24. The housing of claim 21, wherein the plurality of apertures have a width that is smaller than a height such that a vertical radiation angle is greater than a horizontal radiation angle.

25. The housing of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of lighting elements is aligned with a center of the corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.

26. The housing of claim 21, wherein the plurality of apertures are defined by inner edges of the light blocker.

27. The housing of claim 21, wherein the enclosure is formed from a front panel, a rear panel, and side panels.

28. The housing of claim 27, wherein the light blocker is defined by the front panel, the rear panel, and the side panels.

29. The housing of claim 27, wherein the rear panel is configured to at least partially receive the plurality of lighting elements, and the front panel comprises the plurality of apertures.

30. An edge light assembly for a photography system, the edge light assembly comprising:

a plurality of lighting elements configured to emit light; and

a housing elongated in one direction and configured to at least partially receive the plurality of lighting elements in a linear distribution along the one direction, the housing comprising;

a light blocker configured to at least partially surround the plurality of lighting elements; and

a plurality of apertures, wherein each one of the plurality of apertures corresponds to one of the plurality of lighting elements and is configured to define a respective light passage therethrough.

31. The edge light assembly of claim 30, further comprising a support device comprising a support bar and a clamping device configured to mount the edge light assembly to a light stand.

32. The edge light assembly of claim 31, wherein a first end of the support bar is coupled to the housing and a second end of the support bar is configured to support the clamping device.

33. The edge light assembly of claim 31, wherein the clamping device is adjustable to move the housing relative to the light stand to adjust a height of the edge light assembly.

34. The edge light assembly of claim 31, wherein the clamping device is adjustable to rotate the housing relative to the light stand to change an angular position of the edge light assembly.

35. The edge light assembly of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of socket assemblies configured to receive the plurality of lighting elements at the housing, wherein the plurality of socket assemblies are arranged on an exterior of the housing and the plurality of lighting elements are arranged on the interior of the housing in the linear distribution along the one direction.

36. The edge light assembly of claim 30, wherein the edge light assembly is configured to be positioned in a rearward portion of a station assembly of the photography system and behind a subject and to illuminate edges of the subject to be photographed.

37. An illumination method for generating a photographic edge light effect, the illumination method comprising:

emitting light from a plurality of lighting elements coupled to a housing of an edge light assembly, wherein the housing is elongated in one direction and the plurality of lighting elements are linearly distributed along the one direction;

passing the light through a plurality of apertures in the housing to illuminate at least one edge of a subject while a camera captures an image of the subject, wherein the plurality of apertures correspond to each one of the plurality of lighting elements and are elongated in the one direction; and

.

blocking at least some of the light emitted from the plurality of lighting elements, wherein the at least some of the light is blocked by a light blocker of the housing at least partially surrounding the plurality of lighting elements, and wherein the blocking inhibits the light from directly illuminating the camera.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

selectively activating one or more of the plurality of lighting elements corresponding to one or more of the plurality of apertures having a height corresponding to a position of the subject in a subject space.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

prior to emitting the light from the plurality of lighting elements, aligning the edge light assembly with the subject.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein aligning the edge light assembly with the subject comprises one of:

aligning a center of the housing with the subject; and

aligning an edge of the housing with the subject.