Flash photographing system
First Claim
1. In a flash photographing system including a combination of a camera, a controlling device connectable to the camera, a first electronic flash device connectable to the controlling device and a second electronic flash device directly connectable to the camera, the combination comprising:
- first to third terminals included in the first electronic flash device;
first to third terminals included in the second electronic flash device;
fourth to sixth terminals included in the controlling device connectable with said first to third terminals of the first electronic flash device, respectively;
seventh to ninth terminals included in the controlling device;
tenth to twelfth terminals included in the camera connectable with said seventh to ninth terminals of the controlling device, respectively;
thirteenth to fifteenth terminals included in the camera connected to said tenth to twelfth terminals, respectively, and connectable with said first to third terminals of the second electronic flash device, respectively;
wherein, each of the first and second electronic flash devices includes means for initiating flash light emission in response to a flash initiating signal received through said first terminal, means for providing a light measurement controlling signal through said second terminal, means for serially forwarding data descriptive of electronic flash device conditions through said second terminal in response to a train of clock pulses received from said third terminal, means for serially receiving information from said second terminal in response to the train of clock pulses for operation of the electronic flash device, means for governing the mutual communication through said second terminal with a device connected thereto in response to a communication controlling signal received from said third terminal, and means for terminating flash light emission in response to a flash terminating signal received through said third terminal;
wherein the controlling device includes first means for transmitting the flash initiating signal from said seventh terminal to said fourth terminal, second means for transmitting the light measurement controlling signal from said fifth terminal to said eighth terminal, third means for transmitting information from said eighth terminal to said fifth terminal, fourth means for transmitting the clock pulses, the communication controlling signal and the flash terminating signal from said ninth terminal to said sixth terminal, means for serially receiving the data of the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and the data of the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, means for determining the manner of flash light emission of the first and second electronic flash devices in accordance with said data receiving means, means for serially forwarding information representative of the manner of flash light emission to the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and to the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal, respectively, in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, means for appreciating the total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices in accordance with said data receiving means, means for serially informing the camera of the appreciated total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices through said eighth terminal in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, and means for governing the mutual communication with the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and with the camera through said eighth terminal in response to the communication controlling signal received from said ninth terminal; and
wherein the camera includes first means connected to said tenth terminal for producing the flash initiating signal, second means connected to said twelfth terminal for producing the train of clock pulses, third means connected to said twelfth terminal for producing the communication controlling signal, means for measuring light in response to the light measurement controlling signal received through said eleventh terminal to produce the flash terminating signal through said twelfth terminal, fourth means connected to said eleventh terminal for producing information to be transmitted to the first and second electronic flash devices, and means connected to said eleventh terminal for receiving the appreciated total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flash photographing system includes a camera body, a flash controller connected to the camera body and three flash devices: the first flash device is directly mounted on the camera body; the second flash device is mounted on the flash controller; and the third flash device is connected through a suitable cord to the flash controller. A microcomputer is provided in the camera body and also in each of the flash devices so as to control the three flash devices in various different modes of operations, such as simultaneous flash mode, sequence flash mode, and yet providing an appropriate amount of light for the proper exposure.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. In a flash photographing system including a combination of a camera, a controlling device connectable to the camera, a first electronic flash device connectable to the controlling device and a second electronic flash device directly connectable to the camera, the combination comprising:
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first to third terminals included in the first electronic flash device; first to third terminals included in the second electronic flash device; fourth to sixth terminals included in the controlling device connectable with said first to third terminals of the first electronic flash device, respectively; seventh to ninth terminals included in the controlling device; tenth to twelfth terminals included in the camera connectable with said seventh to ninth terminals of the controlling device, respectively; thirteenth to fifteenth terminals included in the camera connected to said tenth to twelfth terminals, respectively, and connectable with said first to third terminals of the second electronic flash device, respectively; wherein, each of the first and second electronic flash devices includes means for initiating flash light emission in response to a flash initiating signal received through said first terminal, means for providing a light measurement controlling signal through said second terminal, means for serially forwarding data descriptive of electronic flash device conditions through said second terminal in response to a train of clock pulses received from said third terminal, means for serially receiving information from said second terminal in response to the train of clock pulses for operation of the electronic flash device, means for governing the mutual communication through said second terminal with a device connected thereto in response to a communication controlling signal received from said third terminal, and means for terminating flash light emission in response to a flash terminating signal received through said third terminal; wherein the controlling device includes first means for transmitting the flash initiating signal from said seventh terminal to said fourth terminal, second means for transmitting the light measurement controlling signal from said fifth terminal to said eighth terminal, third means for transmitting information from said eighth terminal to said fifth terminal, fourth means for transmitting the clock pulses, the communication controlling signal and the flash terminating signal from said ninth terminal to said sixth terminal, means for serially receiving the data of the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and the data of the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, means for determining the manner of flash light emission of the first and second electronic flash devices in accordance with said data receiving means, means for serially forwarding information representative of the manner of flash light emission to the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and to the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal, respectively, in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, means for appreciating the total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices in accordance with said data receiving means, means for serially informing the camera of the appreciated total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices through said eighth terminal in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal, and means for governing the mutual communication with the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and with the camera through said eighth terminal in response to the communication controlling signal received from said ninth terminal; and wherein the camera includes first means connected to said tenth terminal for producing the flash initiating signal, second means connected to said twelfth terminal for producing the train of clock pulses, third means connected to said twelfth terminal for producing the communication controlling signal, means for measuring light in response to the light measurement controlling signal received through said eleventh terminal to produce the flash terminating signal through said twelfth terminal, fourth means connected to said eleventh terminal for producing information to be transmitted to the first and second electronic flash devices, and means connected to said eleventh terminal for receiving the appreciated total conditions of the first and second electronic flash devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for checking the level of the stored electric power; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal coming from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device for mutual communication therewith; means for serially forwarding data descriptive of electronic flash device conditions to be transmitted to the operative device through said second terminal, said checking means being connected to said forwarding means for subjecting its checking result to the serial forwarding means as first data; means for serially receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal for operation of the electronic flash device; a third terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a train of clock pulses from the operative device for operation of said forwarding means and said receiving means; and means for governing the mutual communication through said second terminal in response to a communication controlling signal coming from the operative device through said third terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for checking the level of the stored electric power to generate first data; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means, for generating second data indicating that the electronic flash device is operative in the system; means for generating third data when an expected illumination by the flash light is attained; means for serially forwarding said first data, said second data and said third data to the operative device through said second terminal; and a third terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a train of clock pulses from the operative device for operation of said forwarding means.
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31. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for checking the level of the stored electric power to generate first data; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means for forwarding said first data to the operative device through said second terminal; means for latching data appearing at said second terminal at a predetermined time; and means, responsive to the latched data, for preventing said initiating means from operating in response to the flash initiating signal. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for checking the level of the stored electric power to generate first data; means for forwarding said first data to the operative device; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; means for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a terminal connectable with the operative device; and means for reading a data signal appearing at said terminal to determine whether or not said initiating means operates in response to the flash initiating signal.
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34. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means for receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal; means for automatically terminating flash light emission by said emitting means when an object is illuminated to an expected level; means for manually disabling the operation of said automatically terminating means; and means for reviving the operation of said automatically terminating means in accordance with the information received by said receiving means even if said disabling means is manually operated.
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35. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; and means for receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal, wherein said initiating means includes first means for directing said emitting means to emit flash light in instant response to the flash initiating signal, second means for directing said emitting means to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal with a predetermined delay, and means for selecting between said first and second directing means in accordance with the information received by said receiving means.
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36. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means for receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal; means for terminating flash light emission by said emitting means; means for generating data when an expected illumination by the flash light is attained; and means, responsive to said receiving means, for restraining said generating means from generating the data when it is informed that another electronic flash device is operative in the system to emit another flash of light with a delay. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means for receiving informations from the operative device through said second terminal; means for calculating indicative information relating to an object distance in flash photography in accordance with information received by said. receiving means; means, responsive to said calculating means, for indicating the indicative information; and means, responsive to said receiving means, for prohibiting said indicating means from indicating the indicative information when it is informed that another electronic flash device is operative in the system to emit another flash light with a delay.
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39. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; means for receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal; means for calculating indicative information relating to an object distance in flash photography in accordance with information received by said receiving means; means, responsive to said calculating means, for indicating the indicative information; and means for preparing fixed information to be substitutionally utilized by said calculating means in case said receiving means fails to receive information through said second terminal.
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40. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device; and means, responsive to the flash initiating signal, for sequentially sending two light measurement controlling signals through said second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; and a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; wherein said emitting means includes first and second electronic flash tubes, and said initiating means includes first means for directing said first electronic flash tube to emit flash light in instant response to the flash initiating signal, and second means for directing said second electronic flash tube to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal with a predetermined delay, which is longer than the time taken for said first electronic flash tube to complete flash light emission with its maximum available electric power. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 58, 60)
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45. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electric power for operation of said emitting means; means for checking the level of the stored electric power; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; a second terminal connectable with the operative device for mutual communication therewith; means for serially forwarding data descriptive of electronic flash device conditions to be transmitted to the operative device through said second terminal; means for serially receiving information from the operative device through said second terminal for operation of the electronic flash device; a third terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a train of clock pulses from the operative device for operation of said forwarding means and said receiving means; and means, responsive to the clock pulses, for intermittently serially forwarding the data at a predetermined sequence in the operation of said forwarding means, wherein said receiving means includes means for receiving information from the operative device to said second terminal during the intermission caused by said means for intermittently forwarding data. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. In a flash photographing system, a controlling device connectable to a camera for controlling a first electronic flash device having first to third terminals connectable to the controlling device and a second electronic flash device directly connectable to the camera, comprising:
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fourth to sixth terminals connectable with the first to third terminals of the first electronic flash device, respectively; seventh to ninth terminals connectable with the camera; means for transmitting a flash initiating signal from said seventh terminal to said fourth terminal; means for transmitting a train of clock pulses from said ninth terminal to said sixth terminal; means for serially receiving data descriptive of the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and data descriptive of the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal; means for determining the manner of flash light emission of the first and second electronic flash devices in accordance with said data receiving means; and means for serially forwarding information representative of the manner of flash light emission to the first electronic flash device through said fifth terminal and to the second electronic flash device through said eighth terminal, respectively, in response to the clock pulses received through said ninth terminal. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. In a flash photographing system, a controlling device connectable to a camera for controlling a plurality of electronic flash devices each capable of generating data representing a condition ready for flash light emission and responding to a flash initiating signal originated from the camera, comprising:
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means, responsive to the data from respective electronic flash devices, for detecting that all of the electronic flash devices generate the data; means for informing the respective electronic flash devices of an order to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal only when said detecting means detects that all of the electronic flash devices generate the data; and means, responsive to said detecting means, for informing the camera of a fact that the whole system is ready for flash light emissions.
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53. In a flash photographing system, a controlling device connectable between a camera and an electronic flash device, comprising:
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a terminal connectable to the camera for receiving a flash initiating signal; means for detecting that at least another electronic flash device is effective in the system to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal prior to the flash light emission by the first mentioned electronic flash device; means, responsive to said detecting means, for directing the first mentioned electronic flash device to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal with a predetermined delay.
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54. In a flash photographing system, a camera operative with an electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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a terminal for receiving first and second light measurement controlling signals originated in the electronic flash device for flash photography; means for measuring light upon emission of flash light including means for integrating measured light, first means for starting the integration in response to the first light measurement controlling signal and for producing a first flash terminating signal when the integrated amount reaches a predetermined portion of a required amount, and second means for restarting the integration in response to the second light measurement controlling signal and for producing a second flash terminating signal when the integrated light reaches the remainder of the required amount; and means for forwarding the first and second flash terminating signals toward the electronic flash device. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. In a flash photographing system, a camera operable with an electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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a terminal for receiving an information indicating that a plurality of flash light emissions serially occur for one exposure in the system; first means for setting a first flash synchronized exposure time; and second means for setting, in place of the first flash synchronized exposure time, a second flash synchronized exposure time greater than the first one in response to the information received through said terminal.
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59. In a flash photographing system, an electronic flash device connectable to a device operative with the electronic flash device in the system, comprising:
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means for emitting flash light; means for storing electronic power for operation of said emitting means; means for initiating flash light emission by said emitting means; a first terminal connectable with the operative device for receiving a flash initiating signal from the operative device for operation of said initiating means; said emitting means includes first and second electronic flash tubes, and said initiating means includes first means for directing said first electronic flash tube to emit flash light in instant response to the flash initiating signal, and second means for directing said second electronic flash tube to emit flash light in response to the flash initiating signal; means for adjusting the relation of the light emitting directions between the first and second electronic flash tubes; and means, responsive to said adjusting means, for making said second electronic flash tube also respond to said first directing means when the light emitting direction of said first electronic flash tube is the same as that of said second electronic flash tube, so that both said first and second electronic flash tubes initiate flash light emission at the same time.
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Specification