Flash triggering system

• US 5,436,531 A
• Filed: 11/23/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Weinberg
• Original Assignee: Stanley Weinberg
• Inventors: Weinberg, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratliff, Reginald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/343,847
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 315/241 S, 315/241 P, 315/129, 315/200 A, 455/99, 356/23, 354/410, 354/131, 354/132, 354/129, 340/641
• US Class Current: 315/241.00P
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0514 Separate unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit

Abstract

A flash triggering system inductively coupled to a flash tube assembly'"'"'s flash tube of a through-the-lens (TTL) strobe unit. The flash trigger monitors the electromagnetic field directly surrounding the strobe to which it is affixed using an electromagnetic inductive sensor. The photographic flash trigger is positioned by the mounting mechanism adjacent the flash tube so that the flash monitor detector is responsive to the excitation of a flash tube. The detector provides a detection signal indicative of whether or not the flash tube properly fired. A delay circuit delays any response for a predetermined time to allow for the main TTL flash cycle. Then, the activation circuit enables a separate transmitter to trigger the slave strobes while the camera shutter is still open.

Claims

1. A flash triggering system for determining the occurrence of a flash and providing a delayed output for activating remote strobes for use with a through-the-lens main strobe comprising:

a housing member;

means for removably mounting the housing member to be operatively-responsive to occurrence of a flash from a photographic strobe; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the housing member, the circuit comprising;

detection means for providing a detection signal in response to an occurrence of an electromagnetic pulse associated with the flash of the strobe;

means responsive to the detection signal for outputting an amplified detection signal and;

delaying means for outputting an activation signal through activation signal outputs a predetermined time after the receipt of the amplified detection signal,

wherein, when a separate flash triggering device is connected to the activation signal outputs, the separate flash triggering device responds to the activation signal by transmitting signals which cause the remote strobes to fire.

2. The flash triggering system of claim 1, wherein a source of power for powering the verification means, the delay means and the activation means is provided by the separate device connected to the trigger so as to respond to the activation signal.

3. A flash triggering system for determining the excitation of a flash tube in photography and providing a delayed output comprising:

a housing member;

means for removably mounting the housing member to be operatively responsive to an excitation of a flash tube; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the housing, the circuit comprising;

an inductor, responsive to an electromotive force resulting from the excitation of the flash tube, for providing a detection signal;

a transistor arranged to amplify the detection signal;

a monostable multivibrator for responding to the amplified detection signal and outputting an activating signal about one millisecond after the receipt of the amplified detection signal; and

a silicon controlled rectifier for completing a circuit between a first and a second output in response to the activating signal,

so that when a separate flash triggering device is connected to the outputs, the separate flash triggering device responds to the completion of the circuit between the outputs by outputting a signal to fire remotely located strobe units.

4. A flash triggering system for determining the occurrence of a flash and providing a delayed output for activating remote strobes for use with a through-the-lens main strobe comprising:

a housing member;

means for removably mounting the housing member on a TTL strobe to be operatively responsive to occurrence of a flash from the TTL strobe; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the housing member, the circuit comprising;

detection means for providing a detection signal in response to an occurrence of an electromagnetic pulse associated with the flash from the strobe;

means responsive to the detection signal for outputting an amplified detection signal and;

delaying means for outputting an activation signal a predetermined time after the receipt of the amplified detection signal; and

means connected to the activation signal for transmitting, in response to the activation signal, signals which order remote strobes to flash.

5. A flash detection system for determining the occurrence of a flash and providing a delayed output used for activating remote strobes for use with a through-the-lens main strobe comprising:

a housing member;

means for removably mounting the housing member on a TTL strobe to be operatively responsive to occurrence of a flash from the TTL strobe; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the housing member, the circuit comprising;

inductive detection means for providing a detection signal in response to an occurrence of an electromagnetic pulse associated with the flash from the strobe;

means responsive to the detection signal for outputting an amplified detection signal and;

delaying means for outputting an activation signal a predetermined time after the receipt of the amplified detection signal; and

shorting means operatively connected to the activation

signal for closing a circuit in response to the activation signal.