Electric flash and connector

• US 6,654,558 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Zhaoxiang, Hagiuda, Nobuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Arthur A
• Application Number:
  US09/921,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20020015590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 396/180, 396/182, 396/189, 396/176, 396/177, 396/178, 315/241.P, 315/129, 362/11
• US Class Current: 396/182
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter

Abstract

An electric flash according to the present invention comprises a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject, a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from a master-side flash, and a flash control part for controlling the flashing of the flash source in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by the trigger noise detecting part. By detecting the trigger noise generated at the flashing or the like of the master-side flash which is arranged close thereto, the electric flash carries out a slave flash in synchronization with the flash timing of the master-side flash.

Claims

1. An electric flash disposed for use close to a master-side flash whose flashing is controlled by a camera, comprising:

a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject;

a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from said master-side flash;

a flash control part that allows said flash source to start emitting flash light in synchronization with trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part, and that allows said flash source to stop the light emission in synchronization with another trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part after the start of the light emission; and

a detection invalid part for invalidating the trigger noise detection in synchronization with a flash control timing of said flash control part to prevent said flash control part from malfunctioning due to spontaneous noise.

2. The electric flash according to claim 1, wherein

said flash control part has a function of accepting a flash control signal supplied from said camera, and inhibits the flash control by the trigger noise and performs the flash control by the flash control signal when the supply of the flash control signal precedes the detection of said trigger noise.

3. The electric flash according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of detection sensitivity, detection frequency, and detection waveform is/are limited in said trigger noise detecting part in order to detect not an electromagnetic wave from a distance but the trigger noise from said master-side flash disposed close thereto.

4. An electric flash disposed for use close to a master-side flash whose flashing is controlled by a camera, comprising:

a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject;

a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from said master-side flash;

a flash control part for performing flash control of said flash source in synchronization with trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part; and

a leg part being attached to an accessory shoe of said camera, wherein

said leg part supports said electric flash in such a manner that said electric flash keeps its standing posture within an area outside an area in which the master-side flash moves when popping up from said camera.

5. The electric flash according to claim 4, further comprising:

a determination part for determining whether or not said master-side flash has popped up, and for determining that said electric flash is in a popped-down state when said electric flash is detached from said camera; and

a malfunction preventing part for inhibiting the flash control by said trigger noise, when said determination part determines that said master-side flash is in the popped-down state.

6. A connector for connecting an accessory shoe of a camera with an electric flash, comprising:

a trigger noise detecting part provided on a side connected to said accessory shoe, for detecting trigger noise generated from a master-side flash built into said camera; and

a signal output part for outputting to said electric flash a signal for starting emitting flash light, in synchronization with trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part, and for outputting to said electric flash a signal for stopping the light emission, in synchronization with another trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part after the start of the light emission; and

a detection invalid part for invalidating the trigger noise detection in synchronization with a flash control timing of said electric flash to prevent said electric flash from malfunctioning due to spontaneous noise.