Wireless communication activation system and method

• US 7,133,607 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/305,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 396 56- 59, 396/263, 396/429, 396/661, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/114, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.4, 348/211.11, 348/211.14, 348/211.99, 348/725, 348/734
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/0473 Remote controlled ignition mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/70 with flash-synchronising contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A system and method of alerting a wireless communication capability of a camera body to the presence of an external antenna element present in electrical communication with a pre-existing port of the camera body that was originally not designed for an external antenna. The wireless communication capability may be activated and/or deactivated by an electrical event produced when a connector of the external antenna is connected to the pre-existing port.

Claims

1. A system for alerting a wireless communication capability within a camera body to the presence of an external antenna, the camera body including a pre-existing port not originally designed to accept a wireless communications antenna, the wireless communication capability being in electrical communication with the pre-existing port, the system comprising:

(a) an antenna element;

(b) a port connector configured to connect to the pre-existing port of the camera body, said port connector being in electrical communication with said antenna element and providing electrical communication between said antenna element and the wireless communication capability when said port connector element is connected to the pre-existing port of the camera body; and

(c) an antenna notification module in electrical communication with said antenna element and said port connector, said antenna notification module producing an electrical event when said port connector element is connected to the pre-existing port of the camera body, the electrical event providing an indication to the wireless communication capability that said antenna element is present, wherein said port connector is configured to allow rotation of said antenna element with respect to the camera body when said port connector is connected to the pre-existing port.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication capability is configured to be switched to an active state upon said indication that said antenna element is present and to an inactive state upon absence of said indication.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-existing port is a PC connector.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said port connector comprises a first male connector element and a ground element, said first male connector element and said ground element providing electrical communication between said antenna notification module and said wireless communication capability, said wireless communication capability including a transmitter for communicating a signal from the camera body to said antenna element via said first male connector element.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna notification module includes an inductor in electrical communication with said antenna element, said inductor also being in electrical communication with a ground element of the pre-existing port.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication capability is configured to communicate wirelessly via, said antenna element at a first frequency, said antenna notification module being configured to produce an open circuit between the wireless communication capability and ground at said first frequency and a short circuit to ground at a second frequency, the wireless communication capability being configured to detect said short circuit at said second frequency.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication capability comprises a wireless communication module inside the camera body.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical event includes a measured current.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical event includes a short circuit.

10. An antenna assembly for removable connection to a first PC connector of a camera body having wireless communication capability therein, the antenna assembly comprising:

(a) an antenna element;

(b) a second PC connector including a male connector pin in electrical communication with said antenna element said male connector pin providing electrical communication between said antenna element and the wireless communication capability when said male PC connector is connected to the first PC connector of the camera body; and

(c) an antenna notification module in electrical communication with said antenna element and said second PC connector, said antenna notification module producing an electrical event when said second PC connector is connected to the first PC connector of the camera body, the electrical event providing an indication to the wireless communication capability that said antenna element is present, wherein said second PC connector is configured to allow rotation of the antenna assembly with respect to the camera body when said second PC connector is connected to the first PC connector.

11. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication capability is configured to be switched to an active state upon said indication that said antenna element is present and to an inactive state upon absence of said indication.

12. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication capability comprises a transmitter for communicating a signal from the camera body to said antenna element, said transmitter being in electrical communication with said antenna element via said male connector pin when said second PC connector is connected with said first PC connector, said antenna notification module being in electrical communication with said wireless communication capability via said male connector pin.

13. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said antenna notification module includes an inductor in electrical communication with said antenna element, said inductor also being in electrical communication with a ground element of the first PC connector.

14. An antenna assembly according to claim 13, wherein the wireless communication capability is configured to communicate wirelessly via said antenna element at a first frequency, said inductor having an inductance that produces an open circuit between the wireless communication capability and said ground element at said first frequency and a short circuit to ground at a second frequency, the wireless communication capability being configured to detect said short circuit at said second frequency.

15. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication capability comprises a wireless communication module inside the camera body.

16. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said electrical event includes a measured current.

17. An antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein said electrical event includes a short circuit.

18. A wireless communication system for a camera body, the camera body including a PC connector and a wireless communication module having an antenna sensing means, the wireless communication module being in electrical communication wit the PC connector, the system comprising:

(a) an antenna element external to the camera body;

(b) a connecting means for connecting said antenna element to the PC connector of the camera body, said connecting means being in electrical communication with said antenna element; and

(c) a notification means for electrically communicating the presence of said antenna element to the antenna sensing means when said connecting means is connected to the PC connector of the camera body, said antenna element being adapted to transmit and receive one or more signals from and to the camera body wherein said connecting means is configured to allow rotation of said antenna element with respect to the camera body when said connecting means is connected to the PC connector.

19. A wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to switch to an active state upon the antenna sensing means sensing said presence of said antenna element and to switch to an inactive state upon the antenna sensing means sensing the lack of said presence of said antenna element.

20. A wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate wirelessly via said antenna element at a first frequency, said notification means being configured to produce an open circuit between the wireless communication module and ground at said first frequency and a short circuit to ground at a second frequency, the antenna sensing means being configured to detect said short circuit at said second frequency.

21. A wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a transmitter for communicating a signal from the camera body to said antenna element said transmitter being in electrical communication with said antenna element via a first connection element of said connecting means when said connecting means is connected with the PC connector, said notification means being in electrical communication with said wireless communication module via said first connection element.

22. A camera capable of wirelessly communicating wit a remote device, the camera comprising:

(a) a first PC connector exposed to an outside surface of a body of the camera;

(b) a wireless communication module having an antenna sensing means, said wireless communication module being in electrical communication with said first PC connector;

(c) an antenna element external to said body of the camera;

(d) a second connector operatively configured to connect said antenna element to said first PC connector, said second connector being in electrical communication with said antenna element, wherein said second connector is configured to allow rotation of said antenna element with respect to the camera body when said second connector is connected to said first PC connector;

(e) a notification means for electrically communicating the presence of said antenna element to said antenna sensing means.

23. A camera according to claim 22, wherein said wireless communication module is configured to switch to an active state upon the antenna sensing means sensing said presence of said antenna element and to switch to an inactive state upon the antenna sensing means sensing the lack of said presence of said antenna element.

24. A camera according to claim 22, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to communicate wirelessly via said antenna element at a first frequency, said notification means being configured to produce an open circuit between said wireless communication module and ground at said first frequency and a short circuit to ground at a second frequency, said antenna sensing means being configured to detect said short circuit at said second frequency.

25. A camera according to claim 22, wherein said wireless communication module includes a transmitter for communicating a signal from said camera body to said antenna element, said second connector comprising a first connector means for communicating said signal between said transmitter and said antenna element and for electrically connecting said notification means to said sensing means.

26. A method of activating a wireless communication capability of a camera body, the method comprising:

(a) producing an electrical event by connecting an external antenna to a PC connector of the camera body; and

(b) using said electrical event to notify the wireless communication capability of the presence of said external antenna, wherein said external antenna is configured to allow rotation of said external antenna with respect to the camera body when said external antenna is connected to said PC connector.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said producing step (a) includes providing an open circuit between the wireless communication capability and ground at a first frequency used by the wireless communication capability for wireless communication, and producing a short circuit to ground at a second frequency used by the wireless communication capability to detect the presence of said external antenna.

28. A meted according to claim 26, further comprising switching the wireless communication capability to or from an active state based on the presence or lack of connection of said external antenna.