Radio remote control for photographic equipment

• US 7,486,883 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamrac, Inc. (GuraGear, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tamrac, Inc. (GuraGear, LLC)
• Inventors: McNary, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Fang-Chi
• Application Number:
  US11/143,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20060275024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 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, 348/211.99, 348/725, 348/734
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/0473 Remote controlled ignition mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/70 with flash-synchronising contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A radio sync system for photographic equipment including a transmitter unit and a receiver unit. The transmitter unit utilizes a power-management scheme for keeping the transmitter unit in a low-power stand-by state except when an RF signal needs to be transmitted, and returning the transmitter unit back into the low-power stand-by state within a predefined short period of time after transmitting the RF signal. The receiver unit utilizes a power-sensing scheme for keeping the receiver unit in a low-power stand-by state when it is not connected to a remote photographic equipment or the remote photographic equipment is powered off but turning the receiver unit on when it is connected to a remote photographic equipment and the remote photographic equipment is powered on such that when an RF signal is received, the receiver unit can send a command signal to operate the remote photographic equipment.

Claims

1. A radio sync system to be used between local and remote photographic equipment, comprising:

a. a transmitter unit having a camera boot connector for connection with a local photographic equipment and a housing for containing its internal electronics including a microprocessor, an input signal detector, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and a transmitter antenna said transmitter unit further comprises means for visually indicating the status of said transmitter unit;

b. a receiver unit having means for connection with a remote photographic equipment and a housing for containing its internal electronics including a microprocessor, a command signal generator, a radio frequency (RF) receiver and a receiver antenna;

c. said transmitter unit having a power-management means that keeps said transmitter unit in a low-power stand-by state, that powers up said transmitter unit when an input signal from said local photographic equipment is detected by said input signal detector for transmitting an RF signal to said receiver unit, and that returns said transmitter unit back into said low-power stand-by state within a predefined short period of time after transmitting said RF signal, the microprocessor of the transmitter receives a signal from a camera boot detector and also from a flash pushbutton switch and a change channel switch pushbutton with the status of the transmitter being indicated by a light emitting diode; and

d. said receiver unit having a power-sensing means that keeps said receiver unit in a low-power stand-by state when it is not connected to said remote photographic equipment or said remote photographic equipment is powered off, and that only powers up said receiver unit when it is connected to said remote photographic equipment and said remote photographic equipment is powered on such that when said receiver unit receives said RF signal, a command signal can be generated by a command signal generator and sent to said remote photographic equipment through said connector to operate said remote photographic equipment, the microprocessor of the receiver processes a signal and camera flash command generator to generate a flash command that is sent to a strobe through a flash connector including light means to indicate the status of the receiver, the microprocessor of the receiver waking up every few milliseconds to check an output connection for voltage; and

e. means for detecting whether or not the receiver is connected to remote photographic equipment;

f. the receiver including a voltage detector detected by the microprocessor of the receiver to power up the receiver and means to continue to check for output voltage and if output voltage is present, the receiver is powered up and ready to operate a flash in the event of a correct signal to the receiver and when the receiver is commanded to operate the flash, the receiver unit output is pulled low by the microprocessor of the receiver, and means that causes the microprocessor of the receiver to ignore the voltage at the flash connector and tell it to stay on in the event the output is pulled low because the microprocessor of the receiver knows it is pulling the output low itself;

g. means to enable the microprocessor of the receiver to monitor the receiver output for the voltage present state and remain on if it is present and turning off the system if no voltage is detected and going back to a lower power state; and

h. a channel change mode programmed into the microprocessor of the receiver which for a short period of time after the output voltage goes high causes the receiver to be turned on, the receiver having means to accept signal channel change transmission from the transmitter and if a channel change transmission is received by the receiver, the microprocessor of the receiver changes the code that it accepts to fire the strobe, with the reception of the channel change code being acknowledged by flashing lights indicating a current channel number.

2. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connection of said receiver unit comprises a plug.

3. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said predefined short period of time is 1.5 milliseconds.

4. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter unit further comprises means for changing RF transmission channel.

5. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter unit further comprises means for manually powering up said transmitter unit to transmit an RF signal to said receiver for operating said remote photographic equipment.

6. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter unit further comprises a filter means connected between said RF transmitter and said transmitter antenna.

7. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transmitter unit further comprises a battery power source.

8. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiver unit further comprises means for visually indicating the status of said receiver unit.

9. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiver unit further comprises a filter connected between said RF receiver and said receiver antenna.

10. The radio sync system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiver unit further comprises a battery power source.