Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization

• US 7,764,875 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• 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): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US12/104,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20080193114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 396 56- 59, 396/263, 396/429, 348/14.05, 348/14.02, 348/114, 348/211.99, 348/211.2, 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 for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body, the method comprising:

electrically receiving a flash synchronization signal internal to the camera body;

using the flash synchronization signal to generate within the camera body an RF signal;

communicating the RF signal via a wired connection to an antenna external to the camera body, wherein said communicating of the RF signal via a wired connection includes communicating the RF signal to a port having an external connector on the camera body to which the antenna is connected, the external connector being a PC flash synchronization connector; and

wirelessly communicating the RF signal from the external antenna to the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the one or more remote photographic flash devices in response to the one or more remote photographic flash devices receiving the RF signal.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising using the camera to take a first photograph in conjunction with said triggering the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising using the camera to take a second photograph in conjunction with a second triggering of the one or more remote photographic flash devices associated with repeating the steps of the method of claim 1.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said flash synchronization signal is generated in response to a user interface input.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is removably connected to the exterior of the camera body.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving a flash synchronization signal includes intercepting the flash synchronization signal as it flows from a camera control to one or more other components of the camera body.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more other components of the camera body includes an external port of the camera body.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the external port is a PC flash synchronization connector.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said intercepting does not interfere with the normal function of the camera.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second RF signal at the antenna; and

using the second RF signal to generate within the camera body a second corresponding signal to one or more camera controls of the camera body.

12. A system for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera, the system comprising:

a camera body having wireless communication circuitry within the camera body that does not interfere with the camera body functioning as a camera;

an electrical pathway operatively connecting the wireless communication circuitry to a control of the camera providing a flash synchronization signal, the wireless communication circuitry configured to generate an RF signal in response to receiving a flash synchronization signal; and

an antenna element external to the camera body, the antenna element connected via a wired connection to the wireless communication circuitry, the wired connection including an external port connector of the camera body, the external port connector being a PC flash synchronization connector, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate the RF signal to the antenna element for wireless communication to the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the electrical pathway intercepts the flash synchronization signal as it flows from the control of the camera to one or more other components of the camera body.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more other components of the camera body includes an external port of the camera body.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the antenna element is removably connected to the camera body.

16. A system for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera, the system comprising:

a camera body having one or more camera controls;

a wireless communication circuitry within said camera body and operatively connected to at least one of said one or more camera controls; and

an external antenna element removably connected to a port on an external surface of the camera body, said port being a flash synchronization connector, said port connected via a wired connection to the wireless communication circuitry, said wireless communication circuitry including one or more circuit elements sensing the presence of said external antenna and switching said wireless communication circuitry to an active state when said external antenna is present and to an inactive state when said external antenna is not present.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said port is a PC synchronization connector.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said at least one of said one or more camera controls includes a flash synchronization camera control that provides a flash synchronization signal.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes circuitry for communicating the flash synchronization indication to the external antenna element in the form of an RF signal for wireless communication to a remote flash device.

20. A method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body, the method comprising:

electrically receiving a flash synchronization signal internal to the camera body, said receiving a flash synchronization signal including intercepting the flash synchronization signal as it flows from a camera control to one or more other components of the camera body, the one or more other components of the camera body including an external port of the camera body, the external port being a PC flash synchronization connector;

using the flash synchronization signal to generate within the camera body an RF signal;

communicating the RF signal via a wired connection to an antenna external to the camera body; and

wirelessly communicating the RF signal from the external antenna to the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling the one or more remote photographic flash devices in response to the one or more remote photographic flash devices receiving the RF signal.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising using the camera to take a first photograph in conjunction with said triggering the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising using the camera to take a second photograph in conjunction with a second triggering of the one or more remote photographic flash devices associated with repeating the steps of the method of claim 20.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein said flash synchronization signal is generated in response to a user interface input.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the antenna is removably connected to the exterior of the camera body.

26. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a second RF signal at the antenna; and

using the second RF signal to generate within the camera body a second corresponding signal to one or more camera controls of the camera body.