Wireless photographic communication system and method

• US 7,880,761 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/490,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/06 Generation of synchronising signals

Abstract

An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to communicate with a remote device. The wireless communication module includes one or more pressure connectors configured to directly connect to one or more external ports of the camera, each of the one or more external ports may provide access to an internal function, control, signal, and/or power of the camera.

Claims

1. An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to communicate with a remote device, the module comprising:

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector in communication with said wireless communication circuit, said first connector for connecting said module body to a first external port of the camera, said first external port providing a shutter synchronization signal of the camera;

a second connector for connecting said module body to a second external port of the camera, said second external port providing communication with a first power supply internal to the camera; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for communicating with the remote device,

wherein said first and second connectors are configured so that when said first and second connectors are connected with said first and second external ports, the connection of said first and second connectors with said first and second external ports fixes the module body to the camera.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connectors being configured to be removably connected to said first and second external ports.

3. A module according to claim 1, wherein said second connector is adapted to receive power from the first power supply of the camera when the said second connector is connected with said second external port.

4. A module according to claim 3, further comprising a capacitor for storing energy supplied by the first power supply of the camera.

5. A module according to claim 4, wherein the second external port includes a port selected from the group consisting of an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port, a universal serial bus port, an external power port of a removable camera battery, accessory port, and any combinations thereof, and said second connector is designed for connection to at least one port from said group.

6. A module according to claim 3, further comprising a power management module in communication with said second connector for receiving power from the first power supply of the camera and providing said power to the external wireless communication module.

7. A module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second connectors are movably mounted with respect to said module body.

8. A module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second connectors are movably mounted with respect to the other of said first and second connectors.

9. A module according to claim 1, wherein the first external port is a PC synch connector and said first connector is adapted for connection thereto.

10. A module according to claim 1, wherein the second external port is a motor drive port and said second connector is adapted for connection thereto.

11. A module according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication circuit includes a circuit selected from the group consisting of a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, and any combinations thereof.

12. A module according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connectors when connected to said first and second external ports provide structural support for the wireless communication module with respect to the camera.

13. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a third connector for connecting said module body to a third external port of the camera, the third external port providing communication with a first trigger control of the camera.

14. A module according to claim 13, wherein said third external port is a motor drive port and said third connector is adapted for connection thereto.

15. A module according to claim 1, further comprising an internal module power supply for providing at least a portion of the power required to operate the wireless communication module.

16. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a processor within said module body, said processor being in communication with said first connector for formatting a first information provided by said first external port for transmission by said transmitter to the remote device.

17. A module according to claim 16, wherein said processor is also in communication with said second connector, said processor being configured for formatting a second information provided via wireless communication to the wireless communication module and providing said formatted second information to said second external port.

18. A module according to claim 16, wherein said processor is configured to encode information transmitted by said wireless communication circuit.

19. A module according to claim 1, further comprising an external control on said module body for programming the module.

20. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a first visual indicator for externally displaying a condition of the module.

21. A module according to claim 20, wherein said first visual indicator is positioned on said antenna.

22. A module according to claim 1, further comprising an audio element for emitting audio signals from said module body.

23. A module according to claim 1, wherein said module body is shaped and configured to not obstruct access to external controls of the camera when said module body is externally connected to the camera.

24. A module according to claim 1, wherein said module body comprises:

a first side, said first side including said first and second connectors;

a second side opposite said first side and having a surface area such that said module does not interfere with camera controls.

25. A module according to claim 1, wherein said first connector has a first center axis and said second connector has a second center axis, said first center axis positioned a first distance from said second center axis, wherein said first distance is from about 20 mm to about 24 mm.

26. A module according to claim 1, wherein said first connector includes a male PC synch connector.

27. A module according to claim 1, wherein said second connector includes a male motor drive connector.

28. A module according to claim 1, wherein said module enables the camera to control said remote device.

29. A module according to claim 1, further comprising one or more pass-through ports allowing use of at least one of the first and second external ports when said module body is connected to the camera.

30. A system for wireless communication comprising:

a camera having a first external port and a second external port; and

a wireless communication module including;

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector in communication with said wireless communication circuit, said first connector for connecting said module body to the first external port of the camera, the first external port providing a shutter synchronization signal of the camera;

a second connector for connecting said module body to the second external port of the camera, the second external port providing communication with a first power supply internal to the camera; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for communicating with the remote device, wherein said first and second connectors are configured so that when said first and second connectors are connected with the first and second external ports, the connection of said first and second connectors with the first and second external ports fixes the module body to the camera,

wherein said first connector is connected to said first external port and said second connector is connected to said second external port.

31. An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to communicate with a remote device, the module comprising:

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector for connecting said module body to a PC synch connector of the camera;

a second connector spaced a first distance from said first connector, said second connector for connecting said module body to a motor drive connector of the camera; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for communicating with the remote device,

wherein said first and second connectors are configured so that when said first and second connectors are connected to said first and second external ports, the connection of said first and second connectors with said first and second external ports fixes the module body to the camera.

32. A module according to claim 31, wherein said wireless communication circuit includes a circuit selected from the group consisting of a receive, a transmitter, a transceiver, and any combinations thereof.

33. A module according to claim 31, wherein said first and second connectors are configured to be removably connected to said first and second external ports.

34. An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to communicate with a remote device, the module comprising:

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector for connecting said module body to a PC synch connector of the camera, said PC synch connector providing a shutter synchronization signal from the camera for transmission to the remote device; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for communicating with the remote device,

wherein said first connector, when connected to the camera, fixes said module body to the camera.

35. A module according to claim 34, wherein said wireless communication circuit includes a circuit selected from the group consisting of a receive, a transmitter, a transceiver, and any combinations thereof.

36. A module according to claim 34, wherein said first connector is configured to be removably connected to said PC synch connector.

37. An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to wirelessly communicate with a remote device, the module comprising:

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector in communication with said wireless communication circuit, said first connector for connecting said module body to a motor-drive port of the camera for receiving a trigger signal from the camera for wireless transmission to the remote device; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the remote device,

wherein said first connector, when connected to the camera, fixes said module body to the camera.

38. A module according to claim 37, wherein said motor-drive port further provides power to the wireless communication module via said first connector.

39. A module according to claim 37, further comprising a means for determining a shutter synchronization signal from a voltage reading of a power signal received from said motor-drive port and/or an audio signal emanating from within the camera.

40. A module according to claim 37, wherein said wireless communication circuit includes a circuit selected from the group consisting of a receive, a transmitter, a transceiver, and any combinations thereof.