Wireless camera flash synchronizer system and method

• US 7,970,267 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US12/762,811
• Time in Patent Office: 435 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 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A system and method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera to a remote device using an externally connected device. A first signal generated after the activation of a camera trigger is received from the camera. Based on the first signal, a transceiver of the externally connected device is switched from a wireless receive mode to a wireless transmit.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera to a remote device using an external device connected to the camera, the external device including a transceiver and being connected to the camera via an external connector of the camera, the method comprising:

receiving at the external device a first signal from the camera via the external connector, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated, the transceiver of the external device set to operate in a wireless receive mode;

in response to said receiving the first signal, automatically setting the transceiver to operate in a wireless transmit mode; and

wirelessly transmitting a synchronization data from the external device to the remote device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the external connector is a hotshoe connector.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the external connector is a PC flash synchronization connector.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said wirelessly transmitting a synchronization data includes radio frequency transmission.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver includes an oscillator element configured to be in one of the receive mode and the transmit mode.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a lighting device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising setting the transceiver to operate in the wireless receive mode prior to receiving the first signal.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said setting step comprises:

loading the transceiver with a receive frequency coding; and

loading the transceiver with a transmit frequency coding prior to receiving the first signal.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 1 millisecond.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 100 microseconds.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 20 microseconds.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is a synchronization signal.

13. A method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera to a remote device, the method comprising:

setting a transceiver of an external device to operate in a wireless receive mode, the external device being connected to a hotshoe connector of the camera;

receiving a first signal via the hotshoe connector, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated;

in response to said receiving the first signal, automatically setting the transceiver to operate in a wireless transmit mode; and

wirelessly transmitting a synchronization data from the external device to the remote device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said wirelessly transmitting a synchronization data includes radio frequency transmission.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transceiver includes an oscillator element configured to be in one of the receive mode and the transmit mode at a time.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said setting step comprises:

loading the transceiver with a receive frequency coding; and

loading the transceiver with a transmit frequency coding prior to receiving the first signal.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein said wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 1 millisecond.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 100 microseconds.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein said automatically setting step is completed and said wirelessly transmitting step commences in less than about 20 microseconds.

20. An external device for connection to a camera, the external device capable of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization to a remote device, the external device comprising:

a transceiver having a receive mode and a transmit mode;

a camera connector for connecting the external device to an external connector of the camera;

an auto mode switcher for switching said transceiver from said receive mode to said transmit mode in response to receiving a first signal from the camera via the external connector, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated.

21. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said camera connector is a hotshoe connector.

22. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said camera connector is a PC flash synchronization connector.

23. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

24. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said auto mode switcher and transceiver are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 1 millisecond of receiving the first signal.

25. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said auto mode switcher and transceiver are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 100 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

26. An external device for connection to a camera according to claim 20, wherein said auto mode switcher and transceiver are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 20 microseconds of receiving the first signal.