Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization

• US 8,351,774 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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:
  US13/399,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 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 metal 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 a camera body including metal;

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

wireles sly 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 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.

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

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the antenna is rotatable.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is rotatable.

10. 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.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more other components of the camera body includes an external port of the camera body.

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

13. 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.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using a camera control of the camera body to alter the settings of a remote camera using a wireless communication using the antenna.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using the antenna to wirelessly send a message to a remote camera to trigger the remote camera.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using the antenna to wirelessly actuate a remote device.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising using the camera body to capture an image of an event related to the actuating of the remote device.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wired connection includes a port of the camera body.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein an ability to generate the RF signal within the camera body is activated via a control of the camera body.

20. 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, the camera body including metal;

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 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.

21. A system according to claim 20, 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.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the one or more other components of the camera body includes an external port of the camera body.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the antenna element is removably connected to the camera body.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the antenna element is rotatable.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be in an active state when the antenna element is connected to the camera body.

26. A system according to claim 20, wherein the antenna element is rotatable.

27. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wired connection includes an external port connector of the camera body.

28. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a remote device controllable using a signal communicated from the antenna element.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the signal communicated from the antenna element includes the RF signal generated in response to receiving a flash synchronization signal and the remote device is a flash device.

30. A system according to claim 28, wherein the remote device is a remote camera.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the signal is used to trigger the remote camera.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the signal is used to alter a setting of the remote camera.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein a control of said camera body is used in altering the setting of the remote camera.

34. A system according to claim 28, wherein the signal is used to actuate the remote device.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the actuating the remote device is related to an event, the camera body being configured to capture an image of the event.

36. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be activated using a control of the camera body.

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

a camera body having one or more camera controls, the camera body including metal;

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

an external antenna element connected via a wired connection to the wireless communication circuitry, said wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate a signal to the antenna element for RF wireless communication to one or more remote devices; and

one or more remote devices associated with a wireless receiver for receiving the signal.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the one or more remote devices is a flash device and the signal includes a flash synchronization.

39. A system according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the one or more remote devices is a remote camera and the signal includes a command to alter a setting of the remote camera.

40. A system according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the one or more remote devices is a remote camera and the signal includes a trigger of the remote camera.

41. A system according to claim 37, wherein the signal includes a command to actuate at least one of the one or more remote devices.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the actuating includes actuating an event that is to be captured in an image by the camera body.

43. A system according to claim 37, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be activated using one of the one or more camera controls.