Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization

• US 8,532,476 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• 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:
  US13/735,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20130121674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 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 having a lower portion and an upper portion. An antenna is connected to the upper portion of the 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 the antenna. The wireless communication can be utilized for actuating one or more remote devices, such as for triggering one or more remote flash devices.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more remote photographic lighting devices from a camera, the camera having a body with a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion including one or more camera controls, the camera body including an internal wireless communication functionality, the method comprising:

receiving within the camera body a flash synchronization signal;

based on the flash synchronization signal, generating a signal for RF transmission using the internal wireless communication functionality;

communicating the signal for RF transmission via a wired connection to an antenna connected to the upper portion of the camera body; and

wirelessly communicating the signal for RF transmission from the antenna to the one or more remote photographic lighting devices.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said generating a signal for RF transmission includes using a transceiver located in the lower portion of the camera body.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are secured together with screws.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a metal alloy and the antenna is grounded to the metal alloy of the camera body.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes a circuit board having a flex connector for connecting the wireless communication functionality to other components within the camera body.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the one or more remote photographic lighting devices in response to said wirelessly communicating the signal for RF transmission.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising using the camera to take a first photograph in conjunction with said controlling the one or more remote photographic lighting devices.

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

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating of the signal for RF transmission includes communicating the signal for RF transmission to an external flash synchronization port on the upper portion of the camera body, the antenna connected to the external flash synchronization port.

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

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the antenna is rotatable.

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

13. 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.

14. A method 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 method according to claim 13, wherein said intercepting does not interfere with the normal function of the camera.

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

wirelessly 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.

17. 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.

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

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

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising using the camera body to capture an image of an event related to the actuating of the remote device.

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

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality is activated via a control of the camera body.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality is automatically activated when the antenna is attached to the upper portion of the camera body.

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

a camera body having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion including one or more camera controls, the camera body including an internal wireless communication circuitry;

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 a signal for RF transmission in response to receiving a flash synchronization signal; and

an antenna element connected to the upper portion of the camera body via a wired connection to the wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate the signal for RF transmission to the antenna element for wireless communication to the one or more remote photographic flash devices.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the electrical pathway intercepts the flash synchronization signal as it flows from control of the camera to one or more other components of the camera body.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the one or more other components of the camera body includes an external port of the camera body.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is located in the lower portion of the camera body.

28. A system according to claim 24, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are secured together with screws.

29. A system according to claim 24, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes a circuit board having a flex connector for connecting the wireless communication functionality to other components within the camera body.

30. A system according to claim 24, wherein the antenna element is removably connected to the upper portion of the camera body.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the antenna element is rotatable.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be in an active state when the antenna element is connected to the camera body.

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

34. A system according to claim 24, wherein the wired connection includes an external port connector of the camera body.

35. A system according to claim 24, further comprising a remote device controllable using a signal communicated from the antenna element.

36. A system according to claim 35, 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.

37. A system according to claim 35, wherein the remote device is a remote camera.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the signal is used to trigger the remote camera.

39. A system according to claim 37, wherein the signal is used to alter a setting of the remote camera.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein a control of said camera body is used in altering the setting of the remote camera.

41. A system according to claim 35, wherein the signal is used to actuate the remote device.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the actuating the remote device is related to an event, the camera body being configured to capture an image of the event.

43. A system according to claim 24, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be activated using a control of the camera body.