Systems and methods for communicating with a device using one or more camera body controls

• US 8,538,250 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes, Jr., Leon W
• Application Number:
  US13/692,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20130094845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 396 1- 5, 396 56- 58, 396/166, 396/175, 396/201, 396/280, 396/299, 396301-303, 348/333.13, 362/233
• US Class Current: 396/56
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
• 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

Abstract

A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with a remote lighting device using a camera body having one or more camera body controls, each for controlling one or more camera functions of the camera body, the method comprising:

detecting a first preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one first camera body control on the camera body;

generating a first power level signal in response to said detecting of the first preset pattern of actuation;

wirelessly communicating the first power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a first power level;

after communicating the first power level signal, detecting a second preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one second camera body control on the camera body;

generating a second power level signal in response to said detecting of the second preset pattern of actuation; and

wirelessly communicating the second power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a second power level.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting of the first preset pattern includes detecting a first sequential actuation of a particular camera body control on the camera body.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said detecting of the first sequential actuation includes detecting a sequential partial-pressing of a shutter release control.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said detecting of the second preset pattern includes detecting a second sequential actuation of a particular camera body control on the camera body.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said detecting of the first sequential actuation includes detecting a first sequential partial-pressing of a shutter release control and said detecting of the second sequential actuation includes detecting a second sequential partial-pressing of the shutter release button.

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

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is an in-scene lighting device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is an ambient lighting device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a third camera body control provided to the camera body for controlling camera body functionality, the method further comprising:

in response to said detecting of the first preset pattern of actuation, changing the camera body functionality of the third camera body control to a power adjustment functionality for controlling the remote lighting device; and

in response to said detecting of the second preset pattern of actuation, changing the power adjustment control functionality of the third camera body control back to the camera body control functionality.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising while the third camera body control has the power adjustment control functionality, detecting user actuation of the third camera body control, wherein said generating a first power level signal includes generating a power adjustment signal in response to said detecting of user actuation of the third camera body control;

and wherein said wirelessly communicating the first power level signal includes wirelessly communicating the power adjustment signal so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate in accordance with the power adjustment signal.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said detecting of the user actuation of the third camera body control includes detecting a rotating of a rotary control.

12. A method according to claim 11, further including generating a plurality of power adjustment signals in substantial synchronicity with the rotating of a rotary control, wherein said wirelessly communicating the first power level signal includes wireless transmitting the plurality of power adjustment signals in substantial synchronicity with the rotating of the rotary control so as to cause the remote lighting device to continually change power levels.

13. A system for communicating with a remote lighting device using a camera body having one or more camera body controls, each for controlling one or more camera functions of the camera body, the system comprising:

a means for detecting a first preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one first camera body control on the camera body;

a means for generating a first power level signal in response to said detecting of the first preset pattern of actuation;

a means for wirelessly communicating the first power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a first power level;

a means for after communicating the first power level signal, detecting a second preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one second camera body control on the camera body;

a means for generating a second power level signal in response to said detecting of the second preset pattern of actuation; and

a means for wirelessly communicating the second power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a second power level.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for detecting of the first preset pattern includes a means for detecting a first sequential actuation of a particular camera body control on the camera body.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said means for detecting of the first sequential actuation includes a means for detecting a sequential partial-pressing of a shutter release control.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein said means for detecting of the second preset pattern includes a means for detecting a second sequential actuation of a particular camera body control on the camera body.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for detecting of the first sequential actuation includes a means for detecting a first sequential partial-pressing of a shutter release control and said means for detecting of the second sequential actuation includes a means for detecting a second sequential partial-pressing of the shutter release button.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the lighting device is a wirelessly remote modeling lighting device.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the lighting device is an in-scene lighting device.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the lighting device is an ambient lighting device.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the camera body includes a third camera body control provided to the camera body for controlling camera body functionality, the system further comprising:

a means for changing the camera body functionality of the third camera body control, in response to the detecting of the first preset pattern of actuation, to a power adjustment functionality for controlling the remote lighting device; and

a means for changing the power adjustment control functionality of the third camera body control, in response to said detecting of the second preset pattern of actuation, back to the camera body control functionality.

22. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a means for detecting user actuation of the third camera body control, while the third camera body control has the power adjustment control functionality, wherein said means for generating a first power level signal includes a means for generating a power adjustment signal in response to said detecting of user actuation of the third camera body control;

and wherein said means for wirelessly communicating the first power level signal includes a means for wirelessly communicating the power adjustment signal so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate in accordance with the power adjustment signal.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said means for detecting of the user actuation of the third camera body control includes a means for detecting a rotating of a rotary control.

24. A system according to claim 23, further including a means for generating a plurality of power adjustment signals in substantial synchronicity with the rotating of a rotary control, wherein said means for wirelessly communicating the first power level signal includes a means for wireless transmitting the plurality of power adjustment signals in substantial synchronicity with the rotating of the rotary control so as to cause the remote lighting device to continually change power levels.

25. A machine-readable hardware storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of communicating with a controlled device using a camera body having one or more camera body controls, each for controlling one or more camera functions of the camera body, said machine-executable instructions comprising:

a set of instructions for detecting a first preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one first camera body control on the camera body;

a set of instructions for generating a first power level signal in response to said detecting of the first preset pattern of actuation;

a set of instructions for wirelessly communicating the first power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a first power level;

a set of instructions for after communicating the first power level signal, detecting a second preset pattern of actuation by a user of at least one second camera body control on the camera body;

a set of instructions for generating a second power level signal in response to said detecting of the second preset pattern of actuation; and

a set of instructions for wirelessly communicating the second power level signal to the remote lighting device so as to cause the remote lighting device to operate at a second power level.