Wireless camera flash synchronizer system and method

• US 8,559,804 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• 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:
  US13/438,500
• Time in Patent Office: 560 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, 348/211.9, 348/9, 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

An external device for wirelessly synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of a camera with switching of a transceiver from receive mode to transmit mode in response to receipt of a first signal by the external device generated after a trigger of the camera is activated. The external device includes a wireless communication functionality and a connector for connecting the external device to a port of the camera providing access to the first signal. The external device includes auto mode switcher for switching the transceiver from a receive mode to a transmit mode. A system including a camera and an external device configured to switch from receive mode to transmit mode in response to a signal from the camera generated after a trigger of the camera is activated.

Claims

1. An external device for wirelessly synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of a camera, the external device comprising:

a wireless communication functionality having a transmit mode and a receive mode;

a first connector for connecting the external device to a port of a camera that provides a connection to a first signal, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated; and

an auto mode switcher for switching a transceiver from the receive mode to the transmit mode in response to receipt of the first signal by the external device via the first connector.

2. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the port of the camera is a hotshoe connector.

3. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the port of the camera is a PC flash synchronization connector.

4. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the camera does not have a shutter and the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of an exposure element of the camera.

5. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the camera includes a shutter and the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition related to the opening of the shutter of the camera.

6. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to an image acquisition by the camera.

7. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is a synchronization signal.

8. An external device according to claim 1, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 100 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

9. An external device according to claim 1, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 20 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

10. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes an oscillator element that is configured to be in only one of the transmit mode and the receive mode at a time.

11. An external device according to claim 1, further comprising a physical switch configured to manually switch the wireless communication functionality to the receive mode.

12. An external device for wirelessly synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of a camera, the external device comprising:

a wireless communication functionality having a transmit mode and a receive mode;

a first connector for connecting the external device to a port of a camera that provides a connection to a first signal, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated and including information for synchronizing a remote device to an image acquisition by the camera, said first connector configured to connect to at least one of a hotshoe connector of the camera, a PC synchronization connector of the camera, and a multi-contact accessory port of the camera; and

an auto mode switcher for switching a transceiver from the receive mode to the transmit mode in response to receipt of the first signal by the external device via the first connector.

13. An external device according to claim 12, wherein the camera does not have a shutter and the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of an exposure element of the camera.

14. An external device according to claim 12, wherein the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition related to the opening of a shutter of the camera.

15. An external device according to claim 12, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 100 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

16. An external device according to claim 12, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 20 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

17. An external device according to claim 12, wherein the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to an image acquisition by the camera.

18. An external device according to claim 12, wherein the first signal is a synchronization signal.

19. An external device according to claim 12, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes an oscillator element that is configured to be in only one of the transmit mode and the receive mode at a time.

20. An external device according to claim 12, further comprising a physical switch configured to manually switch the wireless communication functionality to the receive mode.

21. A system for synchronizing a remote device to photographic image acquisition, the system comprising:

a camera having an external port providing access to a first signal, the first signal generated after a trigger of the camera is activated; and

a device for connection to the camera, the device including;

a wireless communication functionality having a transmit mode and a receive mode;

a first connector for connecting the device to the external port of the camera; and

an auto mode switcher for switching a transceiver from the receive mode to the transmit mode in response to receipt of the first signal by the device via the first connector.

22. A system according to claim 21, further comprising a remote device configured to be synchronized to the camera using a wireless signal received from the wireless communication functionality.

23. A system according to claim 21, further comprising a remote flash device configured to be synchronized to the camera using a wireless signal received from the wireless communication functionality.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein the external port of the camera is a hotshoe connector.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein the external port of the camera is a PC flash synchronization connector.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein the camera does not include a shutter and the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition of an exposure element of the camera.

27. A system according to claim 21, wherein the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition related to the opening of a shutter of the camera.

28. A system according to claim 21, wherein the first signal includes information for synchronizing a remote device to an image acquisition by the camera.

29. A system according to claim 21, wherein the first signal is a synchronization signal.

30. A system according to claim 21, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 100 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

31. A system according to claim 21, wherein said auto mode switcher and said wireless communication functionality are configured to commence transmission to the remote device within 20 microseconds of receiving the first signal.

32. A system according to claim 21, wherein the wireless communication functionality includes an oscillator element that is configured to be in only one of the transmit mode and the receive mode at a time.

33. A system according to claim 21, further comprising a physical switch configured to manually switch the wireless communication functionality to the receive mode.