Systems and methods for controlling a power state of a remote device using camera body backlighting control signaling

• US 8,614,766 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US12/705,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 348/370, 348/371
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/00 Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

A control system for communicating with a wirelessly remote 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 camera body backlighting control signal. In response to detecting of the camera body backlighting control signal, the control system generates a power state control signal for controlling the power state of the wirelessly remote device. The control system then causes the power state control signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate in a first power state. The control system also causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state. Such a system can allow a photographer to easily control the remote device while remaining at the camera body.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a power state of a non-camera remote device using a camera body, the method comprising:

detecting a first camera body backlighting control signal that is generated in response to a user actuation of a backlighting control switch;

generating a first power state control signal in response to said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal, wherein the first power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

wirelessly transmitting the first power state control signal to the remote device in response to said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal so as to cause the non-camera remote device to operate at a first power state, wherein the first power state is a power state of an output functionality of the non-camera remote device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising causing the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state different from the first power state.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said causing of the remote device to change from the first power state to the second power state includes:

detecting a second camera body backlighting control signal;

generating a second power state control signal in response to said detecting of the second camera body backlighting control signal, wherein the second power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

wirelessly transmitting the second power state control signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at the second power state.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said causing of the remote device to change from the first power state to the second power state includes:

implementing a time delay as a function of said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal;

generating a second power state control signal in response to expiration of the time delay, wherein the second power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

wirelessly transmitting the second power state control signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a second power state.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal includes detecting the first camera body backlighting control signal internally relative to the camera body and said generating of the first power state control signal includes generating the first power state control signal internally relative to the camera body.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal includes detecting the first camera body backlighting control signal externally relative to the camera body, said generating of the first power state control signal includes generating the first power state control signal externally relative to the camera body and said wireless transmitting of the first power state control signal includes wirelessly transmitting the first power state control signal externally relative to the camera body.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the camera body has a hotshoe and said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal externally relative to the camera body includes detecting the first camera body control signal via the hotshoe.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal includes detecting a camera backlighting-on signal and said generating of the first power state control signal includes generating a first power state off signal configured to turn off the remote device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a continuous lighting device and said generating of the first power state control signal includes generating an illumination output level signal.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the continuous lighting device includes a modeling lighting device responsive to the illumination output level signal.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the continuous lighting device includes an ambient lighting device responsive to the illumination output level signal.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the continuous lighting device includes an in-scene lighting device responsive to the illumination output level signal.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a non-lighting device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the non-lighting device is a special effects device.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the non-lighting device includes a motor and said generating of the first power state control signal includes generating a motor speed control signal.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitting of the first power change signal includes wirelessly transmitting the first power change signal to a wireless communications device in wired communication with the remote device.

17. A machine-readable hardware storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for controlling a power state of a non-camera remote device using a camera body, the machine-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of a first camera body backlighting control signal that is generated in response to a user actuation of a backlighting control switch;

a second set of machine-executable instructions for generating a first power state control signal in response to the detection of the first camera body backlighting control signal, wherein the first power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

a third set of machine executable instructions for controlling wireless transmission of the first power state control signal to the remote device in response to said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal so as to cause the non-camera remote device to operate at a first power state, wherein the first power state is a power state of an output functionality of the non-camera remote device.

18. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising a fourth set of machine-executable instructions for causing the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state different from the first power state.

19. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 18, wherein said fourth set of machine-executable instructions includes:

machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of a second camera body backlighting control signal;

machine-executable instructions for generating a second power state control signal in response to said detecting of the second camera body backlighting control signal, wherein the second power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

machine-executable instructions for controlling wireless transmission of the second power state control signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at the second power state.

20. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 18, wherein said fourth set of computer-executable instructions includes:

machine executable instructions for implementing a time delay as a function of said detecting of the first camera body backlighting control signal;

machine-executable instructions for generating a second power state control signal in response to expiration of the time delay, wherein the second power state control signal is configured to change the power state of the remote device; and

machine-executable instructions for controlling wireless transmission of the second power state control signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a second power state.

21. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of the first camera body backlighting control signal internally relative to the camera body and said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions that generate the first power state control signal internally relative to the camera body.

22. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of the first camera body backlighting control signal externally relative to the camera body, said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine executable for generating the first power state control signal externally relative to the camera body and said third set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for controlling external wireless transmission of the first power state control signal.

23. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the camera body has a hotshoe and said machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of the first camera body control signal externally relative to the camera body include machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of the first camera body control signal via the hotshoe.

24. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, wherein said first set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions for implementing detection of a camera backlighting-on signal and said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions that generate a first power state off signal configured to turn off the remote device.

25. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the remote device is a continuous lighting device and said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions that generate an illumination output level signal.

26. A machine-readable hardware storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the remote device includes a motor and said second set of machine-executable instructions includes machine-executable instructions that generate a motor speed control signal.