TTL photographic wireless communication system and method with exposure compensation value transfer to a remote lighting device

• US 9,250,499 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• 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:
  US14/472,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20140369673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 399/56, 399/157
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing a remote lighting device to a camera using a hot shoe connection and an external device connected via the hot shoe connector. The external device receives TTL data and a synchronization signal from the camera via the hot shoe connector. The external device wirelessly communicates using a radio frequency transmitter an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote lighting device. The external device also wirelessly communicates a synchronization signal and a TTL information to the remote lighting device for use in synchronizing the remote lighting device to image acquisition by the camera.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing a remote lighting device to image acquisition of a camera, the camera having a hot shoe connector with an external device capable of wireless communication connected to the hot shoe connector, the external device including a radio frequency transmitter for wireless communication, the method comprising:

communicating a first information from the external device to the camera via the hot shoe connector of the camera, the first information mocking information that a flash device would provide to the camera if the flash device were connected to the hot shoe connector of the camera, wherein the external device is not a flash device;

receiving a TTL data at the external device capable of wireless communication, said receiving a TTL data occurring via the hot shoe connector of the camera;

receiving a synchronization signal at the external device via the hot shoe connector of the camera;

wirelessly communicating an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote lighting device using the radio frequency transmitter; and

wirelessly communicating using the radio frequency transmitter a remote synchronization from the external device to the remote lighting device for synchronizing the remote lighting device to an image acquisition by the camera using the remote synchronization signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly communicating a TTL information from the external device to the remote lighting device, the TTL information being based on the TTL data from the camera body, wherein said synchronizing the remote lighting device includes using the remote synchronization signal and the TTL information.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said synchronizing the remote lighting device includes using the remote synchronization signal, the TTL information, and the exposure compensation value.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said wirelessly communicating a TTL information occurs prior to said receiving a synchronization signal at the external device.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said wirelessly communicating a TTL information occurs prior to said receiving a synchronization signal at the wireless communication device.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said wirelessly communicating TTL information includes wirelessly communicating information related to an amount of light to be emitted by the remote photographic lighting device for a TTL main flash exposure.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the exposure compensation value is a flash exposure compensation value.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the exposure compensation value is a camera exposure compensation value.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving at the external device the exposure compensation value via the hot shoe connector of the camera.

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

receiving one or more additional camera data at the external device via the hot shoe connector of the camera; and

wirelessly communicating using the radio frequency transmitter at least one camera data of the one or more camera data to the remote lighting device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more additional camera data includes a camera data selected from the group consisting of an ISO/gain value, a shutter speed, an aperture, a zoom distance, a focus distance, a mode of operation of the camera, an auto-flash mode indication, a distance from the camera to a subject, a zoom factor, an indication that pre-flash is not used during auto-mode, and any combinations thereof.

12. A method of synchronizing a remote flash device to image acquisition of a camera, the camera having a hot shoe connector with an external device capable of wireless communication connected to the hot shoe connector, the external device including a radio frequency transmitter for wireless communication, the method comprising:

communicating a first information from the external device to the camera via the hot shoe connector of the camera, the first information mocking information that a flash device would provide to the camera if the flash device were connected to the hot shoe connector of the camera, wherein the external device is not a flash device;

receiving a TTL data at the external device capable of wireless communication, said receiving a TTL data occurring via the hot shoe connector of the camera;

receiving a synchronization signal at the external device via the hot shoe connector of the camera;

wirelessly communicating an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote flash device using the radio frequency transmitter;

wirelessly communicating a TTL information from the external device to the remote flash device, the TTL information being based on the TTL data from the camera body using the radio frequency transmitter; and

wirelessly communicating using the radio frequency transmitter the remote synchronization signal from the external device to the remote flash device for synchronizing the remote flash device to an image acquisition by the camera using the remote synchronization signal and the TTL information.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the exposure compensation value is a flash exposure compensation value.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the exposure compensation value is a camera exposure compensation value.

15. A photographic device with wireless communication functionality for synchronizing a remote flash device to image acquisition of a camera having a first hot shoe connector, the device comprising:

a second hot shoe connector configured to connect to the first hot shoe connector;

a first wireless communication functionality; and

a processing element, said processing element configured to receive a TTL data and a synchronization signal from the camera via the second hot shoe connector when the second hot shoe connector is connected to the first hot shoe connector, said wireless communication functionality connected to the processing element to wirelessly communicate a TTL information based on the TTL data, the synchronization signal, and an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote flash device, said processing element further configured to communicate a first information to the camera via the second hot shoe connector and the first hot shoe connector, the first information mocking information that a flash device would provide to the camera if the flash device were connected to the first hot shoe connector, the photographic device with wireless communication functionality not being a flash device.

16. A photographic device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a third hot shoe connector positioned on the photographic device with wireless communication;

one or more wired connections between said second hot shoe connector and said third hot shoe connector; and

at least one of;

a tapping connection between at least one of the one or more wired connections and said processing element for tapping one or more signals being carried by the at least one of the one or more wired connections without preventing the one or more signals from being delivered to said third hot shoe connector; and

a switching element positioned in line with at least one of the one or more wired connections for selectively disconnecting the at least one of the one or more wired connections between said second hot shoe connector and said third hot shoe connector.

17. A photographic device according to claim 15, further comprising a memory including a first set of information capable of mocking the presence of a local flash device connected to the first hot shoe connector, the first set of information allowing the continued communication of TTL data via the first hot shoe connector when the photographic device with wireless communication functionality is connected to the first hot shoe connector with the second hot shoe connector and when the first set of information is communicated from the photographic device with wireless communication functionality to the camera via the first hot shoe connector.

18. A photographic device with wireless communication functionality for synchronizing a remote flash device to image acquisition of a camera having a first hot shoe connector, the device comprising:

a second hot shoe connector configured to connect to the first hot shoe connector;

a first wireless communication functionality;

a processing element, said processing element configured to receive a TTL data and a synchronization signal from the camera via the second hot shoe connector when the second hot shoe connector is connected to the first hot shoe connector, said wireless communication functionality connected to the processing element to wirelessly communicate a TTL information based on the TTL data, the synchronization signal, and an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote flash device;

a third hot shoe connector positioned on the photographic device with wireless communication;

one or more wired connections between said second hot shoe connector and said third hot shoe connector; and

at least one of;

a tapping connection between at least one of the one or more wired connections and said processing element for tapping one or more signals being carried by the at least one of the one or more wired connections without preventing the one or more signals from being delivered to said third hot shoe connector; and

a switching element positioned in line with at least one of the one or more wired connections for selectively disconnecting the at least one of the one or more wired connections between said second hot shoe connector and said third hot shoe connector.

19. A photographic device with wireless communication functionality for synchronizing a remote flash device to image acquisition of a camera having a first hot shoe connector, the device comprising:

a second hot shoe connector configured to connect to the first hot shoe connector;

a first wireless communication functionality; and

a processing element, said processing element configured to receive a TTL data and a synchronization signal from the camera via the second hot shoe connector when the second hot shoe connector is connected to the first hot shoe connector, said wireless communication functionality connected to the processing element to wirelessly communicate a TTL information based on the TTL data, the synchronization signal, and an exposure compensation value from the external device to a remote flash device, wherein the photographic device is not a flash device.