Lighting device and image capturing system

• US 9,491,344 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Takabatake, Masanari, Kasahara, Yuki, Kobako, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/072,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

In an image capturing system, a lighting device includes a base disposed on a medium setting surface on which a medium serving as a reading target is set, an arm extending upward from the base, a top unit extending from the arm in such a manner that the top unit faces the medium setting surface, a placement surface that is provided to the top unit and on which a smartphone (imaging unit) is placed at a position allowing the smartphone to photograph the medium set on the medium setting surface, and a lighting LED that is provided to the top unit and irradiates the medium setting surface.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

a base that is disposed on a medium setting surface on which a medium serving as a reading target is set;

an arm that extends upward from the base;

a top unit that extends from the arm in such a manner that the top unit faces the medium setting surface;

a placement surface that is provided to the top unit and on which an imaging unit is placed at a position allowing the imaging unit to photograph the medium set on the medium setting surface;

a lighting that is provided to the top unit and irradiates the medium setting surface; and

a trigger transmitting unit that transmits an imaging starting trigger wirelessly to an imaging area of the imaging unit which is placed on the placement surface, the trigger transmitting unit being provided in the base within the imaging area so that the imaging starting trigger as a signal is detectable by the imaging unit.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the base, the arm, and the top unit are integrally fixed with each other.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning unit that positions the imaging unit at a predetermined position on the placement surface.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein

the placement surface is provided by being recessed from the upper surface of the top unit so as to cause part of the imaging unit to project from the front edge of the top unit when the imaging unit is placed on the placement surface, and

the positioning unit is a step formed between the upper surface of the top unit and the placement surface.

5. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein

the placement surface is provided by being recessed from the upper surface of the top unit according to the circumferential shape of the imaging unit, and

the positioning unit is a step formed between the upper surface of the top unit and the placement surface.

6. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the positioning unit is a plurality of projections that are formed at positions abutting the imaging unit when the imaging unit is placed on the placement surface.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the placement surface is provided slanting downward from the front edge of the top unit toward the arm.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the placement surface is provided such that an imaging surface of the imaging unit placed on the placement surface and the medium setting surface are in parallel with each other.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein

the base includes a light source,

a photographed area by the imaging unit placed on the placement surface includes the light source, and

the imaging starting trigger is an optical signal output from the light source.

10. An image capturing system, comprising:

a lighting device that includes;

a base that is disposed on a medium setting surface on which a medium serving as a reading target is set;

an arm that extends upward from the base;

a top unit that extends from the arm in such a manner that the top unit faces the medium setting surface;

a placement surface that is provided to the top unit and on which an imaging unit is placed at a position allowing the imaging unit to photograph the medium set on the medium setting surface;

a lighting that is provided to the top unit and irradiates the medium setting surface; and

a trigger transmitting unit that transmits an imaging starting trigger wirelessly to an imaging area of the imaging unit which is placed on the placement surface, the trigger transmitting unit being provided in the base within the imaging area so that the imaging starting trigger as a signal is detectable by the imaging unit, and

the imaging unit that photographs a medium set on the medium setting surface in a state where the imaging unit is placed on the lighting device.

11. A lighting device, comprising:

a base that is disposed on a medium setting surface on which a medium serving as a reading target is set;

an arm that extends upward from the base;

a top unit that extends from the arm in such a manner that the top unit faces the medium setting surface;

a lighting that is provided to the top unit;

a placement surface that is provided to the top unit to place an imaging unit thereon at a position allowing the imaging unit to photograph an area, where the medium is to be set, on the medium setting surface, and

a trigger transmitting unit that transmits an imaging starting trigger wirelessly to an imaging area of the imaging unit which is placed on the placement surface, the trigger transmitting unit being provided in the base within the imaging area so that the imaging starting trigger as a signal is detectable by the imaging unit, wherein

the lighting irradiates the medium setting surface including the area to be photographed by the imaging unit, and an irradiation range of the lighting is nearly equal to the area to be photographed by the imaging unit.