Photographic lighting system and method

• US 9,690,169 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W B
• Application Number:
  US14/533,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0571 With second light source
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0575 Ring shaped lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/14 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Photographic lighting devices and systems having multiple electrical energy storage/discharge (EESD) elements and/or multiple light sources in a single photographic lighting device to perform one or more photographic lighting effects. In one exemplary aspect, independent control of one or more light sources connected to a first EESD bank and another one or more light sources connected to a second EESD bank, such as via control circuitry, may be utilized in producing various lighting effects.

Claims

1. A photographic lighting device including:

a first light source;

a second light source capable of emitting light at a lower output power than the first light source;

a first EESD bank coupled to the first light source;

a second EESD bank coupled to the second light source; and

a control circuitry for causing a TTL preflash light emission using the second EESD bank and the second light source and for causing a TTL mainflash light emission using the first EESD bank and the first light source.

2. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and/or the second light source each include a light source selected from the group consisting of a gas discharge tube light source, an LED light source, an incandescent light source, and any combinations thereof.

3. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is an LED light source.

4. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source is a gas discharge tube light source and the second light source is an LED light source.

5. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are gas discharge tube light sources.

6. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are of the same type of light source.

7. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are of different types of light sources.

8. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are in substantially similar optical path alignment.

9. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are each concentric ring light sources aligned one within the other.

10. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source have substantially similar color temperature characteristics.

11. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source is capable of emitting a near-constant level light output.

12. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is capable of emitting a near-constant level light output.

13. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are capable of emitting a near-constant level light output.

14. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising an internal battery configured to provide power to first EESD bank and second EESD bank.

15. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless photographic radio for wirelessly receiving information from a remote camera for use by the control circuitry.

16. A photographic lighting device according to claim 15, wherein the wireless photographic radio is internal to the lighting device.

17. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface.

18. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a keypad.

19. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface including an electronic display.

20. A photographic lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery internal to the lighting device, the battery configured to provide power to first EESD bank and second EESD bank; and

a wireless photographic radio for wirelessly receiving information from a remote camera for use by the control circuitry, the wireless photographic radio being internal to the lighting device,

wherein the first light source is capable of emitting a near-constant level light output.