Zero delay predictor signal synchronization system and method

• US 9,918,000 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LAB Partners Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAGNEW, MEKONNEN D
• Application Number:
  US15/492,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20170223253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/06 Generation of synchronising signals

Abstract

A method of synchronizing a remote device to image acquisition by a camera body including detecting a predictor signal of the camera body that occurs a known time prior to shutter opening and using that predictor signal to determine a synchronization time for synchronizing a remote lighting device. Wireless communication is used to synchronize the remote lighting device at the synchronization time. The determining of a synchronization time may occur before or after the wireless communication to the remote lighting device.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing a remote lighting device to image acquisition by a camera body, the method comprising:

detecting a predictor signal of the camera body via an external port of the camera body, the predictor signal occurring at a known time prior to a shutter of the camera body opening;

determining a synchronization time for synchronizing a remote lighting device, said determining including use of the predictor signal and an amount of time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening;

wirelessly communicating a synchronization information to the remote lighting device after said detecting a predictor signal; and

synchronizing the remote lighting device to image acquisition at the synchronization time, wherein (a) said determining occurs before said wirelessly communicating and the synchronization information includes a synchronization signal or (b) said determining occurs after said wirelessly communicating and the synchronization information includes information based on the predictor signal for use in said determining.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predictor signal is a change in an internal power supply of the camera body.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predictor signal is related to an internal activity of the camera body.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using a predictive information stored in a memory in said determining a synchronization time, the predictive information including information related to the time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization time is based on the time required for wireless communication and the time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a remote signal from a light meter positioned remotely from the camera body and communicating the remote signal to the camera body.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing includes activating the remote lighting device at a time that the shutter of the camera body is open.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing includes activating the remote lighting device at a time that a synchronization output signal is generated by the camera body.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said wirelessly communicating is performed using a wireless communication module external to the camera body.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication module does not have access to a conventional synchronization signal of the camera body.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication module includes:

a module body;

a wireless communication circuit;

a first connector in communication with said wireless communication circuit, said first connector for connecting said module body to a port of the camera for detecting the predictor signal; and

an antenna in communication with said wireless communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the remote lighting device.

12. A system for synchronizing a remote lighting device to image acquisition by a camera body, the system comprising:

a means for detecting a predictor signal of the camera body via an external port of the camera body, the predictor signal occurring at a known time prior to a shutter of the camera body opening;

a means for determining a synchronization time for synchronizing a remote lighting device, said determining including use of the predictor signal and an amount of time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening;

a means for wirelessly communicating a synchronization information to the remote lighting device after said detecting a predictor signal; and

a means for synchronizing the remote lighting device to image acquisition at the synchronization time, wherein (a) said determining occurs before said wirelessly communicating and the synchronization information includes a synchronization signal or (b) said determining occurs after said wirelessly communicating and the synchronization information includes information based on the predictor signal for use in said determining.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the predictor signal is a change in an internal power supply of the camera body.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the predictor signal is related to an internal activity of the camera body.

15. A system according to claim 12, further comprising a means for using a predictive information stored in a memory in said determining a synchronization time, the predictive information including information related to the time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the synchronization time is based on the time required for wireless communication and the time between the predictor signal and the shutter opening.

17. A system according to claim 12, further comprising a means for receiving a remote signal from a light meter positioned remotely from the camera body and a means for communicating the remote signal to the camera body.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein said means for synchronizing includes a means for activating the remote lighting device at a time that the shutter of the camera body is open.

19. A system according to claim 12, wherein said means for synchronizing includes a means for activating the remote lighting device at a time that a synchronization output signal is generated by the camera body.