Electric flash and connector

• US 20020015590A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Zhaoxiang, Hagiuda, Nobuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,654,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/182
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0557 Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/056 Connection with camera, e.g. adapter

Abstract

An electric flash according to the present invention comprises a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject, a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from a master-side flash, and a flash control part for controlling the flashing of the flash source in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by the trigger noise detecting part. By detecting the trigger noise generated at the flashing or the like of the master-side flash which is arranged close thereto, the electric flash carries out a slave flash in synchronization with the flash timing of the master-side flash.

Claims

1. An electric flash disposed for use close to a master-side flash whose flashing is controlled by a camera, comprising:

a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject;

a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from said master-side flash; and

a flash control part for performing flash control of said flash source in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part.

2. The electric flash according to claim 1, wherein

said flash control part stops the flashing of said flash source in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part after a start of the flashing of said flash source.

3. The electric flash according to claim 1, further comprising

a detection invalid part for invalidating the detection of the trigger noise in synchronization with control timing of the flashing of said flash control part, and preventing a malfunction of said flash control part due to spontaneous noise.

4. The electric flash according to claim 1, wherein

said flash control part has a function of accepting a flash control signal supplied from said camera, and inhibits the flash control by the trigger noise and performs the flash control by the flash control signal when the supply of the flash control signal precedes the detection of said trigger noise.

5. The electric flash according to claim 1, further comprising

a leg part being attached to an accessory shoe of said camera, when said master-side flash is built into said camera and is able to flash.

6. The electric flash according to claim 5, further comprising:

a determination part for determining whether said master-side flash is able to flash; and

a malfunction preventing part for inhibiting the flash control by said trigger noise, when said determination part determines that said master-side flash is unable to flash.

7. The electric flash according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of detection sensitivity, detection frequency, and detection waveform is/are limited in said trigger noise detecting part in order to detect not an electromagnetic wave from a distance but the trigger noise from said master-side flash disposed close thereto.

8. A connector for connecting an accessory shoe of a camera with an electric flash, comprising:

a trigger noise detecting part provided on a side connected to said accessory shoe, for detecting trigger noise generated from a master-side flash built into said camera; and

a signal output part for outputting a flash control signal for controlling flashing to said electric flash, in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by said trigger noise detecting part.