Patents Assigned to Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8526808
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a remote lighting device to a camera using a hot shoe connection and a wireless communication device connected via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device receives a request for flash data from the camera via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device responds to the request with response data that mocks information that a photographic lighting device would provide if the photographic lighting device were connected to the hot shoe connector, such that the camera continues to provide TTL data via the hot shoe connector to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20130121674
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body having a lower portion and an upper portion. An antenna is connected to the upper portion of the camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and the antenna. The wireless communication can be utilized for actuating one or more remote devices, such as for triggering one or more remote flash devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130100340
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a remote lighting device to a camera using a hot shoe connection and a wireless communication device connected via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device receives a request for flash data from the camera via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device responds to the request with response data that mocks information that a photographic lighting device would provide if the photographic lighting device were connected to the hot shoe connector, such that the camera continues to provide TTL data via the hot shoe connector to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130094845
    Abstract: A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130089313
    Abstract: A control system for controlling power states of a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting. The control system is configured to detect one or more camera body signals generated as a function of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. The control system generates a first power state change signal in response to the detected camera body signal(s) and transmits the power state change signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a first power state. The control system also implements a preset delay and causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state in response to expiration of the preset delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
  • Patent number: 8351774
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a metal camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8331776
    Abstract: An external photographic wireless communication device for connection to a camera body having a hot shoe connector for connecting to the camera body and a hot shoe connector for connecting to one or more accessory devices. Each of the hot shoe connectors includes a plurality of contacts. The device includes a switching element for selectively disconnecting one or more of the plurality of contacts in one hot shoe connector from a corresponding respective one of the other hot shoe connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8326141
    Abstract: A control system for controlling power states of a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting. The control system is configured to detect one or more camera body signals generated as a function of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. The control system generates a first power state change signal in response to the detected camera body signal(s) and transmits the power state change signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a first power state. The control system also implements a preset delay and causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state in response to expiration of the preset delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8326136
    Abstract: A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8326140
    Abstract: An external photographic wireless communication device for connection to a camera body having a hot shoe connector for connecting to the camera body and a hot shoe connector for connecting to one or more accessory devices. Each of the hot shoe connectors includes a plurality of contacts. The device includes a tapping connection from a synchronization connector between the two hot shoe connectors and a processing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120243859
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera using light emission profile information to position a light emission profile at a desired location in an image acquisition window. A light energy balance point of a light emission profile can be used to position the balance point at a desired location in an image acquisition window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120207460
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera such that initiation of light emission of the photographic lighting device occurs after the first shutter blade of the camera begins to expose an image acquisition sensor of the camera to light and before X-sync associated with the first shutter blade stopping movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120207459
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera such that initiation of light emission of the photographic lighting device occurs after the first shutter blade of the camera begins to expose an image acquisition sensor of the camera to light and before X-sync associated with the first shutter blade stopping movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120148221
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a metal camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120140088
    Abstract: Retasking of one or more photographic exposure controls of a camera to give direct manual control of a power output level of a lighting device by mapping a dynamic range of a photographic exposure compensation control of the camera to a dynamic range of a power output level of the lighting device. In another example, mapping is used in automatic tracking of changes in ISO and/or aperture of a camera to a power output level of a lighting device. In one example, automatic tracking of power control can be provided to lighting devices (such as studio strobes) that do not usually have access to automated power control from a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120127361
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a photographic lighting device to image acquisition by a camera such that initiation of light emission of the photographic lighting device occurs after the first shutter blade of the camera begins to expose an image acquisition sensor of the camera to light and before X-sync associated with the first shutter blade stopping movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8180210
    Abstract: A single oscillator synchronizer system and method that automatically switches from a wireless receive mode of the oscillator to a wireless transmit mode of the oscillator upon the detection of a synchronization (synch) signal of a camera body. In one example, a method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera body to a remote device with a wireless camera flash synchronizer connected to a synchronization connector of the camera body, the wireless camera flash synchronizer including a transceiver having an oscillator element with a wireless receive mode and a wireless transmit mode, the oscillator element configured to be in only one of the wireless receive mode and wireless transmit mode at a time is provided. In another example, a wireless camera flash synchronizer that automatically switches from a wireless receive mode to a wireless transmit mode upon detection of a synch signal of a camera body is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120099847
    Abstract: A control system for controlling illumination output of photographic modeling lighting in response to camera body signaling/user control actuation. The control system is configured to detect one or more camera body signals. The control system generates an illumination output control signal in response to the detected camera body signal(s). The control system then transmits the illumination output control signal to one or more modeling lighting devices so as to cause the device(s) to operate at a first illumination output level. The control system also causes the modeling lighting device(s) to change from the first illumination level to a second illumination level. In one example, the second change occurs as a function of a preset delay. In another example, the second change occurs in response to a user actuating one or more camera body controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8121468
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Publication number: 20120027395
    Abstract: An external photographic wireless communication device for connection to a camera body having a hot shoe connector for connecting to the camera body and a hot shoe connector for connecting to one or more accessory devices. Each of the hot shoe connectors includes a plurality of contacts. The device includes a tapping connection from a synchronization connector between the two hot shoe connectors and a processing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: James E. Clark