Patents Assigned to Profoto AB
  • Patent number: 10785835
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flash generator for providing power supply to a flash tube so that the flash tube rapidly provides a light output adapted to FP-sync, Flat Peak. The flash generator comprises a capacitor bank, an output and a switch configured to switch a current flow from the capacitor bank via the output to provide a variable power via the output. The flash generator further comprises a controller for controlling the switch, whereby by controlling the on time of the switch, the generator is operative to provide, during a time period of 100 to 2000 ?s during a peak time period within the time period, an average power at least 4 times higher than the average power provided during the other time period within the time period, whereby the flash tube during the peak time period becomes fully ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Michael Sundkvist
  • Patent number: 10674575
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for determining a starting time for a flash emitted from a flash tube of a flash apparatus. The flash apparatus comprises a triggering circuit, and a drive circuit. The method comprises the steps of measuring an electric current through and/or a voltage across an electrical component of the drive circuit, and determining the starting time for the flash based on the measured electric current and/or voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Johnny Svensson, Carl Johan Gurbbström
  • Patent number: 10602594
    Abstract: The invention discloses a drive circuit and a method for controlling a drive circuit for a flash tube. The drive circuit comprises a capacitor and a first inductor switch group comprising a first inductor and at least one first switch connected in series with each other. The first inductor switch group is configured to be connected in series with the flash tube and the capacitor. The drive unit further comprises at least a second inductor switch group comprising a second inductor and at least one second switch connected in series with each other and configured to be connected in series with the flash tube and the capacitor, and in parallel with the first inductor switch group. The method further comprises the steps of receiving input parameters related to a desired flash characteristics, and controlling the first and second switches separately based on the received input parameters to obtain the desired flash characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Johnny Svensson, Carl Johan Grubbström
  • Patent number: 10455130
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of communication between electronic devices used for photography. In particular, the invention relates to a method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device, such as photoflash units and related equipment. More in particular, the invention provides a way of controlling a plurality of flash devices from an intermediate radio transmission unit mountable on the camera, and utilized a delay a sequence flash control sequence so as to synchronize the function of the camera and the remote flash devices during image acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anton Falk
  • Patent number: 10375315
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of communication between electronic devices used for photography. In particular, the invention relates to a method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device, such as photoflash units and related equipment. More in particular, the invention provides a way of controlling a plurality of flash devices from an intermediate radio transmission unit mountable on the camera, and utilized a delay a sequence flash control sequence so as to synchronize the function of the camera and the remote flash devices during image acquisition. Further the invention provides a way of controlling in the photoflash units settings for the main flash, wherein the setting are the last settings determined by the camera when the intermediate radio transmission unit was in a TTL-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anton Falk
  • Patent number: 10349504
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flash generator for providing power supply to a flash tube so that the flash tube rapidly provides a light output adapted to FP-sync, Flat Peak. The flash generator comprises a capacitor bank, an output and a switch configured to switch a current flow from the capacitor bank via the output to provide a variable power via the output. The flash generator further comprises a controller for controlling the switch, whereby by controlling the on time of the switch, the generator is operative to provide, during a time period of 100 to 2000 ?s during a peak time period within the time period, an average power at least 4 times higher than the average power provided during the other time period within the time period, whereby the flash tube during the peak time period becomes fully ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Michael Sundkvist
  • Patent number: 10310360
    Abstract: Flash tubes for photographic use, in particular, a flash tube is adapted to provide a light output adapted to FP-sync, Flat Peak. The flash tube includes a length of glass tubing enclosing a gas for use in the flash tube, a cathode inside a first end part of glass tubing and an anode inside a second end part of glass tubing. The cathode includes an element that helps to ionize the gas that is wound around the cathode, such that a spark stream starts from the upper part of the cathode and is prevented from spreading down wards on the cathode and changing the arc length during the light output adapted to FP-sync.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson, Carl Johan Grubbström
  • Patent number: 10197250
    Abstract: A support ring is for mounting of a soft box on a light source. The support ring includes a connector for attachment of the support ring to the light source, and at least one cavity configured to receive support pins of the soft box. The cavity further includes a first and a second support element arranged to counteract a torque from the support pins, when the support pins are in an inserted position in the cavity. At least one entry element on a radial outside of the cavity is arranged to counteract a force required to bend the support pin to an angle where the support pin can be inserted into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Pär Blixt, John Carrick
  • Patent number: 10085092
    Abstract: A flash generator is capable of identifying which type of flash head and flash head extension cables that is connected to the flash generator. A flash head and flash head extension cable can be identified by the flash generator. The flash generator provides a power supply to a flash head. Further the flash generator includes a first current generator for charging the capacitor. The flash generator further includes a second current generator or a voltage generator connected to an output of the flash generator and arranged to provide a current or a voltage to create a voltage UID over a component in a flash head or a flash head extension cable connected to the flash generator. Processing means are arranged to identify the flash head or the flash head extension cable by the measured voltage UID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson
  • Patent number: 10044941
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of communication between electronic devices used for photography. In particular, the invention relates to a method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device, such as photoflash units and related equipment. More in particular, the invention provides a way of controlling a plurality of flash devices from an intermediate radio transmission unit mountable on the camera, and utilized a delay a sequence flash control sequence so as to synchronize the function of the camera and the remote flash devices during image acquisition. Further the invention provides a way of controlling in the photoflash units settings for the main flash, wherein the setting are the last settings determined by the camera when the intermediate radio transmission unit was in a TTL-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anton Falk
  • Patent number: 9917995
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of communication between electronic devices used for photography. In particular, the invention relates to a method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device, such as photoflash units and related equipment. More in particular, the invention provides a way of controlling a plurality of flash devices from an intermediate radio transmission unit mountable on the camera, and utilized a delay a sequence flash control sequence so as to synchronize the function of the camera and the remote flash devices during image acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anton Falk
  • Patent number: 9426870
    Abstract: A generator for a flash device includes at least a first capacitor bank, which includes at least one capacitor of a first type and at least a second capacitor bank, which includes at least one capacitor of a second type. The first capacitor bank is connectable to a charger via a first switch and the second capacitor bank is connectable to a charger via a second switch. The generator is configured to individually control the first switch and the second switch so that the first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank can be individually charged to the same or different voltages. Since the first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank can be simultaneously discharged, it is possible to achieve a desired energy level and color temperature from a flash device connected to the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson
  • Patent number: 9420675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver circuit for a flash tube. The driver circuit comprises a first and a second output for an electronic flash tube, a capacitor, an inductor and a switch. The inductor and the switch being connected in series with the first and a second output across the capacitor. A component which only allows current flow in one direction connected across the first and the second output and the inductor, with a polarity opposite to a direction of energy supply from the capacitor to the first output. The driver circuit further comprises a controller for controlling the switch. The controller comprises receiving means for receiving parameters related to desired flash characteristics. The controller being configured to control said switch based on said parameters to obtain said desired flash characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anders Otterberg
  • Publication number: 20160198078
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of communication between electronic devices used for photography. In particular, the invention relates to a method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device, such as photoflash units and related equipment. More in particular, the invention provides a way of controlling a plurality of flash devices from an intermediate radio transmission unit mountable on the camera, and utilized a delay a sequence flash control sequence so as to synchronize the function of the camera and the remote flash devices during image acquisition. Further the invention provides a way of controlling in the photoflash units settings for the main flash, wherein the setting are the last settings determined by the camera when the intermediate radio transmission unit was in a TTL-mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: PROFOTO AB
    Inventor: Anton Falk
  • Publication number: 20140217884
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of flash tubes for photographic use, in particular to a flash tube comprising a trigger element for triggering a flash in the flash tube. Accordingly, a flash tube is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Profoto AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20130230305
    Abstract: A flash apparatus comprising at least two flash tubes and at least two energy storage units is presented, wherein each of said at least two energy storage units is being arranged to be configured to strictly correspond to one of the at least two flash tubes for a flash. The flash apparatus is configured to control the amount of energy provided by the at least two energy storage unit(s) to their corresponding flash tube and control the flash duration of the corresponding flash tube dependent of each other, respectively for each flash tube, so as to obtain substantially the same colour temperature from each flash tube for a flash. A method and a computer program product for use in the flash apparatus are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: PROFOTO AB
    Inventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson, Bo Dalenius, Göran Marén
  • Patent number: D614138
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Profoto AB
    Inventor: Pär Blixt
  • Patent number: D671161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Profoto AB
    Inventor: Jenny Li