Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling flash emission, the brightness during pre-emission may be accurately measured even when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter. When pre-emission of flash light is performed, partial exposure during the pre-emission when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter may be prevented by synchronizing an exposure time of the image sensor to a pre-emission time.

Abstract: Methods for providing a flash management feature (“FMF”) in a camera system include obtaining a flash intensity value calculated for a flash device by a camera, saving the calculated flash intensity value in memory, accepting a user-provided adjustment of the calculated value, saving the adjusted flash intensity value in a memory, and providing, when the camera transmits the calculated value to the flash device for use during image acquisition, the adjusted value to the flash device instead of the calculated value. A communication device to provide a FMF includes a microprocessor configured to obtain a calculated flash intensity value from a camera, a memory, and a user interface configured to display and allow a user to adjust the calculated value. The microprocessor stores the adjusted flash intensity value in memory, and signals the flash device to emit light at the adjusted value during image acquisition by the camera.

Abstract: For flash photography, a rise of a flash emission control pulse precedes emission timing by a predetermined period. A start of flash emission of a flash lamp precedes a start of exposure of an image sensor. Since the start of the emission is earlier than the start of the exposure, a period of unstable flash emission can be excluded from an exposure time T of the image sensor. The exclusion prevents a captured image from being affected by the period of unstable flash emission. Accordingly, it becomes possible to ensure high color reproducibility for photography with auxiliary light.

Abstract: Provided are a photographing control method and apparatus. The photographing control method includes: obtaining image data from a subject during pre-emission of a strobe, detecting a face region of the subject based on the obtained image data, and performing a calculation for main emission based on the detected face region and controlling main emission of the strobe. Accordingly, even when it is difficult to detect a face because of low brightness at the position of the face, the probability of detecting the face can be increased and an appropriately exposed image can be obtained.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a digital photography device includes a global shutter to control exposure time, a sensor array, and a flash illumination are described. The global shutter is in the optical path of light going to the sensor. The flash illumination generates a pulsed illumination. The shutter speed of the global shutter during a pre-flash illumination substantially matches the shutter speed during the flash illumination during the taking of a picture using the flash illumination based on the global shutter receiving a trigger signal from a controller.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a flashing control method for a digital camera. Indices respectively corresponding to sensitivity values are firstly determined. Subsequently, main-flash intensities are respectively obtained with respect to the sensitivity values such that their target brightness values are substantially the same after exposure, thereby constructing an energy table. Further, a predetermined preflash is fired to obtain a corresponding preflash brightness value with respect to each distinct distance. Main-flash indices are then respectively obtained according to maximum main-flash intensity and the energy table with respect to the distinct distances such that the target brightness values are substantially the same after exposure, thereby constructing a preflash table. During picture capturing, the main-flash intensity is obtained according to the preflash brightness value and the preflash table.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: flash driving means for driving a flash during a set preliminary emission period and a set main emission period; and an image sensor constituted by a plurality of photoelectric converting elements which are arranged in a matrix and capable of being accessed randomly. The charge accumulation initiation timing and the charge accumulation cessation timing of the photoelectric converting elements are controlled line by line or pixel by pixel. The imaging apparatus forms images employing pixel signals output from the photoelectric converting elements, and extracts pixel signals output from photoelectric converting elements in which charge accumulation is initiated prior to the preliminary emission period and ceased after the preliminary emission period. An emission amount to be employed during the main emission period is determined by executing predetermined calculations based on the extracted pixel signals. Main emission of flash is performed with the determined emission amount.

Abstract: An intensity of a second flash is determined based at least partly on a predicted thermal condition that is influenced by a first flash that is previous to the second flash. A quality function of an image capture device is adjusted according to the determined intensity of the second flash. A scene is illuminated by the second flash at the determined flash intensity and the illuminated scene is captured and stored as an image using the adjusted quality function. In exemplary embodiments, an auto-exposure algorithm is compensated for flash intensity, which is maximized in view of temperature limits and constraints due to firing a pre-flash prior to capturing the image. Various approaches and apparatus and software are detailed.

Abstract: A lens unit is detachably connected via a communication interface with a camera body having a strobe and constituting a camera device. The lens unit is configured to include an optical system including a lens; an imaging unit including an image sensor which photo-electrically converts light from a subject having transmitted through the lens; an image processor which generates image data from an output of the imaging unit; and a strobe controller which controls a flash operation of the strobe provided in the camera body in accordance with a release signal from the camera body.

Abstract: An information communication device includes: a packet generation unit that generates a packet including timing data at an end of the packet for specifying to an external device a start timing for processing related to photography; a transmitting unit that transmits the packet to the external device by wireless communication; and a transmission control unit that changes a state of packet transmission by the transmission unit according to a start timing of the processing related to photography.

Abstract: A camera system includes: a light emitting unit that performs a main emission of light in which during photography a photographic subject is illuminated with a first light having a first color temperature, and a preparatory emission of light in which the photographic subject is illuminated with a second light having a second color temperature before photography; an imaging element that outputs an image capture signal; a calculator that calculates an amount of the first light by the light emitting unit, based upon the image capture signal output during the preparatory emission of light; a corrector that corrects the calculated amount of the first light, based upon a color temperature difference between the first color temperature and the second color temperature; and a controller that controls the light emitting unit to perform the main emission of light at the amount of the first light after correction by the corrector.

Abstract: A charged capacitor switching device for a photoflash is provided and includes a flash control unit, a capacitor charging/discharging unit, a charged capacitor switching unit and an illumination modulator. The capacitor charging/discharging unit coupled to the flash control unit includes a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel and switches coupled thereto respectively. The charged capacitor switching unit determines whether each switch is opened or closed according to a compensation parameter. The illumination modulator compares an environmental illumination and a pre-flash illumination to generate a compared result, determines whether the compared result has reached a threshold, obtains the compensation parameter according to the compared result when the compared result is below the threshold, and drives the flash control unit to generate a flash illumination corresponding to the compensation parameter.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of executing photographing using an emission unit that emits light to a subject includes an acquisition unit for obtaining distance-to-subject information based on lens driving information on a taking lens obtained upon focus adjustment, a detection unit for detecting a face of the subject based on an image signal obtained upon image pickup, a distance calculation unit for calculating a distance to subject based on a result of detection by the detection unit, and an emission amount calculation unit for calculating an amount of main emission of the emission unit based on the distance-to-subject information obtained by the acquisition unit and the distance to subject calculated by the distance calculation unit.

Abstract: An image sensing method and image sensing apparatus, including a subject detection unit and a flash unit, are provided. The method includes a first detection step of detecting a subject from image data obtained during preparation for main image sensing, a second detection step of detecting a subject based on reflected light data obtained during pre-flash after an instruction to begin main image sensing, a step of setting a flash illumination area based on a comparison result between a first proportion of the subject detected in the first detection step within a subject area in which the subject exists and a second proportion of the subject detected in the second detection step within the subject area, a step of calculating a flash illumination amount based on the set flash illumination area, and a step of controlling the flash unit during main image sensing based on the calculated flash illumination amount.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for an image capture system that may include an image sensor, a flash for providing illumination, a data storage, and a processor operatively associated with the data storage. The processor may be adapted to execute computer implemented instructions to pre-store one or more image capture device characteristics in the data storage, acquire data in a pre-capture phase, model shadow effects based on either or both of the pre-stored data and the acquired data, modify one or more image capture device settings based on the modeled shadow effects, and record image data with the image sensor. Illumination may be provided substantially coincident with recording of the image data.

Abstract: A compact camera with a compact camera body integrated with a lens, a direct flash module and an indirect flash module. The direct flash unit includes a flash light emission window arranged to project direct illumination in a first direction toward an object to be photographed. The indirect flash unit includes an indirect flash light emission window arranged to project indirect bounce illumination in a second direction off of an indirect reflecting surface to the object. The camera also has a controller that receives a first signal containing information from a first light sensor connected to the direct flash unit, and a second signal containing information from a second light sensor connected to the indirect flash unit. In response to the received first and second signals, the controller selectively adjusts the amount of flash illumination projected from the direct and indirect flash units.

Abstract: An exemplary auto-focus method includes the following steps. An ambient brightness is measured before a pre-flash. Then, a pre-flash ambient brightness is also measured during the pre-flash is fired. A main flash ratio is subsequently calculated using the ambient brightness, the pre-flash ambient brightness, and a preset desired brightness. Next, an object distance is indexed using the calculated main flash ratio and a table. The table includes a collection of main flash ratios and a collection of object distances, where each flash ratio is associated with a corresponding object distance. Then an image distance corresponding to the indexed object distance is calculated using the imaging formula. The calculated image distance is converted into a number of focus steps of a focus lens. Finally, the focus lens is moved with a corresponding number of focus steps.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an image sensing part for converting an optical image imaged by a photograph lens to an electric signal, a distance measuring part for measuring a distance between a target object and the image recording apparatus, an illumination part for generating an illumination light and a pre-illumination light, a first illumination controlling part for controlling the amount of the illumination light of the illumination part based on the measured distance of the distance measuring part and a F number of the photograph lens, a second illumination controlling part for controlling the amount of the illumination light of the illumination part based on the electric signal output from the image sensing part in correspondence with the pre-illumination light, and a selecting part for selecting one of the first illumination controlling part and the second illumination controlling part.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor; a strobe unit; a preliminary. illumination controller which instructs the strobe unit to preliminarily illuminate for a predetermined period before main illumination; a reading controller which divides the image sensor into a plurality of regions, controls an exposure period for each region, corresponding to the preliminary illumination, and reads an image signal from each of the regions; and an imaging exposure setting unit which sets an appropriate amount of strobe light to be fired during imaging according to the image signals read from the regions; wherein the reading controller controls the exposure period for each region so that an overlapping period with the preliminary illumination period of the strobe unit is different from each other.

Abstract: A camera system that enables to stabilize, when photographing by using a flash apparatus in a live view state, the time lag between pressing the release button and starting the imaging operation thereafter, and also enables to execute the photographing with the short time lag. Photometry is performed in first pre-light emission executed before main light emission of a flash apparatus. Photometry is performed in second pre-light emission executed between the first pre-light emission and the main light emission. shooting condition for the camera system in the second pre-light emission is set based on a photometric value in the first pre-light emission so that an output of the second photometry unit is within a predetermined range. An amount of the main light emission of the flash apparatus is determined based on the photometric value in the second pre-light emission.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a photographing unit for obtaining an image representing a subject through photographing; a face detecting unit for detecting a face from the image obtained by the photographing unit; and a reflectance calculating unit for calculating a reflectance of the face. The reflectance calculating unit obtains a result of the face detection by the face detecting unit at a predetermined point of time after acquisition of the image by the photographing unit has begun, obtains images of the same subject taken with flash emission and taken without flash emission, and if the obtained detection result indicates that a face is contained, calculates the reflectance of the face based on a difference in brightness of the face between the images taken with flash emission and taken without flash emission and the size of the face.

Abstract: In order to prevent white compression from occurring in an image obtained by photography with a photography apparatus such as a digital camera, preliminary photography is carried out and actual photography is carried out while a flash control unit reduces an amount of light from a flash in the case where a predetermined target such as a human face is included in a preliminary image. Image processing is carried out on an actual image obtained through the actual photography for adjusting luminance and/or gradation of the predetermined target in the actual image.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image taking apparatus comprising a flash emission device, a flash control device which adjusts a flash emission amount at the time of image taking using flash, an automatic focusing device which automatically performs focusing of an image taking lens, a determination device which determines, based on data on focusing performed by the automatic focusing device, whether or not a shooting distance is shorter than a normal shooting distance range at the time of image taking using flash, and a sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity at the time of image taking using flash, the sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity lower than a standard camera sensitivity set in advance with respect to the normal shooting distance range if the determination device determines that the shooting distance is shorter.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling flash emission, the brightness during pre-emission may be accurately measured even when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter. When pre-emission of flash light is performed, partial exposure during the pre-emission when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter may be prevented by synchronizing an exposure time of the image sensor to a pre-emission time.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, for controlling actual flash amount at the time of exposure based on an amount of reflected light from a predetermined metering region of a screen, comprises a first screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a first region, constituting a candidate for the metering region, and a second region other than that by comparing first feature data of image data that has been acquired by performing pre-flash before actual flash and second feature data of image data taken without performing pre-flash, a second screen dividing section for dividing the screen into a third region, being a region of an image having a predetermined feature, and a fourth region other than that, an image evaluation section for evaluating whether to include in the metering region or remove from the metering region based on different evaluation criteria according to whether the image of the third region or the fourth region belongs to the first region, or belongs to the second region, and a flash amount con

Abstract: An adjusting method of flash intensity is applied in an image capture apparatus with a flash lamp, where two pre-flash images corresponding the object are retrieved under two different pre-flash lights, respectively, and then a flash intensity of main-flash light is calculated according to one of the retrieved pre-flash images, so as to retrieve a main-flash image corresponding the object under the main-flash light with the calculated main-flash light.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling light emission of a flash. The method includes: during a pre-emission flash, exposing an image sensor by opening a global shutter; measuring light reflected from a subject by using the image sensor, and calculating a flash emission time of the flash based on the measured light; and controlling the flash to fire a main-emission flash for the calculated flash emission time. Accordingly, a partial exposure during a pre-emission flash, even in an image sensor that operates by using a rolling shutter, can be prevented.

Abstract: A charged capacitor switching device for a photoflash is provided and includes a flash control unit, a capacitor charging/discharging unit, a charged capacitor switching unit and an illumination modulator. The capacitor charging/discharging unit coupled to the flash control unit includes a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel and switches coupled thereto respectively. The charged capacitor switching unit determines whether each switch is opened or closed according to a compensation parameter. The illumination modulator compares an environmental illumination and a pre-flash illumination to generate a compared result, determines whether the compared result has reached a threshold, obtains the compensation parameter according to the compared result when the compared result is below the threshold, and drives the flash control unit to generate a flash illumination corresponding to the compensation parameter.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an emission device for illuminating a subject, a preliminary emission control device for controlling preliminary emission before photographing, a photometry device for measuring a reflected light volume from the subject in the preliminary emission so as to obtain a photometric result, and a main emission control device for controlling main emission when photographing, the main emission control device has a first emission control for conducting emission by adjusting emission volume by using the photometric result, and a second emission control for conducting emission until the reflected light volume from the subject reaches a predetermined volume, the main emission control device conducts an emission control by either the first emission control or the second emission control according to the photometric result.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: flash driving means for driving a flash during a set preliminary emission period and a set main emission period; and an image sensor constituted by a plurality of photoelectric converting elements which are arranged in a matrix and capable of being accessed randomly. The charge accumulation initiation timing and the charge accumulation cessation timing of the photoelectric converting elements are controlled line by line or pixel by pixel. The imaging apparatus forms images employing pixel signals output from the photoelectric converting elements, and extracts pixel signals output from photoelectric converting elements in which charge accumulation is initiated prior to the preliminary emission period and ceased after the preliminary emission period. An emission amount to be employed during the main emission period is determined by executing predetermined calculations based on the extracted pixel signals. Main emission of flash is performed with the determined emission amount.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a photometry unit, which performs photometry of luminance in each of the photometry areas in an image sensing scene, a photometry mode determination unit, which determines a photometry mode, a filter operation unit, which performs an operation on a luminance value of a photometry area by taking into account luminance values of photometry areas around the photometry area, and an exposure value determination unit, which determines an exposure value without using a result of the operation by the filter operation unit when the photometry mode determination unit determines that the photometry mode is a first photometry mode, and when the photometry mode determination unit determines that the photometry mode is a second photometry mode, determines the exposure value by performing an operation in accordance with the second photometry mode after the operation performed by the filter operation unit.

Abstract: Upon depression of a release button, pre-shooting is performed before regular shooting. In the pre-shooting, flash of a predetermined amount is emitted and exposure of an image sensor is performed. A shooting frame is divided into small areas. As to each of the small areas, subject brightness of pre-emission and subject brightness of non-emission are detected to calculate a difference between them. The small area having the maximum difference is selected as a main-subject area. The brightness of the non-emission of the selected small area, which is the brightness of an ambient light applied to the main subject, is set as reference brightness. A correction amount of the flash amount of the regular shooting corresponding to the reference brightness is derived with reference to an LUT. In the regular shooting, regular emission is performed during a regular-emission time corresponding to the collected flash amount.

Abstract: A camera includes: a photometric unit that acquires two dimensional photometric information of an image of a photographic subject; a separation unit that separates the image of the photographic subject into two groups, based upon photometric information acquired by the photometric unit during non-emission of light by a flash light emission device; and a calculation unit that multiplies the photometric information acquired by the photometric unit during a first light emission by the flash light emission device before photography, by different coefficients for the two groups, and calculates an amount of light required for photography that is to be emitted during a second light emission by the flash light emission device, based upon the photographic information after multiplication by the coefficients.

Abstract: Provided are a photographing control method and apparatus. The photographing control method includes: obtaining image data from a subject during pre-emission of a strobe, detecting a face region of the subject based on the obtained image data, and performing a calculation for main emission based on the detected face region and controlling main emission of the strobe. Accordingly, even when it is difficult to detect a face because of low brightness at the position of the face, the probability of detecting the face can be increased and an appropriately exposed image can be obtained.

Abstract: An image of appropriate exposure is obtained in a short period of time. A controller and timing generator performs photometric measurement by use of an image signal acquired from a CCD, and determines appropriate light exposure. The CCD is divided into a plurality of regions: for example, an odd-number line region and an even-number line region. Timing at which accumulated electric charges are read from the respective regions is changed, thereby changing the light exposure of an image signal read from each of the regions. When the amount of light fired during the main flash is adjusted by means of causing a strobe to fire preliminary light, read timing is changed in such a way that an electric charge accumulation period of the odd-number line regions comes to an arbitrary point in time during the course of firing of preliminary light.

Abstract: Red-eye area detection accuracy is improved according to a pattern of appearance of red-eye areas generated frequently in an actual photography environment. A red-eye candidate area finding unit finds red-eye candidate areas in a digital photograph image, by using reference data. A display unit displays the image with the red-eye candidate areas having been marked and preliminary corrected. A user can specify an unfound red-eye area and an erroneously specified area by using a specification unit 22. An update unit 24 updates the reference data by learning a characteristic of the unfound red-eye area and the erroneously specified area so that a probability becomes higher regarding detection of an area having a characteristic similar to the unfound red-eye area as a red-eye candidate area while becomes lower regarding detection of an area having a characteristic similar to the erroneously specified area as a red-eye area.

Abstract: A camera system includes: a light emitting unit that performs a main emission of light in which during photography a photographic subject is illuminated with a first light having s a first color temperature, and a preparatory emission of light in which the photographic subject is illuminated with a second light having a second color temperature before photography; an imaging element that outputs an image capture signal; a calculator that calculates an amount of the first light by the light emitting unit, based upon the image capture signal output during the preparatory emission of light; a corrector that corrects the calculated amount of the first light, based upon a color temperature difference between the first color temperature and the second color temperature; and a controller that controls the light emitting unit to perform the main emission of light at the amount of the first light after correction by the corrector.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes two-dimensionally arranged LEDs for emitting fill lights to eradiation areas. The image-taking apparatus also includes light-receiving sensors for respectively receiving reflected lights from the irradiation areas. The amount of the fill lights or the emission and ceasing of the fill lights are independently controlled so that a correct exposure can be obtained.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with an emission section which emits independently controlled light to each of multiple emission areas and a light measurement/distance measurement CPU which calculates the amount of light to be emitted at actual emission based on the amount of reflected light of pre-emission and causes the emission section to perform actual emission with the calculated amount of emitted light. The light measurement/distance measurement CPU causes a relatively large amount of light to be emitted to a part of the multiple emission areas in comparison with the other emission areas when pre-emission is performed.

Abstract: An image pickup device and associated methodology are provided. The image pickup device is formed from a plurality of pixels, each of which can perform any of an exposure operation and a reading operation thereof at a timing different from that of the other, an imaging apparatus is provided, which can determine the amount of main-flashing light based on pre-flashing by a flash highly accurately. Before and during a preflash operation by a flash unit, an exposure operation is started simultaneously for all the pixels of the image pickup device 14 to form an image before and during the preflash to obtain a detected value by a detector before and during the preflash, respectively. A computation circuit computes a differential detected value obtained by subtracting the before-preflash detected value from the during-preflash detected value. The differential detected value is a detected value containing only pre-flashed light with ambient light excluded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device including a photographic optical system having a zoom function, an auxiliary light irradiation device which includes an auxiliary light source emitting auxiliary light and which irradiates the auxiliary light towards a subject, a range finding device which makes the auxiliary light reflected by the subject incident on the photographic optical system to perform a focusing operation, and an auxiliary light control device which controls at least one of emitted light quantity of the auxiliary light and irradiation range of the auxiliary light in accordance with a zoom position of the photographic optical system.

Abstract: A camera system that enables to stabilize, when photographing by using a flash apparatus in a live view state, the time lag between pressing the release button and starting the imaging operation thereafter, and also enables to execute the photographing with the short time lag. Photometry is performed in first pre-light emission executed before main light emission of a flash apparatus. Photometry is performed in second pre-light emission executed between the first pre-light emission and the main light emission. shooting condition for the camera system in the second pre-light emission is set based on a photometric value in the first pre-light emission so that an output of the second photometry unit is within a predetermined range. An amount of the main light emission of the flash apparatus is determined based on the photometric value in the second pre-light emission.

Abstract: A photographic light system, imaging device and method for providing different types of photographic light uses a single multifunctional light module to produce the different types of photographic light. The multifunctional light module includes a number of semiconductor light source devices, such as light emitting diodes (LED), which are controlled by a light module controller. The multifunctional light module can be used to produce an autofocus auxiliary light, a red-eye reducing light and a flash of light.

Abstract: A camera includes: a light emission unit that emits illumination light; an amount of emitted light control unit that, during photography using the illumination light, controls the amount of illumination light to be emitted during photography based upon the amount of light reflected back from the photographic subject during a preliminary emission of light; and a color temperature control unit that controls the color temperature of the illumination light during the preliminary light emission, based upon color information for ambient light.

Abstract: In a circumstance in which light is emitted from many electronic flashes, e.g., a press conference hall or a wedding hall, light emission from other electronic flashes overlaps preliminary light emission performed before main light emission. This decreases the photometry accuracy with respect to preliminary light emission and makes it difficult to perform proper flash exposure. In a camera system designed to perform preliminary light emission before main light emission, photometry is performed a plurality of number of times upon preliminary light emission, and flash exposure is performed by suppressing photometric values which may have been influenced by light emission as disturbance other than the preliminary light emission.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an attention-getting unit. The attention-getting unit is configured for attracting the attention of a human subject to the imaging system.

Abstract: The object recognition apparatus has an active range finder having a floodlight unit which floodlights a light onto a target object, and determines a distance up to a target object on the basis of a reflected light therefrom, a stereo camera to determine a distance up to the target object on the basis of image information from the target object, an object recognition unit which recognizes the target object on the basis of an output signal from the active range finder and an output signal from the stereo camera, and a fill light control unit which controls the floodlight unit to operate so as to irradiate a light floodlit by the floodlight unit as a fill light of the stereo camera.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a digital photography device includes a global shutter to control exposure time, a sensor array, and a flash illumination are described. The global shutter is in the optical path of light going to the sensor. The flash illumination generates a pulsed illumination. The shutter speed of the global shutter during a pre-flash illumination substantially matches the shutter speed during the flash illumination during the taking of a picture using the flash illumination based on the global shutter receiving a trigger signal from a controller.

Abstract: Mobile equipment includes LEDs supplied with a current to emit red light, green light and blue light, FETs and a booster circuit for controlling the current supplied. The current supplied is controlled to supply all of the LED with a current of a low level to illuminate an object in a shooting mode with light for illumination. Thus in the shooting mode a white spot light illuminates the object, and the object can clearly be confirmed. At the moment of shooting, a current supplied can be increased at a burst to emit white flashlight to illuminate the object. A satisfactory image can thus be obtained. The source of light for illumination can be formed of miniature, light-weight LED, and does not impair in mobility mobile equipment having the source of light incorporated therein.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing image capture and a light source has a first strobing light emitting diode (LED) array with a plurality of LEDs located to light an illumination area. The LED array has an on cycle during which the LED array is activated and an off cycle during which the LED array is inactivated. The system also has a camera located with a view of the illumination area. The camera has an image exposure that coincides with the on cycle of the strobing LED array.