Abstract: A flash control system remotely controls a an external flash by a camera. In the camera, a first factor is calculated to determine an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from a built-in flash of the camera, and a second factor to determine an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from the external flash, a total amount of both the flash-light emissions of the flashes corresponding to a proper exposure with which an object should be photographed. The built-in flash emits two light signals therefrom at a time interval such that the second factor is represented by the time interval between the signals. An amount of the flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled according to the time interval such that the flash-light amount of the external flash coincides with the second factor.

Abstract: A flash control system remotely controls an external flash by a camera. In the camera, a guide number is calculated as an exposure factor for the external flash, and a flash-light emission timing of the external flash is calculated. A built-in flash of the camera is controlled to emit two light signals at a time interval representing the guide number. The external flash detects the two light signals. A timing of a flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with one of the two light signals. An amount of the flash-light emission of the external flash is controlled in accordance with the time interval.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is a transceiver and system for controlling photographic equipment. Each transceiver unit of the present invention can be pre-set as an “originating,” “remote” or “relay” unit, and regardless of which setting, each unit is capable of transmitting and receiving coded radio or optical signals. Each unit has at least one selector switch, various input and output connections, a transceiver chip, a microcontroller and associated electronic circuits. Encoded signal pulses containing channel, system, and control codes are transmitted, received and/or relayed between units. The ability to select the function of any one transceiver allows identical units to be flexibly employed as a system and readily configured by the user.

Abstract: A studio lighting system includes independently positionable light holding modules, i.e., shooting table, rear cove, and dome cove, each carrying a plurality of dimmable light sources surrounded by gel holders extending the length of each light source. Gels of any type, i.e., color, neutral density, or opaque, may be inserted within the gel holder, so that the light irradiated from the light source towards the object to be photographed or digitally captured is “blocked” or “gel colored”, as desired. A desired lighting scene characterized by position and type of the gels, and intensity levels of the light sources, is recorded into the memory and can be retrieved from there for reproducing the lighting scene in further photography processes.

Abstract: A photographic lighting apparatus for consistent and accurate exposure control of a subject before a camera. The apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources, a power supply; a plurality of switches, and a controller. The switches are connected to the plurality of light sources for selectively providing power from the power supply to the light sources. The controller sequentially operates the switches and has user-programmed operational control for manipulating the light upon the subject to create a desired illuminating effect. This sequencing operation of said controller produces accurate exposure of film within the camera.

Abstract: A flashlight control apparatus having a device for emitting flashlight towards a subject and a device for receiving the light reflected from the subject through a photographing lens. An output is generated which corresponds to the received light which is time-integrated in order to calculate the amount of light received. An optimum integration level is calculated which is to be integrated. This optimum integration level corresponds to an optimum quantity of flashlight to be emitted by the emitting means, based on film speed information. A time limit is also calculated, which is shorter, by a predetermined length of time, than an optimum emission time of the emitting device. This optimum emission time is based on aperture value information and object distance information. The emitting device is controlled to stop emitting flashlight when the time limit elapses, in the case where a quantity of light received by the light receiving devices has reached an optimum quantity before the time limit elapses.

Abstract: Flash unit for a camera includes a flash illumination device which illuminates during imaging operations of the camera, and a housing encasing the flash illumination device. The housing is made from a material that transmits infrared light emitted by the flash illumination device to an area outside of the housing. Also disclosed is a camera that includes a built-in flash unit that further includes a flash illumination device which illuminates during operations of the camera. The camera also includes a housing that encases the built-in flash illumination unit. The housing, like the housing of the flash unit, is made from a material that transmits infrared light emitted by the flash illumination device to an area outside of the housing. Also provided is a command module for use by a camera in controlling another device. The command module includes an infrared light source, and a housing that encases the infrared light source.

Abstract: A camera system includes a plurality of flash devices for performing flash light emission toward an object during an exposure, a preliminary light emission control circuit for causing the plurality of flash devices to sequentially make preliminary light emission toward the object prior to the flash light emission to be performed by the plurality of flash devices during the exposure, a compression-type light measuring sensor for compressing a photoelectric current obtained by converting light from the object and for outputting the compressed photoelectric current as a voltage, and a light emission amount control circuit for controlling amounts of light emission of the plurality of flash devices during the exposure on the basis of light measurement outputs during the preliminary light emission obtained by the compression-type light measuring sensor by measuring reflected light from the object caused by the preliminary light emission control circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a remote light source in synchronization with an indication provided from a camera. A transducer is coupled to the external electrical connector of a conventional camera in order to convert the electrical signals that are output from the camera into an alternative form (e.g., optical signals). A different transducer is coupled to the external electrical connector of a remote light source, such as a photographic strobe. The light source transducer receives the signal from the camera transducer and converts the signal back into one or more conventional electrical signals to activate the remote light source. A light source activation signal and a light source modulation signal are multiplexed onto a single communication channel. A first indication is provided on the communication channel to activate the remote light source (i.e., cause the light source to emit light).

Abstract: An electronic flash includes a primary emission unit for emitting flash light for illuminating an object, an auxiliary emission unit for emitting light having a different color temperature from the flash light; and a controller for controlling emission of the auxiliary emission unit to adjust the color temperature of illumination light to the object. This electronic flash makes it possible to change the color temperature of illumination light to an object quickly and easily.

Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with an electronic flash module comprising a plurality of flash subunits to illuminate a photographed scene in flash photography. Each flash subunit comprises a flash-tube and associated charging and triggering circuits; a modeling lamp to allow a photographer to set up the lighting pattern. Each module comprises a trip circuit to synchronously trip all the triggering circuits in the module. It is preferred that the module further comprises a photosensor to activate the trip circuit upon sensing a trigger pulse sent out by a remote device. Preferably, the module comprises connection means so that two or more modules can be linked up to form a panel with a larger illuminating source area. Furthermore, it is preferred that the flash subunits can be selectively and individually disabled to allow the photographer to adjust the illuminating pattern.

Abstract: An electronic flash device with a slave emission function, includes a light-receiving circuit unit for starting slave emission in response to the steep leading edge of an optical signal, a light-emitting unit for irradiating illumination light for a photographing operation onto an object, an attachment member to a camera, for detecting the attachment state of the to the camera, and light emission stopping means for, when the detects that the attachment member is mounted on the camera, stopping the light emission by the light-emitting unit in response to light received by the light-receiving circuit unit.

Abstract: A camera has an electronic flash unit for providing a flash exposure light pulse, and a selection mean device on the camera or on an auxiliary lamp has a selection setting for allowing the auxiliary lamp to provide a subject-conditioning pre-flash light pulse before the electronic flash unit provides the flash exposure light and another setting for allowing the auxiliary lamp to be continuously on to illuminate the subject instead of providing the pre-flash light pulse.

Abstract: A wireless light amplifying strobe system appropriately regulates the commencement and cessation of each strobe's light emission to enable the radiation intensity of the light emissions to be accurately set. For example, a wireless light-amplifying system has a strobe that is attached to a camera (the primary strobe) and a strobe that is separated from the first strobe (the auxiliary strobe). The primary strobe repeatedly emits a low-intensity flash of light, and the auxiliary strobe detects the emission of light from the primary strobe and repeatedly emits a fixed, low-intensity flash of light upon each emission of light from the primary strobe. The camera measures the light that is reflected from the subject being photographed, which is illuminated by both strobes, with a photometer circuit that passes through the photographic lens. When the proper exposure has been reached, the primary strobe's light emission ceases.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for flash illuminating a subject is disclosed. The exposure apparatus includes a main flash tube for directly illuminating the subject, a bounce flash tube for indirectly illuminating the subject, and sensing circuitry responsive to ambient scene illumination for producing an ambient scene illumination signal, and responsive to light from the main flash tube reflected from the subject for producing a reflected flash illumination signal.

Abstract: A flash photographing system includes a first firing device operable to fire a first flash light effective for photography of the camera device; a second firing device operable to fire a second flash light ineffective for photography of the camera device, the second firing device having two different emission modes; and a changer operable to change over the two emission modes of the second firing device. The emission modes are changed over in accordance with selection of macro or portrait photography mode. The second flash light consists of intermittently emitted flash lights. The emission modes of the second flash light are different from each other in aspect of the light amount, emitting frequency, number of emitting times, or emitting time.

Abstract: An easy to use camera accessory, when mounted onto a camera, will trigger an external strobe upon excitation of a built-in electronic flash while simultaneously blocking from the scene the light emitted by the built-in electronic flash. The camera accessory typically is snap-in mountable and includes: a flash slave for triggering the external strobe, a PC connector for connection via a cable with the external strobe, and openings for camera features including, but not limited to, a lens, a sonar detection device, a viewfinder and a photocell. Light emitted from the built in electronic flash is physically blocked from being cast upon the scene. A more basic version of the inventive camera accessory does not require the camera feature openings.

Abstract: A camera having a built-in first flash light emitting unit located directly above a photographic lens on the front surface of the camera body, and a second flash light emitting unit located at an upper corner of the front face of the camera body. The camera has autofocus capabilities, and reduces shadows created during close-up photography and reduces the "red eye" phenomenon created during far away photography through the control of each of the two flash light emitting units.

Abstract: A wireless flash photographing system prohibits flash light reception for a predetermined time period when it is determined that received flash light is not an identification signal. Light emission for pre-confirming a shade and main light emission are switched by the identification signal. A flash device applied to this system comprises a power supply circuit section, a light emission section, a control section and a light receiving circuit section. The light emission section comprises a series circuit including a main capacitor, a discharge tube, a diode and an IGBT, a voltage doubler circuit including resistors and a capacitor, and a trigger circuit including a trigger transformer and a trigger capacitor. The light emission section controls the IGBT to start/stop light emission.

Abstract: A flash control apparatus for causing a plurality of electronic flash devices to emit light in synchronism with the shutter opening operation of a camera comprises a plurality of synchro terminals connected to the plurality of electronic flash devices, respectively, a trigger device connected correspondingly to the plurality of synchro terminals for transmitting a light emission signal to the plurality of electronic flash devices at a certain timing, a timing selecting device for selecting the aforementioned timing from among a plurality of predetermined timings during the shutter opening operation, an electronic flash device selecting device for selecting an electronic flash device which should be caused to emit light from among the plurality of electronic flash devices, and a control device for controlling the trigger device on the basis of the result of the selection by the timing selecting device and the electronic flash device selecting device.