Detachable Synchronizer Patents (Class 396/189)
  • Patent number: 8718461
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8705950
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • 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
  • 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: 7783188
    Abstract: A system and method for serially communicating actual flash data related to a remote lighting device to a camera body via a hot shoe connector. In one example, a wireless communication device connected to the hot shoe connector of the camera body receives a request for a flash data from the camera body via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device responds via the hot shoe with actual information from one or more remote light devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 7775575
    Abstract: A system and method for setting the power operating condition of a photographic wireless communication device. An information representing a shutter speed of a camera body is detected from the camera body. A shutter speed of the camera body is determined from the information representing a shutter speed. The power operating condition of the photographic wireless communication device is automatically set based on the shutter speed of the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clark
  • Patent number: 6029013
    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 remote light source to emit light).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Light & Motion Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Larkin, Michael Topolovac
  • Patent number: 5640623
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyoji Sasaki