GB2154341A - Control apparatus for the wireless power adjustment of flash-light units - Google Patents
Control apparatus for the wireless power adjustment of flash-light units Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2154341A GB2154341A GB08432523A GB8432523A GB2154341A GB 2154341 A GB2154341 A GB 2154341A GB 08432523 A GB08432523 A GB 08432523A GB 8432523 A GB8432523 A GB 8432523A GB 2154341 A GB2154341 A GB 2154341A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- light
- control apparatus
- control centre
- flash
- control
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B15/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
- G03B15/02—Illuminating scene
- G03B15/03—Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
- G03B15/05—Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B2215/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
- G03B2215/05—Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units
- G03B2215/0514—Separate unit
- G03B2215/0557—Multiple units, e.g. slave-unit
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Exposure Control For Cameras (AREA)
- Stroboscope Apparatuses (AREA)
- Discharge-Lamp Control Circuits And Pulse- Feed Circuits (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a control apparatus for the wireless remotely controlled power adjustment of flash-light units (4a to 4d), in which a light measuring probe (7) is connected to a control centre (1) of the apparatus, whereof the reported actual value of the light is compared with a reference value of the light derived from the sensitivity of the film and the selected aperture and that according to the differential value therebetween, the control centre (1) varies the power level of all the flash-lights (4a to 4d) independently so that the actual value corresponds to the reference value. In this way the manual adjustment of the power level is dispensed with, so that the photographer standing behind the camera (6) need solely initiate a trial flash, whereupon the control centre (1) adjusts all the flash-lights (4a to 4d) to the required power level in readiness for taking a photograph. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Control apparatus for the wireless power adjustment of flash-light units
The invention relates to a control apparatus in particular for the wireless remotely controlled power adjustment of several flash-light units.
With a known control centre of this type it is possible for example by way of infra red signals, to adjust several flash-lights independently of each other as regards their spacial position, their power etc. The various parameters of the flash-lights can thus be adjusted and controlled without wires by a photographer standing behind his camera. After the photographer has adjusted the light mixture without wires by way of the control centre, without having to leave his position, he must now regulate the power of the lighting-i.e.
the illumination as a whole--according to the camera aperture value selected and the sensitivity of the film in use. For this purpose the known control centre gives him the possibility of varying the power of all the controllable flash-light units in common in one or more stages. This takes place exclusively manually.
The photographer will vary the lighting power of all the flash-light units according to the measured value of the light until it corresponds to the reference value of the light determined by the aperture and sensitivity of the film. However, this adjustment is timeconsuming, requires many measuring probe cesses and does not always satisfy the various requirements of professional photography.
It is the object of the invention to simplify the adaptation of the lighting power of controllable flash-light units to the desired lighting power and to carry this out in a less timeconsuming manner.
The invention provides control apparatus for the wireless remotely controlled power adjustment of a plurality of flash-light units, comprising a control centre having a transmitter located in a housing, an input part for specifying a predetermined reference value of the light and adjusting at least one parameter of a flash-light unit, a light measuring probe coupled to the control centre and operable to provide an output signal corresponding to the actual value of the light, and means operable to provide a differential signal derived by comparison of said output signal with a predetermined reference value of the light, the control centre being operable to vary the power levels available to the controllable flash-light units independently so that the actual light value corresponds to the reference value.
By this means the quantity of light striking the subject from the flash-light units corresponds to the desired reference value in each case. Thus, first of all, a closed control loop is created, which according to the pre-set aperture, film sensitivity or further parameters automatically regulates the amount of light necessary without any action by the photographer. Thus, immediately after each measurement of the light, the light required for a perfect exposure is available to the photographer. In this case, the light mixture preselected by the photographer is maintained, that is to say that the control centre varies the power level of all controlled flash-light units by the same percentage amount.
The output signal of the light-measuring probe can be transmitted to the control centre by wireless or means of cable. In the case of wireless transmission, an infra red transmission is preferably provided.
Embodiments of the invention are described in detail hereafter, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic arrangement for taking a photograph of a subject using one embodiment of control centre according to the invention,
Figure 2 shows the control centre of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale,
Figure 3 shows the control centre of Figure 2, with a light meter connected by way of a connecting plug,
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of control centre according to the invention, with an integrated light meter.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement for taking a photograph of a subject 5 which consists of a camera 6 and several flash-light units consisting of a flash-light 4a to 4d and an associated generator 3a to 3d. In the embodiment illustrated, the control centre 1 consists of a main transmitter with a key board as shown in
Figure 2, which is connected by way of a cable 9 to a light measuring probe 7 of a light meter in the camera 6. The values for the aperture, sensitivity of the film and possibly further parameters, such as filters used etc., are pre-set on the light meter integrated in the camera 6, from which a reference value for the light required is specified.
The photographer standing behind the camera 6 can now adjust the desired power of the individual flash-light units 3a,4a; 3b,4b; 3c,4c; 3d,4dwithout wires by means of the control centre 1, so that he obtains the desired light mixture for his subject 5. The photographer now initiates a trial flash on the
Light meter or on the camera 6, in which case the incidence of light in the plane of the film is monitored by the light measuring probe 7.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the light meter provided in the camera forms a differential signal by comparison of the measured actual value of the light with the predetermined reference value of the light, which signal is transmitted by way of the cable 9 to the control centre 1. Depending on the differential signal received, the control centre varies the pre-selected power level of the individual flash-light units 3a to 3d by the same percentage amount, so that the actual value of the light corresponds to the preselected reference value of the light. Immediately after initiating the trial flash, the photographer may now take the desired exposure of the subject 5, in which case the lighting conditions correspond exactly to the reference value predetermined by the parameters, such as selection of aperture etc.
Due to the connection of the light meter to the control centre 1, a control loop is created, which ensures that the actual value of the light corresponds to the reference value of the light for each photograph.
The control centre 1 illustrated in Figure 2 consists of an approximately cuboid-shaped housing 1', whereof one end lying in the longitudinal direction is formed by a housing part which is transparent to infra red rays, which contains the infra red transmitting diodes 2. In the narrow side of the cuboid located opposite the infra red transmitting diodes 2 in the longitudinal direction, a plug and socket connection 10 is let into the housing 1' of the control centre. Provided in one of the larger sides of the cuboid is the control panel for adjusting the power of the individual generators. Provided below the housing part for the transmitting diodes 2 which is transparent to infra red rays are markings 1 3 for each controllable flash-light unit.In the embodiment illustrated, four columns are provided, that is to say four flashlight units 3a,4a; 3b,4b: 3c,4c; 3d,4dcan be controlled independently of each other by the control centre 1 illustrated, in order to be able to adjust the power of the latter independently of each other. Provided below the row of markings 1 3 in each column is an indicator 14 for the pre-selected power of the flash-light unit and a button 1 5 for increasing, respectively a button 1 6 for decreasing the power.
In addition to or instead of the light meter 7 arranged in the camera 6, a separate light meter 8 or 8' can also be used, as shown in broken line in Figure 1. These light meters may be used for measuring the incident light at the subject 5 or reflection therefrom, since the light measuring probe 7 arranged in the camera solely measures the light in the plane of the film itself.
Separate light meters 8, 8' of this type can advantageously be connected by means of the plug and socket connection 10 to the control centre 1, as shown in Figure 3. The construction of the control centre 1 corresponds to that of Figure 2. Like the housing 11 of the control centre 1, the light meter is likewise constructed in the form of a cuboid. It is approximately half as long as the housing 1 and has the corresponding plug module for the plug and socket connection 10 disposed in its upper end lying at right angles to the longitudinal direction. In this case the plug and socket connection 10 is arranged so that the light meter 8 extends the cuboid-shaped housing I' of the control centre 1 in the longitudinal direction.
The light measuring probe 7' is provided in the front face of the light meter 8. It lies substantially in the upper half of the front face adjacent the plug and socket connection 10 symetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the cuboid-shaped overall structure. Located on each side of the longitudinal central axis and of the light measuring probe 7' is an adjusting button 11,12 for adjusting the aperture or sensitivity of the film. Located respectively below the adjusting buttons 11 and 12 is an indicator 11 ',1 2' for indicating the values fed in. Let into one longitudinal side is a measuring button 1 7, by which the trial flash and measuring operation are initiated.
The control centre 1 with attached light meter 8 can be used independently of the camera and generators 3a to 3d of the flashlights 4a to 4d for measuring the light at the subject 5. It is also possible to use a light meter 8 separately from the control centre 1, in order to carry out certain light measurements.
As shown in Figure 1, light meters, 8, 8' of this type are connected by cables 9,9" to the control centre, in order that the desired reference value of the light can be pre-set automatically immediately following the light measurement.
In certain applications. it may be advantageous to use a light meter 8 or several light meters 8,8' by way of addition for measuring the light, besides the light measuring probe 7 in the camera 6. For this purpose several inputs are provided on the control centre 1, in which case the output signals of the light meters can possibly be linked together.
In addition to the cable connections 9,9',9" illustrated in Figure 1, it may be advantageous to carry out the transmission of the output signal of a light meter without wires, preferably by an infra red signal transmission, to the control centre 1.
In the embodiments according to Figure 4, the light meter 8' is integrated directly in the housing 1' of the control centre 1. In this case, the operating parts as well as the light probe 7' of the light meter 8' are located between the housing part for the infra red transmitting diodes 2, which is transparent to 5 infra red rays, and the keyboard 1 8 for controlling the power of the lights of the individual flash-light units.
The embodiment according to Figure 4 has the advantage that no relatively long cables or transmitting/receiving sections are required for transmitting the output signal of the light meter. The photographer standing behind the camera is able to control all functions on the control centre, in which case the actual value of the light is automatically adjusted to correspond to the reference value of the light.
If the manually adjusted power of the flashlight units, for example a stop, is too deep, then all the controlled flash-light units are increased to double power by the control centre, i.e. all the controlled flash-light units now have double the power that they had before the regulation carried out by the control centre. In this way, the various conditions existing in the practice of professional photography can be taken into account.
It may also be advantageous to construct the control centre according to Figure 4 and to connect the light measuring probe 7' to the control centre by means of a plug end socket connection.
The control centre may also be attached directly to the camera 6, so that the cable 9 necessary in Figure 1 can be dispensed with.
Claims (16)
1. Control apparatus for the wireless remotely controllsd power adjustment of a plurality of flash-light units, comprising a control centre having a transmitter located in a housing, an input part for specifying a predetermined reference value of the light and adjusting at least one parameter of a flash-light unit, a light measuring probe coupled to the control centre and operable to provide an output signal corresponding to the actual value of the light, and means operable to provide a differential signal derived by comparison of said output signal with a predetermined reference value of the light, the control centre being operable to vary the power levels available to the controllable flash-light units independently so that the actual light value corresponds to the reference value.
2. Control apparatus accordi g to claim 1, wherein the power level variations available to each of said controlled flash-light units is varied by the same percentage amount.
3. Control apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein in that the output signal of the light measuring probe is transmitted to the control centre without wires therebetween.
4. Control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output signal of the light measuring probe is transmitted to the control centre by a transmission in the infra red range.
5. Control apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light measuring probe is connected to the control centre by way of a plug and socket connection let into the housing of the control centre.
6. Control apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light measuring probe is integrated in the housing of the control centre.
7. Control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means operable to provide the differential signal are disposed in the control centre.
8. Control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the input part for specifying the reference value of the light is located in the housing of the control centre.
9. Control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light measuring probe is part of a light meter which can be connected to the control centre.
10. Control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means operable to provide the differential signal are disposed in the light meter.
11. Control apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the input part for specifying the reference value of the light is located in the housing of the light meter.
1 2. Control apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a light measuring probe installed in a camera is additionally connected to the control centre as a control measuring probe.
1 3. Control apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the light meter is constructed in the form of a cuboid and part of a plug and socket connection is located on one end thereof.
14. Control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light meter plugged in to the control centre is constructed as an extension of the cuboid-shaped housing of the control centre.
1 5. Control apparatus according to claim 9, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein a measuring button for initiating a measuring operation is located in one side of the light meter.
16. Control apparatus substantially as here it before described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 and any one of Figs. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19833346757 DE3346757C2 (en) | 1983-12-23 | 1983-12-23 | Device for remote-controlled power setting of several flash units |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8432523D0 GB8432523D0 (en) | 1985-02-06 |
| GB2154341A true GB2154341A (en) | 1985-09-04 |
| GB2154341B GB2154341B (en) | 1986-10-08 |
Family
ID=6217934
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08432523A Expired GB2154341B (en) | 1983-12-23 | 1984-12-21 | Control apparatus for the wireless power adjustment of flash-light units |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS60209725A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH671642A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3346757C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2557315B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2154341B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0985958A2 (en) | 1998-09-07 | 2000-03-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| WO2009068524A1 (en) * | 2007-11-27 | 2009-06-04 | Julius Von Bismarck | Device and method for protecting a graphic representation on a projection surface |
| EP3047334A4 (en) * | 2013-09-16 | 2017-05-31 | Profoto AB | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and several remote flash devices |
| US9917995B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2018-03-13 | Profoto Ab | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device |
| US11611691B2 (en) | 2018-09-11 | 2023-03-21 | Profoto Aktiebolag | Computer implemented method and a system for coordinating taking of a picture using a camera and initiation of a flash pulse of at least one flash device |
| US11863866B2 (en) | 2019-02-01 | 2024-01-02 | Profoto Aktiebolag | Housing for an intermediate signal transmission unit and an intermediate signal transmission unit |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3628879A1 (en) * | 1986-08-26 | 1988-03-10 | Bron Elektronik Ag | EXPOSURE METER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING DEVICES |
| FR2655436A1 (en) * | 1989-12-01 | 1991-06-07 | Systems C | Digital electronic flash |
| DE19842367B4 (en) * | 1998-09-16 | 2004-07-29 | Robert Srzentic | Device and method for controlling a flash system with at least one flash device for photo cameras |
| US7184658B2 (en) * | 2004-11-02 | 2007-02-27 | Squillace Production Studios, Llc | Automatic flash switching rotational strobe frame |
| DE102009012040B4 (en) * | 2009-03-10 | 2011-06-09 | Gossen - Foto- und Lichtmeßtechnik GmbH | Metering device |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3185056A (en) * | 1962-06-20 | 1965-05-25 | Polaroid Corp | Electronic flash-photography |
| DE2602411C2 (en) * | 1976-01-23 | 1985-01-31 | Bron Elektronik AG, Allschwil, Basel | Device for synchronous triggering of a flash unit |
| DE2803137A1 (en) * | 1978-01-25 | 1979-07-26 | Hans Werner Briese | Flash illumination system coping with moving subjects - uses test illumination array to obtain control value for storage and comparison |
| DE2840185C2 (en) * | 1978-09-15 | 1980-10-16 | Prontor-Werk Alfred Gauthier Gmbh, 7547 Wildbad | Control device for photographic cameras, in particular view cameras |
| JPS56113121A (en) * | 1980-02-13 | 1981-09-05 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Multilamp control stroboscopic device |
| JPS56168643A (en) * | 1980-05-30 | 1981-12-24 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | Adapter for multilamp automatic dimming type flash device |
| JPS5756831A (en) * | 1980-09-24 | 1982-04-05 | Nippon Kogaku Kk <Nikon> | Wireless dimming control system |
| US4457602A (en) * | 1981-04-20 | 1984-07-03 | Olympus Optical Company Ltd. | Multiple light emission control system utilizing electronic flashes |
-
1983
- 1983-12-23 DE DE19833346757 patent/DE3346757C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1984
- 1984-12-20 CH CH606384A patent/CH671642A5/de not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-12-21 FR FR8419737A patent/FR2557315B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-21 GB GB08432523A patent/GB2154341B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-24 JP JP27106984A patent/JPS60209725A/en active Pending
Cited By (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0985958A2 (en) | 1998-09-07 | 2000-03-15 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| EP0985958A3 (en) * | 1998-09-07 | 2000-10-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| US6404987B1 (en) | 1998-09-07 | 2002-06-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| EP1640794A2 (en) | 1998-09-07 | 2006-03-29 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| EP1640794A3 (en) * | 1998-09-07 | 2006-07-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Flash system |
| WO2009068524A1 (en) * | 2007-11-27 | 2009-06-04 | Julius Von Bismarck | Device and method for protecting a graphic representation on a projection surface |
| EP3047334A4 (en) * | 2013-09-16 | 2017-05-31 | Profoto AB | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and several remote flash devices |
| US9917995B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2018-03-13 | Profoto Ab | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device |
| US10044941B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2018-08-07 | Profoto Ab | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device |
| US10375315B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2019-08-06 | Profoto Ab | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device |
| US10455130B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2019-10-22 | Profoto Ab | Method, transmission unit, system and computer program for wireless communication between a camera and at least one remote flash device |
| US11611691B2 (en) | 2018-09-11 | 2023-03-21 | Profoto Aktiebolag | Computer implemented method and a system for coordinating taking of a picture using a camera and initiation of a flash pulse of at least one flash device |
| US11863866B2 (en) | 2019-02-01 | 2024-01-02 | Profoto Aktiebolag | Housing for an intermediate signal transmission unit and an intermediate signal transmission unit |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8432523D0 (en) | 1985-02-06 |
| CH671642A5 (en) | 1989-09-15 |
| FR2557315B1 (en) | 1989-01-13 |
| DE3346757C2 (en) | 1994-04-28 |
| JPS60209725A (en) | 1985-10-22 |
| FR2557315A1 (en) | 1985-06-28 |
| DE3346757A1 (en) | 1985-07-04 |
| GB2154341B (en) | 1986-10-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19961221 |