GB2423590A - Red-eye eliminator unit - Google Patents

Red-eye eliminator unit Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2423590A
GB2423590A GB0504089A GB0504089A GB2423590A GB 2423590 A GB2423590 A GB 2423590A GB 0504089 A GB0504089 A GB 0504089A GB 0504089 A GB0504089 A GB 0504089A GB 2423590 A GB2423590 A GB 2423590A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
flash
optical fibre
extender
outlet
camera
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0504089A
Other versions
GB0504089D0 (en
Inventor
Sofia Khan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0504089A priority Critical patent/GB2423590A/en
Publication of GB0504089D0 publication Critical patent/GB0504089D0/en
Publication of GB2423590A publication Critical patent/GB2423590A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • G03B15/06—Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
    • 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
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/56—Accessories
    • G03B17/565—Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
    • 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
    • G03B2215/0517—Housing
    • G03B2215/0525—Reflector
    • G03B2215/0528—Reflector movable reflector, e.g. change of illumination angle or illumination direction
    • 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
    • G03B2215/0517—Housing
    • G03B2215/055—Clamp-on device, e.g. filter
    • 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
    • G03B2215/056—Connection with camera, e.g. adapter
    • 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
    • G03B2217/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B2217/002—Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Stroboscope Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

A Red-Eye Eliminator Unit comprises a flash cover 3, which holds an optical fibre receiver 5 to receive light from camera Flash 4 as it fires. The optical fibre/s 11 delivers to a flash outlet 6, via the optical fibre housing 9 and 12. A flexible joint 15, onto the end of the inner tube 12, attaches a flash outlet 6. The inner tube slides in and out of the outer tube 9 to form an extendible optical fibre housing. The optical fibre can be coiled inside the optical fibre housing, so that it can spring up as it extends. The Flash outlet is in position A, when in not in use. When extended it is turned to face the same direction as the Camera Flash 4 to position D.

Description

1 2423590 Red-Eye Eliminator Unit (R.E.E.U.1 Back2round: This invention
relates to the Red-Eye Eliminator Unit (or R.E.E.U.) When an in-built or compact camera flash is used to take a picture of a living subject, human and animal, facing the camera, the pupils tend to appear red, or green in some animals. This is caused by the flash being too close to the lens of the compact camera and the subject's wide pupils Another factor that may be relevant is the size of the flash source. The flash's light bounces of the subject's retinas and straight back into the lens as the angle of reflection is so narrow The red-eye effect is particularly likely when the pupils are large e g.
when the subject is photographed in a dimly lit room or is drunk Another symptom of the inbuilt camera flash is the harsh shadows produced on nearby surfaces, e g. walls in a dimly lit room.
There is a patented product available on the market, called the Red-Eye Eliminator (*see page 7 for details) that bounces the flash from a compact camera to a diffuser This product does not move the light source much further away, is cumbersome, is not very compact and is not practical to fit within cameras on manufacture Red-eye reduction methods, currently implemented in modern compacts, use preliminary bursts of flash. This method works as the pupils instinctively close down, but does not always work on everybody A flashgun can be mounted to the hot-shoe of some compact cameras and this is the most reliable method of eliminating red-eye This is because the angle that the flash reflects off the retina and back to the lens is increased and the light disperses to the side, rather than straight back to the lens. However this method defeats the object of compactness.
The 2 main factors that differ from a flashgun to an in-built camera flash are the sizes of the flash outlets and the distances between the flashes and the camera So, the latter factor to cause red eye is to be tackled by means of this present invention The former factor must also to be tackled, if it is linked to the latter factor in the process of eliminating the red-eye effect.
Statement of Invention
To overcome this, the present invention proposes a unit to attach to or within an image-recording device, which increases the distance between flash output and the lens using an extender.
Advpntaes Increasing the distance from the camera's flash to the R.E.E U flash outlet eliminates red-eye to the same extent that a mounted flashgun would. Also, the compactness of the R.E E.U. means that the extender is folded neatly away into the R E.E U. housing, when not in use The increased height of the flash outlet lowers and hides shadows behind the subject.
Preferably fitted into a compact camera on manufacture.
Preferably be made to clip on to all compact cameras and possibly single lens reflex cameras, too Preferably be made to clip on to mobile phone cameras, too Preferably the R.E.E U. fits alongside camera next to flash Preferably, the light from the compact cameras flash would be reflected along the extender with at least one optical fibre, however the flash light may be reflected by lining the extender with highly reflective materials Preferably the optical fibre/s are housed in a flexible, radioaerial-type, telescopic extender Preferably the telescopic extender fits into R.E.E.U housing neatly.
Preferably, if fitted into a compact camera on manufacture, the extension of the R.E E U flash would trigger a mechanism to reflect all light from the original flash to the R E.E U flash outlet.
Preferably Clips are added to ends of tube to prevent over extension of telescopic mechanism of extender.
Preferably optical fibre housing and extendible flash outlet holder is made of sturdy but flexible materials to protect the optical fibre and also withstand knocks and falls Preferably R.E.E U Flash outlet is coated in rubber or tough material to withstand knocks and falls.
Preferably R.E.E.U Flash outlet swivels from position A to position D to protect the R.E.E U. flash outlet from damage, when in storage.
Preferably R.E E U Flash outlet rotates upwards to position F for bounce flash.
Preferably R E E. U Flash outlet can be made filly rotatable and swivelable for creative use of flash.
Preferably the optical fibre is coiled inside the extender, so that it will expand with the extender Preferably the optical iibre is coiled at exit point of the outer tube, so it will not get tangled.
Preferably the optical fibre coil is covered, so it will not get tangled Preferably the flash outlet expands to diffuse the flash light and to expand the area of coverage.
Preferably the flash outlet is fitted with a diffuser that expands to diffuse the flash light and to expand the area of coverage
Introduction to drawinas
The background and an example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings Drawings: oaaes 1-7 Figure X shows the direction of light from the compact camera's flash, reflecting from the subject's retinas and straight back into lens.
Figure Y shows the direction of light, according to the invention Figures Z I compares area of flash outputs of flash gun with compact camera! R E E U flash outlet and with R.E.E.U flash outlet with expander Figure Z2 compares distances between flashes and lens using arrows. The lower drawing shows the R E E U. when filly extended * A Shows position of R.E.E.U when not in use.
* B Shows position of R.E.E.U when outer tube is half extended * C Shows position of R.E.E U. when filly extended.
* For B and C the R.E.E. U. housing is not shown for ease of viewing * D Shows position of R.E.E.U. when filly extended for direct flash.
* E Shows side view of R.E.E U in position D. * F Shows position of R E.E.U. when fi.illy extended for direct flash expander filly expanded * G Shows how clip that attaches to camera also attaches to extender allowing it to slide up and down * H Shows a variation in flash outlet design * I Shows a variation in flash outlet design * J Shows coiled parts of optical fibre/s.
Numbered Darts Ill drawings paaes 1-7 In ii alics= not part of invention. =shaded with diagonal lines in drawing * 1 Compact Camera * 2 Camera lens * 3 Flash cover, attachment and housing for optical fibre/s.
* 4 Camera Flash * 5 Optical fibre/s receiver * 6 Flash outlet * 7 Interior reflective surface * 8 Flash diffuser * 9 Outer tube * 10 Stops to prevent over extension of tube.
* ii Optical fibre * 12 Inner tube * 13 Housing for Red- Eye Eliminator Unit * 14 Clip * 9& 12 Extendible optical fibre housing * 15 Swivelling joint * 16 Rotating thread * l7Groove * 18 Flash expander * 19 Clip 14 fits in groove 17 * 20 Coiled optical fibre/s * 101 Eye ball * 102 Pupil * 103 Direction of light * 104 Retina * 105 Flash gun
Detailed description
A flash cover 3, which is light tight is positioned over Camera Flash 4 The flash cover holds an optical fibre receiver 5 in optimal position over the camera's flash to receive maximum light from Camera Flash. The interior of the flash cover 3 must be highly reflective to prevent light being absorbed into its surfaces.
The Optical fibre receiver 5 receives light from flash as it fires and delivers via Optical fibre/s 11 to Flash outlet 6 The Flash outlet is mounted on the end of the inner tube 12. The Flash outlet swivels and optical fibre housing 9 & 12 retracts from position D to position A, to protect itself from damage, when in not in use When in use, it turns to face the same direction as the Camera Flash to position D Flash outlet is coated in rubber or tough material to withstand knocks and falls A highly Interior reflective surface 7 of the flash outlet acts to disperse the light from the small diameter of the optical fibre/s outlet to the same or similar size as the Camera Flash and light is reflected through flash diffuser 8 to disperse and diffi.ise flash evenly The flash diffuser will be similar to the diffuser that is placed over most compact cameras' flash bulbs The optical fibre/s lead from the flash cover to the bottom of the optical fibre housing. The optical fibre/s then lead up to the top of the tube, to a flash outlet and must be long enough to allow the optical fibre housing to extend. The optical fibre/s can be coiled 20 in parts, so that it can spring up inside the optical fibre housing, as it extends J and keeps the optical fibre taut. The coiled part/s can also be covered to avoid becoming trapped on the moving parts and must be attached to the inner tube and to prevent the tension in the coil tugging at the ends of the optical fibre/s Inner tube 12 slides in and out of the outer tube 9 to form the extendible optical fibre housing. Stops 10 are added to ends of tube to prevent over extension of telescopic mechanism of extender The optical fibre housing is made of sturdy, but flexible, materials to protect the optical fibre/s and also withstand knocks and falls. The outer tube slides along its groove 17 on a clip 14 which attaches to the camera from position A to C Figure G displays an arrow 19, which indicates how the clip fits into the groove.
Finally the Housing for Red- Eye Eliminator Unit 13 covers the components and attaches the unit to the camera neatly.
Variation: In addition to the above description Figure F shows how the Flash outlet 6 expands 18 to diffbse the flash light and to expand the area of coverage This feature may be essential to the process of elimination of red- eye and the R E E.U. has yet to be tested, with and without.
The unit can also be duplicated in design on manufacture to actually hold a flash unit on the extender This would mean practically, that the flash unit, which would be a similar shape and design as a compact camera flash. This would be placed on the end of the extender rather than where the flash is placed on current versions of cameras with inbuilt flash units. The optical fibre would then be replaced by extension wires to connect the camera's circuitry to the flash unit on the end of the extender.
Optional features: Figure H shows how the Flash outlet 6 can be made fully rotatable 16 and swivelable 15, for creative use of flash.
Figure H and I show the variations in design of the flash outlet 6 that can be used.

Claims (1)

  1. Claims I A unit to attach to or within an image-recording device, which
    increases the distance between flash output and the lens using an extender 2 A unit to attach to or within a camera according to claim 1, which comprises a protruding flash extender, which transports light from the camera's flash to an outlet mounted on the extender 3 A flash extender according to claim 1 & 2, which transports light, using reflective materials.
    4 A flash extender according to claim 1, 2 & 3, which transports light, using at least one optical fibre A flash extender according to claim 1, 2, 3 & 4, which extends and retracts telescopically into flash extender housing 6 A flash extender according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, which holds a flash outlet that rotates on a horizontal axis 7 A flash extender according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4,5& 6, which holds a flash outlet that rotates on a vertical axis.
    8 A flash extender according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, which holds a flash outlet that expands to diffuse the flash light and to expand the area of coverage 9 A unit to attach to or within a camera according to claim 1,5,6,7&8, which comprises a protruding extender on which is mounted a flash unit
GB0504089A 2005-02-28 2005-02-28 Red-eye eliminator unit Withdrawn GB2423590A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0504089A GB2423590A (en) 2005-02-28 2005-02-28 Red-eye eliminator unit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0504089A GB2423590A (en) 2005-02-28 2005-02-28 Red-eye eliminator unit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0504089D0 GB0504089D0 (en) 2005-04-06
GB2423590A true GB2423590A (en) 2006-08-30

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GB0504089A Withdrawn GB2423590A (en) 2005-02-28 2005-02-28 Red-eye eliminator unit

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102934023A (en) * 2010-04-26 2013-02-13 沃尔夫冈-彼得·盖勒 System with flashlight and continuous light reflector arm for fixing to photographic apparatus or camera
WO2018044246A1 (en) * 2016-09-02 2018-03-08 Karacor Adem Can Light guide device attachable to imaging devices for use in dental imaging applications

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3927946A (en) * 1968-03-21 1975-12-23 Sperry Rand Corp Ring laser frequency biasing mechanism
US4078170A (en) * 1975-11-06 1978-03-07 Conrad Beebe Sloop Photographic reflector accessory
US4106037A (en) * 1975-12-27 1978-08-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Flash device for use with a camera
US4945368A (en) * 1988-09-10 1990-07-31 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Camera with built-in electronic flash
EP0606624A1 (en) * 1993-01-13 1994-07-20 Eastman Kodak Company Compact camera with automatically extending flip-up flash unit
US5337104A (en) * 1992-11-09 1994-08-09 Smith Neil D Apparatus and method for redirecting camera flash light so as to avoid red-eye
US5708866A (en) * 1996-05-02 1998-01-13 Eastman Kodak Company Camera selects unused flash bulb farthest from taking lens to reduce red-eye effect when camera-to-subject distance within near range

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3927946A (en) * 1968-03-21 1975-12-23 Sperry Rand Corp Ring laser frequency biasing mechanism
US4078170A (en) * 1975-11-06 1978-03-07 Conrad Beebe Sloop Photographic reflector accessory
US4106037A (en) * 1975-12-27 1978-08-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Flash device for use with a camera
US4945368A (en) * 1988-09-10 1990-07-31 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Camera with built-in electronic flash
US5337104A (en) * 1992-11-09 1994-08-09 Smith Neil D Apparatus and method for redirecting camera flash light so as to avoid red-eye
EP0606624A1 (en) * 1993-01-13 1994-07-20 Eastman Kodak Company Compact camera with automatically extending flip-up flash unit
US5708866A (en) * 1996-05-02 1998-01-13 Eastman Kodak Company Camera selects unused flash bulb farthest from taking lens to reduce red-eye effect when camera-to-subject distance within near range

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GIZZMO0411-Chat comment in Canon Gigital Photography forum, page 1 of 2, 5th boxed comment - retrieved from the Internet: URL> http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-51669.html *
Hama Flash/Video Light Bracket-6811, as retailed by 7dayshop.com, advertisement retrieved from the Internet:URL> http://www.7dayshoop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=7551 *
Hama Folding Angle Bracket-6831 as retailed by 7dayshop.com, advertisement retrieved from the Internet:URL> http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7537 *
Reply by Phil Williams on Internet forum on Minolta S304/Tiffen Megaplus 0.75x dated 25/12/2002, retrieved from the Internet: URL> http://www.photosolve.com/bb/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=52 *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102934023A (en) * 2010-04-26 2013-02-13 沃尔夫冈-彼得·盖勒 System with flashlight and continuous light reflector arm for fixing to photographic apparatus or camera
EP2564268B1 (en) * 2010-04-26 2018-07-18 Wolfgang-Peter Geller System with arm for flash light reflector for fixing to a photographic apparatus or a camera
WO2018044246A1 (en) * 2016-09-02 2018-03-08 Karacor Adem Can Light guide device attachable to imaging devices for use in dental imaging applications

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0504089D0 (en) 2005-04-06

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