Multiple flash lamp unit

A multiple flash lamp unit for alleviating red-eye photographic results comprising, in a given orientation, an upper group of photoflash lamps and a lower group of photoflash lamps, all of the lamps of the upper group being located above all of the lamps of the lower group, an upper connector means and a lower connector means, first means coupling said upper connector means to each lamp of said lower group of lamps, and second means coupling said lower connector means to each lamp of said upper group of lamps, each of said coupling means enabling flashing of the lamps in the group coupled thereto in response to flash actuation signals applied to its associated connector means.

A flash lamp unit of elongated shape having first and second oppositely disposed ends, said unit being provided with first connector means at said first end thereof and second connector means at said second end thereof, a first group of flash lamps positioned in a first section of said unit relatively nearer to said first end thereof, a second group of flash lamps positioned in a second section of said unit relatively nearer to said second end thereof, first coupling means coupling said first connector means to said second group of lamps and enabling flashing of the latter in response to flash actuation signals applied to said first connector means, and second coupling means coupling said second connector means to said first group of lamps and enabling flashing of the latter in response to flash actuation signals applied to said second connector means, said first section of the unit functioning as a flash extender for said second group of lamps and said second section of the unit functioning as a flash extender for said first group of lamps.

A flash lamp unit of generally rectangular body configuration having first and second oppositely disposed end surfaces, said unit being provided with first and second connector means respectively at said first and second end surfaces, a first group of flash lamps positioned in a first section of said unit relatively nearer to said first end surface thereof, a second group of flash lamps positioned in a second section of said unit relatively nearer to said second end surface thereof, first coupling means coupling said first connector means to said second group of lamps and enabling flashing of the latter in response to flash actuation signals applied to said first connector means, and second coupling means coupling said second connector means to said first group of lamps and enabling flashing of the latter in response to flash actuation signals applied to said second connector means.

A circuit board for a planar flash array, comprising an elongated circuit board member having first and second integral connector tabs respectively at the ends thereof, a first group of pairs of flash lamp connection areas carried on said circuit board on a first half thereof that is nearest said first connector tab, a second group of pairs of flash lamp connection areas carried on said circuit board on a second half thereof that is nearest said second connector tab, a first group of circuit runs on said circuit board beginning on said first connector tab and extending to said second half of the circuit board, circuitry carried on said second half of the circuit board for connecting said first group of circuit runs to said second group of pairs of lamp connection areas, and a second group of circuit runs on said circuit board beginning on said second connector tab and extending to said first half of the circuit board, and circuitry carried on said first half of the circuit board for connecting said second group of circuit runs to said first group of pairs of lamp connection areas.