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US 7,606,480 B2Granted
Photographic illuminating device and camera
AssigneeNikon Corporation
InventorZhaoxiang Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photographic illuminating device comprises a discharge-controlled illumination unit that emits illuminating light in response to a light emission instruction, a current-controlled illumination unit that emits illuminating light in response to a light emission instruction, a high voltage circuit that generates a high voltage needed for discharge light emission at the discharge-controlled illumination unit and a current control circuit that supplies to the current-controlled illumination unit a current needed for light emission at the current-controlled illumination unit by using the high voltage generated at the high voltage circuit.
Claims32
A photographic illuminating device, comprising:
- a high voltage generating circuit that includes an input side and an output side, raises a voltage provided at the input side by a battery, and outputs a high voltage from the output side;
- a discharge-controlled illumination unit that is electrically connected to the output side of the high voltage generating circuit, is driven with the high voltage output from the high voltage generating circuit and emits illuminating light in response to a light emission instruction;
- a current-controlled illumination unit that is electrically connected to the output side of the high voltage generating circuit, is applied with the high voltage output from the high voltage generating circuit and emits illuminating light in response to a light emission instruction;
- a mode selecting unit configured to be electrically connected to the discharge-controlled illumination unit and the current-controlled illumination unit and to select one of a first light emission mode in which the illuminating light emitted by the discharge-controlled illumination unit is used as illuminating light for photographing, and a second light emission mode in which the illuminating light emitted by the current-controlled illumination unit is used as illuminating light for photographing, the illuminating light for photographing controlling a brightness of a subject to be photographed;
- and
- a current control circuit that supplies a current needed for light emission at the current-controlled illumination unit by using the high voltage output from the high voltage generating circuit to the current-controlled illumination unit when the second light emission mode is selected by the mode selecting unit,
- wherein the high voltage generating circuit is commonly used by the discharge-controlled illumination unit and the current-controlled illumination unit.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage generating circuit including an input side and an output side, and raising a voltage provided at the input side, by a battery to output a raised voltage from the output side;
- a discharge-controlled light emission unit electrically connected to the output side of the voltage generating circuit, using the raised voltage and emitting a first illuminating light controlling a brightness of a subject being photographed;
- and
- a current-controlled light emission unit electrically connected to the voltage generating circuit in parallel with the discharge-control light emission unit, using the raised voltage and emitting a second illuminating light controlling the brightness of the subject being photographed,
- so that the raised voltage output from the voltage generating circuit is used by both the discharge-controlled light emission unit and the current-controlled light emission unit.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage generating circuit including an input and an output side, and raising a voltage provided at the input side by a battery to output a raised voltage from the output side;
- a capacitor electrically connected to the output side of the voltage generating circuit, charged with the raised voltage and storing energy;
- a discharge-controlled light emission unit electrically connected to the capacitor, using the energy stored in the capacitor and emitting a first illuminating light controlling a brightness of a subject being photographed;
- and
- a current-controlled light emission unit electrically connected to the capacitor, using the energy stored in the capacitor and emitting a second illuminating light controlling the brightness of the subject being photographed,
- so that the energy stored in the capacitor is used by both the discharge-controlled light emission unit and the current-controlled light emission unit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.