US2014099091A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods and Apparatus for Flash Intensity Value Management Based on a TTL Value

53
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 5, 2010Filed: Sep 23, 2013Published: Apr 10, 2014
Est. expiryAug 5, 2030(~4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kevin James King
G03B 15/05G03B 15/02G03B 15/07G03B 2215/0557
53
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Claims

Abstract

Methods for providing a flash management feature (“FMF”) in a camera system include obtaining a flash intensity value calculated for a flash device by a camera, saving the calculated flash intensity value in memory, accepting a user-provided adjustment of the calculated value, saving the adjusted flash intensity value in a memory, and providing, when the camera transmits the calculated value to the flash device for use during image acquisition, the adjusted value to the flash device instead of the calculated value. A communication device to provide a FMF includes a microprocessor configured to obtain a calculated flash intensity value from a camera, a memory, and a user interface configured to display and allow a user to adjust the calculated value. The microprocessor stores the adjusted flash intensity value in memory, and signals the flash device to emit light at the adjusted value during image acquisition by the camera.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What may be claimed may be: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining, subsequent to a pre-flash emission of a flash device, a calculated flash intensity value, the a calculated flash intensity value calculated by a camera and based on exposure data gathered by a light metering system employed by a camera;   storing the calculated flash intensity value in a memory; and   displaying, via a user interface associated with a camera system, a representation of the a calculated flash intensity value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accepting from a user via a control an adjustment to the a calculated flash intensity value,   storing in a memory the adjusted flash intensity value.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 updating the representation of the a calculated flash intensity value on the a user interface to a representation of the adjusted flash intensity value.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 signaling a flash device to emit light at the adjusted flash intensity value during a subsequent picture taking operation of the camera.   
     
     
         5 . A communication device for use with a camera system having a camera and a flash device, in which the camera is configured to gather exposure data associated with a pre-flash emission of a flash device, calculate therefrom a flash intensity value, and signal the flash device to emit light at the calculated flash intensity during subsequent image acquisition by the camera, the communication device comprising:
 a microprocessor adapted to obtain an at least first calculated flash intensity value from the camera;   a memory operably coupled to the microprocessor configured to store the calculated flash intensity value obtained from the camera; and   a user interface configured to:   display a representation of the calculated flash intensity value.   
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the a microprocessor adapted to obtain a calculated flash intensity value from the camera obtains the a calculated flash intensity value via a hotshoe connector of the camera.   
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a control configured to accept from a user an adjustment to a calculated flash intensity value; and   a memory operably coupled to the microprocessor configured to store the adjusted flash intensity value.   
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 7 , further configured to:
 in response to the camera signaling for flash emission associated with a picture taking operation of the camera, signaling a flash device to emit light at the adjusted flash intensity value.   
     
     
         9 . The communication device of  claim 7 , further configured to:
 prior to obtaining a calculated flash intensity value from the camera, signaling to the camera that a flash device attached to the camera is in a mode so as to illicit the camera to carry out a pre-flash emission of a flash device during a subsequent operation of a camera.   
     
     
         10 . The communication device of  claim 9 , further configured to:
 subsequent to obtaining a calculated flash intensity value from the camera, signaling to the camera that a flash device attached to the camera is in a mode so as to not illicit the camera to carry out a pre-flash emission of a flash device during a subsequent operation of a camera.   
     
     
         11 . The communication device of  claim 7 , further configured to:
 prior to obtaining a calculated flash intensity value from the camera, signaling to the camera that a flash device attached to the camera is in ETTL mode.   
     
     
         12 . The communication device of  claim 11 , further configured to:
 subsequent to obtaining a calculated flash intensity value from the camera, signaling to the camera that a flash device attached to the camera is in Manual mode.   
     
     
         13 . The communication device of  claim 9 , further configured to:
 subsequent to obtaining a calculated flash intensity value from the camera, if an adjustment to the a calculated flash intensity value is not made, subsequently signaling to the camera that a flash device attached to the camera is still in a mode so as to illicit the camera to carry out a pre-flash emission of a flash device during a subsequent operation of a camera.   
     
     
         14 . The communication device of  claim 13 , further configured to:
 subsequent to obtaining an at least second calculated flash intensity value associated with an at least subsequent pre-flash emission of a flash device, updating a user interface to display a representation of the at least second calculated flash intensity value.   
     
     
         15 . The communication device of  claim 14 , further configured to:
 prior to accepting an adjustment to a calculated flash intensity value, in response to the camera signaling for flash emission associated with a picture taking operation of the camera, signaling a flash device to emit light at the calculated flash intensity value; and   subsequent to accepting an adjustment to a calculated flash intensity value, in response to the camera signaling for flash emission associated with a picture taking operation of the camera, signaling a flash device to emit light at the adjusted flash intensity value.   
     
     
         16 . A camera for use with a flash device, the camera comprising:
 a light meter configured to gather exposure data related to a photographic subject associated with a pre-flash emission of a flash device;   a microprocessor configured to calculate, based on the gathered exposure data, a first flash intensity value for the flash device; and   a display configured to:   display a representation of the a first flash intensity value.   
     
     
         17 . The camera of  claim 16 , wherein the representation of the a first flash intensity value is a numerical representation. 
     
     
         18 . The camera of  claim 16 , wherein the representation of the a first flash intensity value is a graphical representation. 
     
     
         19 . The camera of  claim 16 , wherein the camera further comprises:
 a control configured to adjust the a first flash intensity value, and   wherein the a microprocessor of the camera is configured to store the adjusted flash intensity value in a memory operably coupled to the a microprocessor of the camera.   
     
     
         20 . The camera of  claim 19 , wherein the microprocessor of the camera is further configured to:
 signal a flash device, during subsequent image acquisition by the camera, to emit light at the adjusted flash intensity value.

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