Camera Flash Housing with Sliding Actuator Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intermediate signal transmission units for wireless communication between cameras and remote flash devices are complex and require users to visually operate buttons, which can be inconvenient and prone to accidental activation.

Innovation Solution

A housing design for an intermediate signal transmission unit that allows control of switches through a simple relative movement of two housing parts, eliminating the need for external buttons and enabling operation without looking at the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external buttons are provided on the intermediate signal transmission unit, then the device is easier to operate, but the device becomes more prone to accidental activation and requires visual attention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidaccidental activation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control functionality is extracted from external buttons and integrated into the housing structure itself. The first housing part is made displaceable relative to the second housing part, and this displacement directly actuates switches through integrated actuators, eliminating the need for separate external buttons that could be accidentally activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The control mechanism is merged with the housing structure. The displaceable first housing part incorporates actuators that directly control switches, combining the housing with the control function into a single integrated system rather than having separate control elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If external buttons are provided on the intermediate signal transmission unit, then the device structure becomes simpler, but the device requires visual attention for operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The displacement of the first housing part serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user's manual operation and the switch activation. This intermediary mechanical linkage allows control without visual attention while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the first housing part is made displaceable to control switches, then accidental button presses are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccidental activationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism is merged with the housing structure. The displaceable first housing part incorporates actuators that directly control switches, combining the housing with the control function into a single integrated system rather than having separate control elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control functionality is extracted from external buttons and integrated into the housing structure itself. The first housing part is made displaceable relative to the second housing part, and this displacement directly actuates switches through integrated actuators, eliminating the need for separate external buttons that could be accidentally activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If the housing is designed with cylindrical shape and rotational movement, then the operation becomes more intuitive without visual attention, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with cylindrical shape, providing a curved, ergonomic form that is intuitive to grasp and rotate. This curved geometry facilitates operation without visual attention while the modular housing design keeps manufacturing manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3918418B1A housing for an intermediate signal transmission unit and an intermediate signal transmission unit
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 PROFOTO AB
  • EP3918418B1 patent drawingFigure 1~10
  • EP3918418B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~4b
  • EP3918418B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6

AI summary

A housing (30) for an intermediate signal transmission unit for wireless communication between a camera and a remote flash device, the housing comprising connected first and second housing parts (40, 50). The second housing part accommodates signal transmission components (12) of the intermediate signal transmission unit and comprises a connector (60), connecting the housing to a camera. The first housing part (40) is displaceable in relation to the second housing part (50), and comprises at least one actuator (41) configured to control at least one switch (70; 71), said switch being part of the signal transmission components (12) and located in the second housing part (50). The at least one actuator (41) is movable in relation to the second housing part (50), comprising a first position in which the actuator can control the switch (70; 71) to be in a first state, and a second position in which the actuator can control the switch to be in a second state, by means of displacing the first housing part (40) and the actuator (41) in relation to the second housing part (50).