Camera Strobe Communication Segmentation for Continuous Shooting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing image capturing apparatuses face limitations in continuous shooting speed due to the time-consuming light control process for determining the light amount of main emission, which restricts the frequency of image capturing and cannot effectively respond to changes in the image capturing environment during high-speed continuous shooting.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus communicates information differently for preliminary and main light emission by dividing it into two communication processes, one before and one after preliminary light emission, to optimize communication efficiency and reduce processing time, allowing for higher continuous shooting speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the light control process is executed for calculating light amount of main emission whenever an image is captured during continuous shooting, then the light amount can respond to changes in image capturing environment, but the continuous shooting speed is limited due to the time-consuming process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight amount response to environment changesVSAvoidcontinuous shooting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication process is divided into two segments: first communication processing that transmits only essential information (shooting mode, focal length, aperture) before preliminary light emission, and second communication processing that transmits detailed information (light amount, emission timing) after preliminary light emission. This segmentation reduces the time-critical communication overhead while maintaining environmental adaptability through the second phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary light emission before the main light emission, using this opportunity to conduct part of the communication processing. By transmitting essential information before the preliminary flash and completing remaining communications after, the system prepares light control parameters in advance, reducing the processing time during the actual shooting sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If strobe zoom driving is fixed and inhibited during continuous shooting to increase shooting speed, then continuous shooting speed improves, but the light control process cannot respond to environment changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous shooting speedVSAvoidlight control response to environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication protocol is designed to be dynamic, switching between two modes: a fast mode transmitting only essential parameters before preliminary light emission, and a complete mode transmitting all necessary information after preliminary light emission. This dynamic communication strategy allows the system to maintain high shooting speeds while still providing environmental adaptability when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If all communication information is transmitted before preliminary light emission, then complete light control information is available, but communication time increases and limits continuous shooting speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight control information completenessVSAvoidcommunication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Communication information is segmented into two groups: critical information (shooting mode, focal length, aperture) transmitted before preliminary light emission to enable basic light control, and supplementary information (precise light amount, emission timing) transmitted after preliminary light emission. This segmentation ensures reliability of essential control while minimizing communication time overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The communication process continues across two phases rather than being completed in one block. The first phase establishes basic light control parameters before the preliminary flash, and the second phase refines these parameters after the preliminary flash. This continuous approach maintains information completeness while utilizing the time during and after preliminary emission for additional communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11825208B2Image capturing apparatus capable of continuous shooting, lighting device, and methods of controlling them

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 CANON KK

AI summary

An image capturing apparatus communicates with a strobe device used for image capturing and acquires preliminary light emission result information performed by the strobe device. A light control process for determining a light amount of main emission by the strobe device for main image capturing is executed based on the acquired preliminary light emission result information. In a case where an image capturing frequency for repeating image capturing is higher than a threshold value, information which is different from information on the light amount of main emission and is used for settings of preliminary light emission or main light emission is communicated by dividing the information into information acquired by a first communication processing before preliminary light emission and information communicated by a second communication processing after preliminary light emission.