Flash Control Circuit Drawing Voltage from Generators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control circuits for flash devices require additional power supply units or voltage sources, leading to complexity and potential non-readiness due to battery discharge when not used for a long time, and must be adapted to specific configurations of power supply units, storage elements, and flash heads.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit that draws its supply voltage from the flash generators, using switching means connected to multiple outputs to ensure voltage supply without additional power sources, with current-limiting resistors and diodes to prevent erroneous activations and overvoltage protection, allowing universal usability across varying flash generator configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional power supply units or voltage sources are used to supply the control circuit, then the control circuit can operate independently, but the device complexity increases and portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit draws its operating voltage directly from the flash generators through switching means connected to the flash control inputs. The flash generator's internal voltage source serves the dual purpose of both triggering the flash and powering the control circuit, eliminating the need for separate power supply units or batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to be universally compatible with different flash generator configurations by connecting to the existing control inputs. The same control inputs that receive trigger signals also provide the voltage supply, allowing the control circuit to work with various flash systems without requiring specific power supply adaptations.
2Ease of operation
If batteries or accumulators are used to power the control circuit, then the control circuit can be portable, but automatic discharge occurs during storage making the system non-ready for use
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using batteries or accumulators that suffer from automatic discharge during storage, the control circuit obtains its power directly from the flash generator's internal voltage source. This eliminates the self-discharge problem entirely, as no energy storage elements are used in the control circuit.
3Ease of manufacture
If the control circuit is adapted to specific configurations of power supply units, storage elements, and flash heads, then the control circuit can be optimized for particular systems, but the adaptability to different configurations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit utilizes the existing control inputs of the flash generators, which are designed to accept trigger signals. By drawing voltage from these same control inputs through switching means, the control circuit achieves universal compatibility with different flash generator configurations without requiring specific power supply adaptations, while still enabling optimized control of the connected flash devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A control circuit responsive to a flash activating signal of a camera for the synchronous or alternate activation of at least two flash devices is disclosed. Each flash device includes a flash generator including a voltage source and at least one flash unit. An input of the control circuit is adapted to couple with the camera and receive the flash activating signal. Outputs of the control circuit are adapted to electrically couple to control inputs of the flash generators. The control circuit includes a switching device adapted to drawn a supply voltage for the control circuit from the respective voltage sources in the flash generators.