Flash Housing Zoom Element Beam Angle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flash housings lack the ability to easily and accurately adjust the flash light beam angle, which is crucial for capturing high-quality photographs, as they often require complex adjustments and do not allow for intuitive control of the beam shape and size.

Innovation Solution

A flash housing with a zoom element rotatably arranged along the circumference of a lens element, allowing manual rotation to control the movement of the flash forming element, thereby adjusting the flash light beam angle, and incorporating a simulation light generator element to aid in fine-tuning settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional flash housing is used, then the device structure is simple, but the beam angle adjustment is difficult and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam angle adjustmentVSAvoidcontrol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flash forming element is made movable along the optical axis through a linkage mechanism connected to the zoom element, allowing dynamic adjustment of the beam angle. The movable carrier holds the flash tube and reflector assembly, enabling it to shift position and change the direction of the flash beam accordingly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A linkage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the zoom element and the flash forming element. This linkage translates the rotational movement of the zoom element into linear movement of the flash forming element along the optical axis, enabling indirect but precise control of the beam angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the flash housing size is reduced, then the device becomes more compact, but the rotational control diameter is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational controlVSAvoidflash housing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism utilizes the circumferential dimension of the lens element by arranging the zoom element to rotate along its circumference. This allows a large rotational control diameter to be achieved within the limited radial space of the flash housing, as the rotation occurs in a plane parallel to the housing opening rather than requiring radial extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If manual adjustment is used, then the device is simple, but the adjustment speed is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidcontrol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical linkage system is supplemented by an electrical drive mechanism. A motor can be coupled to the linkage mechanism to automatically adjust the flash forming element position, replacing manual operation with electrical control for faster and more precise beam angle adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3685227B1A flash housing and a method for controlling a flash light by manual rotation of a zoom element
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 PROFOTO AB
  • EP3685227B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3685227B1 patent drawingFigure 2~9
  • EP3685227B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a flash housing for photographic purposes and method for controlling a flash light. The flash housing comprises a flash forming element (10) arranged to generate a flash light. The flash housing further comprises a lens element (3) having a substantially circular cross-section and being arranged to let at least part of the generated flash light out of the flash housing so as to obtain the flash. The flash housing further comprises a zoom element (21) rotatably arranged at least partly along the circumference of the lens element. The zoom element is operatively connected to the flash forming element so as to control movement of the flash forming element by manual rotation of the zoom element.