Accessory Strobe Interface Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices lack effective external strobe accessories that can synchronize with internal strobes for low-latency timing, limiting their ability to provide additional illumination for photography, especially in professional photography scenarios.
Innovation Solution
An accessory strobe device that mirrors the output of an internal strobe by receiving a strobe control signal through a single data pin, allowing it to determine the timing and duration of illumination based on the internal strobe's pulses, ensuring synchronized and relative intensity matching with the internal strobe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If external strobe accessories are provided for mobile devices, then additional illumination capability is improved, but synchronization timing with internal strobe deteriorates due to connector latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the data and power functions into a single connector interface. The data pin within this unified connector carries both data signals for strobe control and power signals for accessory供电, eliminating the need for separate connectors and reducing timing latency while maintaining synchronization between internal and external strobes
Solution Approach 2:
The single data pin is designed to serve multiple functions: transmitting strobe control signals, providing power delivery, and enabling communication protocols. This multi-functional approach allows external accessories to receive precise timing signals while being powered through the same interface, resolving the contradiction between additional capability and timing precision
2Device complexity
If a single data pin is used for strobe control signal, then device complexity is reduced, but signal functionality deteriorates due to limited pins
Solution Approach 1:
The data pin is designed as a multi-functional interface that can transmit different types of signals based on the connected accessory. It can carry strobe control signals, power delivery signals, and various data protocols, allowing a single pin to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated pins or connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The signal characteristics of the data pin are dynamically configurable. The system can switch between different signal modes (strobe control, power delivery, data communication) based on the connected accessory type, enabling the single pin to adapt to different functionality requirements without physical reconfiguration
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory strobe device for a mobile device may operate to provide illumination at the same time as an internal built-in strobe (flash) of the mobile device. The accessory strobe device may receive a single, unidirectional signal from the mobile device that provides signals related to the timing of the internal strobe. The accessory strobe device may process the received signal to control its illumination using the timing and relative intensity levels of the internal strobe during metering and main (normal) flash operations associated with a camera on the mobile device. With the accessory strobe device operating using timing and relative intensity levels in a predetermined relationship with the timing and relative intensity levels of the internal strobe, the accessory strobe device may be used to complement the internal strobe during the metering and main (normal) flash operations for the camera.