Wireless Communication System and Method For Photographic Flash Synchronization

Abstract

A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera. An antenna is connected to the camera housing. Wireless functionality within a camera provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and the antenna. The wireless communication can be utilized for actuating one or more remote devices, such as for triggering one or more remote flash devices.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a remote photographic device from a camera, the camera having a wireless communication functionality internal to a housing of the camera, the method comprising:
 receiving within the housing of the camera a first signal related to the control of a remote photographic device, the first signal being in response to a user interface input;   based on the first signal, generating a second signal for RF transmission using the wireless communication functionality;   communicating the second signal for RF transmission via a wired connection to an antenna connected to the housing of the camera; and   wirelessly communicating the second signal for RF transmission from the antenna to the remote photographic device.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising controlling the remote photographic device in response to said wirelessly communicating the second signal. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote photographic device is a flash device. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the first signal is a flash synchronization signal. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving a first signal includes intercepting the first signal as it flows from a camera control to one or more other components of the camera. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving a remote RF signal at the antenna; and   using the remote RF signal to generate within the camera body a second corresponding signal to a camera control of the camera.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a camera control of the camera body to alter the settings of a remote camera using a wireless communication using the antenna. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a wireless communication using the antenna to wirelessly send a message to a remote camera to trigger the remote camera. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a remote photographic flash device from a camera, the camera having a wireless communication functionality internal to a housing of the camera, the method comprising:
 receiving within the camera body a flash synchronization signal, the flash synchronization signal being in response to a user interface input;   based on the flash synchronization signal, generating a signal for RF transmission using the internal wireless communication functionality;   communicating the signal for RF transmission via a wired connection to an antenna connected to the housing of the camera; and   wirelessly communicating the signal for RF transmission from the antenna to the remote photographic flash device.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving a remote RF signal at the antenna; and   using the remote RF signal to generate within the camera body a second corresponding signal to a camera control of the camera.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising controlling the remote photographic flash device in response to said wirelessly communicating the signal for RF transmission. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said receiving a flash synchronization signal includes intercepting the flash synchronization signal as it flows from a camera control to one or more other components of the camera body. 
     
     
         13 . A system for controlling a remote photographic device from a camera, the system comprising:
 a camera housing;   a user interface on the camera;   a wireless communication circuitry internal to the camera housing, the wireless communication circuitry configured to receive a first signal related to the control of a remote photographic device, the first signal being in response to an input from the user interface, the wireless communication circuitry configured to generate a signal for RF transmission based on the first signal; and   an antenna element connected to the camera housing, the wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate the signal for RF transmission to the antenna element for wireless communication to the remote photographic device.   
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes a circuit board having a flex connector for connecting the wireless communication circuitry to other components within the camera body. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes a transceiver chip and a CPU. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a remote photographic lighting device configured to receive the signal for RF transmission. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first signal is a synchronization signal. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a remote device controllable using a signal communicated from the antenna element. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a remote camera controllable using a signal communicated from the antenna element. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the antenna element is removably connected to the camera housing.