Method for Controlling Flash Timing of Extension Flash Module

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for controlling flash timing of an extension flash module cooperating with a mobile device to provide supplemental light. The method includes: detecting a specific event before a flashable time period, wherein the flashable time is a period from the time at which a last photo sensor row of a specific frame begins exposure to the time at which a first photo sensor row in the specific frame ends exposure, wherein the time period from when the specific event occurs to a flashable time in the flashable time period has a fixed length of time; and triggering a flash instruction after a delay time from when the specific event occurs, such that the flash timing of the extension flash module is in the flashable time period.

1 . A method for controlling flash timing of an extension flash module cooperating with a mobile device to provide supplemental light when the mobile device having an image retrieval device is taking a photo, the image retrieval device including pixels arranged in rows, the method comprising:
 detecting a specific event before a flashable time period, wherein the flashable time period is a period from the time at which a last row in a specific frame begins exposure to the time at which a first row in the specific frame ends exposure, wherein the time period from when the specific event occurs to a flashable time in the flashable time period has a fixed length of time; and   informing the extension flash module the occurrence of the specific event, so that the extension flash module triggers a flash instruction after a delay time from when the specific event occurs, such that the flash timing of the extension flash module is in the flashable time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delay time is determined according to a flash delay time and the time period from when the specific event occurs to the flashable time in the flashable time period, wherein the flash delay time is a period from the time at which the extension flash module starts to execute the flash instruction to the time at which the extension flash module actually flashes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the time at which the specific event occurs is t0, the time at which the last row in the specific frame begins exposure is t1, and the time at which the first row in the specific frame ends exposure is t2, and wherein the delay time which begins at t0 has a duration of td1, and the flash delay time has a duration of td, wherein an initial time point of the duration of td is the time at which the extension flash module starts to execute the flash instruction, then the following relationship is fulfilled: (t1−td−t0)<td1<(t2−td−t0). 
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delay time is pre-stored in a driver program of the extension flash module or an application program of the mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delay time is stored in a memory device included in the extension flash module. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific event includes:
 the time at which one of the rows of the pixels in the specific frame begins exposure;   the time at which one of the rows of the pixels in the previous Nth frame prior to the specific frame begins exposure; or   the time at which one of the rows of the pixels in the previous Nth frame prior to the specific frame ends exposure;   wherein N is a natural number.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling flash timing of an extension flash module cooperating with a mobile device to provide supplemental light when the mobile device having an image retrieval device is taking a photo, the image retrieval device including pixels arranged in rows, the method comprising:
 sensing a light emitting time point at which the mobile device emits light; and   triggering a flash instruction after a delay time from the light emitting time point at which the mobile device emits light, such that the flash timing of the extension flash module is in a flashable time period;   wherein the flashable time period is a period from the time at which a last row in a specific frame begins exposure to the time at which a first row in the specific frame ends exposure.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the light emitting time point is: a time point at which a built-in light emitting diode (LED) supplement lamp of the mobile device begins to emit light for the first time or a time point at which the built-in LED supplement lamp begins to emit light for the second time. 
     
     
         12 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the delay time is pre-stored in a driver program of the extension flash module or an application program of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the delay time is stored in a memory device included in the extension flash module. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling flash timing of an extension flash module cooperating with a mobile device to provide supplemental light when the mobile device having an image retrieval device is taking a photo, the image retrieval device including pixels arranged in rows, the method comprising:
 detecting a specific event before a flashable time period by receiving information of an occurrence of the specific event from the mobile device by the extension flash module, wherein the flashable time period is a period from the time at which a last row in a specific frame begins exposure to the time at which a first row in the specific frame ends exposure, wherein the time period from when the specific event occurs to a flashable time in the flashable time period has a fixed length of time; and   triggering a flash instruction so that the extension flash module flashes during the flashable time period according to a flash delay time and the period from the specific event to the flashable time, wherein the flash delay time is a period from the time at which the extension flash module starts to execute the flash instruction to the time at which the extension flash module actually flashes.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the specific event comprises the time at which the first row in the specific frame begins exposure, and the fixed length of time is the period from the time at which the first row begins exposure to the time at which the last row begins exposure. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the specific event comprises the time at which a K th  row in the specific frame begins exposure, and the fixed length of time is the period from the time at which the K th  row begins exposure to the time at which the last row begins exposure, N and K both being natural numbers. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the specific event comprises the time at which the K th  row in a previous Nth frame prior to the specific frame begins exposure, and the fixed length of time is N frame times plus the period from the time at which the K th  row begins exposure to the time at which the last row begins exposure, N and K being natural numbers. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the specific event comprises the time at which the K th  row in a previous Nth frame prior to the specific frame ends exposure, and the fixed length of time is N or N−1 frame times plus the period from the time at which the K th  row begins exposure to the time at which the last row begins exposure, N and K being natural numbers. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the specific event comprises the time at which a built-in LED of the mobile device begins lighting for a first time after a user presses a shutter or the time at which a built-in LED of the mobile device begins lighting for a second time after a user presses a shutter,
 wherein the extension flash module comprises a photometry module, and   wherein when the photometry module in the extension flash module detects light from the built-in LED, the extension flash module triggers a flash instruction according to a flash delay time and the period from the time at which the built-in LED begins lighting for the first time or for the second time to the flashable time in the flashable time period, so that the extension flash module flashes during the flashable time period, wherein the flash delay time is a period from the time at which the extension flash module starts to execute the flash instruction to the time at which the extension flash module actually flashes.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein an error of the fixed length of time is smaller than half of the flashable time period. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: sensing the light emitting time point at which the mobile device emits light, by a photometry module of the extension flash module.