US2021333691A1PendingUtilityA1

Lighting system and control thereof

57
Assignee: ROTOLIGHT LTDPriority: Apr 15, 2016Filed: Jul 12, 2021Published: Oct 28, 2021
Est. expiryApr 15, 2036(~9.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Roderick Allen GammonsAndrew FrancisRoderick Aaron Gammons
H04N 23/56G03B 2215/0567G03B 15/05G03B 9/42G03B 7/00G03B 15/04G03B 2215/05H05B 41/325H04N 5/2256
57
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting control device, the device comprising means for receiving a trigger; and means for switching operation of a lighting device from a continuous mode to a flash mode upon receipt of said trigger; wherein said lighting device comprises at least one light emitting diode; and said flash mode is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode. The invention also relates to a lighting system comprising: a lighting device comprising at least one light emitting diode; and a lighting control device; wherein the lighting control device is operable to switch operation of said lighting device between a continuous mode and a flash mode; wherein the flash

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting control device, the device comprising:
 means for receiving a trigger; and   means for switching operation of a lighting device from a continuous mode to a flash mode upon receipt of said trigger wherein said lighting device comprises at least one light emitting diode; and   said flash mode is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode.   
     
     
         2 . A lighting control device according to  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving a trigger comprises a connection to a camera. 
     
     
         3 . A lighting control device according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the means for receiving a trigger comprises a wireless receiver. 
     
     
         4 . A lighting control device according to any of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the means for receiving a trigger comprises an optical sensor adapted to detect a flash. 
     
     
         5 . A lighting control device according to any of  claims 1  to  4  further comprising means for receiving user input. 
     
     
         6 . A lighting control device according to  claim 5  wherein said means for receiving user input comprises a wireless receiver adapted to receive input from a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . A lighting control device according to  claim 5  wherein said means for receiving user input comprises a user interface. 
     
     
         8 . A lighting control device according to any preceding claim comprising means for adjusting the colour of the light of said continuous mode and/or said flash mode. 
     
     
         9 . A lighting control device according to any preceding claim further comprising means for throttling the power to said lighting device in said continuous mode. 
     
     
         10 . A lighting control device according to  claim 9  wherein said means for throttling the power comprises means for modulating the power. 
     
     
         11 . A lighting control device according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein said means for modulating comprises means for pulse width modulation. 
     
     
         12 . A lighting control device according to claim any of  claims 9  to  11  wherein said modulation is current-mode modulation. 
     
     
         13 . A lighting control device according to any preceding claim further comprising means for determining an appropriate flash duration. 
     
     
         14 . A lighting control device according to  claim 13  wherein the appropriate flash duration is determined in dependence on the time elapsed since a previous flash trigger was received. 
     
     
         15 . A lighting control device according to any preceding claim wherein said means for switching operation is adapted to switch to said flash mode for substantially the duration that a camera's shutter is open. 
     
     
         16 . A lighting system comprising:
 a lighting device comprising at least one light emitting diode; and   a lighting control device;   wherein the lighting control device is operable to switch operation of said lighting device between a continuous mode and a flash mode;   wherein the flash mode is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode.   
     
     
         17 . A lighting system according to  claim 16  wherein said lighting control device is a lighting control device according to any of  claims 1  to  15 . 
     
     
         18 . A lighting system according to  claim 16  or  17  being for flash photography. 
     
     
         19 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  18  further comprising means for receiving user input, preferably via a user interface. 
     
     
         20 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  19  comprising means for adjusting the colour of the light of said continuous mode and/or said flash mode. 
     
     
         21 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  20  comprising means for adjusting the duration and/or power of said flash mode. 
     
     
         22 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  21  wherein said flash mode is a higher power mode than said continuous mode. 
     
     
         23 . A lighting system according to  claim 22  wherein said flash mode is 100% to 1,000% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         24 . A lighting system according to  claim 22  wherein said flash mode is 200% to 400% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         25 . A lighting system according to  claim 22  wherein said flash mode is 300% to 400% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         26 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  25  claim wherein said continuous power mode and said flash mode use the same light emitting element. 
     
     
         27 . A lighting system according to  claim 26  wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises light emitting diodes of differing colours. 
     
     
         28 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  27  further comprising a power supply. 
     
     
         29 . A lighting system according to  claim 28  wherein said power source comprises a battery. 
     
     
         30 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  29  further comprising means for determining an appropriate flash duration. 
     
     
         31 . A lighting control device according to  claim 30  wherein the appropriate flash duration is determined in dependence on the time elapsed since a previous flash trigger was received. 
     
     
         32 . A lighting system according to any of  claims 16  to  31  wherein the lighting control device is operable to switch operation to said flash mode for substantially the duration that a camera's shutter is open. 
     
     
         33 . A method of controlling a lighting device comprising at least one light emitting diode, the method comprising:
 powering a lighting device in a continuous mode;   receiving a trigger;   powering said lighting device so as to emit a flash upon receipt of said trigger wherein the flash is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode.   
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein the step of powering a lighting device in a continuous mode comprises throttling the power so as to dim the lighting device. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein said throttling comprises modulating the power to the lighting device. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 35  wherein the modulating comprises pulse width modulation. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 35  or  36  wherein said modulation is current-mode modulation. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to any of  claims 34  to  37  wherein the step of powering said lighting device so as to emit a flash comprises reducing said throttling. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claims 33  to  38  wherein said flash mode is a higher power mode than said continuous mode. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein said flash mode is 100% to 400% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein said flash mode is 200% to 400% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein said flash mode is 300% to 400% of the power of said continuous mode. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  42  wherein the step of receiving a trigger comprises receiving a trigger from a camera. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  43  wherein the step of receiving a trigger comprises wirelessly receiving a trigger. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  44  wherein the step of for receiving a trigger comprises detecting a flash. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  45  wherein said flash has a duration of between 1 ms and 100 ms 
     
     
         47 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  45  wherein said flash has a duration of between 1 ms and 50 ms. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  47  further comprising delaying the emission of said flash following receipt of said trigger. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 48  wherein said delay is between 1 ms and 999 ms. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  47  further comprising the step of returning to said continuous mode following said flash. 
     
     
         51 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  50  further comprising the step of determining an appropriate flash duration. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 51  wherein the appropriate flash duration is determined in dependence on the time elapsed since a previous flash trigger was received. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to any of  claims 33  to  52  wherein the step of powering said lighting device so as to emit a flash upon receipt occurs for substantially the duration that a camera's shutter is open. 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 1  to  32  further adapted to carry out the method of any of  claims 33  to  53 . 
     
     
         55 . A computer program product comprising software code adapted to carry out the method of any of  claims 33  to  53 . 
     
     
         56 . A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures. 
     
     
         57 . A computing device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 
     
     
         58 . A lighting device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 
     
     
         60 . A system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 
     
     
         61 . A computer program product substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures

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