Patent ID: 6353711
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A flash control system for remotely controlling an external flash device by a camera associated with said external flash device, said system comprising:a first calculator, incorporated in said camera, that calculates a first exposure factor for determining an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from a built-in flash device of said camera; a second calculator, incorporated in said camera, that calculates a-second exposure factor for determining an amount of a flash-light to be emitted from said external flash device; a total amount of both the flash-light emissions of said built-in and external flash devices corresponding to a proper exposure with which an object should be photographed by said camera; a light signal source, incorporated in said camera, that emits a light signal; a light signal controller, incorporated in said camera, that controls said light signal source to emit at least two light signals therefrom at a time interval such that said second exposure factor is represented by said time interval between said at least two light signals; a light signal detector, incorporated in said external flash device, that detects said at least two light signals emitted from said light signal source; and a flash-light emission controller, incorporated in said external flash device, that controls an amount of the flash-light emission of said external flash device in accordance with said time interval between said at least two light signals such that the amount of the flash-light emission of said external flash device coincides with said second exposure factor.