Abstract:
A digital camera is built having a still mode and a video mode. The camera is configured to control two different light sources. When the camera is in still mode, it is configured to fire a strobe during capture of the image. When the camera is in video mode, it is configured to turn on a continuous light source during capture of the video. These two different light sources may be combined into a single unit or may exist as separate devices. In video mode, a partial depress of the shutter control may turn on the continuous light source prior to exposure, allowing the light source to stabilize before video capture begins.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is related to application Ser. No.______ entitled, “Combination LED and Strobe Lighting Device,” filed on or about the same date as the present application, and hereby incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser. No.______ discloses and claims a device including both a strobe tube and at least one LED configured to switch between the strobe and the LED based on a mode of operation. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of photography and more specifically to the field of lighting of photographic subjects for still and video imaging.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many modern digital cameras include both a still photography mode and a video mode. In the video mode, short moving video clips are captured by the digital camera. These video clips may range in length from a few seconds to several minutes. The lighting requirements for these two modes of operation are significantly different. In digital still cameras a very bright flash for scene illumination is often desired so that high shutter speeds can be used to stop and freeze any motion in the scene being captured. In video mode, a more uniform constant light source is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A digital camera is built having a still mode and a video mode. The camera is configured to control two different light sources. When the camera is in still mode, it is configured to fire a strobe during capture of the image. When the camera is in video mode, it is configured to turn on a continuous light source during capture of the video. These two different light sources may be combined into a single unit or may exist as separate devices. In video mode, a partial depress of the shutter control may turn on the continuous light source prior to exposure, allowing the light source to stabilize before video capture begins.  
         [0005]     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is front view of an example embodiment of a digital camera including a lighting control output according to the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is front view of an example embodiment of a digital camera including a lighting control output and attached to an off-camera flash according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device including two LEDs, a strobe, and a single reflector.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device including one LED, a strobe, and two reflectors. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is front view of an example embodiment of a digital camera including a lighting control output according to the present invention. An example embodiment of a camera  100  constructed according to the present invention may include a camera body  102 , a lens  106 , a flash  104 , an external viewfinder window  108 , a shutter release  110 , and a control  112 . In an example embodiment of the present invention, the control  112  may be used to select a mode of the digital camera. These modes may include a still photo mode and a video mode. This example embodiment of the present invention also includes two lighting control outputs. A first output  114  outputs a first signal that is used to fire an off-camera flash when the camera is in still mode. A second output  116  outputs a second signal that is used to activate an off-camera continuous light when the camera is in video mode. In some example embodiments of the present invention, when the shutter release  110  is partially depressed, the camera is configured to send a signal to the second output  116  activating the continuous light before the shutter release  110  is fully depressed, starting the video capture. This allows the continuous light some time to turn on and stabilize before video capture begins. As with all digital cameras, this example embodiment of the present invention includes a circuit  118  electrically connected to the shutter release  110 , configured to generate the first and second signals, and electrically connected to the first output  114  and the second output  116 . This circuit  118  includes a means for detecting when the shutter release  110  is depressed. In some example embodiments of the present invention, the circuit  118  may also be configured to detect when the shutter release  110  is partially depressed. Note that the digital camera  100  in this example embodiment of the present invention includes a built-in flash  104  or other means for creating a flash of light. In some embodiments of the present invention, this built-in flash  104  may be used in still mode instead of triggering an external flash. However, some embodiments may allow the user to select between firing the built-in flash  104  and triggering an external flash through the first output  114 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is front view of an example embodiment of a digital camera attached to a lighting device including a LED and a strobe according to the present invention. Similar to the digital camera of  FIG. 1 , this example embodiment of a camera includes a camera body  202 , a lens  206 , an external viewfinder window  208 , a shutter release  210 , a control  212 , a hot shoe  220  including hot shoe electrical contacts  224 . As with all digital cameras, this example embodiment of the present invention includes a circuit  226  electrically connected to the shutter release  210 , configured to generate the first and second signals, and electrically connected to the first output  216  and the second output  220 , and to the hot shoe electrical contacts  224 . This circuit  226  includes a means for detecting when the shutter release  210  is depressed. In some example embodiments of the present invention, the circuit  226  may also be configured to detect when the shutter release  210  is partially depressed. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the control  212  may be used to select a mode of the digital camera. These modes may include a still photo mode and a video mode. This example embodiment also includes dedicated lighting control outputs separate from the hot shoe electrical contacts  224 . A first output  216  outputs a first signal that is used to fire an off-camera flash when the camera is in still mode. A second output  220  outputs a second signal that is used to activate an off-camera continuous light when the camera is in video mode. Both the first and second outputs  216 ,  220 , and the hot shoe electrical contacts  224  may be used to control a mode of one or more lighting devices  200 . Note that unlike the camera of  FIG. 1 , this example embodiment of the present invention does not include a built-in flash. Thus, when a flash is required in still mode, an external flash must be triggered by the first output  216  or the hot shoe electrical contacts  224 . This example embodiment of the present invention includes a lighting device  200  with a combined LED and strobe  204 , a first input  218 , a second input  222 , and a switch  214 . The first input  218 , second input  222 , and the switch  214  may be used to select a mode of the flash. In a still mode, the strobe of the flash is activated when triggered by the camera. This triggering may occur through the first control input  218 . In a video mode, the LED is activated when triggered by the camera. This triggering may occur through the second input  222 . In an example embodiment of the present invention, the switch  214  may allow a user to override the mode signal communicated from the camera through the outputs  216 ,  220  into the inputs  218 ,  222  of the lighting device  200 . Those of skill in the art will also recognize that a hot shoe is not the only possible means for non-permanently mechanically coupling a lighting device to the digital camera. Some lighting devices attach to a camera through the tripod mount and electrically connect to a camera through any of a wide variety of electrical cords, such as PC cords. In such example embodiments of the present invention the first and second outputs (means for outputting first and second signals) may be present in a wide variety of configurations within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device including two LEDs, a strobe, and a single reflector. This example lighting device may be used with digital cameras build according to the present invention. This example lighting device includes both a strobe for taking flash still photos, and a pair of LEDs that may be illuminated as a continuous light source for shooting video. In this example embodiment a lighting device  300  is built including a body  302  with supports  312  for a reflector  308  and a lens  310 . In this lighting device two LEDs  306  share the common reflector  308  with a strobe tube  304 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device including one LED, a strobe, and two reflectors. This example lighting device may be used with digital cameras build according to the present invention. This example lighting device includes both a strobe for taking flash still photos, and an LED that may be illuminated as a continuous light source for shooting video. In this example embodiment a lighting device  400  is built including a body with supports  414  configured to mechanically affix a first reflector  406 , a first lens  410 , a second reflector  408 , and a second lens  412 . A strobe tube  402  is configured to use the first reflector  406  and the first lens  410 , while a LED  404  is configured to use the second reflector  408  and the second lens  412 . This lighting device includes a hot shoe foot  416  including flash input connections  418  configured to electrically couple to the hot shoe of the camera shown in  FIG. 2 . When used with the digital camera shown in  FIG. 2 , the camera and lighting device may be electrically coupled through the hot shoe electrical contacts  222  and the corresponding flash input connections  418  on the hot shoe foot  416 . When the digital camera is in still mode, it signals the lighting device through the hot shoe electrical contacts  222  to fire the strobe tube  402  during exposure. When the digital camera is in video mode, it signals the lighting device through the hot shoe electrical contacts  222  to activate the LED  404  continuously during the video capture.  
         [0014]     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.