Patent ID: 7088054

Claim:
An apparatus with a flash lamp capable of triggering a flash of light by applying an ignition pulse, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, at least one switching element, a control circuit, and an active charge controller for charging the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor, whereby the first capacitor, the second capacitor and the switching element are arranged in a network in such a manner that the switching element is located in the small current section of the apparatus and the apparatus is operated as required in either a first or a second mode by actuating the control circuit, whereby in the first mode at least the first capacitor is discharged by applying the ignition pulse to the flash lamp, triggering a flash of light of higher energy, said first mode being a high sensitivity mode where the flashes of light are emitted at a lower repetition rate, in the second mode the second capacitor is discharged by applying the ignition pulse to the flash lamp, triggering a flash of light of lower energy, said second mode being a high speed mode where the flashes of light are emitted at a high repetition rate.