Patent · US Expired

Flash apparatus with one-time-use camera

US6442346B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 2000
Grant dateAug 27, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B15/03
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A one-time-use camera with a built-in flash, an external flash unit therefor and system in which the camera and external flash unit have mating mounting structures enabling the external flash unit to be mounted on the camera in manner that blocks direct flash emission from camera flash unit onto a subject being photographed and the flash emission device of the external flash unit is positioned farther away from the camera taking lens than the built-in flash thereby substantially eliminating red-eye effect on the subject being photographed. The external flash unit includes a flash re-directing channel which directs built-in flash emission generally upwards to provide indirect illumination of the photographed subject. A camera ready light enable/disable circuit in the external flash unit is connected to the camera ready light to disable normal operation of the ready light until the external flash unit is fully charged thereby enabling the camera user to rely solely on the camera ready light as an indicator of when the camera and external flash units are ready for taking the next picture. The external flash unit is also provided with a user-operated start switch that simultaneously st…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.