Camera flash, a camera, and a method of generating a flash
US8301024B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B2215/0592
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimizing loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.