JP2006039354A - Strobe device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a strobe device that can confirm the completion of charging even when the strobe device is arranged away from a camera and can easily perform strobe photography.
A strobe device including a charge completion lamp that displays completion of charging that enables strobe light emission, wherein a plurality of charge completion lamps 10 to 13 are configured so that the charge completion lamp can be viewed from a plurality of directions. Are arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the flash body 1. Even when a strobe device is installed at a position away from the camera during shooting with slave flash or multi-flash, the lighting of any of the charge completion lamps 10 to 13 is visually confirmed from any direction in which the camera is installed. Confirming the completion of charging with the flash unit enables smooth flash photography.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a strobe device for a camera, and more particularly to a strobe device having an improved charge completion lamp for confirming the completion of charging of a strobe device disposed at a position away from the camera.

A strobe device of a camera is used to emit auxiliary light at the time of shooting by the camera, and is usually mounted on a hot shoe or the like provided in the camera and emits light by the release of the camera. General strobes have a circuit configuration that uses a built-in battery or a battery in the power back to charge the strobe circuit to obtain a predetermined amount of emitted light. A charge completion lamp is provided. Needless to say, if the light is emitted before the charge completion lamp is displayed, a predetermined light emission amount cannot be obtained. As described in Patent Document 1, a neon tube is used as the charge completion lamp, but most recent strobe devices use light emitting elements such as LEDs. In the book, the term “charge completion lamp” is used to include those composed of LEDs.
JP 2001-109039 A

  By the way, in the case of performing so-called strobe shooting in which shooting is performed by light emission of the strobe device, the strobe device is arranged at a position away from the camera in order to obtain a desired shooting effect. For example, when the subject is photographed from the front, the strobe device is disposed in front of the subject, and the strobe device is disposed on the side of the subject to perform illumination by strobe light emission from the side. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the strobe device St1 provided in the camera Ca that captures the subject Ob, a plurality of strobe devices St2 and St3 are arranged at a plurality of different positions, and these strobe devices are arranged. In some cases, so-called multi-flash photography is performed in which the strobe devices St1 to St3 emit light at the same time by connecting to the camera Ca via the extension cord Cd or wirelessly. Alternatively, there is a case where slave flash emission is performed in which the sub flash devices St2 and St3 detect the pre-flash of the main flash device St1 provided in the camera Ca and emit light.

  In such a strobe shooting, when performing a release operation of the camera, it is necessary to visually check a charge completion lamp provided in the strobe device and confirm that appropriate charging is being performed. In the conventional strobe device, the charging completion lamp is arranged on the back of the strobe device so that the photographer CaMn can easily see the display of the charging completion lamp when the strobe device is mounted on the camera. Therefore, when shooting is performed with the strobe devices St2 and St3 arranged at positions away from the camera Ca as in the example of FIG. 1, the disposition position of these strobe devices, the light emission direction of the strobe device, and the position of the camera Depending on the relationship, the photographer CaMn may not be able to see the charge completion lamps of the strobe devices St2 and St3 from the camera position. Therefore, the photographer must move from the camera position and check the charge completion lamp of the strobe device. Especially when a plurality of strobe devices are arranged, the photographer can visually recognize the charge completion lamp of each strobe device. There is a problem in that it has to move to a position and hinders smooth shooting.

  The object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily perform strobe photography when the strobe device is arranged away from the camera by configuring the strobe device's charging completion lamp so that it can be seen from any direction. A strobe device is provided.

  The present invention is a strobe device including a charge completion lamp that displays completion of charging that enables proper strobe light emission, and is characterized in that the charge completion lamp is configured to be visible from a plurality of directions. That is, the charge completion lamps are arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the strobe device. Alternatively, the charge completion lamp is provided so as to be movable in a plurality of directions. Alternatively, the charging completion lamp is disposed at a position where it can be seen from a plurality of directions of the strobe device.

  According to the present invention, the charging completion lamp of each strobe device can be viewed from an arbitrary direction even when the strobe device is disposed at a position away from the camera during shooting with slave flash or multi-flash. The photographer at the position can visually check the charging completion lamp of each strobe device to confirm the completion of charging in each strobe device, and smooth strobe photography is possible.

  In the present invention, the charge completion lamps disposed on the plurality of surfaces of the strobe device include a main charge completion lamp disposed on the back surface of the strobe device, and sub-charge completion lamps disposed on the front and left and right sides of the strobe device, respectively. . In addition, a charge completion lamp provided to be movable in a plurality of directions is provided on a main charge completion lamp disposed on the back of the strobe device and a display dial that can be rotated in a different direction with respect to the strobe device. And a sub-charge completion lamp. The charge completion lamp arranged at a position that can be viewed from a plurality of directions includes a main charge completion lamp disposed on the back surface of the strobe device, and a sub-charge completion lamp provided in a protruding state on the top surface of the strobe device. . In addition, the main charge completion lamp can be turned on when the strobe device is used in a normal state, and the sub-charge completion lamp can be turned on when the strobe device is used for multi-flash or slave light emission.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2A and 2B are external perspective views of the strobe device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. A strobe body 1 having a shape close to a horizontal L-shape is provided with a shoe mounting portion 2 at the bottom, and is attached to a camera hot shoe not shown in the figure to support the strobe body to the camera. In contact with the camera, and is electrically connected to the camera. The strobe body 1 is attached to the hot shoe by operating an attachment lever 3 provided at the shoe attachment portion. A light emitting window 4 is disposed on the front surface of the strobe body 1 so that light emitted from a light emitting tube (not shown in the figure) built in the strobe body 1 is emitted toward the front. In addition, a wireless light receiving unit 5 is disposed in the front lower portion 1F of the strobe body 1 located below the light emission window 4, and receives pre-light emission from the main strobe device reflected from the subject. Slave shooting that emits light in synchronization with this is possible. On the back surface 1B of the strobe body 1, a display 6 comprising an LCD or the like for displaying various data, and various switches such as a main switch 7 and a slave / normal switch 8 are arranged. In particular, the slave / normal switch 8 is for setting the strobe device to emit slave light when switched to the slave side.

  Further, charging completion lamps 10, 11, 12, and 13 are disposed on the back surface 1B, the front lower portion 1F, and the left and right side surfaces 1L and 1R of the strobe body 1, respectively. FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the four charge completion lamps 10 to 13. Two red LEDs 21 and 22 are built in the strobe body 1, and light is emitted when a main capacitor of a strobe circuit (not shown) provided in the strobe body 1 is charged to a predetermined charge. Yes. Here, one LED 21 is arranged facing a small window 10a made of a circular resin plate provided on the back surface 1L of the strobe body 1, and the LED 21 constitutes the charge completion lamp 10 as a main charge completion lamp. ing. Similarly, small windows 11a, 12a, 13a made of a circular resin plate are respectively provided in the front lower portion 1F and the left and right side surfaces 1L, 1R of the strobe body 1, and these small windows and the other LED 22 are provided. Are optically connected to each other by optical fibers 31, 32, 33 or an optical light guide. That is, the optical lower end 1F and the small windows 11a, 12a, 13a of the left and right side surfaces 1L, 1R are optically coupled by fixing the tips of the optical fibers 31, 32, 33 integrally, Optical coupling is performed so that light emitted from the LED 22 is incident on the base ends of the optical fibers 31, 32, and 33 and guided to the small windows. Thereby, each small window 11a, 12a, 13a of front lower 1F and right-and-left side 1L, 1R is comprised as subcharge completion lamp 11, 12, 13 respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), when the slave / normal changeover switch 8 consisting of a dual two-pole switch connected to the battery Bat is switched to the normal N side, only one LED 21 emits light and the slave When switched to the side S, both the two LEDs 21 and 22 emit light.

  In the strobe device according to the first embodiment, when the main switch 7 is turned on and the strobe device is set in a state capable of emitting light, the strobe circuit causes the main capacitor to charge, and when the charging is completed, the charge completion lamp is caused to emit light. At this time, if the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the normal side N, only one LED 21 emits light. Therefore, only the main charge completion lamp 10 on the back surface 1B of the strobe body 1 is turned on. The photographer can confirm that the charging is completed by visually confirming the lighting of the main charging completion lamp 10.

  On the other hand, when the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the slave side S, both LEDs 21 and 22 emit light. The main charging completion lamp 10 on the rear surface 1B of the strobe body 1 is lit by the light emission of the LED 21 as in the normal state. At the same time, the light emitted from the other LED 22 is guided through the three optical fibers 31 to 33, and from the small windows 11a, 12a and 13a of the front lower portion 1F and the left and right side surfaces 1L and 1R of the strobe body 1, respectively. Light is emitted, and the sub-charge completion lamps 11, 12, and 13 are turned on. As a result, it is possible to visually recognize the lighting of any one of the sub-charge completion lamps 11 to 13 from the front and both the left and right sides of the strobe body 1, and it is possible to confirm the completion of charging of the strobe device.

  As described above, in the strobe device of the first embodiment, when the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the slave side, the charging completion lamps 10, 11, 12, 13 are lit on the back, front, and left and right sides of the strobe device. Therefore, it becomes possible to visually recognize the lighting of one of the main and sub charging lamps from an angular position of approximately 360 degrees around the strobe device. Therefore, when shooting with a slave flash unit or multiple flash units using a flash unit placed on the side of the subject or with a flash unit whose flash direction is not facing the front, the photographer will charge the flash completion lamp of each flash unit from the camera position. It is possible to confirm the completion of charging by visually observing the lighting of, so that the work at the time of photographing can be reduced and suitable photographing can be realized.

  Even when performing multi-flash shooting using a plurality of flash devices simultaneously, it is required to confirm that all the flash devices are fully charged as in the case of slave flash shooting. Since it is required to turn on one charging completion lamp, for example, the slave / normal switching switch is configured as a slave / multi / normal switching switch so that the four charging completion lamps are lit even when switching to the multi side. It is preferable to configure.

  In the first embodiment, the sub-charge completion lamps 11, 12, and 13 provided on the front and left and right side surfaces of the strobe body are guided from the LED 22 using optical fibers. Needless to say, may be configured by independent LEDs. In this case, the circuit may be configured so that the four LEDs arranged on each surface of the strobe main body emit light selectively or collectively by the slave / normal switch 8.

  4A and 4B are external perspective views of the strobe device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a front view, and FIG. 4B is a view from the back side. Since the structure of the strobe body 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will be simplified. However, the strobe body 1 having a shape close to a horizontal L-shape is provided with a shoe mounting portion 2 at the bottom and is not shown in the figure. Attached to the hot shoe. The strobe body 1 is attached to the hot shoe by operating an attachment lever 3 provided on the shoe attachment portion 2. A light emission window 4 is disposed on the front surface of the strobe body 1, and a wireless light receiving unit 5 is disposed on the front lower portion 1 F of the light emission window 4. On the back surface 1B of the strobe body 1, a display 6 comprising an LCD or the like for displaying various data, and various switches such as a main switch 7 and a slave / normal switch 8 are arranged. Further, a main charging completion lamp 10 composed of a red LED 21 is disposed on the back surface 1B. As in the first embodiment, the main charging completion lamp 10 has a configuration in which an LED 21 is provided on a small window 10a on the back surface 1B of the strobe body 1.

  Further, a display dial 9 that can be rotated in the horizontal direction is disposed at a position directly above the shoe mounting portion 2 and mounting lever 3 of the strobe body 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the display dial 9. The inside of the display dial 9 that is concentrically arranged with the mounting lever 3 is formed of a hollow annular member, and is rotated by a manual operation within a required angle range with respect to the strobe body 1. It is configured to be possible. A hemispherical resin lens 14a is formed in a protruding state on a part of the circumference of the display dial 9, and a red LED 22 is provided inside the display dial 9 facing the resin lens 14a, thereby forming a sub-charge completion lamp 14. Has been. The display dial 9 can be rotated in the horizontal range of 150 degrees in the horizontal direction when the sub-charge completion lamp 14 is directed to the front, and can be stopped at an arbitrary rotational position. Then, the LED 22 constituting the sub-charge completion lamp 14 provided on the display dial 9 and the LED 21 constituting the main charge completion lamp 10 on the rear surface are similar to those shown in FIG. When the normal changeover switch 8 is switched to the normal side, only the rear LED 21 emits light, and when the switch is switched to the slave side, both the two LEDs 21 and 22 emit light.

  In the strobe device according to the second embodiment, the main switch 7 is turned on so that the strobe device can emit light, and when charging of the main capacitor of the strobe circuit is completed, the charge completion lamp is caused to emit light. At this time, if the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the normal side, only the rear LED 21 emits light, and the main charge completion lamp 10 is turned on. The photographer can confirm that the charging is completed by visually confirming the lighting of the main charging completion lamp 10.

  On the other hand, when the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the slave side, both LEDs 21 and 22 emit light. When the LED 22 in the display dial 9 emits light, the sub-charge completion lamp 14 of the display dial 9 is turned on. If the display dial 9 is appropriately rotated to set the sub-charge completion lamp 14 at an arbitrary angular position, that is, the direction in which the camera is arranged, the sub-charge completion lamp 14 from the direction in which the camera is arranged. It becomes possible to visually recognize the lighting of. In this way, when switching to the slave side, the lighting of the sub-charge completion lamp 14 of the display dial 9 is visually confirmed from the angular position in the range of 300 degrees left and right centering on the front direction of the strobe device, and the main charging is completed from the back side. It becomes possible to visually recognize the lighting of the lamp 10. Therefore, when shooting with a slave flash unit or multiple flash units using a flash unit placed on the side of the subject or with a flash unit whose flash direction is not facing the front, the photographer will charge the flash completion lamp of each flash unit from the camera position. Can be confirmed by confirming the completion of charging, so that the work at the time of photographing can be reduced and suitable photographing can be realized.

  6A and 6B are external perspective views of a strobe device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 6A is a front view, and FIG. 6B is a view from the back side. Since the configuration of the strobe body 1 is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, the description thereof is omitted. On the back surface 1B of the strobe body 1, although explanation is repeated, various switches such as a display 6 comprising an LCD for displaying various data, a main switch 7, and a slave / normal switch 8 are arranged. Further, a main charging completion lamp 10 composed of a red LED 21 disposed facing the small window 10a is disposed on the back surface.

  Further, a sub-charge completion lamp 15 is disposed on the top surface 1T of the strobe body 1 upward. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the sub-charge completion lamp 15 on the top surface 1T. A hemispherical resin lens 15a is mounted almost at the center of the top surface 1T of the strobe body 1, and a red LED 22 is built in the lens. It becomes the composition. Since the resin lens 15a protrudes upward from the top surface 1T, the sub-charge completion lamp 15 can be confirmed from 360 degrees around the strobe body 1. Then, the LED 22 constituting the sub-charge completion lamp 15 and the LED 21 constituting the main charge completion lamp 10 on the rear side are set to the normal state of the slave / normal changeover switch 8 as shown in FIG. When switched to the side, only the rear LED 21 emits light, and when switched to the slave side, both the two LEDs 21 and 22 emit light.

  In the strobe device of the third embodiment, when the main switch 7 is turned on and the strobe device is set in a state capable of emitting light, the LED is caused to emit light when charging of the main capacitor of the strobe circuit is completed. At this time, if the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the normal side, only the rear LED 21 emits light, and the main charge completion lamp 10 is turned on. The photographer can confirm that the charging is completed by visually confirming the lighting of the main charging completion lamp 10.

  On the other hand, when the slave / normal switch 8 is switched to the slave side, both LEDs 21 and 22 emit light. When the LED 22 emits light, the sub-charge completion lamp 15 is turned on. The lighting of the sub-charge completion lamp 15 can be confirmed from 360 degrees around the strobe device. In this way, when switching to the slave side, it is possible to visually recognize the lighting of the sub-charging completion lamp 15 from any position around the strobe device, and simultaneously to confirm the lighting of the main charging completion lamp 10 from the back side. become. Therefore, when shooting with a slave flash unit or multiple flash units using a flash unit placed on the side of the subject or with a flash unit whose flash direction is not facing the front, the photographer will charge the flash completion lamp of each flash unit from the camera position. It is possible to confirm the completion of charging by visually observing the lighting of, so that the work at the time of photographing can be reduced and suitable photographing can be realized.

  Here, in Example 3, since the lighting of the main charging completion lamp 15 on the top surface can be confirmed from the back side, the main charging completion lamp 10 on the back surface can be omitted. Since the light of the lamp may affect the subject when the sub-charge completion lamp 15 is lit, it is preferable to provide a normal dedicated main charge completion lamp 10 on the back as in the third embodiment.

  In Examples 1 to 3 above, only the main charge completion lamp is lit during normal operation, and the main charge completion lamp and sub-charge completion lamp are lit during slave operation, but without distinguishing between normal operation and slave operation. You may comprise so that all the charge completion lamps may be always lighted. However, as described above, it is necessary that the lighting of the sub-charge completion lamp does not interfere with shooting with the camera during normal operation.

  In Examples 1 to 3, the charging completion lamps are not simply turned on, but the charging completion lamps are blinked until the charging is completed, and are continuously lit after the charging is completed. Of course, it can be configured to determine completion of charging.

  Needless to say, the charge completion lamp in the present invention is not limited to the LED, but can be composed of a discharge tube such as a neon tube or other light emitting elements.

It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating flash photography by multi-flash. 1 is an external perspective view of a strobe device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a configuration and a circuit of a main charge completion lamp and a sub charge completion lamp according to the first embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the strobe device of Example 2 of the present invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the structure of the subcharge completion lamp of Example 2. It is an external appearance perspective view of the strobe device of Example 3 of the present invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the structure of the subcharge completion lamp of Example 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Strobe main body 2 Shoe attaching part 3 Mounting lever 4 Light emission window 5 Wireless light-receiving part 6 Indicator 7 Main switch 8 Slave / normal changeover switch 9 Display dial 10 Main charge completion lamps 11-15 Sub charge completion lamps 21 and 22 LED
31-33 Optical fiber

Claims (8)

  A strobe device provided with a charge completion lamp for displaying completion of charging capable of proper strobe light emission, wherein the charge completion lamp is configured to be visible from a plurality of directions.   The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the charge completion lamps are arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the strobe device.   The said charge completion lamp is provided with the main charge completion lamp arrange | positioned at the back surface of the strobe device, and the sub charge completion lamp respectively arrange | positioned at the front of the said strobe device, and the right-and-left side. Strobe device.   The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the charging completion lamp is provided so as to be movable in a plurality of directions.   The charging completion lamp includes a main charging completion lamp disposed on the back of the strobe device and a sub-charging completion lamp provided on a display dial that can be rotated in a different direction with respect to the strobe device. The strobe device according to claim 4.   The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the charging completion lamp is disposed at a position that can be viewed from a plurality of directions of the strobe device.   The said charge completion lamp is provided with the main charge completion lamp arrange | positioned on the back surface of the flash device, and the sub charge completion lamp provided in the protruding state on the top surface of the flash device. Strobe device. 6. The main charge completion lamp can be turned on when the strobe device emits light in a normal state, and the sub-charge completion lamp can be turned on when the strobe device emits light with multi-flash or slave light emission. Or the strobe device described in 7.

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