Flash module, camera, and method for illuminating an object during flash photography
View Patent ↗A flash module includes a point light source, a lens assembly, an actuator mechanism, and a control system. The lens assembly includes a lens that is positioned in front of the point light source. The actuator mechanism enables adjustment of the distance between the lens assembly and the point light source. The control system is provided to flash the point light source. A camera including a flash module, and a method for illuminating an object during flash photography, are also disclosed.
1. A flash module, comprising: a point light source having a rack attached thereto: a lens assembly comprising a lens positioned in front of the point light source, the lens assembly fixedly mounted on a housing inside which the point light source is movably mounted; and a pinion gear attached to the housing and coupled to the rack of the point light source, the pinion gear configured as a dial operable through direct contact by a user to manually move the point light source for varying the distance between the lens assembly and the point light source; and a control system to flash the point light source.
2. The flash module of claim 1 , wherein the point light source is a light emitting diode.
3. The flash module of claim 1 , wherein the control system provides a flash mode and a steady-state mode, and wherein the control system activates and deactivates the point light source in the steady-state mode.
4. The flash module of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to have no control over operations of the rack and the pinion.
5. The flash module of claim 1 , wherein the housing is part of a camera phone, and the lens assembly is immovably mounted on the housing of the camera phone.
6. The flash module of claim 5 , wherein the lens assembly is immovably mounted on the housing of the camera phone by a screw.
7. A camera phone, comprising: an image capture system; and a flash module, comprising: a point light source having a rack attached thereto; a lens assembly comprising a lens positioned in front of the point light source, the lens assembly fixedly mounted on an outer housing of the camera phone; and a pinion gear attached to the outer housing of the camera phone, the pinion gear coupled to the rack of the point light source, the pinion gear configured as a dial operable through direct contact by a user to manually move the point light source for varying the distance between the lens assembly and the point light source.
8. The camera of claim 7 , wherein the point light source is a light emitting diode.
9. The camera phone of claim 7 , further comprising:
a control system for setting the flash module in one of a) a flash mode or b) a steady-state mode, wherein when operating in the steady-state mode, the camera phone is configured as a flashlight having a variable illumination angle that is manually set using the pinion gear attached to the outer housing of the camera phone.
10. The camera phone of claim 9 , wherein the steady state mode is selectable at will by the user for activating or deactivating the flashlight.
11. The camera phone of claim 10 , wherein the steady state mode is selectable independent of the flash mode.
12. The camera phone of claim 9 , wherein the steady state mode is selectable for temporarily illuminating an object being photographed, the temporary illumination being carried out using the variable illumination angle.
13. A flash module, comprising: a light fixture comprising a plurality of point light sources; an actuator mechanism comprising a rack, the light fixture mounted on the actuator mechanism; a lens assembly comprising a plurality of lenses, the lens assembly fixedly mounted on a housing inside which the light fixture is movably mounted; and a pinion gear attached to the housing and coupled to the rack of the actuator mechanism, the pinion gear configured as a dial operable through direct contact by a user to manually move the light fixture for varying the distance between the light fixture and the lens assembly.
14. The flash module of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of point light sources is mounted on a substrate that is attached to the actuator mechanism.
15. The flash module of claim 14 , wherein the lens assembly comprises a plexiglass having the plurality of lenses embossed therein.
16. The flash module of claim 13 , wherein the housing is part of a camera phone, and the lens assembly is immovably mounted on the housing of the camera phone.
17. The flash module of claim 16 , wherein the lens assembly is immovably mounted on the housing of the camera phone by a screw.