Image capturing apparatus, light emitting apparatus, and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10735666-B2
Application number	US-201916383900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2019
Priority date	May 7, 2018
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus comprises a communication unit that performs wireless communication with a plurality of light emitting apparatuses and a control unit that switches to a first communication state in which the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined communication intervals, and a second communication state in which a predetermined light emitting apparatus of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined communication intervals and the predetermined light emitting apparatus and a light emitting apparatus other than the predetermined light emitting apparatus perform wireless communication at variable communication intervals. The control unit switches to the first communication state or the second communication state according to an operational state of the image capturing apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image capturing apparatus comprising:
a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a plurality of light emitting apparatuses; and
a control unit configured to switch to a first communication state in which the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined communication intervals, and a second communication state in which a predetermined light emitting apparatus of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined communication intervals and the predetermined light emitting apparatus and a light emitting apparatus other than the predetermined light emitting apparatus perform wireless communication at variable communication intervals,
wherein the control unit switches to the first communication state or the second communication state according to an operational state of the image capturing apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when switching from the first communication state to the second communication state, the control unit performs control to keep wireless communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus enabled, and disconnect wireless communication between the other light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when switching from the second communication state to the first communication state, the control unit performs control to keep wireless communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus enabled, and disconnect wireless communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the other light emitting apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
in the first communication state, wireless communication is performed by the image capturing apparatus to apply operational settings to the plurality of light emitting apparatuses, and
in the second communication state, wireless communication is performed to establish synchronization between operations of the image capturing apparatus and operations of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit switches to the first communication state or the second communication state in response to a user operation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the control unit switches to the second communication state upon receiving, in the first communication state, a user operation that instructs to perform a shooting preparation operation.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the control unit switches to the first communication state when a user operation has not been detected for a predetermined continuous period of time in the second communication state or when the remaining capacity of a battery of the predetermined light emitting apparatus has decreased.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication unit is attachable to the image capturing apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the predetermined light emitting apparatus that can perform wireless communication with the other light emitting apparatus is attachable to the image capturing apparatus, and
if the image capturing apparatus does not include the communication unit, the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus perform wired communication.

10. An image capturing apparatus comprising:
a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a plurality of light emitting apparatuses; and
a control unit configured to perform control to change intervals of communication between the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus, and intervals of communication between a predetermined light emitting apparatus of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and a light emitting apparatus other than the predetermined light emitting apparatus, according to an operational state of the image capturing apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the control unit performs control to change intervals of communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
in a first state in which communication is performed by the image capturing apparatus to apply operational settings to the plurality of light emitting apparatuses, the control unit sets the intervals of communication between the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus to be predetermined first communication intervals, and sets the intervals of communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the other light emitting apparatus to be predetermined second communication intervals, and
in a second state in which communication is performed to establish synchronization between operations of the image capturing apparatus and operations of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses, the control unit sets the intervals of communication between the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus to be longer than the first communication intervals, and sets the intervals of communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the other light emitting apparatus to be shorter than the second communication intervals.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
in the first state, the control unit sets the intervals of communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus to be the first communication intervals, and
in the second state, the control unit sets the intervals of communication between the other light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus to be longer than the intervals of communication between the predetermined light emitting apparatus and the image capturing apparatus.

14. A light emitting apparatus that is controlled by an image capturing apparatus, comprising:
a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication between the image capturing apparatus and another light emitting apparatus; and
a control unit configured to perform wireless communication with the image capturing apparatus at predetermined communication intervals, and switch to a first communication state in which wireless communication with the other light emitting apparatus is disconnected, and a second communication state in which wireless communication with the image capturing apparatus is performed at predetermined communication intervals, and wireless communication with the other light emitting apparatus is performed at variable communication intervals,
wherein the control unit switches to the first communication state or the second communication state in response to a communication state switching request from the image capturing apparatus.

15. A method for controlling an image capturing apparatus that performs wireless communication with a plurality of light emitting apparatuses, the method comprising:
switching to a first communication state in which the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined communication intervals, and a second communication state in which a predetermined light emitting apparatus of the plurality of light emitting apparatuses and the image capturing apparatus perform wireless communication at predetermined

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Suzuki Ryuta

Classifications

• G03B15/03

  Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units · CPC title

• G03B15/05

  Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units · CPC title

• G03B2215/0557

  Multiple units, e.g. leader-follower systems · CPC title

• H04N23/74 Primary

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/60 Primary

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title