Patent US4821053A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4821053A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photographic flash device

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1988-05-09
•
Granted: 1989-04-11
•
Expires: 2008-05-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Photographic flash device has its trough-shape reflector formed of a laminate of first and second sheets of piezoelectric material so polarized relative to one another that a change in potential across the laminate, applied by electrodes on the laminate, causes a flexing of the laminate and hence a change in the light pattern on the subject being photographed. Such a flash device is useful with zoom camera.

Inventors

  • 👤 David R. Dowe
  • 👤 Paul L. Ruben

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/02; G03B15/03; G03B15/05; F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/10; F21V7/16; G03B2215/00; G03B2215/05; G03B2215/0514; G03B2215/0517; G03B2215/0525; G03B2215/0528

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
A device for producing a flash for illuminating a subject to be photographed by a camera having a zoom taking lens, including a reflector having a trough shape and a tubular device for creating light, the tubular device being disposed within and extending along the trough shape of the reflector, said reflector being formed of a laminate of a first sheet of piezoelectric material bonded to a second sheet of material, the trough-shape reflector being reflective at the side facing the tubular device, and means for applying an electric potential difference across the first sheet of material whereby a change in the potential difference changes the trough shape and the illumination pattern created by a flash from the tubular device changes to accommodate a change in the focal length of the zoom taking lens of the camera.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 137 words
A device for producing a flash for illuminating a subject to be photographed by a camera having a zoom taking lens, including a reflector having a trough shape and a tubular device for creating light, the tubular device being disposed within and extending along the trough shape of the reflector, said reflector being formed of a laminate of a first sheet of piezoelectric material bonded to a second sheet of material, the trough-shape reflector being reflective at the side facing the tubular device, and means for applying an electric potential difference across the first sheet of material whereby a change in the potential difference changes the trough shape and the illumination pattern created by a flash from the tubular device changes to accommodate a change in the focal length of the zoom taking lens of the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second sheet is also formed of piezoelectric material and said means for applying an electric potential difference across said first sheet applies an electric potential difference across said second sheet also.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second sheet is polarized oppositely to said first sheet, and said means for applying an electric potential difference includes electrodes at the opposite faces of the laminate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second sheet is polarized similarly to said first sheet and said means for applying an electric potential difference includes first and second electrodes at the opposite faces of the laminate and a third electrode between said first and second sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first sheet is formed by polyvinylidene fluoride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first and second sheets are formed of polyvinyldene fluoride.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-04-10 1992-10-10 1993-04-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-04-10 1996-10-10 1997-04-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-04-10 2000-10-10 2001-04-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag