Illumination – Photographic lighting – Including specific light modifier
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-18
2004-03-23
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Photographic lighting
Including specific light modifier
C396S176000, C362S017000, C362S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06709120
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flash unit for a camera; in particular, the invention relates to a flash unit with reduced production costs and assembly time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional and digital cameras use auxiliary artificial light sources to increase the brightness when taking a picture at night, in the evening, or inside a dimly lit room. As a result, a flash unit is a necessary unit for a camera. In a professional camera or a traditional single-lens reflex camera, the flash unit is separated off the camera body. However, for most automatic and digital cameras, the flash unit is integrated with the camera body.
FIG. 1
is a schematic elevation view of a camera
100
. In
FIG. 1
, the camera
100
has a main body
1
and a lens
3
. The main body
1
has a viewfinder
2
for viewing the subject. The flash unit
10
is positioned on the upper left corner on the front of the main body
1
. Additionally, a shutter release button
5
is on the upper of the body
1
, to control the operation of the lens
3
and the shutter (not shown) inside the body
1
. In a dim light environment, the flash unit
10
works automatically to enhance brightness.
A conventional flash unit
10
is shown in
FIG. 2
a
,
FIG. 2
b
,
FIG. 2
c
,
FIG. 2
d
and
FIG. 2
e
, and it is disposed at a predetermined position on the camera
100
by an unillustrated locating device, such as a bolt and a bolt hole.
Referring to
FIG. 2
a
,
FIG. 2
b
,
FIG. 2
c
,
FIG. 2
d
and
FIG. 2
e
, the conventional flash unit
10
consists of a bracket
11
, a reflecting member
12
, a flash emission tube
13
, and a rubber band
14
for fixing the flash emission tube
13
.
The bracket
11
is disposed at a predetermined position inside the camera
100
by the unillustrated locating device, and is provided with two through holes
111
in both sidewalls. The reflecting member
12
, disposed inside the bracket
11
, is used to enhance the brightness of the flash emission tube
13
. The flash emission tube
13
is a main source of the artificial light.
The steps of mounting the flash emission tube
13
into the bracket
11
follow. First, the flash emission tube
13
passes through the through holes
111
. Then, the rubber band
14
fixes the flash emission tube
13
at the predetermined position of the bracket
11
.
As stated above, after the flash emission tube
13
passes through the through holes
111
, another element is required to fix the flash emission tube
13
at the bracket
11
. Hence, assembly time is inflated, as are production costs.
Furthermore, as shown in
FIG. 2
b
, since both ends of the flash emission tube
13
are soldered to two wires
15
,
15
; the mounting of the flash emission tube
13
is more difficult. Specifically, since the wire
15
with a certain length is soldered to the flash emission tube
13
before the flash emission tube
13
passes through the through holes
111
, it is more difficult to assemble the flash emission tube
13
, with the wire
15
, to the bracket
11
by the rubber band
14
.
In addition to the rubber band
14
, there are other devices to assemble the flash emission tube
13
to the bracket
11
. However, the assembling steps of these devices are the same as the assembly steps of the rubber band
14
. Also, these devices increase the whole cost of the flash unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages of the aforementioned conventional flash unit, the invention provides a flash unit with reduced production costs and assembly time.
Accordingly, the invention provides a flash unit. It comprises a bracket, a reflecting member, two fixed members and a flash emission tube. The bracket is disposed inside the camera, and the reflecting member is disposed inside the bracket. The fixed members are integrally formed on the bracket to fix the flash emission tube inside the bracket.
The fixed members are made of a flexible material, preferably, the bracket and the fixed members are made of plastic.
The bracket is provided with two through holes adjacent to the fixed members separately, and an area of the through hole defined by the corresponding fixed member is smaller than a cross-section area of the flash emission tube passing through the through hole.
The invention also provides another flash unit. It comprises a bracket, a reflecting member, a fixed member and a flash emission tube. The bracket is disposed inside the camera, and the reflecting member is disposed inside the bracket. The fixed member is integrally formed on the bracket to fix the flash emission tube inside the bracket.
The bracket is provided with a receiving portion, located opposite the fixed member.
The invention also provides another flash unit. It comprises a bracket, a reflecting member and a flash emission tube. The bracket, having two holders, is disposed inside the camera. The reflecting member is disposed inside the bracket, and the flash emission tube is fixedly disposed inside the bracket by the holders.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4317625 (1982-03-01), Van Allen
patent: 4412276 (1983-10-01), Blinow
patent: 4460942 (1984-07-01), Puzzuti et al.
patent: 6337953 (2002-01-01), Nakanishi et al.
Lu Cheng-Hsien
Lu Jih-Yung
Benq Corporation
Ladas & Parry
Tso Laura K.
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