I follow only Nikon related patents and when I saw this patent from a company called Lab Partners Associates, I immediately ignored it.
But then I got curious – who is that company that dares to patent a new wireless radio flash trigger for Nikon. Well, Lab Partners Associates Inc. is actually Pocketwizard and the inventor of this patent James E. Clark is one of the brains behind LPA.
Now back to the patent:
“A method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body, the method comprising:
- electrically receiving a flash synchronization signal internal to the camera body;
- using the flash synchronization signal to generate within the camera body an RF signal;
- communicating the RF signal via a wired connection to an antenna external to the camera body; and
- wirelessly communicating the RF signal from the external antenna to the one or more remote photographic flash devices.
The patent describes the installation of the wireless communication module inside the camera and even mentions “in a camera such as a Nikon” (see images after the break):
“The wireless communication module of the present invention adds wireless control functionality to existing devices, for example cameras. The module is inserted in a device that was originally designed without, or with different, remote control functionality. A device including the module can remotely operate other devices using the existing controls of the device. The module enables a user to remotely operate external devices without any cables running back to the device. It also allows a user to remotely operate other devices that include the wireless communication module.”
I guess you will have to send in your camera for this type of modification. Will this void the warranty? I wonder if Nikon is somehow involved in the development of this product.
