Substitute Specification
`
`embodiment, it is not preferable that the time from the start of shooting to the end
`
`of shooting (required time for a continuous shooting) become long, because of the
`
`possibility that the state of the subject may change. Accordingly, the required time
`
`for a continuous shooting may preferably be, for example, two seconds or shorter
`
`per each continuous shooting operation.
`
`In this respect, what accounts for the highest portion of the required time
`
`for a continuous shooting in the continuousVshooting mode is the time required to
`
`change the illumination direction angle of light-emitting unit 10. Therefore,
`in
`order to shorten the required time for a continuous shooting, the time required to
`
`10
`
`change the illumination direction angle of light—emitting unit 10 may be reduced.
`
`Accordingly,
`
`in the present exemplary embodiment, vertical direction drive
`
`unit 20 and horizontal direction drive unit 21 of drive unit 13 respectively drive
`
`vertical direction variable mechanism 18
`
`and horizontal
`
`direction variable
`
`mechanism 19 of variable mechanism 12 so that light-emitting unit 10 moves at a
`
`rate of, for example, 180° per second. This makes it possible to prevent a subject
`
`from changing in its state and to take a plurality of images in approximately a same
`
`state of the subject. As a result, it is possible to obtain from a plurality of images
`
`a favorite image such, for example, as an image in which effects of the bounce
`
`flash shooting appear remarkably. Further, the photographer can obtain preferable
`
`strobe illumination conditions
`
`(proper conditions concerning the illumination
`
`15
`
`20
`
`direction angle of light-emitting unit 10).
`
`Incidentally,
`
`it may be needless to say that a strobe device of the present
`
`invention and an imaging device equipped with the same are not limited to the
`
`above—described exemplary embodiment, and that various changes may be made
`
`25
`
`without departing from the scope of the present invention.
`
`For example,
`
`in
`
`the exemplary embodiment described above,
`
`the
`
`combination of the first to fifth illumination direction angles is described as an
`
`12
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`example of the continuous light emission pattern. However, the continuous light
`
`emission pattern is not limited to this combination. For example, the continuous
`
`light emission pattern may be any appropriate combination of various illumination
`
`direction angles.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`described that the number of light emissions in the continuous light emission
`
`pattern is five. However,
`
`the number of light emissions is not
`
`limited to this
`
`number. The number of light emissions may be two to four or six or more. Also, a
`
`pattern in which light is not emitted may be included as a continuous light emission
`
`10
`
`pattern.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`described that the number of light emissions has been set in advance. However,
`
`the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the number of
`
`light emissions may be input by operation unit 16. This makes it possible to
`
`15
`
`improve the freedom of shooting, and to improve usability.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`described that the illumination direction angle of the continuous light emission
`
`pattern is changed such that both the angle in vertical direction B and the angle in
`horizontal direction F are changed. However, the present invention is not limited to
`
`20
`
`this example. For example, the continuous light emission pattern may be designed
`
`to change only the angle in vertical direction B. This is useful to a strobe device
`
`which does not have a structure of rotating light—emitting unit 10 in horizontal
`
`direction F. Alternatively, the continuous light emission pattern may be designed to
`
`change only the angle in horizontal direction F.
`
`25
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`described that the second to fifth illumination direction angle of the continuous light
`
`emission pattern are the angles for providing the bounce flash shooting. However,
`
`13
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`the continuous light emission pattern is not limited to this pattern. For example,
`
`the continuous
`
`light emission pattern may include only a
`
`combination of
`
`illumination direction angles which are not for providing the bounce flash shooting.
`
`Also, the continuous light emission pattern may include some illumination direction
`
`angles for providing the bounce flash shooting in a small proportion of all
`
`illumination direction angles in the continuous light emission pattern. This makes
`
`it possible to obtain a plurality of images even if a subject is directly illuminated.
`
`Also,
`
`it is possible to obtain a plurality of images under both a condition of direct
`
`flash shooting and a condition of bounce flash shooting. As a result, a favorite
`
`10
`
`image can be chosen from a larger number of conditions.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such a configuration
`
`example is described that the continuous light emission pattern has been set in
`
`advance. However,
`
`the present
`
`invention is not
`
`limited to this example.
`
`For
`
`example,
`
`the continuous light emission pattern may be such a pattern that a
`
`different preferable strobe illumination condition is determined by control unit 15 of
`strobe device 2 at each shot, and light-emitting unit 10 emits light based on the
`
`determined condition.
`
`As an example, a plurality of bounce flash shooting
`
`operations may be executed, including, for example, a bounce flash shooting using
`
`a ceiling, a bounce flash shooting using a first surface of a wall, and a bounce flash
`
`shooting using a second surface of the wall. Then, a preferable strobe illumination
`condition may be determined in advance for each of the bounce flash shooting
`
`operations to set a continuous light emission pattern.
`
`Further, for example, a preferable strobe illumination condition may be
`
`determined by control unit 15 of strobe device 2, and light-emitting unit 10 may be
`
`controlled to emit light based on this illumination condition. Then, a continuous
`
`light emission pattern may be produced by changing the determined illumination
`
`condition, being regarded as a center,
`
`in a positive direction and/or in a negative
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`14
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`direction. As an example,
`
`if a strobe illumination condition is preferable in an
`
`illumination direction in which light—emitting unit 10 is inclined upward in vertical
`
`direction B by 45 degrees relative to strobe main body 9, a continuous light
`
`emission pattern may be produced by changing the angle of light-emitting unit 10
`
`to, for example, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 50 degrees and 55 degrees.
`
`This makes it possible to compare images taken under illumination conditions closer
`
`to each other.
`
`As a result, a more preferable illumination condition can be
`
`obtained.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`configuration is explained that
`
`strobe device 2 emits
`
`light continuously in
`
`synchronization with the light emission instructing signal continuously sent from
`
`imaging device
`
`1.
`
`However,
`
`the present
`
`invention is not
`
`limited to this
`
`configuration. For example, if the shooting timing in the continuous shooting mode
`
`occurs at regular intervals, strobe device 2 may be configured to emit light at the
`
`same regular intervals. This may make it unnecessary to conduct communications
`
`between an imaging device, such as a camera and a strobe device at each shot, and
`
`may simplify the operation.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example of
`
`configuration is explained that imaging device 1 executes a next shot upon receipt
`
`20
`
`of a light emission enable signal
`
`from strobe device 2. However,
`
`the present
`
`invention is notlimited to this configuration. For example, imaging device 1 may
`
`be configured to perform a continuous shooting without considering any information
`
`from strobe device 2. This can, similarly to the above—described configuration,
`
`make it unnecessary to conduct communication between an imaging device such as
`
`25
`
`a camera and a strobe device at each shot, and can simplify the operation.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`explained that electrical energy stored in main capacitor 26 of strobe device 2 is
`
`15
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`divided to power a plurality of strobe light emissions so that continuous light
`
`emissions are possible within a short period of time.
`
`However,
`
`the present
`
`invention is not limited to this example.
`
`For example,
`
`if it is desired to increase
`
`the light quantity of each of a plurality of strobe light emissions in a continuous
`
`light emission mode, emission interval of the continuous light emissions may be
`
`extended, or shooting interval in the continuous shooting mode may be extended.
`
`This may be responded by increasing the time for charging main capacitor 26 with
`
`electrical energy in the emission interval.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`10
`
`15
`
`explained that the angle of light—emitting unit 10 is controlled by using an absolute
`
`angle in vertical direction B detected by vertical direction angle detection unit 22
`
`and an absolute angle in horizontal direction F detected by horizontal direction
`
`angle detection unit 23. However,
`
`the present
`
`invention is not
`
`limited to this
`
`example.
`
`For example, the angle of light—emitting unit 10 may be controlled by
`
`relatively changing the angles of light-emitting unit 10 in vertical direction B and
`
`horizontal direction F depending on control amounts of vertical direction drive unit
`
`20 and horizontal direction drive unit 21 or driven amounts of vertical direction
`
`variable mechanism 18 and horizontal direction variable mechanism 19.
`
`It
`
`is
`
`possible to eliminate vertical direction angle detection unit 22 and horizontal
`
`20
`
`direction angle detection unit 23. As a result,
`
`it is possible to reduce cost of the
`
`strobe device and imaging device 1.
`
`Also,
`
`in the exemplary embodiment described above, such an example is
`
`explained that five continuous shots are executed in response to a single press of
`
`shutter'8 in the continuous shooting mode. However, the present invention is not
`
`25
`
`limited to this example.
`
`For example, such a continuous shooting mode may be
`
`possible that requires pressing of shutter 8 for each shot in a continuous shooting
`
`mode. This makes it possible to take continuous images by an imaging device
`
`16
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`such as a camera which does not have a continuous shootingmode.
`
`As described herein above, a strobe device according to the present
`
`invention includes: a strobe main body; a light-emitting unit rotatably connected to
`
`the strobe main body; a variable mechanism capable of changing an angle of the
`
`light-emitting unit; a drive unit for driving the variable mechanism; and a control
`
`unit for controlling the drive unit, wherein the control unit has a mode of changing
`
`an illumination direction angle of the light-emitting unit at each shot in a continuous
`
`shooting operation.
`
`With this configuration, the illumination direction angle of the light—emitting
`
`10
`
`unit can be changed by changing the angle of the light—emitting unit relative to the
`
`strobe main body. When the imaging device takes continuous images of a subject
`
`within a short time in a mode in which the illumination direction angle of the
`
`light-emitting unit is to be changed at each shot, the control unit changes the angle
`
`of the light-emitting unit to change the illumination direction of the light-emitting
`
`15
`
`unit at each shot. This makes it possible to obtain a plurality of images of the
`
`subject in nearly a same state under different strobe illumination conditions. As a
`
`result, a photographer can easily obtain a favorite image from the plurality of
`
`images, such,
`
`for example, as an image in which effects of the bounce flash
`
`shooting appear remarkably.
`
`Further,
`
`the photographer can obtain preferable
`
`20
`
`strobe illumination conditions.
`
`Also, according to the strobe device of the present invention, the mode
`
`may include shots at a plurality of illumination direction angles with different strobe
`
`illumination conditions for bounce flash shooting.
`
`In this configuration,it is possible to obtain a plurality of images taken by
`
`25
`
`the bounce flash shooting under different strobe illumination conditions. As a
`
`result, a photographer can easily obtain a favorite image from the plurality of
`
`images, such, for example, as an image in which effects of the bounce flash
`
`17
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`shooting appear favorably. Further, the photographer can obtain preferable strobe
`
`illumination conditions for bounce flash shooting.
`
`Also, according to the strobe device of the present invention, the mode
`
`may include a change of the angle of the light—emitting unit relative to the strobe
`
`main body in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
`
`In this configuration,
`
`it
`
`is possible to obtain a plurality of images taken
`
`under strobe illumination conditions which are different from one another in at least
`
`one of
`
`the vertiCal direction and the horizontal direction.
`
`As
`
`a
`
`result,
`
`a
`
`photographer can easily obtain a favorite image from the plurality of images.
`
`10
`
`Further, the photographer can obtain preferable strobe illumination conditions in at
`
`least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
`
`Also, an imaging device according to the present
`
`invention may be
`
`equipped with the above—described strobe device. This makes it possible to realize
`
`an imaging device that can easily obtain a plurality of images taken under different
`
`15
`
`strobe illumination conditions.
`
`INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
`
`The present invention is useful to a strobe device and an imaging device
`
`equipped with the strobe device which are required to immediately obtain a favorite-
`
`20
`
`image (or preferable strobe illumination conditions) in case of continuously taking
`
`images.
`
`REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`25
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`imaging device
`
`strobe device
`
`photographing function unit
`
`control device
`
`18
`
`

`

`Substitute Specification
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`9a
`
`9b
`
`9c
`
`9d
`
`10
`
`display unit
`
`operation device
`
`peripheral interface
`
`shutter
`
`strobe main body
`
`upper surface
`
`lower surface
`
`front surface
`
`back surface
`
`light—emitting unit
`
`10a
`
`one surface
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`flash discharge tube
`
`variable mechanism
`
`drive unit
`
`angle detection unit
`
`15
`
`.
`
`control unit
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`operation unit
`
`opening
`
`vertical direction variable mechanism
`
`horizontal direction variable mechanism
`
`vertical direction drive unit
`
`horizontal direction drive unit
`
`vertical direction angle detection unit
`
`horizontal direction angle detection unit
`
`arithmetic unit
`
`storage unit
`
`main capacitor
`
`19
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`