The subject of the invention is a flashlight umbrella device, which includes a reflector, a light softening diffuser, a stand, and a light source unit, where the light source unit includes light source control electronics, a luminous body, and reflector holding unit. The subject of the invention includes the application procedure of the device.

The following solutions form part of the state of the art:

Japanese patent description No. JPH07225415 A and Korean patent description No. KR20100099566 A describe a flash that has a parabolic reflector and a flash tube. There is a filter panel, the size of which is the same as the reflector, located in front of the parabolic reflector.

Japanese patent document No. JP2009075175 A describes a flashlight device that includes a Xenon light tube, a resin layer that is of the same size as the reflector, and a heat resistant layer located between the light tube and the filter.

Chinese utility model No. CN2062067 U describes a camera with a flash that is fitted with a parabolic reflector. Chinese utility model No. CN201903739 U describes a regulating layer and cover for a camera flash lamp, which is capable of setting the warmth and colour of the flash light and of reducing the luminance.

Japanese patent document No. JPH08201886 A also describes a camera accessory that is capable of adjusting the temperature of the flash light colour. US publication document No. US4633374 A describes a collapsible flash umbrella that is fitted with a stand. The umbrella consists of two parts, a transparent and a reflecting part, and the light source may be placed between the two parts.

US patent description No. US4608571 A describes a similar, traditional, cheap, and collapsible flash umbrella with a light structure. The umbrella has a parabolic shape. Japanese publication document No. JPH05150381 A describes a device that is capable of spreading the light evenly. The device has a light source, a parabolic reflector surface, cylinder lens, and a reflecting umbrella, and the component regulating the volume of light is installed between the light source and the lens.

Japanese patent document No. JP2004317880 A describes a parabolic reflector and flash light, where the angle of the emitted light can be freely adjusted using movable wings. Japanese publication document No. JPS6294834 A describes a small flash light that has a light tube and a parabolic reflector. The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the defects of known solutions and to implement a device and an application procedure that is capable of adjusting the softness of the emitted light as required.

The inventive step is based on the recognition that, if the flashlight umbrella is implemented according to claim 1 the permeability of the liquid crystal layer can be regulated electronically. This recognition makes it possible to regulate, with the help of the light softening diffuser control electronics, the softness of the emitted light as required using the operating device connected to the light softening diffuser control electronics.

In line with the set objective, the most general implementation form of the solution according to the invention can be implemented according to claim 1. The most general form of the application procedure is described in the main procedural claim. The various implementation forms are described in the sub-claims.

The solution in general is a flashlight umbrella device, which includes a reflector, a light softening diffuser, a stand, a light softening diffuser holding unit, and a light source unit, where the light source unit includes light source control electronics, a luminous body, and reflector holding unit. A distinctive feature of the invention is that the light softening diffuser is fitted with a liquid crystal layer, light softening diffuser control electronics is connected to the electric outlet of the liquid crystal layer through an electric cable, and the light softening diffuser control electronics is connected to an operating device.

In another implementation form, the light softening diffuser is a sheet, advantageously a circular sheet, which is located in a central and perpendicular position to the longitudinal axis of the reflector, and the light source unit also includes a light softening diffuser holding unit.

In another implementation form, the light softening diffuser is a skirt, advantageously a roller skirt, which is placed in a position so that it surrounds the longitudinal axis of the reflector, and the light source unit also includes a light source positioning unit. In another implementation form, the light source control electronics is connected to the light softening diffuser control electronics, so that it increases the luminance of the light source automatically when the permeability of the light softening diffuser is reduced.

In yet another implementation form, the light softening diffuser is composed of several components, which are connected to the light softening diffuser control electronics through electric cables connected to the individual electric outlet of each component, so that the permeability of each component can be regulated separately.

The invention is presented in more detail using drawings of two implementation forms.

Figure 1 shows the spatial drawing of a possible implementation form.

Figure 2 shows the spatial drawing of another possible implementation form.

Figure 1 shows the spatial drawing of a possible implementation form, and the components and the connections between such components are clearly visible. The light source unit 14 includes the light source control electronics 1, the luminous body 4, the light softening diffuser holding unit light softening diffuser holding unit 8, and the reflector holding unit 13. The luminous body 4 and the reflector holding unit 13 are connected to the light source control electronics 1. The light softening diffuser holding unit 8 is connected to the reflector holding unit 13. The light source control electronics 1 is mounted onto the stand 6. The reflector 2 is mounted onto the reflector holding unit 13. The light softening diffuser 3 is connected to the light softening diffuser holding units 8. A liquid crystal layer 9 is located in the light softening diffuser 3. The electric outlet 10 is connected to the light softening diffuser 3. The electric cable 11 connects the electric outlet 10 to the light softening diffuser control electronics 5. The light softening diffuser control electronics 5 is connected to the control unit 7.

Figure 2 shows the spatial drawing of another possible implementation form, and the components of the other implementation form and the connections between such components are clearly visible. The light source unit 14 includes the light source control electronics 1, the luminous body 4, the light source positioning unit 12, and the reflector holding unit 13. The light source positioning unit 12 fits into the reflector holding unit 13. The light source control electronics 1 is mounted onto the light source positioning unit 12. The luminous body 4 is connected to the light source control electronics 1. The reflector 2 and the light softening diffuser 3 is connected to the reflector holding unit 13. The reflector holding unit 13 is mounted onto the stand 6. A liquid crystal layer 9 is located in the light softening diffuser 3. The electric outlet 10 is connected to the light softening diffuser 3. The electric cable 11 connects the electric outlet 10 to the light softening diffuser control electronics 5. The light softening diffuser control electronics 5 is connected to the control unit 7.

The presented device has numerous advantages. The sharpness of shadows can be reduced using the light softening diffuser, and it is possible emphasize or dampen the surface texture of objects and persons shown on the image. Unlike earlier, it is unnecessary to replace the light softening diffuser to achieve this effect. It is possible to set the characteristics and scattering of the light as required quickly, possibly using a remote controller. The device may be even connected to a smartphone application, so that its control may be even more comfortable. UV-R and UV-A radiation is emitted when the flashes fire. This 390 to 400 nm light has an impact on the colour quality of the images. The surface of the light softening diffuser may be covered with a UV filter layer that can reduce this radiation by up to 98%. The diffusers do not turn yellow with the lapse of time. The water-repellent coat ensures that the frame or the diffusers are not affected by any colour-related or physical deformity (expansion). The material of the reflector does not keep humidity, thereby contributing to an extended life expectancy and the making of high-quality images.

The invention is applied on the field of photography. In addition to the above examples, the invention may be implemented in other forms and with other manufacturing procedures within the scope of protection.