Light reflecting and directing umbrella apparatus and systems and methods utilizing such apparatus capable of shifting its shape for the purpose of manipulating and directing light from a light source in both a symmetrical and asymmetrical manner to illuminate a particular subject in a various manners for stage, studio, motion picture and still photography.

The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.

A system for evenly-scattered adaptable subject lighting for mobile device photography, comprising a case configured to enclose and securely fasten a mobile device and an illuminating portion, the illuminating portion configured to produce light based on input received from a plurality of sensors. The system further comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory and operating on a processor of a network-connected computing device, and configured to direct the operation of the illuminating portion comprising at least a sensor processor and an image capture device, wherein the sensor processor adjusts the illuminating portion based on preconfigured thresholds to provide evenly-scatter lighting for capturing images of subjects via the image capture device.

A system for evenly-scattered adaptable subject lighting for mobile device photography, comprising a case configured to enclose and securely fasten a mobile device and an illuminating portion, the illuminating portion configured to produce light based on input received from a plurality of sensors. The system further comprising a plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory and operating on a processor of a network-connected computing device, and configured to direct the operation of the illuminating portion comprising at least a sensor processor and an image capture device, wherein the sensor processor adjusts the illuminating portion based on preconfigured thresholds to provide evenly-scatter lighting for capturing images of subjects via the image capture device.

Imaging apparatus includes an illumination assembly, including a plurality of radiation sources and projection optics, which are configured to project radiation from the radiation sources onto different, respective regions of a scene. An imaging assembly includes an image sensor and objective optics configured to form an optical image of the scene on the image sensor, which includes an array of sensor elements arranged in multiple groups, which are triggered by a rolling shutter to capture the radiation from the scene in successive, respective exposure periods from different, respective areas of the scene so as to form an electronic image of the scene. A controller is coupled to actuate the radiation sources sequentially in a pulsed mode so that the illumination assembly illuminates the different, respective areas of the scene in synchronization with the rolling shutter.

Imaging apparatus includes an illumination assembly, including a plurality of radiation sources and projection optics, which are configured to project radiation from the radiation sources onto different, respective regions of a scene. An imaging assembly includes an image sensor and objective optics configured to form an optical image of the scene on the image sensor, which includes an array of sensor elements arranged in multiple groups, which are triggered by a rolling shutter to capture the radiation from the scene in successive, respective exposure periods from different, respective areas of the scene so as to form an electronic image of the scene. A controller is coupled to actuate the radiation sources sequentially in a pulsed mode so that the illumination assembly illuminates the different, respective areas of the scene in synchronization with the rolling shutter.

An illumination apparatus irradiates first reference light having a first intensity distribution and second reference light having a second intensity distribution that has a complementary relation with the first intensity distribution. A photodetector measures reflected light from an object. A processing device executes a first correlation calculation using a first detection intensity based on the output of the photodetector in a state in which the first reference light is irradiated and the second intensity distribution, and executes a second correlation calculation using a second detection intensity based on the output of the photodetector in a state in which the second reference light is irradiated and the second intensity distribution.

A self-expanding light shaping device for being separably mounted on a fastening arrangement of a lighting device is provided. The light shaping device features sidewalls of flexible material, which after the mounting on the lighting device surround a light shaping and light emitting region formed between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, tensioning elements designed for stabilizing the sidewalls and a fastening mechanism for separably mounting the light shaping device on the fastening arrangement of the lighting device, wherein the outlet opening is realized in the form of a round outlet opening, which is at least sectionally enclosed by a frontal tensioning element that expands the flexible material of the sidewalls.

A self-expanding light shaping device for being separably mounted on a fastening arrangement of a lighting device is provided. The light shaping device features sidewalls of flexible material, which after the mounting on the lighting device surround a light shaping and light emitting region formed between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, tensioning elements designed for stabilizing the sidewalls and a fastening mechanism for separably mounting the light shaping device on the fastening arrangement of the lighting device, wherein the outlet opening is realized in the form of a round outlet opening, which is at least sectionally enclosed by a frontal tensioning element that expands the flexible material of the sidewalls.

Provided are foldable light softboxes for users to conveniently carry around. The softbox comprises a body portion, a set of flexible and foldable frames, means for switching the softbox between an unfolded state and a collapsed state, and means for fitting the softbox over light sources of different sizes. The body portion of the softbox comprises a front panel, a back panel and a strip of material that circumferentially attached to the front panel to the back panel. The flexible and foldable frames are attached along the circumferences of the front and back panels. The softbox can be folded to fit in a circular container, for example, a bag.