A control apparatus includes a controller configured to switch a simultaneous light emission mode that causes all of the at least three light source units to emit lights and a sequential light emission mode that causes the at least three light source units to sequentially emit the lights in association with imaging. The controller causes the at least three light source units to sequentially emit the lights in synchronization with each of at least three imaging signals transmitted from the imaging apparatus in the sequential light emission mode. The controller is configured to switch between the simultaneous light emission mode and the sequential light emission mode based on information from a selector provided in at least one of the imaging apparatus and the accessory and configured to select the simultaneous light emission mode and the sequential light emission mode.

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for repurposing IR transmitters. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device with a camera, one or more IR transmitters, one or more processors, and memory coupled to the one or more processors. The method includes operating the first electronic device in a first mode, the first mode including illuminating an environment proximate the first electronic device via at least one of the one or more IR transmitters to generate an image, via the camera, of at least a portion of the environment. The method further includes operating the first electronic device in a second mode, the second mode including communicating information to a second electronic device via at least one of the one or more IR transmitters.

A control apparatus includes a controller configured to switch a simultaneous light emission mode that causes all of the at least three light source units to emit lights and a sequential light emission mode that causes the at least three light source units to sequentially emit the lights in association with imaging. The controller causes the at least three light source units to sequentially emit the lights in synchronization with each of at least three imaging signals transmitted from the imaging apparatus in the sequential light emission mode. The controller is configured to switch between the simultaneous light emission mode and the sequential light emission mode based on information from a selector provided in at least one of the imaging apparatus and the accessory and configured to select the simultaneous light emission mode and the sequential light emission mode.

The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for repurposing IR transmitters. In one aspect, a method is performed at a first electronic device with a camera, one or more IR transmitters, one or more processors, and memory coupled to the one or more processors. The method includes operating the first electronic device in a first mode, the first mode including illuminating an environment proximate the first electronic device via at least one of the one or more IR transmitters to generate an image, via the camera, of at least a portion of the environment. The method further includes operating the first electronic device in a second mode, the second mode including communicating information to a second electronic device via at least one of the one or more IR transmitters.