Television – Camera – system and detail – Optics
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-06
2003-08-19
Lee, Thomas D. (Department: 2624)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Optics
C348S345000, C348S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06608651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system suitable for use in communication of control information between the camera and lens assemblies of, for example, an interchangeable-lens type camera system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, imaging systems such as camera systems and video camera systems have been remarkably developing, and various kinds of imaging systems which have a variety of functions and which allow interchangeable lens assemblies to be used with a camera assembly have been available.
In such an imaging system, a camera assembly such as a video camera assembly (hereinafter referred to simply as a “camera assembly”) obtains from an interchangeable lens assembly specific information indicative of various characteristics and control information relating to the interchangeable lens assembly. The camera assembly in turn transmits predetermined control information to the lens assembly on the basis of the specific information so as to provide various kinds of control such as auto-focus (AF), auto-exposure (AE) and auto-zoom (AZ).
Transmission of the above-described control information and characteristics information is commonly realized by the communication performed between the camera and lens assemblies.
As is known, such an interchangeable-lens type imaging system is constructed of camera and lens assemblies which functionally differ from each other, and its total function is determined by a combination of the functions of the camera assembly and those of the lens assembly.
FIGS.
1
(
a
) and
1
(
b
) are schematic views showing system arrangements each provided by a combination of camera and lens assemblies in a camera system of the above-described type. A case where either of camera assemblies A and B having different functions is, as shown in FIG.
1
(
a
), combined with either of lens assemblies C and D having different functions will be considered below.
It is assumed, as shown in FIG.
1
(
b
), that the camera assembly A is capable of controlling an AF block A-AF for providing an AF function, an AE block A-AE for providing an AE function, an AZ block A-AZ for providing an AZ function and that the camera assembly B is capable of controlling only an AE block B-AE for providing an AE function.
It is also assumed that the lens assembly C includes an AF block C-AF, an AE block C-AE and an AZ block C-AZ and can selectively perform their functions. Further, it is assumed that the lens assembly D includes an AF block D-AF and an AE block D-AE and can selectively perform their functions.
In a first combination in which the camera assembly A and the lens assembly C are connected to each other by a serial communication line DL, the AF, AE and AZ functions can be performed. In a second combination in which the camera assembly A and the lens assembly D are connected to each other by the serial communication line DL, the AF and AE functions can be performed. If the camera assembly B is applied to either of the first and second combinations, only the AE function can be performed.
To assure reliable compatibility with respect to lens assemblies having different functions, as can be seen from the examples shown in FIGS.
1
(
a
) and
1
(
b
), control information based on a common format and detection information indicative of the driven state of each element needs to be communicated between the camera assembly A or B and the lens assembly C or D over the communication line DL. To achieve such communication, an appropriate common format is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable-lens type camera system in which it is possible to smoothly control a lens assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera system capable of efficiently controlling each function of a lens assembly by communication with a camera assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera system in which control information associated with each unit to be controlled in a lens assembly and detection information indicative of the driven state thereof can be readily independently communicated between camera and lens assemblies irrespective of the number or kinds of units to be controlled, whereby it is possible to completely assure compatibility with respect to various lens assemblies including different numbers of units to be controlled.
To achieve the above objects, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system capable of controlling a plurality of units in a lens assembly on the basis of control information transmitted from a camera assembly. The camera system comprises camera-side control means disposed in the camera assembly for transmitting the control information to the lens assembly, and lens-side control means disposed in the lens assembly for receiving the control information transmitted from the camera assembly and controlling the aforesaid plurality of units to be controlled. Each of the units includes driving means and detecting means for detecting a displacement provided by the driving means. The camera-side control means is arranged to serially transmit the control information on each of the units to the lens-side control means as a block corresponding to each of the units to be controlled, while the lens-side control means is arranged to drive the driving means in each of the units on the basis of the control information and to serially transmit to the camera-side control means information on each of the units, which is outputted from the detecting means, as a block corresponding to each of the units to be controlled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera system in which each function of a lens assembly is controlled from a camera assembly, each function of the lens assembly being realized by a unit which includes a part for providing a desired function, a driving system, and detecting means for detecting the operating state of the part. The camera assembly transmits control information on each of the units to the lens assembly by serial communication, whereby each of the units of the lens assembly can be separately controlled in accordance with the control function of the camera assembly and the function of the lens assembly combined therewith.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera system in which control information associated with each unit to be controlled in a lens assembly and detection information indicative of the driven state thereof can be readily independently communicated between camera and lens assemblies irrespective of the number or kinds of units to be controlled, whereby it is possible to completely assure compatibility with respect to various lens assemblies including different numbers of units to be controlled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable-lens type camera system which can reliably controlling an interchangeable lens assembly by smoothly performing an initial communication for initializing the camera system and a control communication for effecting communication of substantial control information.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera communication system which makes it possible to reduce the requisite processing time without unnecessarily increasing the number of communication words even in a camera system of the type in which the number of communication words for an initial communication between camera and lens assemblies differ from the number of communication words for a control communication between them.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication system in which the number of communication words is variable so that the number of communication words can be increased or decreased as required and which can realize the functions of camera and lens assemblies connected to the communication system by utilizing a minimum communication system and without increasing the cos
Mabuchi Toshiaki
Nishikawa Yoshikazu
Brinich Stephen
Lee Thomas D.
Robin Blecker & Daley
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