Photography – Having operator controlled data entry into camera – Manual data entry using peripheral device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-04-17
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having operator controlled data entry into camera
Manual data entry using peripheral device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219494
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a peripheral and a camera system using the same, in which programs, stored in a memory element of the camera body and operable in accordance with the programs, can be externally rewritten.
Conventionally, various techniques have been disclosed, which relate to a camera incorporating a memory element for performing various operations based on programs prestored in the memory element, and a camera system including the camera and a peripheral.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,733 discloses a technique by which all or part of the programs, i.e., the bases of various operations, stored in a memory element incorporated in the camera, can be rewritten by means of an external peripheral, so that a function desired by the user can be realized.
However, limited functions are realizable only by rewriting the programs as described above. In other words, to obtain a more sophisticated function, it is necessary that hardware (at least one of the units constituting the camera) be exchanged by the user and the programs for this purpose be installed.
At this time, since both old and new hardware is on the market, if a program compatible with a new function is installed in a system including a camera of the old hardware structure, the camera will be inoperable, and if things come to the worst, components of the camera may be broken.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a peripheral and a camera system using the same, wherein, if software is rewritten in accordance with the change in hardware structure, compatibility between the hardware and the software is determined, thereby avoiding a problem, such as an inoperable condition or a breakdown of a component.
To achieve the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system including a camera operated in accordance with predetermined programs and a peripheral for rewriting at least a part of the predetermined programs, the camera comprising: a plurality of camera operating means; program storage means contents of which are rewritable; control means for controlling the plurality of camera operating means in accordance with the contents of the program storage means; data transmitting means for transmitting camera structure data to the peripheral; and rewriting means for, upon receipt of a program to be installed from the peripheral, rewriting the contents of the program storage means, and the peripheral comprising: determining means for, upon receipt of the camera structure data, determining whether rewriting of the contents of the program storage means is permitted; program transmitting means for transmitting a rewriting program to the rewriting means, when the determining means determines that the rewriting is permitted; and notifying means for notifying that the rewriting is not permitted, when the determining means determines that the rewriting is not permitted.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system including a camera and a peripheral of the camera, the camera comprising: a program storage circuit storing camera operation control programs, contents of which are rewritable; a data storage circuit storing camera structure data; a camera-side communication circuit for conducting communications with the peripheral; and a camera-side control circuit, having a program rewriting mode, for transmitting in the program rewriting mode the camera structure data stored in the data storage circuit to the peripheral via the camera-side communication circuit and writing a rewriting program transmitted from the peripheral via the camera-side communication circuit into the program storage circuit, and the peripheral comprising: a peripheral-side communication circuit for performing communications with the camera; a storage medium for storing the rewriting program; and a peripheral-side control circuit for determining whether an operation of rewriting the program storage circuit is permitted, and if it is permitted, transmitting the rewriting program stored in the storage medium to the camera.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera system including a camera operated in accordance with predetermined programs and a peripheral for controlling a rewriting operation of rewriting at least a part of the predetermined programs, the camera comprising: a camera body unit; an exchange unit detachably mounted on the camera body unit; and a camera-side communication circuit for transmitting identification data of the exchange unit to the peripheral; the peripheral comprising: a peripheral-side communication circuit for receiving the identification data; and a peripheral-side control circuit for controlling the rewriting operation in accordance with the identification data.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a peripheral for performing a rewriting operation of rewriting a program stored in a storage circuit in a camera, the peripheral comprising; storage means storing a rewriting program; receiving means for receiving camera structure data from the camera; determining means for determining whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the camera structure data; and alarm means for displaying an alarm, when the determining means determines that the rewriting operation is not permitted.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4853733 (1989-08-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5278604 (1994-01-01), Nakamura
patent: 5752089 (1998-05-01), Miyazawa et al.
patent: 58-113021 (1983-08-01), None
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
Perkey W. B.
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