JP2005351985A - Lens system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens system capable of dealing with without dividing connecting external equipment by changing a signal output from the connector connecting the external equipment into a serial signal and a two-phase pulse signal, even when the external equipment such as a virtual system requests output of position data of a zoom, a focus or the like in any one output shape of the serial signal and a parallel signal (the two phase pulse signal from an encoder). <P>SOLUTION: For instance, a relay system 42 for collecting photographing data necessary for the virtual system 40 is connected to the connector 36 of the lens system 10. The position data of the zoom and the focus are acquired by serial communication in the relay system 42. The two-phase pulse signal of an A phase and a B phase from the encoders 22 and 24 of the zoom and the focus is directly acquired. A selector 34 is provided in the lens system 10, the signal output from the connector 36 by the selector 34 is switched by the serial signal and the two-phase pulse signal, and the lens system can deal with the relay system 42 of any type. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens system, and more particularly to a lens system to which an external device such as a virtual system can be connected.

  In recent television broadcasting, a technique for synthesizing live-action video shot by a TV camera and electronic video created by a computer is often used. As a technique for synthesizing video (image), a technique of chroma key synthesis is generally known. According to this, when a foreground subject of a composite image such as a person is acquired as a live-action image, the foreground subject is placed in front of, for example, a blue cloth (blue back) and photographed with a television camera. Thus, a key signal for identifying the foreground subject region and the blue background region is generated from the video signal. Then, based on the key signal, the image of the blue background area is replaced with a background image created by a computer or the like, or a background image taken at a different time or place, and the foreground subject and the background image are combined.

  Also, in recent years, it is not just synthesizing images by chroma key composition, but the subject photographed by a TV camera as a live-action image is as if it actually exists in a virtual space (virtual studio) created as an electronic image. A video synthesis system (virtual system) called a virtual studio is frequently used.

  In the virtual system, a desired virtual space is created by a computer or the like, and a virtual camera (virtual camera) is arranged in the virtual space. Thereby, shooting in the virtual space is virtually performed by the virtual camera, and an electronic image of the virtual space is created.

  In addition, the shooting conditions of the virtual camera are changed in the same way as the shooting conditions are changed by the camera work such as zooming, focusing, pan / tilt, etc. on the TV camera (referred to as the real camera) that captures the live-action video. An electronic image of the virtual space is generated by a virtual camera linked to the camera work.

  In this way, the electronic image of the virtual space generated by the virtual camera is combined with the real image captured by the real camera by chroma key composition etc., as if the subject of the real image is actually present in the virtual space A composite video is generated.

  By the way, when using a virtual system for television broadcasting, a broadcast video camera (television camera) is used as an actual camera. In general, a photographic lens mounted on a camera body with interchangeable lenses has zoom and focus. A lens system is configured together with a control system to be controlled. The lens system has a function to output position data such as zoom and focus to an external device. When a virtual system is connected as an external device, the virtual system zooms and focuses on the real camera when shooting a live-action image. The position data such as are sequentially acquired from the lens system, and the shooting conditions of the virtual camera are matched with those of the real camera as described above.

In addition, the exchange of information such as position data between the lens system and the external device is generally performed by serial communication. However, Patent Document 1 discloses that the zoom and focus positions of the photographing lens are accurately detected. And an encoder output signal is directly transmitted to the virtual system as a parallel signal so that there is no time delay between the operation of the real camera and the virtual camera.
Japanese Patent No. 3478740

  However, considering the case where the lens system is used in a system other than the virtual system as described above, the need for an interface for serial communication is high. Some virtual systems that have been used in the past require output of position data as serial signals, and an interface for serial communication is required to enable use in such virtual systems. . Therefore, when outputting zoom and focus position data as parallel signals (encoder output form) as in Patent Document 1, a dedicated connector for that purpose must be provided separately from the serial communication connector. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when an external device such as a virtual system requests output of position data such as zoom and focus in any output form of a serial signal and a parallel signal. An object of the present invention is to provide a lens system that can be used without connecting connectors for connecting external devices.

  In order to achieve the object, the lens system according to claim 1 has a pulse number corresponding to the magnitude of a change in position of a position detection target such as zoom and focus of a photographing lens, and whether the position is positive or negative. In a lens system including an encoder that outputs a two-phase pulse signal with a phase relationship corresponding to a change direction, position data indicating an absolute position of the position detection target based on the two-phase pulse signal output from the encoder Position data deriving means for deriving, position data output means for outputting the position data derived by the position data deriving means as a serial signal, a connector to which an external device is detachably connected, and a signal output from the connector A serial signal output from the position data output means, and a two-phase pulse signal output from the encoder; It is characterized with the connector output switching means for switching, further comprising: a.

  According to the present invention, the position data signal output from the connector to which the external device is connected can be switched between the serial signal and the two-phase pulse signal (parallel signal) from the encoder. Even if the data is requested in any output form of a serial signal and a two-phase pulse signal, it can be handled by one connector.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lens system according to the first aspect, wherein the type of signal required by the external device connected to the connector is automatically identified as a serial signal or a two-phase pulse signal. And the connector output switching means automatically switches the signal output from the connector based on the type of signal identified by the identification means. According to the present invention, there is no need for a user to switch a signal output from a connector between a serial signal and a two-phase pulse signal, and a signal appropriately corresponding to an external device connected to the connector is selected.

  The lens system according to a third aspect is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the external device is a virtual system.

  According to the lens system of the present invention, an external device such as a virtual system can be connected even if the output of position data such as zoom and focus is requested in either the serial signal or parallel signal output form. It becomes possible to cope without dividing the connector to be used.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a lens system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lens system according to the present invention and showing an aspect in which a virtual system is connected to the lens system. In the figure, the lens system includes a lens device 10 having a photographing lens (optical system) and a control system, the detailed configuration of which is omitted, and controllers such as a zoom demand 12 and a focus demand 14 connected to the lens device 10. Has been.

  The photographic lens of the lens device 10 is mounted on a camera body (not shown) with interchangeable lenses used for broadcasting or commercial video photography. The photographic lens is provided on the camera body. A subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

  In the photographic lens, a zoom (magnification) lens (group) ZL and a focus lens (group) FL shown in the drawing are arranged so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. Each lens ZL, FL is connected to each motor ZM, FM. The motors ZM and FM are coupled to move in the optical axis direction. When the zoom lens ZL is moved by the motor ZM, the zoom magnification (focal length) of the photographic lens changes, thereby changing the photographic field angle. When the focus lens FL is moved by the motor FM, the focus position of the photographing lens is changed, and thereby the distance to the subject in focus (subject distance or photographing distance) is changed.

  The control system of the lens apparatus 10 includes a CPU 16, an A / D converter 18, a D / A converter 20, amplifiers ZA and FA, encoders 22 and 24, a ROM 28, and the like as shown in FIG. Command signals output from the zoom demand 12 and the focus demand 14 connected to the lens device 10 are input to the A / D converter 18. In the zoom demand 12, a zoom operation is performed by a cameraman or the like, and a zoom command signal indicating a target value of the position or moving speed of the zoom lens ZL is output from the zoom demand 12 according to the operation. Further, the focus demand 14 is operated by a cameraman or the like, and a focus command signal indicating the target value of the position or moving speed of the focus lens FL is output from the focus demand 14 according to the operation.

  These zoom command signals and focus command signals are converted from analog signals to digital signals by the A / D converter 18 and supplied to the CPU 16.

  Note that the zoom command signal and the focus command signal given to the CPU 16 to command the zoom and focus operations may not be given from the zoom demand 12 or the focus demand 14 as described above, and serial communication with the CPU 16 is possible. It may be given from another device such as a computer connected by the.

  The CPU 16 outputs a zoom control signal to the D / A converter 20 in accordance with the zoom command signal given from the zoom demand 14, and after converting the zoom control signal from a digital signal to an analog signal by the D / A converter 20, the amplifier 16 Give to ZA. As a result, the motor ZM is driven according to the zoom control signal to move the zoom lens ZL, and the value of the zoom control signal is adjusted by the CPU 16 according to the value of the zoom command signal and the state (position or speed) of the zoom lens ZL. Thus, the state of the zoom lens ZL is controlled so as to become the target value given by the zoom command signal.

  Similarly, the CPU 16 outputs a focus control signal to the D / A converter 20 in accordance with the focus command signal given from the focus demand 14, and the D / A converter 20 converts the focus control signal from a digital signal to an analog signal. After that, it is given to the amplifier FA. As a result, the motor FM is driven according to the focus control signal, the focus lens FL moves, and the value of the focus control signal is adjusted by the CPU 16 according to the value of the focus command signal and the state (position or speed) of the focus lens FL. Thus, control is performed so that the state of the focus lens FL becomes the target value given by the focus command signal.

  Further, the lens system control system is provided with encoders 22 and 24 as position sensors for detecting the positions of the zoom lens ZL and the focus lens FL. For example, incremental rotary encoders are used for the encoders 22 and 24, and their rotation detection shafts are connected to the output shafts of the motors ZM and FM, respectively. As a result, every time the zoom lens ZL moves in a positive or negative direction (wide direction or tele direction) by a predetermined amount, a pulse signal indicating that the moving direction is positive and negative and a predetermined unit amount is output. . Each time the focus lens FL moves a predetermined amount in the positive or negative direction (closest direction or infinity direction), a pulse signal indicating that the moving direction is positive and negative and a predetermined unit amount is output from the encoder 24. The

  Here, the outputs of the encoders 22 and 24 are, for example, a two-phase pulse signal composed of an A phase and a B phase as shown in FIG. 2, and are constant from each phase every time the axes of the encoders 22 and 24 rotate by a certain amount. A number of pulses are output. Further, the phases of the A phase and the B phase are shifted by, for example, 90 degrees, and the phase relationship between the pulses of the A phase and the B phase is reversed according to the rotation direction of the rotation detection shaft (the advance of the phase of the A phase and the B phase And the relationship of delay is reversed).

  The pulse signals output from these encoders 22 and 24 are input to the counter 26. When a pulse signal indicating movement of a predetermined unit amount in the positive direction is input, the value (count value) of the counter 26 increases by one. When a pulse signal indicating a predetermined unit amount of movement in the negative direction is input, the count value of the counter 26 is decreased by one.

  The counter 26 counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal given to each of the encoders 22 and 24, and the value (counter value) counted for each pulse signal is the current position (zoom position) of the zoom lens ZL. Position data (a value indicating an absolute position) indicating the position (focus position) of the focus lens FL is given to the CPU 16 and used for controlling the zoom lens ZL and the focus lens FL. At the initial setting, the zoom lens ZL is moved to either the wide end or the tele end, and the focus lens FL is moved to either the close end or the infinity end. The counter value of the counter 26 is reset to 0.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens device 10 is provided with a connector 36, and an external device can be connected to the connector 36 via a connection cable. As an external device connectable to the connector 36, various signals are exchanged with the lens apparatus 10 by serial communication, and for example, zoom and focus position data obtained sequentially by the encoders 22, 24 and the counter 26 are output as serial signals. It is possible to connect either an external device that requires this and an external device that requires that the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals output from the encoders 22 and 24 are output as parallel signals as they are. Yes.

  In the lens apparatus 10, a selector 34 is connected to the connector 36, and a signal line from an SCI (serial communication interface) 30 is connected to the selector 34. A signal line for transmitting the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals from the encoders 22 and 24 to the counter 26 is branched and connected to the selector 34.

  The selector 34 is connected to the connector 36 among the signal lines from the SCI 30 (hereinafter referred to as signal lines for serial communication) and the signal lines from the encoders 22 and 24 (hereinafter referred to as signal lines for two-phase pulse output). A function of selecting a signal line to be effectively connected is provided.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the components related to the selector 34 extracted from FIG. As shown in the figure, several serial communication signal lines L1, L2,..., Ln are connected from the SCI 30 to the selector. For example, the signal line L1 is a signal line through which transmission data from the SCI 30 is transmitted, and the signal line L2 is a signal line through which reception data to the SCI 30 is transmitted. The types and number of signal lines L1 to Ln) are determined according to the serial communication standard, and there are signal lines for grounding and transmission request in addition to transmission of transmission data and reception data. In this embodiment, it is assumed that there are at least four or more.

  On the other hand, two 2-phase pulse output signal lines M1 to M4 for transmitting A-phase and B-phase pulse signals are connected to the selector 34 from the encoders 22 and 24, respectively.

  In the figure, in the block of the selector 34, there is a configuration for switching signal lines that are effectively connected to the connector 36 among the signal lines L1 to Ln for serial communication and the signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output. Shown in an analog configuration. However, the actual circuit is not limited to this, and can be implemented by an analog circuit having a different configuration, or can be implemented by a digital processing circuit.

  Inside the selector 34, the same number of signal lines N1 to Nn as the signal lines L1 to Ln for serial communication are wired, and one end of each of the signal lines N1 to Nn is pulled out from the selector 34 as it is and is connected to the connector 34. It is connected to 36 pins P1 to Pn. On the other hand, each signal line L1 to Ln for serial communication is connected to the other end of each signal line N1 to Nn via an associated switch group SW1. Further, predetermined four of the signal lines N1 to Nn, for example, signal lines N1 to N4, are connected to signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output via a switch group SW2.

  Therefore, when the switch group SW1 is turned on and the switch group SW2 is turned off, the signal lines L1 to Ln for serial communication are effectively connected to the connector 36. On the other hand, when the switch group SW1 is turned off and the switch group SW2 is turned on, the signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output are effectively connected to the connector 36.

  Of the signal lines N1 to Nn, the four signal lines to which the two-phase pulse output signal lines M1 to M4 are connected are not limited to specific ones. Further, some or all of the signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output are connected to the pins (pins of the pins) of the connector 36 by signal lines different from the signal lines N1 to Nn to which the signal lines L1 to Ln for serial communication are connected. The number may be increased accordingly). In particular, pulse signals from encoders other than the zoom and focus encoders 22 and 24 are also output as parallel signals from the connector 36, and not only the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals from the encoders 22 and 24, but also the Z-phase pulse signals. There may be cases where the number of signal lines for two-phase pulse output is greater than the number of signal lines for serial communication, as in the case of outputting a pulse signal as a parallel signal. Some of the signal lines need to be connected to pins of the connector 36 by signal lines different from the signal lines N1 to Nn to which the serial communication signal lines are connected.

  The selection of the signal line by the selector 34 (switching of the switch groups SW1 and SW2 on / off) requires an external device connected to the connector 36 to request serial communication or a two-phase pulse output. It is automatically performed by outputting a selection signal indicating whether it is a thing.

  That is, the connector 36 is provided with a pin P0 connected to the input / output port 32 in addition to the pins P1 to Pn to which the signal lines N1 to Nn from the selector 34 are connected. When the external device outputs a selection signal for requesting serial communication or two-phase pulse output through the signal line N0 of the pin P0 of the connector 36, the selection signal is given to the CPU 16 via the input / output port 32.

  When the CPU 16 receives a selection signal for requesting serial communication, the CPU 16 sets the data output mode from the connector 36 to the serial output mode. In the serial output mode, the switch group SW1 of the selector 34 is turned on and the switch group SW2 is turned off by an instruction signal given from the CPU 16 to the selector 34 via the input / output port 32. Thus, the signal lines L1 to Ln for serial communication are effectively connected to the connector 36. At this time, the CPU 16 executes serial communication processing, and transmits and receives serial communication signals via the SCI 30.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 16 receives the selection signal requesting the two-phase pulse output, the CPU 16 sets the data output mode from the connector 36 to the two-phase pulse output mode. In the two-phase pulse output mode, the switch group SW1 of the selector 34 is turned off and the switch group SW2 is turned on by an instruction signal given from the CPU 16 to the selector 34 via the input / output port 32. As a result, the signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output are effectively connected to the connector 36, and the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals from the encoders 22 and 24 are output from the connector 36 to an external device. At this time, the CPU 16 does not perform serial communication processing.

  Note that the method of automatically selecting the signal line (selecting the serial communication mode and the two-phase pulse output mode) by the selector 34 is not limited to the method described above. For example, a selection signal (a signal indicating that an external device for serial communication is connected to the connector 36) is provided to the CPU 16 only when an external device that requires serial communication is connected to the connector 36, and whether or not the signal exists. The serial communication mode or the two-phase pulse output mode may be automatically selected. Also, without the external device outputting the special selection signal as described above, the CPU 16 first sets the serial communication mode and transmits a predetermined signal in the serial communication to the external device. As a result, if the external device is capable of serial communication, the serial communication mode is selected, and if not, the two-phase pulse output mode is selected. Further, the user may select the serial communication mode or the two-phase pulse output mode with a predetermined switch.

  By the way, for example, if the external device is a type that requires serial communication, it is connected to the connector 36 by the serial communication connection cable 38 in FIG. The connector 36 is connected via an output connection cable 39. The connectors 38A and 39A attached to the connectors 36 of these connection cables 38 and 39 have the same or similar structure that can be attached to at least the connector 36. However, the connectors 38A and 39A are effective for external devices. The number of signal lines in the connection cables 38 and 39 connected to is determined by the number of serial communication signal lines L1 to Ln and two-phase pulse output signal lines M1 to M4, respectively.

  In the connection cable 38 for serial communication, the connector 38A is provided with all the pins P1 to Pn and the pins P0 of the connector 36, and is connected to the pins P1 to Pn and P0 of the connector 36. Corresponding to the signal lines N1 to Nn and N0, the connection cable 38 is provided with signal lines N1 to Nn and N0 that are effectively connected from each pin of the connector 38A to an external device.

  On the other hand, in the connection cable 39 for two-phase pulse output, pins P1 to P4 of the connector 36 (pins to which signal lines M1 to M4 for two-phase pulse output are connected via signal lines N1 to N4) are connected to the connector 39A. In addition, pins that contact the pins P0 are provided. Corresponding to the signal lines N1 to N4 and N0 connected to the pins P1 to P4 and P0 of the connector 36, the connection cable 39 includes the connector 39A. Signal lines N1 to N4 and N0 that are effectively connected from each pin to an external device are provided.

  For example, when the connector 36 is a male pin, the connector 39A of the connection cable 39 for two-phase pulse output is a pin into which all the pins P1 to Pn and P0 of the connector 36 are inserted even if no signal line is required. Although it is necessary to provide holes, when the connector 36 is a female pin, even if no signal line is required, the pins that fit into all the pins P1 to Pn and P0 (pin holes) of the connector 36 are output as two-phase pulses. For example, the connector 39A of the connection cable 39 may be provided, or only pins that require signal lines may be provided.

  In the lens system configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the virtual system 40 is connected to the connector 36 of the lens apparatus 10 as an external device, for example, via a relay system 42.

  The virtual system 40 is a system mainly configured by a computer. For example, a real image of a subject photographed in a blue background by a television camera (real camera) using the lens system, and a virtual space created by a computer or the like. This is a so-called virtual studio system that synthesizes an electronic image of (virtual studio) using a chroma key composition technique.

  The outline of the processing in the virtual system will be described. First, in capturing a real image by a real camera, a real subject (foreground subject) arranged in the virtual space is photographed by a real camera with a blue background as a background. At that time, the foreground subject is photographed with desired camera work by operating the zoom and focus. The video signal of the actual video shot in this manner is taken into the virtual system 40 via the relay system 42 from the real camera. Then, the virtual system 40 generates a key signal for identifying the foreground subject region and the blue background region in the live-action video from the video signal of the real-life video captured from the real camera.

  On the other hand, creation data for constructing a desired virtual space is stored in advance in the virtual system 40. A virtual camera is arranged in the virtual space, and an electronic image of the virtual space photographed by the virtual camera is stored in the virtual space. Generate based on creation data. At this time, by matching the shooting conditions of the virtual camera with the shooting conditions of the real camera, the unnaturalness when combining the live-action video and the electronic video of the virtual space is eliminated. Capture data to know is taken in via the relay system 42.

  Here, the shooting data captured by the virtual system 40 includes, for example, position data such as zoom and focus with an actual camera, and these are sequentially acquired from the lens system (lens device 10) during shooting of a captured image. In addition, when the real camera is mounted on the pan / tilt pan head, the position data of the pan position and the tilt position are sequentially acquired via the relay system 42. In addition to the zoom and focus, the shooting data to be acquired from the lens system may include position data for other objects to be controlled, such as an aperture. In that case, other methods may be used in the same manner as the acquisition of the zoom and focus position data. Since position data to be controlled can be captured, the position data captured from the lens system is limited to zoom and focus in the description, and the description of capturing other position data is omitted.

  The virtual system 40 captures shooting data relating to shooting conditions of the real camera from the relay system 42, and generates an electronic image of the virtual space by matching the shooting conditions of the virtual camera with the shooting conditions of the real camera based on the shooting data. . Then, based on the key signal, a blue background region of the live-action image is specified, and the image in the region is replaced with an electronic image in the virtual space. As a result, a video signal of a synthesized video obtained by synthesizing the actual video of the foreground subject and the electronic video of the virtual space is generated, and the video signal of the synthesized video is output from the virtual system 40 to another video device such as a VTR device. .

  The relay system 42 is mainly installed near the lens device 10, and as described above, necessary data such as a video signal of actual captured video captured into the virtual system 40 and shooting data is transmitted to the camera body or the lens device 10, or The data is collected from the pan / tilt head and transferred to the virtual system 40 by serial communication.

  Regarding the capture of zoom and focus position data from the lens device 10, the relay system 42 includes a type that captures position data from the lens device 10 by serial communication (serial signal), and the lens as a zoom and focus position sensor. When an encoder is used as in the apparatus 10, there is a type in which A-phase and B-phase pulse signals output from the encoder are directly taken as parallel signals. In the case of the latter type, the relay system 42 is equipped with a counter that performs the same processing as the counter 26 in the lens apparatus 10, and the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals directly output from the encoder as parallel signals are A function of obtaining position data of an absolute position by counting with a counter and transferring it to the virtual system 40 is provided.

  On the other hand, any type of relay system 42 can be connected to the connector 36 of the lens device 10, and the signal output mode from the connector 36 depends on the type of the relay system 42 and the serial output mode and two-phase mode. The mode is switched to the pulse output mode.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the CPU 16 of the lens apparatus 10 regarding the output of zoom and focus position data when the relay system 42 is connected to the connector 36. After executing processing other than the output of position data (step S10), the CPU 16 detects a selection signal output from the relay system 42 via the input / output port 32 (step S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the selection signal is a request for serial communication (step S14). If YES is determined, the signal output mode from the connector 36 is set to the serial output mode (step S16). That is, the signal line for serial communication is effectively connected to the connector 36 by the selector 34. Then, the counter values for the encoders 22 and 24 are read from the counter 26 (step S18), and these counter values are output as serial and zoom position data from the SCI 30 (step S20). As a result, the position data of the serial signal is transmitted to the relay system 42. After the process of step S20, the process returns to step S10, and the process from step S10 is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined NO in the determination process of step S14, the signal output mode from the connector 36 is set to the two-phase pulse output mode (step S22). That is, the selector 34 effectively connects the signal line for two-phase pulse output to the connector 36. Then, the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals output from the encoders 22 and 24 are output from the connector 36 (step S24). As a result, the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals from the encoders 22 and 24 are transmitted to the relay system 42. After the process of step S24, the process returns to step S10, and the process from step S10 is repeated.

  As described above, the case where the serial communication relay system 42 acquires zoom and focus position data has been described in the above embodiment. However, the position data is not limited to the serial communication external device and the lens device 10. Other information can be exchanged.

  In addition, when an external device that requests two-phase pulse output includes a counter for counting pulses acquired from the lens device 10 (for deriving an absolute position), a signal for resetting the counter value, The Z-phase signal output from the encoder may be output together with the A-phase and B-phase pulse signals.

  In the above embodiment, the virtual system 40 (and the relay system 42) is assumed as an external device connected to the lens system. However, the present invention connects an external device other than the virtual system 40 to the lens system to perform zooming and zooming. The present invention can also be applied to a case where position data such as focus is transmitted to the external device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a lens system according to the present invention and showing an aspect in which a virtual system is connected to the lens system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form of an output signal from the encoder. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing components related to the selector of the lens device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the CPU of the lens apparatus when position data is output.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Lens apparatus, 12 ... Zoom demand, 14 ... Focus demand, 16, 52 ... CPU, 18 ... A / D converter, 20 ... D / A converter, 22, 24 ... Encoder, 26 ... Counter, 30 ... SCI 32 ... I / O port, 34 ... Selector, 36 ... Connector, 38, 39 ... Connection cable, 40 ... Virtual system, 42 ... Relay system, ZL ... Zoom lens, FL ... Focus lens, ZM, FM ... Motor

Claims (3)

An encoder that outputs a two-phase pulse signal with the number of pulses corresponding to the magnitude of the change in position of the position detection target such as zoom and focus of the photographic lens and in a phase relationship corresponding to the direction of change of the position from positive to negative. In the provided lens system,
Position data deriving means for deriving position data indicating the absolute position of the position detection target based on a two-phase pulse signal output from the encoder;
Position data output means for outputting the position data derived by the position data deriving means as a serial signal;
A connector to which an external device is detachably connected;
Connector output switching means for switching a signal output from the connector between a serial signal output from the position data output means and a two-phase pulse signal output from the encoder;
A lens system comprising: An identification means for automatically identifying whether the type of signal required by the external device connected to the connector is a serial signal or a two-phase pulse signal;
The lens system according to claim 1, wherein the connector output switching unit automatically switches a signal output from the connector based on a type of a signal identified by the identification unit.   The lens system according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a virtual system.

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