JP2006041900A - Camera system, camera main body, and camera head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system capable of deciding whether an interface for image communication of a camera head side and an interface for image communication of a camera main body side match each other when the camera head is mounted on the camera main body. <P>SOLUTION: When the camera head 1a is mounted, a main body CPU 100b sends a request to send communication specifications to the side of the camera head 1a by controlling a 3-line serial I/F 151b. When communication specifications are sent back to the camera main body from the camera head, the main body CPU 100b of the camera main body side refers to communication specifications of the high-speed serial I/F 150b of the camera main body side and specifications of high-speed serial I/F 150a of the camera head side and sets communication specifications which are common to the both. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a camera head having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body on which the camera head is detachably mounted and receives an image signal generated by the image sensor of the camera head and performs signal processing. The present invention relates to a system, its camera body, and its camera head.

  When a plug-in unit in which an image sensor and a photographing optical system are integrated is attached to the camera body, information on the plug-in unit is transmitted to the camera body side, and photographing is performed with the photographing optical system included in the plug-in unit. A camera system has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). When a camera system that replaces the photographic optical system, that is, the photographic lens, is realized simply by attaching the plug-in unit to the camera body, the handling of the camera system becomes very simple, and specialized knowledge can be obtained. Even people who do not have it can easily change the photographic lens.

  Similarly, there is a camera system including a camera head including a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body that is detachably mounted and receives an image signal from the camera head and performs signal processing (for example, Patent Document 2).

  In such a camera system, the camera head and the camera body have a wide range of products ranging from the upper model to the lower model, no matter which camera head is selected and which camera. If it can be easily combined even if the main body is selected, the camera system can be adapted to any user needs.

  However, if the electrical specifications of the camera head and the electrical specifications of the camera body are different, the camera system cannot be established, and even if the camera head is attached to the camera body, a situation in which shooting cannot be performed occurs. To avoid this situation, the camera head is not equipped with an image sensor, but it is determined when the interchangeable lens is attached to the camera body whether the electrical specifications of the interchangeable lens match the electrical specifications of the camera body. The technique which performs is proposed (for example, refer patent document 3).

  In Patent Document 3, the electrical specifications (output current value, output voltage value, etc.) on the interchangeable lens side when one interchangeable lens of a plurality of types is mounted on one camera body of the plurality of types. Is determined by the control unit on the camera body side whether or not the electrical specifications (input current value, input voltage value, etc.) on the camera body side match.

  When the technique proposed in Patent Document 3 is used, the control unit on the camera body side can determine whether or not processing corresponding to the interchangeable lens can be performed on the camera body when the interchangeable lens is attached to the camera body. it can.

By the way, recently, a camera optical system and an image sensor are provided in the camera head, and an image signal generated by the image sensor on the camera head side is transmitted through a communication interface for image communication provided in both the camera head and the camera body. There has been proposed a camera system that transfers to the main body side and causes a signal processing unit in the camera main body to perform signal processing. In such a system, it is necessary to determine whether the communication specification of the image communication interface on the camera head side matches the communication specification of the image communication interface on the camera body side. No determination is made as to the compatibility of both image communication interfaces.
JP-A-8-172561 JP 2000-175089 A JP 2003-228115 A

  The present invention provides a camera system that can freely determine whether an image communication interface on the camera head side and an image communication interface on the camera body side are compatible when the camera head is mounted on the camera body. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera body and a camera head constituting the camera system.

The camera system of the present invention that achieves the above object receives a signal signal generated by a camera head having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and an image signal generated by the image sensor of the camera head, the camera head being detachably mounted. A camera system having a camera body,
The camera body is
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second main body side interface for control signal communication,
The camera head is
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification that can be freely set from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for communicating with a communication specification that matches the communication specification of the second main body side interface for control signal communication;
In addition, the camera system has its own communication specifications that are one of the camera body and the camera head, and the other party received via the second body side interface and the second head side interface. Referring to the communication specifications, the interface setting for setting the communication specifications common to the first main body side interface and the first head side interface to both the first main body side interface and the first head side interface. It has the part.

  According to the camera system of the present invention, the interface setting unit causes the communication specification of the first main body side interface of the first main body side interface, which is one of the camera main body and the camera head, or the first head side interface. And the communication specification of the first head-side interface or the communication specification of the first body-side interface received via the second body-side interface and the second head-side interface. The communication specifications common to both the first head side interface and the first main body side interface are set.

  Then, when the camera head is attached to the camera body, the interface setting unit refers to the communication specifications of both the first head-side interface and the first body-side interface, and both interfaces are referred to by the reference. It is determined whether or not

  If the communication setting of the first interface on the main body side and the head side is referred to by the interface setting unit and there is no common communication specification for both, the combination of the camera head and the camera main body can shoot. It is also possible to notify the photographer that shooting is not possible before shooting.

  In addition, as described above, a plurality of types of camera bodies and camera heads constituting this camera system are both prepared, and no matter which camera head is selected from the plurality of types, a plurality of types Regardless of which camera body is selected, I would like to have a camera system in which both are adaptively combined.

Therefore, the camera body of the present invention is
A camera body that is detachably mounted with a camera head including an imaging optical system and an image sensor, receives an image signal generated by the image sensor of the camera head, and performs signal processing,
The camera head is
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification that can be freely set from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for control signal communication,
This camera body
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second main body side interface for communicating with a communication specification matching the communication specification of the second head side interface for control signal communication;
Referring to the own communication specifications and the communication specifications of the camera head received via the second main body side interface and the second head side interface, the first main body side interface and the first head It is preferable that an interface setting unit that sets communication specifications common to the side interface in both the first main body side interface and the first head side interface is provided.

The camera head of the present invention is
A camera head that is detachably mounted on a camera body that receives an image signal and performs signal processing, and that includes a photographic optical system and an image sensor, and transmits an image signal generated by the image sensor to the camera body,
The camera body is
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second main body side interface for control signal communication,
This camera head
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification that can be freely set from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for communicating with a communication specification that matches the communication specification of the second main unit side interface for control signal communication;
Referring to the own communication specifications and the communication specifications of the camera body received via the second body side interface and the second head side interface, the first body side interface and the first body side interface are referred to. An aspect may be provided that includes an interface setting unit that sets communication specifications common to one head side interface to both the first main body side interface and the first head side interface.

  As described above, when the camera body includes the interface setting unit, the camera body can be used for a plurality of types of camera heads. Further, the camera head may be provided with the interface setting unit, and in that case, the camera head is compatible with a plurality of types of camera bodies.

   As described above, when the camera head is attached to the camera body, it is possible to freely determine whether the image communication interface of the camera head is compatible with the image communication interface on the camera body side. A system, a camera body and a camera head constituting the camera system are realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the camera body and the camera head constituting the camera system of the present invention are both composed of a plurality of types 1a to na and 1b to nb, and any one of the plurality of types Various types of camera heads are interchangeably attached to any type of camera body.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external appearance when a camera system is configured in which a camera head 1a which is one of a plurality of types is interchangeably mounted on a camera body 1b which is one of a plurality of types. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the camera system 1 of this embodiment includes a camera head 1a that is one of a plurality of types shown in FIG. 1, and a camera body 1b that is one of a plurality of types shown in FIG. Are combined. Here, as an example, an example in which one camera head 1a is interchangeably attached to one camera body 1b is shown, but this camera system can be any one of the camera heads 1a in FIG. It can be freely attached to any of the camera bodies 1b in FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows a camera head 1a having a photographic optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body 1b to which the camera head 1a is detachably attached and receives an image signal from the camera head 1a and performs signal processing. Yes. In the center of the camera body 1b, a head mount 10b having a large number of mount contacts is provided. A similar mount portion is also formed on the camera head 1a side, and when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b along the alternate long and short dash line in the drawing so that the positions of both mount contacts match, The mount contacts are connected to each other, and the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b are electrically connected. An actuator is provided in the camera body 1b so that the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b so that the electrical connection is always maintained when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b. A fixing mechanism is provided. Once the camera head is attached to the camera body, its fixing mechanism will work and it will not come off immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a removal switch (not shown) and even operate the removal switch. For example, the camera head 1a can be detached from the camera body 1b. The camera system 1 has a configuration in which a battery is provided in the camera body 1b, and power is supplied from the battery through power contacts in a number of mount contacts provided in the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b. Yes. Among the many mount contacts, there is also a communication contact, and an inquiry for information or a request for transmission of an image signal is performed from the camera body 1b side to the camera head 1a side through the communication contact. An answer or an image signal is transmitted from the head 1a side to the camera body 1b side in response to the inquiry. There are two types of communication contact points for control signals and image signal communication, regardless of which camera head 1a or camera body 1b is used. In the following description, it is assumed that the same specifications in terms of shape are always installed and installed. However, there are various communication specifications, for example, communication speeds, even if the image signal has the same shape in shape. The fact that there are various communication specifications such as communication speed will be described later.

  Further, an AWB sensor 11b is provided above the head mount 10b of the camera body 1b shown in FIG. 2, and the light source type at the time of photographing is detected by the AWB sensor 11b. The light source type is, for example, whether it is sunlight or a fluorescent lamp. When this light source type is detected by the AWB sensor 11b, an appropriate color temperature is set in a digital signal processing unit described later. Optimal white balance adjustment. A flash light emission window 12b is provided beside the AWB sensor 11b, and a flash light emission device that emits flash light through the flash light emission window 12b is provided in the camera body 1b. Further, a release button 13b and a mode dial 14b are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1b. The mode dial 14b selects a shooting mode and a playback mode. In the shooting mode, a still image shooting mode or a moving image shooting mode is further selected. In this embodiment, the mode dial 14b also functions as a power switch. On the back side of the camera body, switches such as a cross key and an OK button are provided as operation means.

  Now, the internal configuration of the camera system shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the camera system when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b.

  The configuration of the camera head 1a is shown on the upper side of FIG. 3, and the configuration of the camera body 1b is shown on the lower side of FIG.

  First, the configuration around the power supply of this camera system will be briefly described.

  The DC / DC converter 101a on the camera head 1a side and the DC / DC converter 141b on the main body side operate by receiving the power supply of the battery of the camera main body. The power control unit 100a on the camera head side, the camera main body side Are respectively controlled by the power supply control unit 140b.

  When a power-on instruction is issued by a user operation by operating the mode dial 14b when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b, the DC / DC converter is supplied from the power control unit 140b on the camera body side. 141b is instructed to supply power from the battery to each part in the camera body 1b, and the camera head 1a passes through the power source control part 140b on the camera body 1b side, and further through the latch part 160b and the I / O part 161b. When the power supply instruction is transmitted also to the power supply control unit 100a on the side, the battery power is supplied to each unit on the camera head 1a side via the DC / DC converter 101a.

  When the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b, a low signal (ground level) is supplied from the camera head 1a side to the power control unit 140b on the camera body 1b side. When an instruction to turn on the power is issued by the mode dial 14b, the latch unit 160b is switched from low to high or from high to low by the power control unit 140b on the camera body 1b, and is latched as it is. A latch signal is supplied to the / O unit 161b. Further, a power-on instruction is transmitted from the I / O unit 161b to the power control unit 140b on the camera head 1b side. That is, when the mode dial is operated and the power switch 14b is turned on, power is supplied to each part from the DC / DC converter 140b on the camera body 1b side and the DC / DC converter 101a on the camera head 1a side, and this entire camera system. Is designed to start up as a camera system.

  Next, the flow of an image signal transmitted from the camera head 1a to the camera body 1b when the power is turned on and the camera system operates to take a picture will be described.

  In explaining the flow of this image signal, the configuration of the first main body side and head side interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) according to the present invention and the second main body side and head side I / F according to the present invention. The configuration of F will be described sequentially.

  First, the configuration on the camera head 1a side will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the camera head 1a constituting the camera system 1 is provided with a photographing optical system 11a and an image pickup device (hereinafter referred to as a CCD because a CCD solid-state image pickup device is used) 12a. . In the photographing optical system 11a, a photographing lens, a diaphragm and the like are provided. The subject is imaged on the CCD 12a by the photographing lens in the photographing optical system 11a, and image data is generated by the CCD 12a. The image data generated by the CCD 12a is output to the analog signal processing unit 13a and subjected to noise reduction processing by the analog signal processing unit 13a. Then, the analog signal image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D unit 14a at the subsequent stage. The image signal is converted to a high-speed serial I / F 150a. The digital image signal is transmitted to the camera 1b main body via the high-speed serial I / F 150a and the high-speed serial I / F of the camera main body.

  As described above, one camera head from a plurality of types is mounted on a camera body that is one of a plurality of types, and this camera system is configured. The main body is in a situation where it is completely unknown what kind of communication specifications of the communication I / F provided on the image pickup device in the camera head and the camera head side. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b and the power is turned on, the CPU 100b on the body side, which will be described later, controls the 3-wire serial interface 151b on the body side to control the camera head 1a. Thus, the configuration information of the CCD in the camera head 1a and a transmission request for communication specifications are transmitted. Although details will be described later, the camera head 1a sends the configuration information and communication specifications of the CCD 12a to the camera body 1b in response to a request for transmission of the configuration information and communication specifications of the CCD 12a from the camera body 1b. / F151a and 151b, the camera CPU 1b of the camera body 1b receives the return and sets the communication speed of the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b according to the communication specifications. The configuration is set. The three-wire serial I / F 151a on the camera head side corresponds to the second head side interface according to the present invention, and the high-speed serial I / F 150a corresponds to the first head side interface according to the present invention. Further, a main body CPU 100b on the main body side, which will be described later, corresponds to an interface setting section according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the main body CPU 100b is mainly configured to set the communication speed of the high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera head 1a side as well as the high-speed serial I / F 150b on the camera main body side.

  After the communication speed of the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b is set by the main body side CPU 100b, the image signal passes through these high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b to the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b of the camera main body 1b. Supplied. Among the image signals supplied to the camera body side, the subject captured by the photographing lens in the photographing optical system when one of the photographing modes is selected by the mode dial 14b is displayed on the LCD panel (not shown). The still image obtained by operating the release button 13b when the image signal for the through image (hereinafter referred to as the through image signal) to be displayed on the screen or the still image shooting mode in the shooting mode is selected. An image signal representing an image (hereinafter referred to as a still image signal) or an image signal representing a moving image obtained by operating the release button 13b when the moving image mode in the shooting mode is selected (hereinafter referred to as a moving image signal). There are three image signals.

  Note that the image signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D unit 14a is also supplied to an integration circuit 16a provided at a subsequent stage of the A / D unit 14a. The integration circuit 16a performs an AF function (hereinafter referred to as AF) and an AE function (hereinafter referred to as AE). The integration circuit 16a uses the integration circuit 16a to measure the field luminance and activate the AF function. The subject distance is measured. The subject distance and the field luminance measured by the integrating circuit 16a are supplied to the aperture / focus / zoom control unit 17a via the data bus 192a, and the aperture / focus / zoom control unit 17a uses the aperture in the photographing optical system. Or the position of the focus lens in the photographing optical system is adjusted. In this way, each time the lens in the photographic optical system provided in the camera head 1a is directed to a different subject, AF and AE are activated and the focus and brightness are adjusted immediately to represent the subject in focus. Data is generated by the CCD 12a and output from the CCD 12a.

  As described above, when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b, the camera head 1a uses the 3-wire serial I / F to send configuration information, communication specifications, and the like according to a request from the camera body 1b. To notify the camera body 1b of the specifications of the CCD 12a in the camera head 1a and the communication specifications of the camera head, and then supply the image signal generated by the CCD 12a to the camera body using the high-speed serial I / F. I have to.

  The above is the configuration on the camera head 1a side.

  Next, a configuration for performing signal processing of an image signal supplied with an image signal from the camera head 1a on the camera body 1b side will be described.

  The camera main body 1b is provided with a reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b. The reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b includes a three-wire serial I / F on the camera head side and a three-wire serial on the camera main body side. Configuration information transmitted from the camera head via the I / F is set. When the main body CPU 100b sets the configuration information in the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b, the configuration information on the camera head 1a side is controlled by first controlling the 3-wire serial I / F 151b when the power is turned on. Is sent to the camera head 1a, and when the configuration information is returned from the camera head 1a in response to the transmission, the configuration information is received by the 3-wire serial I / F and received. Configuration information is set in the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b. Further, in the present embodiment, the main body CPU 100b which also serves as an interface setting unit using the three-wire serial I / F 151b allows the communication speed of the high-speed serial I / F 150a of the camera head 1a and the communication of the high-speed serial I / F 150b of the camera main body 1b. The speed is set so that the image signal transmitted via both high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b can be supplied to the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b in as short a time as possible. .

  The 3-wire serial I / F 151b corresponds to the second main body side interface referred to in the present invention. The high-speed serial I / F 150b corresponds to the first main body side interface.

  The 3-wire serial I / F 151a, which is the second head side interface, and the 3-wire serial I / F 151b, which is the second body side interface, are commonly provided in any camera head and any camera body. Yes, because the communication specifications of the 3-wire serial I / F on the head side match the 3-wire serial I / F on the main unit, no matter which camera head is mounted on which camera body, both 3-wire serial interfaces By using the I / F, it is possible to refer to the communication specifications of the high-speed serial I / F, which is the first head side I / F on the camera head side, and the configuration specifications of the CCD provided in the camera head. If there is a common communication specification for both sides by the reference, the common communication specification is set to the two communication I / F by the main body CPU, and the image signal generated by the CCD of the camera head is received from the camera head side. The signal is supplied to the camera body side, and signal processing conforming to the configuration specification of the CCD is performed in the signal processing unit of the camera body.

  Thus, in accordance with the communication specifications of the CCD 12a and the high-speed serial I / F included in the camera head 1a, the signal processing according to the configuration specifications of the CCD 12a of the camera head 1a mounted in a replaceable manner can be performed on the camera body 1b side. Therefore, the through image can be displayed immediately when the power is turned on.

  Returning to the flow of the image signal, the processing configuration of the image signal after the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit on the camera body side will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, any one of the three types of image signals of the through image signal, the still image signal, and the moving image signal is transmitted from the camera head 1a. The image signal is processed by the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b, and the processed image signal is supplied to the LCD control unit 105b and the LCD 1050b via the frame memory 104b, and the through image signal is displayed on the LCD display screen. A live view based on is displayed. Since information from the OSD (On Screen Display) 1051b side is also supplied to the LCD control unit 105b, a selection menu and the like are displayed together with the through image.

  When the release button 13b is pressed while viewing the through image, the still image signal generated by the CCD 12a is supplied to the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b, and the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b performs signal processing. In addition, a JPEG compressed still image signal is recorded on the memory card 108b loaded in the memory card slot 107b via the card I / F 106b.

  When the moving image signal is further processed by the reconfigurable digital signal processing unit 103b, an MPEG-compressed image signal, for example, is transferred to the memory card 108b loaded in the memory card slot 107b via the card I / F 106b. To be recorded.

  As described above, the image signal is sent to the camera body in a short time by the high-speed serial I / F, and the reconfigureable digital signal processing unit in the camera body converts the sent image signal into the camera head 1a. Signal processing in accordance with the configuration of the CCD 12a is performed.

  The above is the flow of the image signal.

  Finally, the configuration of other components provided in the camera body will be described.

  The camera body 1b includes a portion for processing image signals, a timer 110b for generating data for displaying time and date information on the LCD screen via the OSD 1051b, a calendar clock 111b, and other external devices. A USB I / F 131b for connection and a USB connector 130b, a switch / LED 132b for giving an operation instruction to the camera system and performing a simple display are also provided. This switch operation instruction or the like is supplied to the main body CPU 100b via the I / O 133b, and the main body CPU 100b performs processing according to the operation instruction. However, the release button 13b is directly connected to the interrupt terminals of both the main body CPU 100b and the head CPU 19a. When the release button 13b is pressed, both the CPUs 19a and 100b are interrupted and a still image processing program or a moving image program is executed. It is supposed to be activated.

  Here, when the main body CPU 100b, which is also an interface setting unit, sets the high-speed serial I / F 150a of the camera head 1a and the high-speed serial I / F 150b of the camera main body, the communication specifications of the high-speed serial I / F of the mounted camera head 1a and A communication procedure when referring to both high-speed I / F communication specifications of the camera body 1b will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure between the camera body 1b and the camera head 1a, which is controlled by the body CPU 101b.

  In this example, since the main body CPU 100b is also an interface setting unit, the communication specification of the high-speed serial I / F 150b on the camera main body side will be described assuming that the main body CPU itself refers to the communication specification when the power is turned on.

  Then, as long as the communication specifications can be notified to the camera head 1a side with reference to the communication specifications of the other party, that is, the high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera head 1a side, a common communication specification can be set for both.

  First, in order to refer to the communication specification of the high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera head 1a side, it is detected in step S401 that the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b. Then, in step S401, the 3-wire serial I / F 151b is controlled to transmit a communication specification transmission request to the camera head 1a. In response to this transmission, when the communication specification is returned from the 3-wire serial I / F 151a of the camera head 1a, both the communication specification and the own communication specification are referred to, and first, in step S402, the own communication speed is determined. Determine and set to the high-speed serial I / F 150b of the camera body 1b. Further, the determined communication speed is transmitted to the camera head 1a, and the transmitted communication speed is set in the high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera head 1a side. When it is detected that the setting on the camera head 1a side has been completed by receiving a completion notification (ACK), both high-speed serial I / Fs are in a communication ready state, and the flow processing is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a plurality of communication speeds that can be set in the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b on the camera head 1a side and the camera body side.

  FIG. 5A shows a plurality of communication speeds that can be set in the high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera head 1a side. FIG. 5B shows a plurality of communication speeds that can be set in the high-speed serial I / F 150b on the camera body side.

  As described above, there are a plurality of types of the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, and the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b included in the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, which are one of the plurality of types, do not necessarily have the same communication specifications. Not necessarily. Here, three communication speeds that can be set for both high-speed serial I / Fs are shown.

  The high-speed serial I / F 150a on the camera body side supports three communication speeds: a communication speed of 200 Mbps, which is a low speed rate, a communication speed of 400 Mbps, which is a medium speed rate, and a communication speed of 600 Mbps, which is a high speed rate. On the other hand, the high-speed communication I / F 150b of the camera head 1b commonly supports a communication speed of 200 Mbps, which is a low speed rate, and a communication speed of 400 Mbps, which is a medium speed rate, but a high speed rate of 500 Mbps. It only supports things.

  In such a case, the medium speed rate is set as a common communication speed in both high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b. Although the speed may be low, the medium speed can transmit the image signal faster when the data capacity of the image signal is larger.

  Here, an example in which there is a common communication speed is shown, but if there is no common communication speed, the main body CPU 100b may make a determination of nonconformity and notify the user to that effect.

  When the camera head 1a is exchangeably mounted on the camera body 1b as described above, the main body CPU 100b communicates by controlling the 3-wire serial I / F 151b to determine the suitability of the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b included in both. Thus, a camera system that can be performed by referring to the communication specification of the partner's high-speed serial I / F 150a and comparing it with the communication specification of its own high-speed serial I / F 150b is realized. At the same time, when the camera head 1a is interchangeably attached to the camera body 1b, it is possible to determine whether the high-speed serial I / F 150a included in the camera head is compatible with the high-speed serial I / F of the camera body. The main body is also realized.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera head having another communication I / F.

  In the plural types of camera heads 1a to na and the plural types of camera bodies 1b to nb, as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b, optical communication I / Fs 152a and 152b are provided on both sides. Some are deployed. In such a case, it is possible to perform communication at higher speed by performing communication using the optical communication I / Fs 152a and 152b.

  In addition, unlike FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the head CPU 19a is the interface setting unit referred to in the present invention, and the communication speed is set mainly by the head CPU 19a.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing communication specifications of the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b and the optical communication I / Fs 152a and 152b included in both the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows the communication specifications on the camera body 1b side, and FIG. 7B shows the communication specifications on the camera head 1a side.

  The camera body 1b side includes two types of communication I / Fs, a high-speed serial I / F 150b and a high-speed optical communication I / F. The camera head 1a side also includes a high-speed serial communication I / F 150a and a high-speed optical communication I / F 152a. Two types of communication I / F are provided. Both the camera body 1b and the high-speed serial I / F of the camera head 1a support a communication speed of 200 Mbps. The high-speed optical communication I / F 152b on the camera body 1b side is 800 Mbps and 1000 Mbps, and the high-speed optical communication on the camera head side. The I / F 152a supports a communication speed of 500 Mbps.

  In such a case, 200 Mbps of the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b is set to both the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b as a common communication speed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure between the camera body 1b and the camera head 1a controlled by the head CPU 101b.

  Since the power supply control unit 140b shown in FIG. 6 detects the connection when the camera head is mounted on the camera body, the head CPU 19a controls the 3-wire serial I / F 151a, 151b to control the camera body 151b. Continues to inquire about connection detection. When the head CPU 19a receives the connection detection result, the head CPU 19a controls the 3-wire serial I / Fs 151a and 151b to inquire about the communication specifications on the camera body 1b side. In response to this inquiry, when the communication specification is returned from the 3-wire serial I / F 151b of the camera body 1a, the communication specification is referred to to determine its own communication speed, and first to the high-speed serial I / F 151a of the camera head. Set. Further, the determined communication speed is transmitted to the camera body 1b, and the transmitted communication speed is set in the high-speed serial I / F on the camera body 1b side. The completion of the setting on the camera body 1b side is detected by receiving a completion notification (ACK). If it does so, both communication I / F will be in a communication ready state.

  In this way, the settings of both communication I / Fs are set after referring to the communication specifications of the communication I / F on the camera body regardless of what camera body the camera head side is attached to. Camera system is realized. At the same time, when the camera head 1a is interchangeably mounted on the camera body 1b, it is possible to determine whether the high-speed serial I / F 150a included in the camera body is compatible with the high-speed serial I / F of the camera head. A head is also realized.

  In FIG. 6, since the power supply control unit on the camera body 1b side detects the connection when the camera head is mounted on the camera body, the connection detection is performed on the camera body side, but the connection detection is performed on the camera head side. May be performed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a procedure when a connection detection unit is provided on the head side instead of the camera body side.

  As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 8, since connection detection is performed on the camera head side in FIG. 9, there is no need to receive notification of connection detection from the camera body side, and one procedure is omitted. When the communication I / F is set faster and the shooting mode is selected, the through image is displayed quickly.

  In this way, not only the camera system but also whether the camera head is interchangeably mounted on the camera body can ensure proper compatibility with the high-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 150b included in both. A camera head capable of performing discrimination by controlling the low-speed serial I / F 151b is realized.

  As described above, a camera system that can freely determine whether or not the communication I / F included in the camera head and the communication I / F included in the camera body match when the camera head is mounted on the camera body is realized. Is done. Also, the camera body and camera head constituting the camera system are realized.

  In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of types of camera heads and camera bodies, and a camera system in which any one of them is attached to any camera body is taken as an example. Even in a camera system where there are multiple types of camera bodies and one camera head is attached to one of the multiple types, there are multiple types of camera heads. It may be a camera system in which any one of a plurality of types of camera heads is mounted on one camera body, and the camera head and the camera body are not provided with a plurality of types, It may be a thing.

It is a figure which shows the camera system which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance when the camera head 1a which is one of several types is mounted | worn interchangeably with the camera main body 1b which is one of several types, and the camera system is comprised. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a camera system when the camera head 1a is in the state with which the camera main body 1b was mounted | worn. It is a flowchart which shows the communication procedure between a camera main body and a camera head which main body CPU101b controls. It is a figure which shows the several communication speed which can be set to the high-speed serial I / F150a, 150b of the camera head 1a side and the camera main body side. It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera head with another communication I / F. It is a figure which shows the communication specification of high-speed serial I / F150a, 150b and optical communication I / F152a, 152b which both the camera head 1a and the camera main body 1b shown in FIG. 6 have. It is a flowchart which shows the communication procedure between the camera main body 1b and the camera head 1a which head CPU101b controls. It is a figure which shows a procedure when the connection detection part is provided in the head side instead of the camera main body side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera system 1a Camera head 100a Power supply control part 101a DC / DC converter 11a Image pick-up optical system 12a CCD
13a Analog signal processing unit 14a A / D unit 150a High-speed serial I / F (first head side interface)
151a 3-wire serial I / F (second head side interface)
16a Integration circuit 17a Aperture / focus / zoom control unit 18a TG
19a Head CPU
190a System memory (ROM / RAM)
191a Non-volatile memory 192a Data bus 1b Camera body 10b Head mount 100b Body CPU
101b System memory 102b Non-volatile memory 103b Digital signal processing unit 1031b Offset correction unit 1032b Integration circuit 1033b WB gain multiplication unit 1034b Linear MTX
1035b Gamma correction unit 1036b Synchronization unit 10371b Contour correction unit 10372b Color difference MTX
1038b JPEG compression unit 104b Frame memory 105b LCD control unit 1050b LCD
106b Card I / F
107b Memory card slot 108b Memory card 150b High-speed serial I / F (first main body side interface)
151b 3-wire serial I / F (second main unit interface)

Claims (3)

In a camera system having a camera head including an imaging optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body that is detachably mounted and receives a signal generated by the image sensor of the camera head and performs signal processing,
The camera body is
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second main body side interface for control signal communication,
The camera head is
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for communicating with a communication specification that matches the communication specification of the second body side interface for control signal communication;
Further, the camera system has its own communication specification which is one of the camera body and the camera head, and the other party received via the second body side interface and the second head side interface. Referring to the communication specification, an interface setting for setting a communication specification common to the first main body side interface and the first head side interface to both the first main body side interface and the first head side interface. A camera system characterized by comprising a section. In a camera body that is detachably mounted with a camera head including a photographing optical system and an image sensor, receives an image signal generated by the image sensor of the camera head, and performs signal processing,
The camera head is
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for control signal communication,
This camera body
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second body side interface for communicating with a communication specification that matches the communication specification of the second head side interface for control signal communication;
Referring to its own communication specifications and the communication specifications of the camera head received via the second body-side interface and the second head-side interface, the first body-side interface and the first A camera body comprising an interface setting unit that sets communication specifications common to the head-side interface of both the first body-side interface and the first head-side interface. In a camera head that receives an image signal and is detachably attached to a camera body that performs signal processing, and includes a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and transmits an image signal generated by the image sensor to the camera body.
The camera body is
A first main body side interface for receiving an image signal and having one or more communication specifications and having a plurality of communication specifications and performing communication according to a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications When,
A second main body side interface for control signal communication,
This camera head
A first head-side interface for transmitting image signals, which has one or more communication specifications and has a plurality of communication specifications, and performs communication with a communication specification set freely from the plurality of communication specifications. When,
A second head side interface for communicating with a communication specification that matches the communication specification of the second main unit side interface for control signal communication;
Referring to its own communication specifications and the communication specifications of the camera body received via the second body side interface and the second head side interface, the first body side interface and the first A camera head comprising an interface setting unit that sets communication specifications common to the head side interface of both the first main body side interface and the first head side interface.

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