JP2016015056A - Optical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide optical equipment that transmits data for controlling driving of an accessory from an external memory to a camera and performs driving control over a camera system with the latest data.SOLUTION: When an accessory is mounted, characteristic identification information on the accessory is acquired through communication and recorded in an external memory, which is removed from optical equipment and connected to network equipment, so that second control information to be used to control a first control part of the accessory can be downloaded and recorded. When the second control information is downloaded, the network equipment determines the necessary second control information with the characteristic identification information and downloads the second control information, and when the accessory is mounted on the optical equipment mounted with the external memory in which the second control information is recorded, the second control part controls the accessory with the second control information recorded in the external memory.

Description

  The present invention generally relates to an optical device that newly acquires control information, and more particularly to a method for acquiring and storing data related to accessory drive control.

  Conventionally, an interchangeable lens camera is known as a camera to which an accessory (lens unit, strobe unit, etc.) and an external memory (nonvolatile memory) can be attached and detached. When a camera system or accessory with interchangeable lenses is placed in a detachable camera system, the camera body generally performs various calculations and controls based on information from the interchangeable lens or camera accessory.

  For example, various data necessary for autofocus and exposure operations are stored in the ROM in the lens, and when performing the operation on the camera body side, communication is performed with the interchangeable lens and the data is read. Is disclosed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which all data stored in a lens is read when an interchangeable lens is attached or when power is turned on, and stored in a storage unit in the camera body. .

  Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for storing data of a lens once mounted in the camera and controlling the lens using the data stored in the camera when the lens is mounted again. ing.

Japanese Patent No. 2868226 JP 2007-129568 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem that data communication between the camera body and the interchangeable lens causes a time lag in each operation and impairs high-speed performance as a camera system.

  In the technology described in Patent Document 2, there is a limit to the memory area in the camera, and there is a possibility that many accessory data cannot be held. In addition, since existing data is stored inside the accessory, even if it is attached to a camera that supports a new method, the data in the lens is not supported, so it must be driven by the old method, and high-precision control. Can not do. In addition, the memory area inside the accessory is limited, and there is a possibility that large data for more accurate control may not be stored.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to include an optical device main body, an accessory that can be attached to and detached from the main body, and an external memory that can be attached to and detached from the main body, and smoothly transmit the data for controlling the driving of the accessory to the camera. It is to perform drive control of the camera system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the optical apparatus according to the present invention includes a first control unit and a first memory for storing first control information used for control of the first control unit. An external memory storage unit that has a second control unit that can be attached to and detached from the first control unit and that can communicate with the first control unit, and that stores an external memory that can be attached and detached and can communicate with the second control unit; When the accessory is mounted, the optical device has a unique identification information of the accessory acquired by communication, recorded in the external memory, the external memory is removed from the optical device, It is possible to connect to a network device and download and record the second control information used for controlling the first control unit of the accessory, and when downloading the second control information The network device determines and downloads the necessary second control information based on the unique identification information, and the optical device in which the external memory in which the second control information is recorded is mounted, When the accessory is mounted, the second control unit controls the accessory with the second control information recorded in an external memory.

  According to the present invention, in an optical device system that includes an optical device main body, an accessory that can be attached to and detached from the main body, and a memory that can be attached to and detached from the main body, optimal data for driving the accessory is smoothly transmitted to the optical device main body. It becomes possible to do. Therefore, it is possible to control the accessory with higher accuracy and provide an optical device system capable of recording a higher-definition image.

Configuration diagram of interchangeable lens digital camera Block diagram showing information stored in memory Block diagram showing information stored in memory Block diagram showing information stored in memory flowchart

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)
With reference to FIG. 1, an optical instrument system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the interchangeable lens digital camera 100. The interchangeable lens digital camera 100 includes a lens unit 101 that is a lens side unit, and a camera body 102 that is a camera side unit to which the lens unit 101 can be attached and detached. The lens unit 101 includes an optical system that converges and forms an image of incident light, a control system that controls the optical system, and a connection unit.

  The optical system includes a first fixed lens 103, a variable power lens 104, a diaphragm 105, a second fixed lens 107, and a focus lens 108. The focus lens 108 performs focus adjustment and focus position correction by zooming. The light incident on the lens unit 101 passes through the optical system and forms an image on the image sensor 118 that performs photoelectric conversion.

  The control system includes a lens system controller 116 and a first flash memory 117. The first flash memory 117 may be a memory area incorporated in the lens system controller. The first flash memory 117 stores a control program for controlling all actuators of the lens unit 101 and communicating with the camera unit 102. Further, optical data of the lens unit 101 is recorded.

  The control system includes a zoom lens actuator 109, a focus lens actuator 111, an iris actuator 110, first and second lens driver circuits 113 and 115, and an iris driver circuit 114. The zoom lens actuator 109 drives the zoom lens 104, the iris actuator 110 drives the diaphragm 105, and the focus lens actuator 111 drives the focus lens 108. The first lens driver circuit 113 outputs a drive signal to the zoom lens actuator 109, and the second lens driver circuit 115 outputs a drive signal to the focus lens actuator 111.

  Further, the iris driver circuit 114 outputs a drive signal to the iris actuator 110. The lens system controller 116 performs various controls (system control) including output control of control signals to the driver circuits. Specifically, the camera system controller 125 acquires optical data related to the lens unit 101 and data related to the lens unit 101 such as a current state through communication with the lens system controller.

  The camera system controller 125 transmits drive data necessary for driving the lens unit 101 by communication from data acquired by communication and sensor outputs such as a focus sensor (not shown).

  The lens system controller 116 generates control data for the zoom operation and the focus operation from the zoom direction (telephoto or wide angle) data, the zoom speed data, and the focus evaluation value obtained through communication with the camera body 102. .

  Then, the lens system controller 116 outputs the generated control data as control signals to the first and second lens driver circuits 113 and 115 to drive the variable power lens 104 and the focus lens 108.

  Further, the lens system controller 116 generates exposure control data for the aperture 105 from the exposure evaluation value obtained through communication with the camera body 102, and outputs the data as a control signal to the iris driver circuit 114 to drive the aperture 105. The above is the detailed driving explanation. The first flash memory 117 stores various parameters for focus control / magnification control, optical data related to the lens unit 101, other data related to driving, and adjustment data.

  The first flash memory 117 also stores a control program that operates on the lens system controller 116. The first flash memory 117 is connected to the lens system controller 116 via a bus, and is read from the lens system controller 116 as necessary.

  Further, the first flash memory 117 also stores unique identification information for identifying the lens unit 101, and is read as necessary. The unique identification information includes an ID indicating the type of lens unit, a serial number, a version of the control program, a version of the optical data, a version of data relating to other driving, and the like.

  A connecting portion between the lens unit 101 and the camera unit 102 is connected by a lens side contact 127 and a camera side contact 128. The lens system controller 116 communicates with a camera system controller 125 described later via the communication terminals of the contacts 127 and 128. Further, power is also supplied from the camera body 102 to the lens unit 101 via the power terminals of the contacts 127 and 128.

  The camera body 102 includes an imaging system, a control system, a connection unit, and a display unit. The imaging system includes an imaging device 118, an analog front end (AFE) circuit 119, a camera signal processing circuit 121, an OSD circuit 122, and a video signal processing circuit 123. The light passing through the optical system of the lens unit 101 forms an image on the image sensor 118 and undergoes photoelectric conversion. The converted electrical signal is read at a predetermined timing of the timing generator 120, and is converted into a digital signal by performing sampling, gain control, and A / D conversion processes in the AFE circuit 119.

  The camera signal processing circuit 121 converts the digital signal output from the AFE circuit 119 into a video signal, and exposes an exposure evaluation value necessary for exposure control, a color difference evaluation value necessary for white balance control, and a focus evaluation value necessary for focus control. Is generated.

  The camera signal processing circuit 121 performs image quality setting control including white balance, color balance, and gamma in response to a request from the camera system controller 125.

  The OSD circuit 122 synthesizes predetermined characters and graphic information with the video signal output from the camera signal processing circuit 121 and outputs it. The video signal processing circuit 123 converts the video signal output from the OSD circuit 122 into a video signal of a predetermined format and outputs it externally.

  The control system includes a lens unit detection circuit 104, a second flash memory 124, a camera system controller 125, an operation key detection circuit 126, an external communication circuit 129, an external memory communication unit 131, an external memory 132, and an input unit 133.

  The accessory detection circuit 134 detects that the lens unit 101 is attached to the camera body 102 and outputs the information to the camera system controller 125.

  The second flash memory 124 is a nonvolatile memory that stores exposure, white balance, various parameters for image quality control, adjustment data, a control program for controlling the camera unit 102, control data, and identification data for identifying the camera unit 102. is there.

  Furthermore, the data relating to the lens unit 101 such as the unique identification information, lens control data, lens adjustment data, and a lens control program for controlling the lens system controller 116 obtained by communicating with the lens unit 101 can be stored.

  The second flash memory 124 may be a flash memory area inside the camera system controller 125.

  The operation key detection circuit 126 detects a key state of the input unit 133 by a user operation and notifies the camera system controller 125 of the key state. The camera system controller 125 is connected to the camera signal processing circuit 121 and the second flash memory 124 by a bus. The camera system controller 125 can acquire the exposure, color difference, and focus evaluation values generated by the camera signal processing circuit 121 and read various parameters stored in the second flash memory 124.

  Further, the camera system controller 125 reads various key switches of the camera body 102 by the operation key detection circuit 126, and switches the control contents according to the result. The external communication circuit 129 is connected to an external PC and transmits / receives data.

  The external memory 132 is a card or stick-shaped removable memory, and is detachably inserted into the external memory storage unit 135. The external memory 132 is connected to the camera system controller 125 via the external memory communication unit 131. The external memory 132 can store various data such as captured image data, a control program for controlling the camera unit 102, a control program for controlling the lens unit 101, the unique identification information, lens control data, and lens adjustment data. is there.

  Data stored in the external memory 132 is read and written by the camera system control 125.

  The input unit 133 is a part for the user to input various information. A display part consists of the liquid crystal display 130, and displays various messages other than a captured image. The above is the description of the configuration of the camera / lens unit.

  Hereinafter, a camera lens system that acquires lens data related to the lens unit 101 via the external memory 132, controls the lens unit 101 using the data, and captures an image will be described. FIGS. 2-1 to 2-3 are block diagrams showing information stored in the first flash memory 117 and the external memory 132. FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating a method in which the camera unit 102 controls the lens unit 101 using accessory data in the external memory.

  The internal data of the initial first flash memory 117 and the external memory 132 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2-1 will be described. Accessory data for controlling the lens A is recorded in the first flash memory 117, and image data that has already been photographed and accessory-specific identification data that has already been attached are recorded in the external memory 132. Returning to the flowchart of FIG. In the second flash memory 124, a control program for controlling the camera A and data are recorded.

  The external memory 132 stores image data and accessory unique identification data recorded so far. There is also an area for storing accessory control programs. The above is the description of FIG. Here, returning to FIG. 3-1, the flow will be described.

  An external memory is inserted into the camera unit 102 (S101). Next, the lens unit 101 is attached to the camera unit 102, and the accessory detection circuit 134 confirms the attachment of the lens unit 101 (S102). When the lens unit 101 is attached, communication between the lens system controller 116 and the camera system controller 125 is started. Then, the lens system controller 116 transmits the accessory unique identification data described in the first flash memory to the camera system controller 125 by communication (S103).

  The camera system controller 125 reads the accessory unique identification data recorded in the external memory 132 and compares it with the unique identification data transmitted in S103 (S104). If the transmitted accessory unique identification data is more recent than the accessory unique identification data already recorded, the data described in the external memory 132 is updated. If not recorded, it is newly recorded (S105).

  The accessory unique identification data of the lens A is stored in the accessory unique identification data of the external memory 132. Here, the recorded data in each memory is as shown in FIG.

  Next, since accessory data is not recorded in the external memory 132, the camera system controller 125 acquires accessory data related to the lens unit 101 recorded in the first flash memory 117 by camera-lens communication. After the acquisition, calculation is performed based on the data and output values of various sensors and the like, and the accessory is driven to take an image (S107).

  Next, shooting is completed, and the external memory 132 is connected to a network device such as a PC (S108). At the same time, the image data recorded in the external memory 132 is taken out, and at the same time, a specific server is accessed to check the accessory data update. At that time, the PC compares the version of the accessory data in the server with the version of the accessory data recorded in the accessory unique identification data recorded in the external memory 132 (S109). As a result, a necessary program is downloaded (S110).

  The recorded data in each memory after downloading is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 2-3, the data version of lens D and strobe B is equal to the server data, so no download is performed. However, for lens A and lens C, the data version of the server is newer and the lens A is newer. And lens D accessory data are downloaded to the external memory 132. Thereafter, the external memory 132 is inserted into the camera unit 102 (S101), and the lens unit 101 (lens A) is attached (S102). After this, the step proceeds from S102 to S104 in the same manner as described above.

  In step S104, since the latest accessory unique identification data is recorded for the attached lens unit 101 (lens A), the process proceeds to step (S111). In step S111, the camera system controller 125 determines whether accessory data relating to the lens unit 101 (lens A) is recorded in the external memory 132 (S111).

  If there is no accessory data related to the lens unit 101 mounted at this time, the process proceeds to step S107, and accessory data related to the lens unit 101 recorded in the first flash memory 117 is acquired by camera-lens communication.

  If accessory data is recorded in the external memory 132, the camera system controller 125 acquires the accessory data from the external memory 132 (S112). After the acquisition, calculation is performed based on the data and output values of various sensors and the like, and the accessory is driven to take an image (S107). Thereafter, the operations after S108 are repeated.

  Furthermore, when erasing the image data in the external memory 132 from the camera body 102, the accessory unique identification data area and the accessory data are not erased, but only the image data area is erased. When deleting the accessory unique identification data and the accessory data, all data is initialized from the camera body 102 or deleted from an information device such as a PC.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

100 cameras, 101 lens units, 102 camera units,
116 lens system controller, 117 first flash memory,
124 second flash memory, 125 camera system controller,
129 External communication circuit, 132 External memory, 134 Accessory detection circuit

Claims (6)

An accessory having a first control unit and a first memory storing first control information used for control of the first control unit is detachable,
An optical apparatus having a second control unit that can communicate with the first control unit, and having an external memory storage unit that stores an external memory that is detachable and can communicate with the second control unit,
The optical device, when the accessory is mounted, acquires the unique identification information of the accessory by communication, and records it in the external memory,
The external memory can be removed from the optical device and connected to a network device to download and record second control information used for controlling the first control unit of the accessory,
When downloading the second control information, the network device determines and downloads the necessary second control information based on the unique identification information,
When the accessory is attached to the optical device in which the external memory in which the second control information is recorded is attached, the second control unit is recorded in the external memory. An optical apparatus, wherein the accessory is controlled by control information.   The control information intended by the user can be downloaded when the second control information of the accessory is downloaded by connecting the external memory to a network device. Optical equipment   The unique identification information is version information of control information stored in a first memory, information (manufacture number) indicating an individual accessory, and information indicating an accessory type and performance. Item 2. The optical device according to Item 1.   2. The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single nonvolatile memory or a nonvolatile memory area incorporated in a CPU.   The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third memory is a removable memory.   The unique identification information and the second control information recorded in the third memory are not erased by an image data initialization command from the optical device, but are all data initialization commands from the optical device, and The optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical apparatus is erased by initialization from an information apparatus of a PC.