JP2020173337A - Adapter device, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an adapter device, a communication method, and a program for mediating the communication with a camera and an interchangeable lens connected to each other and having different communication modes so that both normally function.SOLUTION: The adapter device is an adapter device that is removably attached between an imaging apparatus and an interchangeable lens, and has communication means that communicates with the imaging apparatus in a first communication mode and communicates with the interchangeable lens in a second communication mode; storage means that can hold first communication information received by the communication means from the imaging apparatus; and control means that controls the communication means and the storage means. When the state of communication with the interchangeable lens when the communication means receives the first communication information is a first communication state, the control means causes the communication means to transmit, to the interchangeable lens, second communication information created based on the first communication information, and when the communication state is a second communication state, causes the storage means to hold the first communication information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an adapter device, a communication method, and a program mounted between a camera body and an interchangeable lens.

As interchangeable-lens camera systems, a single-lens reflex camera system having an optical viewfinder and a half mirror that divides light from a subject in the camera and a so-called mirrorless camera system from which the optical viewfinder and the half mirror are removed are known.

Due to differences in mount shape and flange bag, cameras and interchangeable lenses from different systems cannot be mounted directly. As such, cameras and interchangeable lenses from different systems are typically mounted via an intermediate adapter. In addition, the communication method between the camera and the interchangeable lens is often different for each system, and when connecting the camera and interchangeable lens of different systems via an intermediate adapter, the intermediate adapter mediates communication so that each functions normally. Need to be done.

In Patent Document 1, information generated from information acquired in a plurality of communications performed during periodic communication between an interchangeable lens and an adapter is transmitted to the camera by periodic communication between the camera and the adapter. An adapter that suppresses the communication frequency between the camera and the adapter is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 5413415

However, in the adapter of Patent Document 1, when the communication speed between the interchangeable lens and the adapter becomes slow due to a difference in communication method or control command, the interchangeable lens and the adapter are used before the control information is sent from the camera to the adapter. There is a possibility that the communication between them has not ended. Further, Patent Document 1 describes information transmission from the interchangeable lens to the camera, but does not describe information transmission from the camera to the interchangeable lens (command for performing AF or AE).

An object of the present invention is to provide an adapter device, a communication method, and a program that mediate communication so that cameras having different communication methods and interchangeable lenses function normally.

The adapter device as one aspect of the present invention is an adapter device that is detachably attached between the image pickup device and the interchangeable lens, and communicates with the image pickup device by the first communication method and by the interchangeable lens and the second communication method. The communication means includes a communication means for communicating, a storage means capable of holding the first communication information received from the image pickup apparatus by the communication means, and a control means for controlling the communication means and the storage means. The control means is the first communication means. When the communication state with the interchangeable lens when the communication information is received is the first communication state, the communication means is made to transmit the second communication information generated based on the first communication information to the interchangeable lens, and the communication state is changed. When it is in the second communication state, it is characterized in that the storage means holds the first communication information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an adapter device, a communication method, and a program that mediate communication so that when an interchangeable lens is connected to a camera having a different communication method, each of them functions normally.

It is a block diagram of the camera system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the communication circuit between a camera body, an intermediate adapter, and an interchangeable lens. It is a figure which shows the communication waveform of the communication method A. It is a figure which shows the communication waveform of the communication method B. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a focus position and AF evaluation value. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication conversion processing. It is a figure which shows the operation flow of the communication conversion processing.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same member is given the same reference number, and duplicate description is omitted.
<Composition>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera system (imaging system) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The camera system 1 has an interchangeable lens (photographing lens) 100, a camera body (imaging device) 200, and an intermediate adapter (adapter device) 300 detachably attached between the interchangeable lens 100 and the camera body 200. The camera body 200, the interchangeable lens 100, and the intermediate adapter 300 transmit control commands and internal information via their respective communication units. Each communication unit performs clock-synchronized serial communication and pace-synchronized communication, which will be described later.

Hereinafter, specific configurations of the interchangeable lens 100, the camera body 200, and the intermediate adapter 300 will be described. The camera body 200 and the intermediate adapter 300 are mechanically and electrically connected via a mount 401. The intermediate adapter 300 receives power from the camera body 200 via a power supply terminal (not shown) provided on the mount 401, and controls the adapter microcomputer (hereinafter, adapter microcomputer) 302. The interchangeable lens 100 and the intermediate adapter 300 are mechanically and electrically connected via a mount 400. The interchangeable lens 100 receives power from the camera body 200 via a power supply terminal (not shown) provided on the mounts 400 and 401, and controls various actuators and a lens microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a lens microcomputer) 111, which will be described later. Do. Further, the interchangeable lens 100, the camera body 200, and the intermediate adapter 300 communicate with each other via the communication terminals provided on the mounts 400 and 401.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the interchangeable lens 100 will be described. The interchangeable lens 100 has an imaging optical system. The imaging optical system includes a field lens 101, a variable magnification lens 102 for variable magnification, an aperture unit 114 for adjusting the amount of light, an image shake correction lens 103, and a focus lens 104 for adjusting the focus in order from the subject OBJ side.

The variable magnification lens 102 and the focus lens 104 are held by lens holding frames 105 and 106, respectively. The stepping motors 107 and 108 drive the lens holding frames 105 and 106 along the optical axis of the imaging optical system shown by the broken line in synchronization with the drive pulse, respectively.

The image shake correction lens 103 reduces image shake caused by camera shake or the like by moving in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging optical system.

The lens microcomputer 111 controls the operation of each part in the interchangeable lens 100. Further, the lens microcomputer 111 receives a control command and a request command requesting transmission of lens data, which are transmitted from the camera body 200 and converted into commands that can be received by the lens microcomputer 111 by the adapter communication unit 302. When the control command is received, the lens microcomputer 111 performs lens control corresponding to the control command. For example, the lens microcomputer 111 outputs a drive signal to the zoom drive circuit 119 and the focus drive circuit 120 in response to commands related to scaling and focusing among control commands to drive the stepping motors 107 and 108. As a result, a zoom process for controlling the variable magnification operation by the variable magnification lens 102 and an autofocus process for controlling the focus adjustment operation by the focus lens 104 are performed. When the request command is received, the lens microcomputer 111 transmits the lens data corresponding to the request command to the camera body 200 via the lens communication unit 112 and the adapter communication unit 302.

The diaphragm unit 114 includes diaphragm blades 114a and 114b. The Hall element 115 detects the state of the diaphragm blades 114a and 114b. The detection result by the Hall element 115 is input to the lens microcomputer 111 via the amplifier circuit 122 and the A / D conversion circuit 123. The lens microcomputer 111 outputs a drive signal to the aperture drive circuit 121 based on the input signal from the A / D conversion circuit 123 to drive the aperture actuator 113. As a result, the light amount adjusting operation by the aperture unit 114 is performed.

Further, the lens microcomputer 111 drives the vibration-proof actuator 126 via the vibration-proof drive circuit 125 in response to the vibration detected by a vibration sensor (not shown) such as a vibration gyro provided in the interchangeable lens 100. As a result, vibration isolation processing is performed to control the shift operation of the image shake correction lens 103.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the intermediate adapter 300 will be described. In this embodiment, the intermediate adapter 300 is a conversion adapter for matching the mount shape and flange back of the interchangeable lens 100. The intermediate adapter 300 is not limited to the conversion adapter, and may be an adapter having various functions. For example, the intermediate adapter 300 may be an adapter having a built-in filter that changes the transmittance of light transmitted through the interchangeable lens 100. Further, the intermediate adapter 300 may be an adapter that includes a plurality of filters having different light transmittances inside and can select an appropriate filter according to the shooting conditions and the like.

The adapter microcomputer 301 controls the operation of each part in the intermediate adapter 300. The adapter communication unit 302 communicates with the camera body 200 by the first communication method and also communicates with the interchangeable lens 100 by the second communication method. The adapter microcomputer 301 receives a communication command (communication information) transmitted from the camera body 200 via the adapter communication unit 302, and performs adapter control corresponding to the received communication command. The adapter microcomputer 301 includes a storage unit (storage means) 303 capable of holding a communication command received from the camera microcomputer 205, which will be described later. The storage unit 303 is a memory composed of a ROM, a RAM, or the like. The storage unit 303 need only be able to hold the communication command at least while the interchangeable lens 100 is attached to the adapter 300. Further, the adapter 300 holds the program shown in FIG. 7 executed by the adapter microcomputer 301 in a storage unit 303 or a storage unit provided separately from the storage unit 303. When the communication command received from the camera body 200 is a command for the interchangeable lens 100, the adapter microcomputer 301 performs communication conversion processing described later and then communicates to the interchangeable lens 100 via the adapter communication unit 302. Do. Further, when the request command from the camera body 200 is a command for requesting lens data from the interchangeable lens 100, the adapter microcomputer 301 corresponds to the interchangeable lens 100 after performing the communication conversion process described later. Send the request command. After that, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the received data of the interchangeable lens 100 to the camera body 200 via the adapter communication unit 302.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the camera body 200 will be described. The camera body 200 includes an image sensor 201 such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, an A / D conversion circuit 202, a signal processing circuit 203, a recording unit 204, a camera microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a camera microcomputer) 205, and a display unit 206. ..

The image sensor 201 photoelectrically converts the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system in the interchangeable lens 100 and outputs an electric signal (analog signal). The A / D conversion circuit 202 converts the analog signal from the image sensor 201 into a digital signal. The signal processing circuit 203 performs various image processing on the digital signal from the A / D conversion circuit 202 to generate a video signal.

The signal processing circuit 203 also generates contrast state of the subject image, that is, focus information indicating the focus state of the imaging optical system and luminance information indicating the exposure state from the video signal. The signal processing circuit 203 outputs a video signal to the display unit 206, and the display unit 206 displays the video signal as a live view image used for confirming a composition, a focus state, or the like.

The camera microcomputer 205 controls the camera body 200 in response to inputs from the operation unit 207 such as an image pickup instruction switch and various setting switches. Further, the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a control command related to the variable magnification operation of the variable magnification lens 102 to the adapter microcomputer 301 in response to the operation of the zoom switch included in the operation unit 207 via the camera communication unit 208. Further, the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a control command regarding the light amount adjusting operation of the aperture unit 114 according to the luminance information and the focus adjusting operation of the focus lens 104 according to the focus information to the adapter microcomputer 301 via the camera communication unit 208. ..

Hereinafter, a communication circuit configured between the camera body 200 (camera microcomputer 205) intermediate adapter 300 (adapter microcomputer 301) and the interchangeable lens 100 (lens microcomputer 111) and communication processing performed between them will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication circuit between the camera microcomputer 205, the adapter microcomputer 301, and the lens microcomputer 111.

The camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 communicate with each other via the communication terminal provided on the mount 401, and the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 communicate with each other via the communication terminal provided on the mount 400.

In this embodiment, the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 communicate with each other by the communication method A (second communication method) which is a 3-wire clock synchronous serial communication method. Further, the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 are a three-wire system-controlled synchronous serial communication method, and communicate with a communication method B (first communication method) which is different from the communication method A. The combination of communication methods is not limited to this, and may be another combination. For example, the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 may communicate with each other by the communication method B, and the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 may communicate with each other by the communication method A. Further, both the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111, and the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 may communicate with each other by the communication method A or the communication method B.
<Explanation of communication between the intermediate adapter and the interchangeable lens>
A communication method A, which is a three-wire clock synchronous serial communication method, will be described. The clock signal LCLK is sent from the adapter microcomputer 301 as the communication master to the lens microcomputer 111 as the communication slave. The communication signal DCL includes a control command from the adapter microcomputer 301 to the lens microcomputer 111, a request command for requesting transmission of lens data, and the like. The data signal DLC includes lens data and the like transmitted from the lens microcomputer 111 to the adapter microcomputer 301. The adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 communicate with each other by a full duplex communication method (full duplex method) in which transmission and reception are performed simultaneously and simultaneously in synchronization with the common clock signal LCLK.

FIG. 3 shows the waveform of the communication signal exchanged between the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111. A communication protocol is a procedure for this exchange.

FIG. 3A shows a waveform of a communication signal of one frame, which is the smallest communication unit. First, the adapter microcomputer 301 outputs a clock signal LCLK having eight cycles of pulses as a set, and transmits a communication signal DCL to the lens microcomputer 111 in synchronization with the clock signal LCLK. At the same time, the adapter microcomputer 301 receives the data signal DLC output from the lens microcomputer 111 in synchronization with the clock signal LCLK. In this way, 1 byte (8 bits) of data is transmitted and received between the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 in synchronization with a set of clock signals LCLK. This 1-byte data transmission / reception period is called a data frame. After the data frame, the communication suspension period is inserted by the communication standby request information (hereinafter, simply referred to as a communication standby request) BUSY notified from the lens microcomputer 111 to the adapter microcomputer 301. This communication suspension period is called a BUSY frame. A communication unit consisting of a data frame and a BUSY frame is called one frame.

FIG. 3B shows a waveform of a communication signal composed of three frames in which the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits a command CMD1 to the lens microcomputer 111 and receives the corresponding 2-byte lens data DT1a and DT1b. Shown. Between the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111, the type and the number of bytes of the lens data DT corresponding to each command CMD are determined in advance.

In the first frame, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the clock signal LCLK and also transmits the command CMD1 corresponding to the lens data DT1a and DT1b requesting transmission as the communication signal DCL. The data signal DLC in this frame is treated as invalid data.

Subsequently, the adapter microcomputer 301 switches the communication terminal state on the intermediate adapter 300 side from the output format to the input format after outputting the clock signal LCLK for eight cycles. After the switching of the communication terminal state on the intermediate adapter 300 side is completed, the lens microcomputer 111 switches the communication terminal state on the interchangeable lens 100 side from the input format to the output format. Then, the lens microcomputer 111 sets the signal level of the clock signal LCLK to LOW in order to notify the adapter microcomputer 301 of the communication standby request BUSY. The adapter microcomputer 301 maintains the communication terminal state in the input format during the period when the communication standby request BUSY is notified, and suspends the communication to the lens microcomputer 111.

The lens microcomputer 111 generates the lens data DT1a corresponding to the command CMD1 during the notification period of the communication standby request BUSY. After the preparation for transmission as the data signal DLC of the next frame is completed, the lens microcomputer 111 sets the signal level of the clock signal LCLK to HIGH in order to notify the adapter microcomputer 301 of the cancellation of the communication standby request BUSY. When the adapter microcomputer 301 recognizes the cancellation of the communication standby request BUSY, it receives the lens data DT1a from the lens microcomputer 111 by transmitting the clock signal LCLK of one frame to the lens microcomputer 111. Similarly, the adapter microcomputer 301 receives the lens data DT2.

FIG. 3C shows a communication signal composed of four frames in which the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a command CMD2 to the lens microcomputer 111 and receives the corresponding 3-byte lens data DT2a, DT2b, DT2c. The waveform is shown. The lens microcomputer 111 notifies the adapter microcomputer 301 of the communication standby request BUSY in the first frame, but does not notify the communication standby request BUSY to the adapter microcomputer 301 in the second to fourth frames. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the distance between frames.
<Explanation of communication between the camera and the intermediate adapter>
A communication method B, which is a three-wire system-controlled synchronous serial communication method, will be described. The communication request signal RTS is sent from the camera microcomputer 205 to the adapter microcomputer 301. The communication signal DCL includes a control command from the camera microcomputer 205 to the adapter microcomputer 301, a request command for requesting transmission of lens data, and the like. The data signal DLC includes adapter data and the like transmitted from the adapter microcomputer 301 to the camera microcomputer 205. In the communication method B, the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 do not transmit / receive data in synchronization with a common clock signal as in the communication method A, but transmit / receive data at a predetermined communication bit rate. The communication bit rate indicates the amount of data that can be transferred per second, and the unit is represented by bps (bits per second). The camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301 communicate with each other by a full-duplex communication method (full duplex method) in which transmission / reception is performed simultaneously and simultaneously.

FIG. 4 shows the signal waveform of the communication exchanged between the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301.

FIG. 4A shows a waveform of a communication signal of one frame, which is the smallest communication unit. The breakdown of the data format of one frame is that there are some differences between the communication signal DCL and the data signal DLC, and the differences will be described below.

First, the data format of the data signal DLC will be described. As a major division, one frame is composed of the first half data frame and the subsequent BUSY frame. The signal level is HIGH in the non-transmission state in which no data is transmitted. The adapter microcomputer 301 notifies the camera microcomputer 205 of the start of transmission of the data signal DLC of one frame by setting the signal level to the LOW level for only one bit period. This 1-bit period is called the start bit ST, and the data frame is started from this bit. Subsequently, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits 1-byte lens data in an 8-bit period from the 2nd bit to the 9th bit. The data bit array is the MSB first format, starting with the most significant data D7, followed by data D6, data D5, and ending with the lowest data D0. 1-bit parity PA information is added to the 10th bit. By setting the signal level to HIGH during the period of the stop bit SP indicating the end of one frame, the data frame started from the start bit ST ends. A BUSY frame is added after the stop bit SP. The BUSY frame is a period during which the adapter microcomputer 301 notifies the camera microcomputer 205 of the communication standby request BUSY, and as shown in DLC (with BUSY) in the figure, the signal level is until the communication standby request BUSY is released. It is LOW.

When it is not necessary to notify the communication standby request BUSY from the adapter microcomputer 301, as shown in DLC (without BUSY) in the figure, a data format that constitutes one frame without providing a BUSY frame is also specified. That is, as the data format of the data signal DLC, it is possible to select whether to notify the communication standby request BUSY or not depending on the processing status on the intermediate adapter 300 side.

Here, a method of identifying the presence / absence of the communication standby request BUSY performed by the camera microcomputer 205 will be described. The camera microcomputer 205 defines any of the bit positions B1 and B2 in the waveforms of the DLC (without BUSY) and the DLC (without BUSY) in the figure as the default position P for identifying the presence or absence of the communication standby request BUSY. By selecting the specified position P from the bit positions B1 and B2, the processing performance of the adapter microcomputer 301 causes the processing until the signal level becomes LOW in order to notify the communication standby request BUSY after the data frame of the data signal DLC has elapsed. The problem of different times can be solved. Which position of the bit positions B1 and B2 is set as the specified position P is determined in advance between the adapter microcomputer 301 and the camera microcomputer 205 by communication. The specified position P does not have to be selected from any of the bit positions B1 and B2, and may be selected from the later bit positions according to the processing capabilities of both microcomputers.

Next, as a supplement to the BUSY frame, the point that the BUSY frame added to the clock signal LCLK in the communication method A is added to the data signal DLC in the communication method B will be described. In the communication format A, the clock signal LCLK output by the adapter microcomputer 301 and the communication standby request BUSY notified by the lens microcomputer 111 are communicated using the same signal line. Therefore, collision prevention between the outputs of the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 is realized by allocating the output possible period in a time division manner. In order to prevent collisions between the outputs, any output is prohibited after the adapter microcomputer 301 completes the output of the clock signal LCLK and before the timing when the lens microcomputer 111 allows the output of the communication standby request BUSY. The output prohibition period is inserted. By inserting an output prohibition period, which is a communication invalid period during which communication is not possible, the effective communication speed is reduced. In the communication method B, since the BUSY frame is added to the data signal DLC which is the dedicated output signal of the adapter microcomputer 301, the above problem does not occur.

Next, the data format of the communication signal DCL will be described. Since the data frame specifications are the same for the communication signal DCL and the data signal DLC, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, unlike the data signal DLC, it is prohibited to add a BUSY frame to the communication signal DCL.

4 (B) and 4 (C) show waveforms of communication signals corresponding to FIGS. 3 (B) and 3 (C) in the communication method B, respectively.
<Communication explanation during contrast AF>
As an example of the communication conversion process, the communication contents performed between the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301, and the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 when the camera microcomputer 205 performs the contrast AF process will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the position information of the focus lens 104 (hereinafter referred to as focus position information) and the AF evaluation value calculated from the output signal of the image sensor 201 in the contrast AF operation performed by the camera microcomputer 205. There is.

In contrast AF, the camera microcomputer 205 acquires the AF evaluation value for each position of the focus lens 104 while driving the focus lens 104 in a predetermined direction, and finally moves the focus lens 104 to the position where the AF evaluation value is highest. Let me. In FIG. 5, the camera microcomputer 205 drives the focus lens 104 from the focus position P0 and acquires the focus position information from the interchangeable lens 100 at predetermined intervals to obtain the relationship between the position of the focus lens 104 and the AF evaluation value. measure. In FIG. 5, the camera microcomputer 205 detects that when the focus lens 104 reaches the focus position P3, the AF evaluation value peaks at the AF evaluation value at the focus position P2 and then decreases. That is, the camera microcomputer 205 determines that the focus position P2 is the position having the highest AF evaluation value (= focusing position), moves the focus lens 104 to the focus position P2, and ends the AF process. When moving the focus lens 104 to the focus position P2, the camera microcomputer 205 moves the focus lens 104 to the focus position P1 in order to remove a direction difference due to backlash or the like, and then moves the focus lens 104 to the focus position P2.

FIG. 6 shows the contents of communication performed between the camera microcomputer 205 and the adapter microcomputer 301, and the adapter microcomputer 301 and the lens microcomputer 111 during the contrast AF operation of FIG. As a premise, the lens microcomputer 111 is designed so that it cannot receive the communication command for driving the focus lens 104 again while driving the focus lens 104. Further, the lens microcomputer 111 is designed so that it cannot receive a communication command (peak position drive command) for returning the focus lens 104 to the peak position. In FIG. 6, the communication command (focus position acquisition command) for acquiring the position of the focus lens 104 is not shown.

When the drive of the focus lens 104 is started from the focus position P0, a communication command (hereinafter referred to as a scan drive command) for continuously driving the focus lens 104 in a predetermined direction is transmitted from the camera microcomputer 205 to the adapter microcomputer 301. .. Upon receiving the scan drive command from the camera microcomputer 205, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the scan drive command to the lens microcomputer 111, and the focus lens 104 is started to be driven. While the focus lens 104 is driving from the focus position P0 to the focus position P3, the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a focus position acquisition command for acquiring the position information of the focus lens 104 to the adapter microcomputer 301 at predetermined intervals. When the adapter microcomputer 301 receives the focus position acquisition command from the camera microcomputer 205, it transmits the focus position acquisition command to the lens microcomputer 111, and transmits the acquired focus position information to the camera microcomputer 205.

Next, the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a peak position drive command to the adapter microcomputer 301 in order to move the focus lens 104 to the focus position P2 where the AF evaluation value becomes the peak value. The camera microcomputer 205 expects that the focus lens 104 moves from the focus position P3 to the focus position P2 via the focus position P1 by using the peak position drive command. However, since the lens microcomputer 111 cannot receive the peak position drive command, the adapter microcomputer 301 needs to convert the peak position drive command into a communication command that can be received by the lens microcomputer 111 and send it to the lens microcomputer 111. is there. Since the lens microcomputer 111 cannot receive the communication command for driving the focus lens 104 again while the focus lens 104 is being driven, the adapter microcomputer 301 first transmits a focus drive stop command for stopping the drive of the focus lens 104. After confirming that the focus lens 104 is stopped, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits a communication command (hereinafter, referred to as a focus designation position drive command) for moving the focus lens 104 to the focus position P1 to the lens microcomputer 111. After confirming that the focus lens 104 is stopped, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits a focus designation position drive command to the lens microcomputer 111 in order to move the focus lens 104 to the focus position P2.

The adapter microcomputer 301 may determine the stop of the focus lens 104 based on the information acquired from the lens microcomputer 111 by the communication command for acquiring the driving state (driving / stopped) of the focus lens 104. Further, the adapter microcomputer 301 may determine that the focus lens 104 is stopped because the position information of the focus lens 104 acquired by the focus position acquisition command does not change for a predetermined time.

While the adapter microcomputer 301 performs a series of communications to the lens microcomputer 111 by converting the peak position drive command received from the camera microcomputer 205, the camera microcomputer 205 can communicate with the adapter microcomputer 301. .. For example, a case where a user operation such as a so-called focus preset operation of driving the focus lens 104 to a position stored in advance (here, the focus position P4) is performed will be described. The camera microcomputer 205 transmits a focus designation position drive command for moving the focus lens 104 to the focus position P4 to the adapter microcomputer 301. The adapter microcomputer 301 that has received the focus specified position drive command from the camera microcomputer 205 does not transmit the focus specified position drive command to the lens microcomputer 111, and stores the received focus specified position drive command in the storage unit 303. The storage unit 303 holds a command type, the number of drive pulses, a drive speed, and the like. The adapter microcomputer 301 waits until the driving of the focus lens 104 is completed. The adapter microcomputer 301 may stop driving the focus lens 104 by a focus drive stop command. After that, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the focus designation position drive command held in the storage unit 303 to the lens microcomputer 111, and moves the focus lens 104 to the focus position P4.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, it is conceivable that a new focus designation position is set by another user operation or the like while the storage unit 303 holds the focus designation position drive command. In this case, a focus designation position drive command for moving the focus lens 104 to a new focus designation position is transmitted from the camera microcomputer 205 to the adapter microcomputer 301. The adapter microcomputer 301 discards the contents of the focus designation position drive command held in the storage unit 303, and causes the storage unit 303 to hold the newly received focus designation position drive command. As a result, it is possible to avoid instructing the lens microcomputer 111 to drive the focus lens 104 in vain.
<Explanation of communication conversion flow>
With reference to FIG. 7, the operation flow of the communication conversion process performed between the camera microcomputer 205, the adapter microcomputer 301, and the lens microcomputer 111 will be described. FIG. 7 shows an operation flow of communication conversion processing performed between the camera microcomputer 205, the adapter microcomputer 301, and the lens microcomputer 111 when a communication event occurs in the camera body 200 due to a user operation or the like. Each microcomputer performs communication conversion processing according to the operation flow of FIG. 7 according to its own computer program. It is assumed that the adapter microcomputer 301 grasps information such as the types of communication commands supported by the lens microcomputer 111.

In step ST100, the camera microcomputer 205 determines whether or not a communication event has occurred in the camera body 200 due to a user operation or the like. If a communication event occurs, the process proceeds to step ST101. If no communication event has occurred, the process of step ST100 is repeated.

In step ST101, the camera microcomputer 205 transmits a communication command to the adapter microcomputer 301, and in step ST200, the adapter microcomputer 301 receives the communication command. The communication command is transmitted and received according to the communication protocol of the communication method B of FIG.

In step ST201, the adapter microcomputer 301 determines whether or not the communication command received in step ST200 is a command corresponding to the lens microcomputer 111. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the command for realizing the expected operation of the received communication command exists in the command group that can be transmitted to the lens microcomputer 111, and the difference in communication method and the command are transmitted. Differences in the data to be expressed shall not be included in the judgment. If it is determined that the communication command is a corresponding command, the process proceeds to step ST202, and if it is determined that the communication command is not a corresponding command, the process proceeds to step ST203.

In step ST202, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the communication command received in step ST200 to the lens microcomputer 111, and in step ST300, the lens microcomputer 111 receives the communication command. The communication command is transmitted and received according to the communication protocol of the communication method A of FIG.

In step ST203, the adapter microcomputer 301 determines whether or not the current communication state with the lens microcomputer 111 is a communicable state (a state in which communication commands can be transmitted and received). For example, when the lens microcomputer 111 is driving the focus lens 104, the adapter microcomputer 301 cannot communicate with the lens microcomputer 111 because the command for driving the focus lens 104 cannot be received. Judge. When the adapter microcomputer 301 determines that the communication state with the lens microcomputer 111 is a communicable state (first communication state), the process proceeds to step ST205. When the adapter microcomputer 301 determines that the communication state with the lens microcomputer 111 is a state in which communication is impossible (second communication state), the process proceeds to step ST204.

In step ST204, the adapter microcomputer 301 causes the storage unit 303 to hold the communication command received in step ST200. After that, the process returns to step ST203.

In step ST205, whether or not the type of the communication command received in step ST200 of the adapter microcomputer 301 matches (is the same) as the type of the command already held in the storage unit 303 (hereinafter referred to as the holding command). To judge. The case where the command types match is the case where the retention command and the newly received communication command are control commands related to the same controlled object or request commands requesting transmission of the same lens data. Say that. If the type of communication command received in step ST200 and the type of retention command match, the process proceeds to step ST206, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step ST207.

In step ST206, the adapter microcomputer 301 sets a communication command determined in consideration of the relationship between the holding command and the communication command received in step ST200 as a communication command to be transmitted to the lens microcomputer 111.

An example of setting a communication command in step ST206 will be described when the holding command and the newly received communication command are control commands for controlling the drive of the focus lens 104.

In the first method, the adapter microcomputer 301 determines whether or not there is an unnecessary holding command (unnecessary information) among one or more holding commands held in the storage unit 303, and there is an unnecessary holding command. If so, discard the retention command. Then, the most recently received communication command is retained. Here, the unnecessary retention command is a command of the same type as the most recently received communication command. For example, it can be applied when the camera microcomputer 205 transmits the target position of the focus lens 104. It is assumed that the adapter microcomputer 301 receives the communication command for driving the focus lens 104 at the position of 5000 pulses while the storage unit 303 holds the communication command for driving the focus lens 104 at the position of 1000 pulses. In this case, the adapter microcomputer 301 determines that the communication command driven to the position of 1000 pulses is unnecessary, and discards the communication command. Then, a communication command for driving the focus lens 104 to the position of 5000 pulses is set as a communication command for transmitting to the lens microcomputer 111.

In the second method, a communication command indicating a content different from the newly received communication command is generated based on the retention command and the newly received communication command. The communication command indicating the different contents is preferably the difference between the contents indicated by the holding command and the contents indicated by the newly received communication command. For example, when the camera microcomputer 205 transmits the target movement amount of the focus lens 104, it can be applied as follows. It is assumed that the adapter microcomputer 301 receives a communication command for driving the focus lens 104 in the closest direction with 100 pulses while the storage unit 303 holds a communication command for driving the focus lens 104 in the infinite direction with 1000 pulses. In this case, the adapter microcomputer 301 sets a communication command for driving the focus lens 104 in an infinite direction by 900 pulses using two communication commands.

In step ST207, the adapter microcomputer 301 converts the communication command received in step ST200 into a communication command that can be transmitted to the lens microcomputer 111 with the same contents. For example, the adapter microcomputer 301 receives a command to move the focus lens 104 to the peak position of the AF evaluation value as described with reference to FIG. In this case, it is converted into a communication command for returning the focus lens 104 to a position before the peak position (hereinafter referred to as a one-sided drive command) and a focus designated position drive command for moving the focus lens 104 to the peak position.

In step ST208, the adapter microcomputer 301 transmits the communication command set in step ST206 or step ST207 to the lens microcomputer 111.

In step ST301, when the lens microcomputer 111 receives the communication command from the adapter microcomputer 301, the lens microcomputer 111 performs an operation corresponding to the communication command. The operation corresponding to the communication command is, for example, driving the focus lens 104, the diaphragm blades 114a, 114b, or the image shake correction lens 103.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the communication state with the lens microcomputer 111 is in a communicable state, the adapter microcomputer 301 can receive the communication command received from the camera microcomputer 205 by the lens microcomputer 111. Convert to a command. On the other hand, the adapter microcomputer 301 holds the received communication command in the storage unit 303 when the communication state with the lens microcomputer 111 is in a state in which communication is not possible. When the storage unit 303 holds a communication command, the adapter microcomputer 301 sets a communication command to be transmitted to the lens microcomputer 111 by using the communication command held by the storage unit 303 and the received communication command. .. With such a configuration, even when the camera body 200 and the interchangeable lens 100 having different communication methods are connected via the intermediate adapter 300, the communication can be appropriately converted and the camera body 200 and the interchangeable lens 100 can operate normally. The intermediate adapter 300 can be realized.
[Other Examples]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and modifications can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

100 Interchangeable lens 200 Camera body (imaging device)
300 Intermediate adapter (adapter device)
301 Adapter microcomputer (control means)
302 Adapter communication unit (communication means)
303 Storage unit (storage means)

Claims (10)

It is an adapter device that is detachably attached between the image pickup device and the interchangeable lens.
A communication means that communicates with the image pickup device by the first communication method and communicates with the interchangeable lens by the second communication method.
A storage means capable of holding the first communication information received by the communication means from the image pickup apparatus, and
It has the communication means and the control means for controlling the storage means.
When the communication means communicates with the interchangeable lens in the first communication state when the communication means receives the first communication information, the control means informs the communication means of the first communication information with respect to the interchangeable lens. An adapter device characterized in that the second communication information generated based on the above is transmitted, and when the communication state is the second communication state, the storage means holds the first communication information. When the communication state is the second communication state and the storage means holds the first communication information, the control means holds the first communication information and then the communication state is the first communication state. The adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means causes the interchangeable lens to transmit the second communication information in response to the change to. The adapter device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second communication information is information showing the same contents as those shown by the first communication information. The control means causes the storage means to hold the first communication information, and when the storage means already holds one or more of the first communication information, the storage means most recently holds the first communication information. The adapter device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is determined whether or not there is unnecessary information among the one or more first communication information based on the first communication information. .. The unnecessary information is the same type of information as the first communication information to be held most recently.
The adapter device according to claim 4, wherein the control means causes the storage means to discard the unnecessary information when it is determined that the unnecessary information is present. When the communication state is the first communication state, the control means provides the communication means with information having a content different from that of the first communication information most recently received by the communication means with respect to the interchangeable lens. 2. The adapter device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter device is transmitted as communication information. The information having different contents is generated based on the first communication information newly received by the communication means and the information selected from the first communication information already held in the storage means. The adapter device according to claim 6, wherein the information is provided. The information having different contents includes the content indicated by the first communication information most recently received by the communication means and the content indicated by the information selected from the first communication information held in the storage means. The adapter device according to claim 7, wherein the information indicates the difference between the two. It is a communication method of an adapter device that is detachably attached between the image pickup device and the interchangeable lens.
A step of receiving the first communication information from the image pickup apparatus by the first communication method,
A step of determining the communication state between the interchangeable lens and the adapter device when the adapter device receives the first communication information, and
When the communication state is the first communication state, the second communication information generated based on the first communication information is transmitted to the interchangeable lens by the second communication method, and the communication state is the first communication. A communication method comprising a step of holding the first communication information in a storage means of the adapter device when the second communication state is different from the state. A program for causing the computer of the adapter device to execute the communication method according to claim 9.