JPH04168881A - Video camera equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the compatibility without causing malfunction and disable control even when a lens unit and a camera unit of different version are combined by sending information inquiring of the camera unit about compatibility with a command from the lens unit. CONSTITUTION:When initial communication is finished, the mode transits to control communication to control various control units in a lens unit from a camera unit actually, a control command is sent from the camera to the unit in the lens based on the information obtained in the initial communication in the case of the control communication and the lens returns a status of each control unit. The control for a focusing lens, an iris, a zoom lens (power zoom) or the like is implemented by a command from the camera unit by implementing 2-way communication of DCTL and DLTC between the camera unit and the lens unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a video camera system in which a lens unit is freely attachable and detachable.

(Prior art) In recent years, video equipment such as video cameras has made remarkable progress, with improvements in operability and multifunctionality. Lensing can be improved.

In this type of video camera system, a microcomputer is built into each of the camera unit and a lens unit that is detachably attached to the camera unit, and control information is communicated bidirectionally between the two units. The camera is configured to control functions such as focus, iris, and zoom from the camera side.

That is, a control information communication method is used in accordance with a predetermined agreement, in which the camera side captures various information from the lens unit, and the camera side transmits control commands to the lens unit to control the commands.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional example described above, the method of controlling functions on the lens side such as focus, iris, zoom, etc. will be improved in the future, new functions will be added, and the format of control information will change. In the event that a change is made and the control information communication based on the above agreement is upgraded, compatibility between the old and new versions has not been ensured.
If the versions of the camera and lens are different, there is a risk that control commands from the camera side may not be deciphered on the lens unit side, or incorrect control may be performed, and products with new and old versions may coexist on the market. In some cases, it is not possible to achieve compatibility between cameras and lenses, which not only confuses users (but also significantly reduces the completeness of the system itself).

(Problems to be Solved) The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its features include a camera unit, a lens unit that can be freely attached to and detached from the camera unit, A video camera device comprising a communication means for communicating control information between the camera unit and the lens unit, the version of the content of the control information being communicated to at least one of the camera unit or the lens unit by the communication means. The video camera apparatus includes means for storing information representing information, and is capable of transmitting information to the other unit by the communication means.

(Function) According to the present invention, information regarding the version of the lens unit is transmitted to the camera unit by the communication means for communicating control information between the lens unit and the camera unit, so that the camera unit side
It is now possible to control the lens by sending commands appropriate for the version of the lens unit that is attached to the lens, thereby ensuring compatibility between units of different versions.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the video camera apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the respective figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an interchangeable lens type video camera device.

In the figure, 1 is a lens unit, and 2 is a camera unit, which are detachably configured by a mount part 3. When connected, a power supply terminal VBA□ and a ground terminal are used to supply power from the camera side to the lens side. Line G
The ND terminals are connected to the lens side terminals, making it possible to supply power from the camera side to the lens side, and the electrical contacts arranged on the mount section 3 allow initialization information,
A communication transmission line 4 is formed for bidirectionally performing various communications including control information.

This communication transmission line is a DCT L (Data-Ca) for transmitting data from the camera side to the lens side.
(mera To Lens) terminal, DLT C (Da
5CLK that supplies a clock signal for serial synchronization when performing serial communication of control information between the ta -Lens To Camera) terminal, camera, and lens.
(Serial C1ock) terminal, C S that supplies a chip select signal that is a trigger signal to notify the start of communication from the camera side, which is the master side of serial communication, to the lens, which is the slave side of serial communication. It consists of (Chip 5 select) terminals.

Inside the lens unit 1, a lens group consisting of a focusing lens 5 for adjusting focus, a zoom lens 6 for zooming with variable magnification, an iris (aperture) 7, a relay lens 8, etc. is arranged. , a focusing lens, a zoom lens, and a driving section 9, 10, and 11 each consisting of a motor and a driving circuit for driving an aperture are arranged. These drive units are driven and controlled by a control microcomputer 12 that performs all controls on the lens side based on control information supplied from the camera side via the communication transmission line 4. Further, the operating states of the focusing lens, zoom lens, and aperture are detected by the focus encoder 13, zoom encoder 14, and aperture encoder 15, respectively, and are input into the lens-side microcomputer 12, and after performing predetermined processing as necessary. , is transmitted to the camera side via the communication transmission line 4.

On the other hand, inside the camera unit 2, there is an image sensor 16 such as a CCD for photoelectrically converting the subject image formed by the connected lens 1 into a video signal, and a video signal output from the image sensor 16. A preamplifier 17 amplifies the signal to a predetermined level, and performs predetermined processing such as predetermined gamma correction, blanking processing, and addition of a synchronization signal on the output signal of the preamplifier 17, converts it into a standardized television signal, and outputs the signal. A signal processing circuit 18, an AF circuit 19 that detects a focus state based on a high frequency component of a luminance signal in a video signal, compares the average value of the luminance signal level of the video signal with a preset reference level, and determines the luminance signal level. An AE circuit 20 that outputs a signal to control the aperture so that it is always equal to the reference level, a control microcomputer 21 that centrally controls all functions on the camera side, and generates commands to operate the zoom lens. A zoom switch 22 and the like are arranged. The focus state detection signal outputted from the AF circuit 19, the aperture state detection signal outputted from the AE circuit 20, and the operation signal of the zoom switch 22 are each supplied to the microcomputer 21, which receives information on the operating state returned from the lens side. After performing a predetermined calculation while referring to the data and converting it into a format for supplying to the lens side, the data is transmitted to the lens side via the communication transmission line 4, and the lens side is controlled.

Here, we will briefly explain each function (the AF circuit 19 uses a bypass filter 191 to extract a high frequency component of a luminance signal in a video signal that changes depending on the focusing state, and extracts this high frequency component from a detection circuit 192). The signal is detected and converted to a DC level, the peak value of which is detected at predetermined intervals by a peak hold circuit 193, and converted into a digital signal by an AD conversion circuit 194, which is then supplied to the microcomputer 21. Detects the peak value of the high-frequency component at each time, and calculates the control information to drive the focusing lens in the direction where the value is maximum, while considering the depth of field by referring to the aperture information from the lens side. and output to the lens side.

The AE circuit 20 also uses a comparison circuit 202 to compare light amount information obtained by integrating luminance signal components separated by YC using a low-pass filter or the like in a signal processing circuit using an integrating circuit 201 and a reference amount level set in advance. , the difference information is converted into a digital signal by the AD conversion circuit 203 and supplied to the microcomputer 21, and a control signal for driving the aperture is generated so that the luminance signal level matches the reference amount level. .

On the lens side, an aperture drive section within the lens is driven based on the control signal. As a result, the amount of light input to the camera side changes, and a control loop is formed so that an appropriate aperture value is finally achieved.

Each function on the lens and camera side is configured as described above, and next, communication of control information between the lens unit and camera unit will be explained.

Note that all communication and control of control information described below is performed between microcomputers in each of the lens unit and camera unit.

FIG. 2 is a control communication waveform diagram between the camera unit and the lens unit.

Communication of control information is carried out serially in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal because of the processing of video signals, and is carried out once in both directions within one field.

The lens unit side microcomputer serves as a slave microcomputer, and the camera unit side microcomputer serves as a master microcomputer, and bidirectional communication is performed only while the chip select terminal C8 is ON.

Communication is from the camera unit side to serial clock terminal 5.
CLK, the lens control information signal DCTL is transmitted from the camera unit side to the lens unit side via the DCTL terminal, and the DLTC signal is transmitted from the lens side to the camera. A status signal indicating the control status of the lens is sent via the DL terminal.
Sent as TC.

The control information signal and status signal transmitted in this communication are packetized, and when the chip select signal C8 is output after a predetermined time in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal,
In synchronization with the serial clock signal 5CLK, data communications DCTL and DLTC between the camera and lens are repeatedly performed in units of a predetermined number of communication words.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the communication packet.

Communication between the camera and the lens consists of two processes: initial communication, which is performed at the start of operation, during the initial operation (initialization), in which the camera side recognizes each specification of the lens side and performs control based on the specifications; It consists of control communication that is carried out in a state where actual control operation begins after completion.

Initial communication, which is performed first after starting communication, consists of a packet consisting of a 2-byte header and an 8-byte expression section (including operands), and during control communication, a packet consists of a 2-byte header and multiple control units. (The object that controls the lens from the camera side, such as the iris, zoom lens, focusing lens, etc., is called a control unit.)
It consists of an expression part for.

The 2-byte header section consists of words 2 to 1, each of which is 1 byte, and the expression section that follows it consists of words 2 to 9, each of which is 1 byte, each having a total of 8 bytes.

4, 5, and 6 respectively show the contents of word 0, which is the first word of the header section.

Word 0 represents the length of the packet and the type of communication data.

As shown in FIG. 4, the contents of word 0 in the header section consist of 8 bits, bits bo to b7, and bits b4 to b4. b5
The two bits indicate the communication packet length, and bits b6 to b
The two bits 7 indicate the communication data type, and bits bO to b
3 is undefined.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the packet length is 6 bytes (1 unit), the packet length is 10 bytes (2 units), and the packet length is The packet length is expressed as 14 bytes (3 units) and the packet length is 18 bytes (4 units). The relationship between this packet length and control unit length is r packet length = (4n+2) bytes:
n has a relationship where the number of units is 1.

The data type is bits b6 and b7 as shown in FIG.
Depending on the state, it represents initial communication, control data, manufacturer-specific information (optional), and undefined types.

Further, FIG. 7 shows the contents of word 1 of the header section.

Word 1 is a check code for checking whether communication is normal or not, and 4 bits bo to b3 represent DCTL and DLTC check codes, respectively.

When the lens unit is attached to the camera unit, the second
First, initial communication is started according to the timing chart shown in the figure.

In initial communication, (1) The camera unit sends a start command to the lens unit to declare the start of control, and in the next field of communication, the lens sends a status signal in response to this, that is, various control information for the lens unit, to the camera unit. send to.

(2) Next, the camera unit sends a specification request command to the lens unit to request information regarding various specifications such as the configuration of the lens control unit, and the lens sends a status signal in response to this in the next field of communication. send.

(3) Next, the camera sends a unit specification request command for each control unit of the lens to the lens, and the lens sends a status signal in response to this in the next field communication.

Two-way communication consisting of three commands and their reply information is performed.

Once the initial communication is completed, the camera unit will actually control the various control units in the lens unit. During the control communication, the camera will control the Control commands are sent to each unit within the lens, and the lens returns the status of each control unit.

FIG. 8 shows the contents of the control signal DCTL during initial communication.

As is clear from the figure, word 3 represents a start command, a lens specification request, and a unit specification request command.

Further, FIG. 9 shows the contents of a status signal DLTC, which is reply information from the lens unit in response to a start command sent from the camera unit at the time of initial communication.

Further, FIG. 10 shows the contents of the status signal DLTC in response to the lens specification request command transmitted from the camera unit to the lens unit at the time of initial communication.

That is, a lens specification request is returned in word 3, a manufacturer number in word 4, a lens number in word 5, a status indicating the presence or absence of the unit in word 6, and the information is sent back to the camera unit.

Further, FIG. 11 shows the contents of a status signal DL'rc in response to a unit specification request command that is transmitted from the camera unit to the lens unit during initial communication and requests unit specifications in the lens unit.

Unit designation uses 3 bits of the 8 bits of word 2. Word 3 indicates a unit specification requirement, and words 4 to 7 each indicate MI in the specification.
The N value and MAX value are shown divided into lower and upper parts. Further, word 9 indicates the valid bit of the absolute area.

FIG. 12 shows a focusing lens indicated by three bits from bit bO to bit b2 of word 2 shown in FIG.
It shows the definitions of various units of iris and zoom lens.

FIG. 13 shows the contents of the control command DCTL transmitted from the camera unit to the lens unit during control communication. Units such as a focusing lens, iris, and zoom lens (power zoom) are controlled by commands from the camera unit through control communication.

As shown in the figure, 2 bytes consisting of word O and word 1 are the header part, words 2 to 9 are control data, word 2 is the unit number to control, word 3 is the command for that control, and word 4 is the control data. ．． Word 5 indicates a control amount when the command in word 3 involves a control amount.

Similar to words 2 to 5, words 6 to 9 indicate the unit number to be controlled, its control command, and the controlled amount, respectively.

Figure 14 shows the DCTL transmitted from the camera unit side to the lens unit side in the control communication shown in Figure 13.
This shows the contents of the status signal DLTC sent back from the lens unit side to the camera side.

In the figure, the 2 bytes of word O and word 1 are the header part, and the 4 bytes of word 2 to word 5 are the unit number to be controlled, the status signal indicating the control state, area data, and the amount of movement detected by the encoder. are shown respectively. Similar to words 2 to 5, words 6 to 9 are also information indicating the status of the control unit.

Based on the above data format, by performing DCTL and DLTC bidirectional communication between the camera unit and lens unit, the focusing lens, iris, zoom lens (power zoom), etc. can be controlled according to instructions from the camera unit. It can be done based on

By the way, technological advances on the lens side or camera side,
Improvements or user needs may lead to improved methods of controlling lens functions in the future. This is considered inevitable considering that the lens unit is replaceable.

For example, taking speed control in autofocus as an example, in the autofocus systems of current video cameras, the speed to move the focusing lens from 1.2 m to infinity is about 1.5 seconds, even for fast models.

Therefore, in the DCTL communication during the control communication shown in FIG. 13, the control system commands for the focus unit are also defined in consideration of the performance of about 1.5 seconds. For example, it is defined in 16 steps from 0.5 seconds to 100 seconds.

However, by using an actuator that moves the focusing lens at a high speed of about 0.011 seconds from 1.2 m to infinity, for example, it is possible to quickly take pictures of any subject in scenes where there are both far and near subjects in the screen. An AF system that focuses on the subject is also conceivable. If such a system appears in the future, the control command for the focus unit in FIG. 13 can be used to control the lens unit by defining a command different from the current command.

This new command means a version upgrade, and if the system before the upgrade is the 1st version, this is the 2nd version command, and by using this, you can configure the 2nd version interchangeable lens system. can.

At this point, there will be a mixture of 2nd version lenses and cameras and the original 1st version lenses and cameras on the market. And based on the idea of upward compatibility, 2
nd version lens.

The camera must also be able to execute the tst version of the commands.

However, if this continues, the following problems will occur.

In other words, since system version information is not included in the communication system as described above, no problem will occur if lenses and cameras of the same version are combined, but if new and old lenses and cameras that are different from each other are combined. It causes confusion when

For example, if you use the ISt version lens unit as a 2nd
When attached to the 2nd version camera unit, even if the 2nd version command is received from the camera unit,
The 1st version lens unit cannot respond to this command because it does not have the performance or functionality to respond to that command.

Further, it is not possible to notify the camera unit of a state that the lens unit cannot handle, and furthermore, the camera unit cannot know the version of the lens unit.

The present invention solves this problem with the following configuration.

In other words, by providing a means to notify the camera unit whether or not the lens unit can respond to commands sent from the camera unit to the lens unit, it is possible to accurately control the lens unit on the camera unit side. It is something.

Furthermore, version information is stored in the lens unit,
This solves the above problem by transmitting version information from the lens unit to the camera unit during initial communication.

The specific means will be explained below.

FIG. 15 shows an example of this, in which a flag indicating whether the command from the camera unit can be responded to or not is included in the return signal from the lens unit side in response to the command from the camera unit side. This is a new definition.

At the time of initial communication, as shown in FIG. 8, a start command, a lens specification request command, and a unit specification request command are sent as DCTL codes from the camera unit to the lens unit.

At this time, if the lens unit knows this command and can respond to it, the lens unit will respond to bit b7 of word 2 using the return DLTC code shown in FIG.
is set to rQJ, the specified information is entered in words 4 to 9, and the information is sent back to the camera unit.

If the lens unit is the 1st version and the commands sent from the camera unit are the 2nd version, the lens unit does not know these commands, so in order to make the camera unit recognize this, the lens unit is set as shown in Figure 9. Bit b7 of word 2 of the return DLTC code is set to rlJ.

Here, the camera unit determines that the version of the lens unit is the 1st version when rlJ is set in bit b7 of word 2 of DLTC in the initial communication, and sends a command lowering the version by one to the lens unit. .

Since the next command is the 1st version, the lens unit can respond normally.

When a control signal is received, control system commands for each unit are sent to the lens units, as shown in FIG.

If the lens unit does not know these commands, the lens unit uses word 2 and word 6 in the DLTC code returned during control communication as shown in FIG.
Set rl, 11 to bit b7 in .

As a result, the camera unit can lower the command version by one level and control the lens unit normally.

FIG. 16 shows a second embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 15 above, the DCT from the camera unit
Previously, only information about whether the lens unit is compatible with the L code was sent back to the camera unit, but in this case version information is also actively sent from the lens unit to the camera unit. This allows the unit to quickly select the optimal version and control the lens unit.

In this embodiment, version information is transmitted from the lens unit to the camera unit during initial communication, and during control communication,
This allows control to be performed using the optimal version of the command from the beginning.

That is, the three commands shown in Figure 8 during initial communication are the start command, lens specification request command, and unit specification command.
Bits b5 to bits b7 of word 2 in the DLTC code (FIGS. 9, 10, and 11) of each return for DCTL communication consisting of two commands are defined as shown in FIG.

Furthermore, depending on the state of bits b5 to bit b7,
The contents of words 4 to 9 in this DLTC code are switched.

Further, bit b7 is a re-command request flag, which sets rlJ when the lens unit requests the same command from the camera unit, and sets FOJ otherwise. This bit b7
If rlJ is set in bit b5., it means that the DCTL sent from the camera unit cannot be deciphered due to noise or the like, or that the same command is requested again. It is used in conjunction with bit b6 to transmit version information to the camera unit.

Bit b5 is a flag indicating whether or not there is a version upgrade. Then, set rll if the lens unit was made under a situation where the command was updated, otherwise set rOJ.

Bit b6 is a version upgrade support flag, which sets rOJ if the lens unit supports all version upgrades of commands, otherwise sets IrIJ.

Each combination of a lens unit and a camera unit will be described below.

■If both the lens and camera are 1st version The combination of the 1st version lens unit and camera unit has bits 5. Bit 6゜ Bit b7 are all fQ
J, resulting in the state shown in FIG. In words 4 to 9, depending on the type of command,
Various control information before the version upgrade is entered as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Here, if the code of the DCTL command differs from the original information due to noise or the like and becomes an unknown code for the lens unit, bit b5. Bit b6 is rOJ, and only bit b7 is r
Turn on the IJ and request the camera unit to re-command.

■In the case of 2nd version for both lens and camera, 2
In a combination of a nd version lens unit and a camera unit, during initial communication, the camera unit first sends a command for its latest version, that is, the 2nd version, to the lens unit by DCTL.

Since the lens unit is manufactured under the 2nd version, rlJ is set in bit b5 of word 2 of the status signal DLTC during initial communication. Further, if the lens unit is capable of responding to all commands from the camera unit, fOJ is set in bit b6. Also, in order to transmit this version information to the camera side, flJ is also set in bit b7.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 16(f), the operations of both the lens unit and the camera unit are controlled by the 2nd version.

Words 4 to 9 of the DLTC communication information returned from the lens unit to the camera unit store version information related to the sent command. The version information may be entered as, for example, a version number and flag information indicating whether or not each version number is supported.

This allows 2n between the camera unit and lens unit.
Control information communication is performed using the d version, and the lens unit can be controlled by commands from the camera unit side.

Further, another case where both the lens unit and the camera unit are 2nd versions will be shown.

In other words, the lens unit is 2n from the camera unit.
This is a case where all the commands of the d version are not supported. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16(h), bit 5. FlJ is set in bit 7 as in the case above, but since it does not correspond to all camera unit commands, rlJ is set in bit b6 (many versions may be decided in the future). , in a situation where it is not necessary to support all of them, bit 5 may be tri, fi and bit n6 may be rl, [1].

At this time as well, words 4 to 9 of the DLTC communication information returned from the lens unit to the camera unit store version information related to the sent command. This may be flag information indicating whether or not the number can be handled.

Subsequently, the camera unit sends the same command to the lens unit again.

The lens now selects bit b5 of word 2. b6 through b7 are all rOJ, and words 4 to 9 contain conventional information shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, that is, information before version upgrade, depending on the type of command. The code for word 2 when sending conventional information is the same as in the ISt version.

That is, among the three commands at the time of initial communication, for the command whose version has not been updated, the communication content is the same as in the case of the 1st version of the lens unit and camera unit.

Also, during control communication, the optimal command is sent to the lens based on the version information obtained.

■In the case of a 1st version lens unit and a 2nd version camera unit Next, in the case of a 1st version lens unit and a 2nd version camera unit, the camera unit sends a 2nd version command to the lens unit during initial communication.

This command is unknown to the lens unit, so word 2
bit b7 of is set to rlJ and sent back to the camera.

At this time, all words 4 to 9 are set to r04.

In addition, in the case of the 1st version lens unit, bit b5. Bit b6 is both fOJ.

Based on the above information, the camera unit can recognize that this lens unit is an ISt version lens unit, and therefore sends an ISt version command in the next field. In the lens unit, bit b7 of the DLTC communication information is set to rOJ, and words 4 to 9 contain conventional information before version upgrade.

■In the case of a 2nd version lens unit and a 1st version camera unit Finally, in the case of a 2nd version lens unit and an ISt version camera unit, at the time of initial communication, the camera unit sends the 1st version command. Since the lens unit can recognize that this camera unit is the 1st version, all bits b5 to bits b7 of word 2 are set to rOJ, just like the ISt version lens unit, and words 4 to 9 contain the conventional information before the version upgrade. All you have to do is enter

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the versions of the lens unit and camera unit are different, the version of the lens unit can be recognized through the initial communication, and control corresponding to the version can be performed. It is possible to prevent confusion in the control system due to differences in versions, and it is also possible to cope with future version upgrades.

According to the above embodiment, the version information is stored in the lens unit and sent back in response to a request from the camera unit, but the version information of the camera is stored in the camera unit and the initial It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the version is first declared by transmitting it to the lens side via communication, and the lens side replies with a response indicating whether or not it is compatible. In two-way communication, various other forms of communication can be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the video camera device of the present invention, since information is sent from the lens unit to the camera unit as to whether or not it can respond to a command, lenses with different versions Even when the unit and camera unit are combined, compatibility can be ensured without causing malfunctions or uncontrollable conditions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the basic configuration of the video camera device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a timing chart showing the timing of communication of control information between the camera unit and the lens unit, and Fig. 3 is a communication Figure 4 is a timing chart for explaining the structure of a packet of
), and FIG. 5 is the same (configuration of the header section (bits 4 of word O).
Figure 6 is a diagram to explain the configuration of the header section (bit 6 and bit 7 of word O). Figure 7 is a diagram to explain the configuration of the header section (word 1). Figure 8 is a diagram showing the contents of the control information signal DCTL in initial communication, and Figure 9 explains the contents of the status signal DLTC returned in response to the start command of the transmission information DCTL from the camera unit in initial communication. Figure 10 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the status signal DLTC that is returned in response to the lens specification request command of the information DCTL sent from the camera unit during initial communication. Figure 12 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the status signal DLTC returned in response to the unit specification request command of the sent information DCTL. Figure 13 is a diagram for explaining the contents of DCTL during control communication, Figure 14 is a diagram showing the contents of the DLTC signal returned to DCTL during control communication, and Figure 15 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the DLTC signal returned to DCTL during control communication. Figure 16 is a diagram for explaining the data structure for using the DLTC bits sent to the unit to correspond between the two versions or to request a different command in the event of a command error. FIG. 7 is a data configuration diagram showing another embodiment for explaining control for making correspondence between versions of the two versions or requesting a different command in case of a command error using bits of DLTC transmitted from the camera unit to the camera unit. Fig. 2 Header section Expression section Header section Expression section for one unit Expression section for one unit Fig. 3, 7, kerat...bo bl b2 b3 b4
b5 b6 b7 undefined Packet length Data type (contents of word O in header part) b4 b5 0 0 6 bytes (1 unit) 0
1 10 bytes (2 units) 1
0 14 bytes (3 units) 1 1
18 bytes (4 units) Packet length - (4n+
2) Byte n: Number of units Fig. 5 b6 b7 0 0 0 at initial communication (initial)
1 Control data 1 0 Manufacturer specific information (optional) l l Undefined bo bl b2 b3 b4 b5 b
6 b71 0 1 0 DCTL o 1 0 1 DLTC (Contents of word 1 in header part) Figure 7 bObl b2 b3 b4 b5 b6
b7 Word Oxxxxlooo Word 1 1010xxxx Word 2 oooooooo. Word 7 oooooooo Command word s 00000000 Word 9 oooooooo. (Contents of control signal DCTL at initial time) Fig. 8 bo bl b2 b3 b4 b5 b
6 b7 Word OxxxxlDQO Word 1 0101xxxx Word 2 oooooooo. Word 3 QQQOODDD Start command word 4 00000000 Word 5 000011000 Word soooooooo. Kudoa 00000000 words soooooooo. Word 9 00000000 (Status signal DL C for initial start command) Figure 9 bObl b2 b3 b4 b5 b6
b7 Word Oxxxx1000 Word 1 0101xXxx Word 2 00000000 Word 3 (1 (1001000 Lens specifications required Word 4 Manufacturer number Code undefined Word 5 Lens number
Code undefined word 6 Unit presence/absence word 7 00000000 Word s ooooooo. Word 9 00000000 (Contents of status signal DLTC in initial lens specification packet) Fig. 10 bo bl b2 b3 b4 bs b
6 b7 Word OxxxxlOOO Word 1 0101xxxx Word 2 Unit number word 3'1GODIGGO Unit specification request word 4
Specifications, MIN value (lower) Word 5 Specifications MIN value (upper) Word 6 Specifications MAX value (lower) Word 7 Specifications MAX value (upper) Word 8 Control function information word 9 Absolute area valid bit (initial unit specification packet Status signal DLTC) Figure 11 bObl b2 Function 0
0 0 Unit OAF loo Unit l Iris oio Unit 2 Zoom 110 Unit 3 Undefined 001 Unit 4 Undefined 101 Unit 5 Undefined 011 Unit 6 Undefined 111 Unit 7 Undefined (Unit number definition) bo bl b2 bl b4 b5
b6 b7Figure 13 bObl b2 bl b4 b5 b6
b7 Fig. 14 (b5 to b7 of word 2 of status signal DLTC at initial time) Fig. 16

Claims (1)

[Claims] A video camera device comprising a camera unit, a lens unit detachably attached to the camera unit, and communication means for communicating control information between the camera unit and the lens unit, the video camera device comprising at least one of the camera unit or the lens unit. A video camera device comprising means for storing information representing a version of the content of control information communicated by the communication means on one side, and capable of being transmitted to the other unit by the communication means.