JPH04280235A - Interchangeable lens type camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the automatic iris control only by a lens side switch by conducting the automatic iris control when the auto iris ON/OFF switches of both a lens and a camera are in ON state. CONSTITUTION:The communication for various control informations with a camera microcomputer 20 is conducted through a communication line, and the data transmitted at the result of the communication with the camera side is analyzed. Successively, the operating state of a lens side automatic iris ON/ OFF switch 12 is judged, and when the switch 12 is ON, an automatic iris function OFF bit is set to 0, and an iris driver 10 is driven and controlled according to the iris control data transmitted from the camera microcomputer 20 to control an iris 30. When the lens side automatic iris ON/OFF switch 12 is OFF, the automatic iris function OFF bit is set to 1, and the iris drive is stopped to make a manual mode.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera system with interchangeable lenses.

[Background technology] In recent years, video equipment such as video cameras has developed significantly, and efforts have been made to make them multi-functional and improve operability, such as automatic focus adjustment function, automatic exposure control function, zoom In addition to new functions, interchangeable lens systems, which were conventionally used in still cameras, are being introduced.

On the other hand, taking the automatic exposure control function (auto iris control), which is a function of a video camera, as an example, in conventional video cameras, a switch for turning it on/off is provided on the camera body. The auto iris operation was ON/OFF controlled on the camera side.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when video cameras become interchangeable lenses, it becomes difficult to turn on the auto iris.
It is possible that a lens with an /OFF switch is connected to the camera, and in such cases, the camera body also has an auto iris ON/OFF switch.
For the operator, it is not clear which switch to operate to turn auto iris control ON/OFF, leading to confusion and erroneous operation, and it takes time to accurately control the aperture during shooting. , there is a risk of failing to capture important scenes, and there are issues with operability, reliability, and safety.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is characterized by a video camera device with interchangeable lenses and an automatic exposure control means. a communication means for receiving information indicating an operation state of a lens operation means for turning on/off an automatic exposure control device on the lens side; and an operation of the lens operation means transmitted by the communication means; a first detection means for detecting the state; a camera operation means for controlling ON/OFF of the automatic exposure control device on the camera side; and a second detection means for detecting the operation state of the camera operation means. and controlling the automatic exposure control device based on the detection results of the first detection means and the second detection means, and both of the detection means perform an operation of turning on the automatic exposure control device. and control means for activating the automatic exposure control means when it is detected that there is an object in the camera.

[0006] Another feature of the present invention is a video camera device with interchangeable lenses, which includes a video camera device for receiving information indicating the operating state of the lens operating means for turning on/off the driving means on the lens side. a communication means, a first detection means for detecting the operation state of the lens operation means transmitted by the communication means, and a camera operation means for controlling ON/OFF of the drive means on the camera side. , a second detection means for detecting the operation state of the camera operation means, the first detection means and the second detection means;
control of the driving means based on the detection result of the detection means, and bringing the driving means into an operating state when both of the detection means detect that an operation to turn on the driving means is performed; A video camera device comprising means. Another feature of the present invention is a video camera device with interchangeable lenses, which includes communication means for receiving information indicating the operation state of the lens operation means for setting the operation mode of the drive means on the lens side. , a first detection means for detecting the operation state of the lens operation means transmitted by the communication means; a camera operation means for controlling the operation of the drive means on the camera side; and a camera operation means for controlling the operation of the drive means on the camera side. a second detection means for detecting the operating state of the means; and controlling the driving means based on the detection results of the first detection means and the second detection means, and controlling the lens operation by each of the detection means. The video camera apparatus is provided with a control means for setting the drive means to the set operation mode when it is detected that the drive means and the camera operation means are set to the same operation mode.

[0007]

[Operation] In this way, the auto iris of the lens is turned on/off.
The FF switch operation result is read by the camera body, and the result is ANDed with the output result of the camera's auto iris ON/OFF switch, that is, when both control switches are in the ON state, auto iris control is performed, and the camera side By leaving the auto iris ON/OFF switch on, you can control the auto iris using only the easy-to-operate auto iris ON/OFF switch on the lens side.

[0008]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the configuration of an interchangeable lens type camera system according to the present invention will be shown below. In the figure, LS is a lens unit, CM is a camera body,
These are connected to each other at the mount M. Further, 100 is a subject.

Looking inside the lens unit, 1 is a focusing lens, 2 is a zoom lens, 3 is an aperture (iris), 4 is a relay lens, 5 is a focus encoder that detects the position of the focus lens, and 6 is a focus encoder that detects the position of the focus lens. A zoom encoder that detects the moving position of the zoom lens 2, that is, the focal length, 7 an aperture encoder that detects the aperture value of the aperture 3, 8 a focus driver including a drive motor that drives the focusing lens, and 9 a zoom lens. 10 is an iris driver including an IG meter and motor for driving an aperture, 1
1 is a lens control microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a lens microcomputer) that controls each driver on the lens side based on control information sent from the camera side to comprehensively control each lens and aperture; 12 is a lens side An auto iris ON/OFF switch is used to turn on/off the auto iris mode that automatically controls the iris 3 based on information from the camera side (manual mode if OFF), and the operating state of this switch is imported into the lens microcomputer 11. , is transmitted to the camera side according to a predetermined format. 22 is a communication line for communicating various control information with the camera side.

On the other hand, looking inside the camera body, there are 13
14 is an image sensor such as a CCD that photoelectrically converts the subject image formed on its imaging surface by the lens unit and outputs an image signal; 14 is an image sensor that amplifies the image signal output from the image sensor 13 to a predetermined level; 15 is a process circuit that performs predetermined signal processing such as gamma correction, blanking processing, and addition of a synchronization signal to the image signal output from the preamplifier 14 to convert it into a standardized television signal; 16 is a preamplifier; A band pass filter extracts, for example, a high frequency component that changes depending on the degree of focus from the image signal output from 14, and 17 is a predetermined focus detection area set on the image capture screen from the output signal of the band pass filter 16. 18 is a peak hold circuit that detects the peak value in one field period of the high frequency component in the focus detection area that has passed through the gate circuit 17; 19 is a preamplifier 14; This is an auto iris control circuit (AE circuit) that compares the brightness level of the image pickup signal output from the AE circuit with a predetermined reference level Vref and outputs a signal according to the difference.

20 takes in the peak value of each field output from the peak hold circuit 18, calculates the speed and driving direction for driving the focusing lens in the direction where the peak value is maximum, and sends the calculated value to the lens side. At the same time, it takes in the output signal of the AE circuit 19, calculates an aperture control signal for controlling the aperture so that the brightness level of the imaging signal is always equal to the reference level Vref, and outputs it to the lens side. This is a camera control microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a camera microcomputer) that comprehensively controls the camera and lens. Reference numeral 21 denotes an auto iris ON/OFF switch that turns on/off from the camera side the auto iris control mode that automatically controls the aperture on the lens side according to the output of the AE circuit 19 (manual mode if OFF). is camera microcontroller 2
It is taken into 0.

Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the case where a lens unit without an auto iris ON/OFF switch is connected to the camera body, and the differences in configuration from FIG. 1 are as follows.
The only difference is that there is no auto-iris ON/OFF switch on the lens side, so it will only be shown in the drawings and its explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows the timing and data format of control information communication carried out between the camera body CM and the lens unit LS via the communication line 22, whereby various control information and status information are displayed in the diagram. The focus driver 8, zoom driver 9, and iris driver 10 in the lens unit are controlled respectively.

In the same figure (A), SRDY is a chip select for communicating with the lens section, SCLK is a serial clock output by the camera, and RXD is a signal from the lens microcomputer 11 in the lens unit to the camera microcomputer 20 in the camera body. TXD is data that the camera sends to the lens unit.

[0015] In addition, in the same figure (B), in the same figure (A),
This shows the data format of control information RXD transmitted from the lens to the camera.

RXD is composed of a predetermined number of words each consisting of 8 bits, and what is important here is that the 1st bit of the 4th bit from the MSB side of the An auto iris function OFF bit is provided to indicate this.

The camera side decodes the control information transmitted from the lens side and checks the state of the auto iris OFF bit, thereby setting the lens to the auto iris control state (operating state of the auto iris ON/OFF switch). Determine whether or not.

Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG.
The control operation of the camera microcomputer 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained.

In the figure, when the flow is started, S
In step 1, various control information is communicated with the lens microcomputer 11 via the communication line 22, and in step S2, the meaning of the data sent as a result of communication with the lens microcomputer 11 is analyzed. In S3, it is determined whether or not to perform initial communication with the lens microcomputer 11 to capture initial data from the lens. In other words, initial communication is performed when the power is turned on or immediately after the lens is attached, and if initialization has already been completed and various control information and status information based on that information are to be communicated, after S4 It is something that progresses to.

If initial communication is to be performed, the process returns to S1 and various control information is communicated with the lens microcomputer; if initial communication is not to be performed, the process proceeds to S4, in which information is sent from the lens side via communication. In the received control information, it is determined whether or not the auto iris function OFF bit is set to 1. If the auto iris function OFF bit is set to 1, the auto iris is turned on/off on the lens side.
This means that the switch 12 is set to OFF, that is, manual mode, so proceed to S5 to set the iris stop command, display the manual iris control mode in S6, and then proceed to S1. Communicate the iris stop command to the lens side.

[0021] Also, in S4, the auto iris function O
If the FF bit is not set to 1, it means that the auto iris ON/OFF switch 12 on the lens side is set to ON, that is, the auto iris control mode, and the process moves to S7 where the auto iris ON/OFF switch 12 on the camera side is set. The operating state of the switch 21 is determined.

At S7, the camera side auto iris O
If the N/OFF switch 21 is ON, that is, the auto iris is ON/OFF on both the lens side and camera side.
If the OFF switch is ON, the process proceeds to S8, where iris control information is calculated in the camera microcomputer 20 according to the output information of the AE circuit 19, and after displaying the auto iris control mode in S9, the process proceeds to S1. and communicates iris control information to the lens side.

[0023] In S7, if the auto iris ON/OFF switch 21 on the camera side is not turned on, the process proceeds to S10, where the manual iris control mode is set, and the manual iris control mode is displayed in S11. After that, the process advances to S1 and an iris stop command is communicated to the lens side. This allows manual control of the iris.

As described above, the camera microcomputer 20 determines whether the auto iris function OFF bit sent from the lens microcomputer 11 is "0" or "1".
That is, when the auto iris ON/OFF switch on the lens side is ON, the iris control is performed according to the operating state of the auto iris ON/OFF switch on the camera side. Also, if it is "1", that is, the auto iris function ON/OFF switch is OFF on the lens side,
A stop command is set in the iris control command and communicated to the lens microcomputer 11.

What is important here is that the camera microcomputer 20 performs auto iris control if the iris control setting of the camera body is auto iris and the auto iris function OFF bit sent from the lens microcomputer 13 is "0". In other words, auto iris control is performed only when both the lens and camera are on auto iris, and one of them is on auto iris control.
The point is that auto iris control is not performed when it is set to FF.

Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG.
The control operation in the lens microcomputer 11 will be explained.

[0027] In the figure, when the flow is started,
At S11, the camera microcomputer 2
0 and communicates various control information, and data sent as a result of communication with the camera side is analyzed in S12. Next, in S13, the operating state of the lens side auto iris ON/OFF switch 12 is determined, and if the switch is ON, the process advances to S14, and the auto iris function is turned ON.
The FF bit is set to "0", and the iris driver 10 is driven and controlled in accordance with the iris control data sent from the camera microcomputer in S15 to control the iris 3.

If the lens side auto iris ON/OFF switch 12 is OFF in S13, the process proceeds to S16, where the auto iris function OFF bit is set to "1", and the iris drive is stopped in S17. Manual mode and eggplant.

According to the figure, the lens side auto iris O
If the N/OFF switch 12 outputs the iris ON signal to the lens microcomputer 11, the lens microcomputer 11 sets the auto iris function OFF bit to "0" and operates according to the iris control data sent from the camera microcomputer 20. Iris drive control is performed, and if the switch is OFF, the lens microcomputer 11 turns on the auto iris function.
Set the FF bit to "1" and stop the iris drive.

What is important here is that when the auto iris ON/OFF switch 12 in FIG. Set the auto iris function OFF bit to “1”
and transmit that information to the camera side. If the lens has an auto iris ON/OFF switch like this, in combination with a camera, the iris is operated as shown in FIG. 7(A). That is, the configuration is such that auto iris control is performed only when auto iris is ON on both the lens side and camera side.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart on the lens side when a lens without an auto iris ON/OFF switch is used as shown in FIG.

[0032] When the flow is started in the same figure, S
In step 21, communication is performed with the camera microcomputer, in step S22, the communication data sent from the camera microcomputer is analyzed, and in step S2
3, set the auto iris function OFF bit to "0". As a result, the same information as if the auto iris ON/OFF switch is turned on is sent to the camera microcomputer 20, and as is clear from the above embodiment, the iris is controlled by the camera microcomputer. It is in a state where it is controlled based on the information, and in fact S2
4, the iris 3 is driven according to the iris control data from the camera.

In this way, the auto iris O is installed on the lens side.
Since it does not have an N/FF switch, by always setting the auto iris function OFF bit to "0" and returning it to the camera, the lens can always receive control information from the camera microcomputer.
In other words, auto iris ON/OFF on the camera side
The iris control is set to be performed by a switch, allowing smooth iris control without malfunction. The operation of the iris when such a lens is connected to a camera is summarized as shown in FIG. 7(B).

[0034]

As described above, according to the interchangeable lens type camera system of the present invention, the operation result of the auto iris ON/OFF switch of the lens is read by the camera body, and the result and the operation result of the auto iris ON/OFF switch of the camera are read.
Since the configuration is configured so that auto iris control is performed when the output results of the switches are ANDed, that is, when both control switches are turned ON, even if there are iris control switches on both the lens side and camera side, the auto iris is ON. Leave the /OFF switch on to turn on/off the auto iris on the lens side, which is easy to operate.
Auto iris control can be performed with just a switch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an interchangeable lens type camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another example of a combination of the interchangeable lens camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a communication format in the interchangeable lens camera system of the present invention, and a diagram showing a data format of control information transmitted from the camera body to the lens unit side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the camera microcomputer within the camera body.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the lens microcomputer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the lens microcomputer in FIG. 2;

7 is a diagram showing an iris operation control pattern in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video camera device with an interchangeable lens having an automatic exposure control means, for receiving information indicating the operation state of a lens operation means for turning on/off the automatic exposure control device on the lens side. communication means, first detection means for detecting the operation state of the lens operation means transmitted by the communication means, and a camera for controlling ON/OFF of the automatic exposure control device on the camera side. an operating means, a second detecting means for detecting an operating state of the camera operating means, and controlling the automatic exposure control device based on the detection results of the first detecting means and the second detecting means. , a control means for setting the automatic exposure control means into an operating state when both of the detection means detect that an operation to turn on the automatic exposure control device is performed. Interchangeable lens camera system. 2. A video camera device with interchangeable lenses, comprising: communication means for receiving information indicating the operation state of a lens operation means for turning on/off a drive means on the lens side; and the communication means. a first for detecting the operating state of the lens operating means transmitted by the
the detection means, and the driving means on the camera side.
a camera operating means for OFF control; a second detection means for detecting the operating state of the camera operating means;
When the driving means is controlled based on the detection results of the first detecting means and the second detecting means, and both of the detecting means detect that an operation to turn on the driving means is performed. A video camera apparatus comprising: a control means for putting the driving means into an operating state. 3. A video camera device with interchangeable lenses, comprising a communication means for receiving information indicating an operation state of a lens operation means for setting an operation mode of a drive means on a lens side, and the communication means. a first for detecting the operating state of the lens operating means transmitted by the
, a camera operation means for controlling the operation of the drive means on the camera side, a second detection means for detecting the operation state of the camera operation means, the first detection means and the The driving means is controlled based on the detection result of the second detecting means, and when it is detected by each of the detecting means that the lens operating means and the camera operating means are set to the same operation mode, the driving means is controlled. A video camera device comprising: control means for setting the means to a set operation mode.