Camera equipment, accessory equipment and control method thereof

By adopting a method of switching between multiple communication modes between the camera body and accessory equipment, the problem of low efficiency in high-volume data transmission is solved, efficient data transmission is achieved, and the flexibility and reliability of the system are enhanced.

CN114268734BActive Publication Date: 2025-09-16CANON KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202111085097.7
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-09-16
Filing Date
2021-09-16
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Estimated Expiration
2041-09-16

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

With the advancement of camera control and the increase in frame rate, the amount of data communication between the camera body and accessory equipment has increased. Existing technology has difficulty in efficiently transmitting large amounts of data in a short time.

Method used

A method of switching between multiple communication modes (broadcast communication, peer-to-peer communication, and P2P burst communication) is adopted to transmit data through a first signal line and a second signal line, and a switching unit is used to switch between different communication modes to achieve flow control.

Benefits of technology

It improves data transmission efficiency, meets the needs of transmitting high amounts of data in a short time, and enhances the flexibility and reliability of the communication system.

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Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging device, an accessory device, and a control method thereof. The accessory device switches between a first communication mode in which a flow control signal is transmitted via a signal line CS each time a frame of data is transmitted via a signal line DATA, and a second communication mode in which a flow control signal is received via a signal line CS each time a predetermined number of blocks of data are transmitted via the signal line DATA.
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Claims

1. An accessory device configured to be detachably attached to a camera device, the accessory device comprising: a communication control unit configured to control communication in a first communication mode in which a notification is transmitted via the second terminal based on transmission of data in units of frames via the first terminal, and data is received in units of frames via the first terminal based on the transmission of the notification, and in a second communication mode in which a notification is received via the second terminal based on transmission of data in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal, and data is transmitted in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal based on the reception of the notification, The communication control unit is configured to send data in blocks via the first terminal in the second communication mode after receiving a command to enter the second communication mode via the first terminal in the first communication mode and receiving a notification via the second terminal.

2. The accessory device according to claim 1, wherein: The communication control unit is configured to receive information indicating a data size of each block before receiving the command in the first communication mode, and transmit data in units of blocks having a data size based on the information via the first terminal.

3. The accessory device according to claim 2, wherein: The communication control unit is configured to receive information indicating a time interval between a first block and a second block following the first block before receiving the command in the first communication mode, and transmit data in units of blocks via the first terminal at a time interval based on the information.

4. The accessory device according to claim 3, wherein: The communication control unit is configured to receive information indicating the number of blocks before receiving the command in the first communication mode, and receive notification via the second terminal based on transmission of as many blocks as the number based on the information via the first terminal.

5. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 1 frame of data includes a start bit, 8 bits of data, and a stop bit.

6. A camera device to which an accessory device is attached, the camera device comprising: a communication control unit configured to control communication in a first communication mode in which a notification is received via the second terminal based on reception of data in units of frames via the first terminal, and data is transmitted in units of frames via the first terminal based on the reception of the notification, and in a second communication mode in which a notification is transmitted via the second terminal based on reception of data in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal, and data is received in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal based on the transmission of the notification, The communication control unit is configured to receive data in blocks via the first terminal in the second communication mode after sending a command to enter the second communication mode via the first terminal in the first communication mode and sending a notification via the second terminal.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein The communication control unit is configured to transmit information indicating a data size of each block before transmitting the command in the first communication mode, and receive data in units of blocks having a data size based on the information via the first terminal.

8. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein The communication control unit is configured to transmit information indicating a time interval between a first block and a second block following the first block before transmitting the command in the first communication mode, and receive data in units of blocks via the first terminal at time intervals based on the information.

9. The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein The communication control unit is configured to transmit information indicating the number of blocks before transmitting the command in the first communication mode, and transmit a notification via the second terminal based on reception via the first terminal of as many blocks as the number based on the information.

10. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein 1 frame of data includes a start bit, 8 bits of data, and a stop bit.

11. A method for controlling an accessory device, the accessory device being configured to be detachably attached to a camera device, the method comprising: controlling communication in a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein in the first communication mode, a notification is transmitted via the second terminal based on transmission of data in units of frames via the first terminal, and data is received in units of frames via the first terminal based on the transmission of the notification, and wherein in the second communication mode, a notification is received via the second terminal based on transmission of data in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal, and data is transmitted in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal based on the reception of the notification, After receiving a command to enter the second communication mode via the first terminal in the first communication mode and receiving a notification via the second terminal, data is transmitted in blocks via the first terminal in the second communication mode.

12. A method for controlling a camera device, wherein the camera device is attached with an accessory device, the method comprising: controlling communication in a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein in the first communication mode, a notification is received via the second terminal based on reception of data in units of frames via the first terminal, and data is transmitted in units of frames via the first terminal based on the reception of the notification, and wherein in the second communication mode, a notification is transmitted via the second terminal based on reception of data in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal, and data is received in units of blocks including a plurality of frames via the first terminal based on the transmission of the notification, After a command to enter the second communication mode is sent via the first terminal in the first communication mode and a notification is sent via the second terminal, data is received in blocks via the first terminal in the second communication mode. 13 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the control method according to claim 11 . 14 . A computer program product comprising a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the control method according to claim 11 .

Citation Information

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