Imaging apparatus

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus capable of stably operating a wireless communication function during access to a recording medium.SOLUTION: When performing a wireless communication by a wireless communication part 33 and accessing a recording medium 22 mounted in a slot 21, a control part 23 refers to antenna setting information stored in a storage part 24, selects an antenna to be used from among a plurality of antennas 31 and 32 using type information of the recording medium 22 mounted in the slot 21, and accesses the recording medium 22 while performing the wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 using the selected antenna.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an imaging device having a wireless communication function and a slot into which a recording medium can be loaded.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique capable of realizing high-speed communication that reduces the influence of noise unevenly distributed inside a device when performing communication using a plurality of antennas. By performing self-training between the antennas of a receiving device, it becomes possible to obtain a noise vector inside the device, and to obtain an ideal signal from the difference between the signal vector received from a transmitting device and the noise vector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure aims to stably operate the wireless communication function during access to a recording medium in an imaging device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of antennas, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the plurality of antennas, an imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates image data, a slot capable of mounting a recording medium for recording the image data, a storage unit that stores antenna setting information representing a combination of the type information of the recording medium and the antennas to be used, and a control unit that controls wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and access to the recording medium mounted in the slot. When performing wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and accessing the recording medium mounted in the slot, the control unit refers to the antenna setting information stored in the storage unit, uses the type information of the recording medium mounted in the slot, selects an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas, and performs access to the recording medium while performing wireless communication by the wireless communication unit using the selected antenna.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the imaging device of the present disclosure, the wireless communication function during access to the recording medium can be stably operated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, a more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and duplicate descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art. Note that the inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description so that those skilled in the art can fully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit the subject matter described in the claims thereby.

[0009] (Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the internal configuration of the imaging device of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, an image of the imaging device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side is represented.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device 10 includes a housing 12 and an imaging element 14 provided in the housing 12. The imaging element 14 constitutes an imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates image data. The housing 12 is made of, for example, metal and has a rectangular shape when viewed in the normal direction of the light-receiving surface of the imaging element 14. A shutter button 16 is provided at the upper left portion when viewed from the front of the housing 12. The imaging device 10 is provided on the front surface of the housing 12 so as to be positioned in front of the imaging element 14, and includes a lens 18 that forms an image of a subject on the light-receiving surface of the imaging element 14.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the imaging device 10 incorporates a memory card slot 21. The memory card slot 21 can accommodate a memory card 22, which is an example of a recording medium for recording image / video data.

[0012] In addition, the imaging device 10 incorporates a plurality of antennas 31 and 32. The antenna 31 (antenna α) and the antenna 32 (antenna β) are provided at separated positions in order to maintain isolation (insulation). In FIG. 1, when viewed from the front of the housing 12, the antenna 31 is provided around the upper right end portion, and the antenna 32 is provided around the upper left end portion. That is, within the housing 12, in the normal direction view of the light receiving surface of the imaging element 14, the antenna 31 is arranged at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle formed by the housing 12, and the antenna 32 is arranged at the other end side. The distance between the antenna 31 and the memory card slot 21 is farther than the distance between the antenna 32 and the memory card slot 22. The antennas 31 and 32 are constituted by, for example, an antenna pattern or antenna components formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board.

[0013] The housing 12 has portions where the antennas 31 and 32 and the memory card slot 21 are arranged partially open.

[0014] The imaging device 10 includes a control unit 23, a table 24 constituted by a ROM, and a wireless communication unit 33. The control unit 23 is constituted by, for example, a processor such as a CPU mounted on a circuit board provided within the housing 12, a storage device such as a memory, and the like. The ROM constituting the table 24 is also mounted on the circuit board. The wireless communication unit 33 performs wireless communication with external devices such as mobile terminals and personal computers by using the antennas 31 and 32.

[0015] The control unit 23 performs image and video processing in the imaging device 10. The control unit 23 also controls each unit, including wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 and access to the memory card 22 mounted in the memory card slot 21. The table 24 stores antenna setting information representing the combination of the type information of the memory card 22 mounted in the memory card slot 21 and the antenna to be used. An example of the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 will be described later. Note that the imaging device 10 is preferably configured such that the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 can be updated wirelessly from the outside of the imaging device 10.

[0016] Here, in an imaging device, so-called digital camera, a metal housing is mainly used from the viewpoints of design and robustness. For this reason, in the imaging device 10, the wireless communication antennas 31 and 32 and the memory card slot 21 are structured to be included in the housing 12, and the openings are limited. Due to such a structure, the antenna 32 is in a positional relationship close to the memory card 22.

[0017] On the other hand, due to the improvement of the image quality in shooting, the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) noise generated during access to the memory card 22 is increasing. For this reason, depending on the type of the memory card 22 loaded in the memory card slot 21, the wireless communication quality is often deteriorated. This is a so-called self-interference (intra-EMC) phenomenon.

[0018] Therefore, in the present disclosure, when the control unit 23 performs wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 and access to the memory card 22 mounted in the memory card slot 21, the control unit 23 selects the antenna to be used by using the type information of the memory card 22. For the selection of the antenna, the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 is referred to. This antenna setting information sets the antenna to be used according to the magnitude of the electromagnetic noise generated by the memory card 22. Then, the control unit 23 performs access to the memory card 22 while performing wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 using the selected antenna.

[0019] As a result, noise interference caused by access to the memory card for wireless communication can be suppressed, so that stable wireless communication without transmission loss can be realized. Note that since the electromagnetic noise generated by the memory card 22 includes instantaneous and average components, the antenna setting information may be created by appropriately considering these components.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an example of the antenna setting information stored in the table 24. In the example of FIG. 3, the relationship between the memory card information for identifying the memory card and the setting information of the effective antenna used when the memory card is loaded is shown. The memory card information includes the manufacturer type, the name, type, and capacity as the device type. In the setting information of the effective antenna, it is shown whether antenna α and antenna β are effective or not. For example, when a memory card of manufacturer A, name "A-01", type "CFexpress Type-B", and capacity 64GB is loaded, antenna α is effective and antenna β is ineffective. As can be seen from FIG. 3, when any one of the antennas is made effective, antenna α, which is located farther from the memory card 22, is made effective. Note that when wireless communication is performed using both antenna α and antenna β, MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) communication may be performed.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of selecting an effective antenna in the present embodiment. In this example, the antenna to be used is selected using the type information of the memory card 22 and the information on the operation mode of the imaging device 10. Here, as the information on the operation mode, information on whether it is a high-load operation mode (high noise) or not is used. An example of the high-load operation mode is when the recording mode is set at 4K image quality and 60 frames per second.

[0022] When the memory card 22 is inserted into the memory card slot 21 or when the operation mode of the imaging device 10 is changed, the process starts. First, in step S1, the control unit 23 acquires memory card information from the memory card 22 inserted into the memory card slot 21. By acquiring the memory card information (see FIG. 3), the type information of the memory card can be collected. Then, in step S2, it is determined whether the operation mode is a high-load operation mode.

[0023] When it is in the high-load operation mode (YES in S2), the control unit 23 refers to the table 24 and checks whether the acquired memory card information is described in the stored antenna setting information (S3). When it is described (YES in S3), the effective antenna is selected according to the setting information of the effective antenna indicated for the memory card information (S5).

[0024] On the other hand, when it is not in the high-load operation mode (NO in S2), since noise is not considered to be a problem, both the antenna α and the antenna β are selected as effective antennas (S4).

[0025] Also, when the acquired memory card information is not described in the antenna setting information stored in the table 24, since it is unknown whether noise will be a problem, the antenna α is selected as the effective antenna (S5).

[0026] In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that the antenna to be used is selected using the type information of the memory card 22 and the information on the operation mode of the imaging device 10, and the information on whether it is a high-load operation mode is used as the information on the operation mode. However, it is not limited to this. That is, as the information on the operation mode of the imaging device 10, information other than the information on whether it is a high-load operation mode may be used. For example, as will be described later, as the information on the operation mode of the imaging device 10, the information on whether an external liquid crystal device is connected may be used. Further, without using the information on the operation mode of the imaging device 10, only the type information of the memory card 22 may be used to select the antenna to be used.

[0027] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the imaging device 10 includes a plurality of antennas 31 and 32 and a memory card slot 21. The control unit 23 performs wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 and, when accessing the memory card 22 mounted in the memory card slot 21, refers to the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 and uses the type information of the memory card 22 mounted in the memory card slot 21 to select an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas 31 and 32, and while performing wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 33 using the selected antenna, accesses the memory card 22. Thereby, noise interference caused by accessing the memory card 22 with respect to wireless communication can be suppressed, so that stable wireless communication without transmission loss can be realized.

[0028] (Other Embodiments) As described above, as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application, the above-described embodiments have been explained. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and is also applicable to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are made as appropriate. Further, it is also possible to combine the respective components described in the above-described embodiments to form a new embodiment.

[0029] In the embodiment, the imaging device 10 has been described as including two antennas 31 and 32, but the imaging device may include three or more antennas.

[0030] Also, in the embodiment, the imaging device 10 uses the memory card 22 as a recording medium for recording image data, but other recording media than the memory card may be used. For example, as will be described later, an external recording device may be used.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows another example of the internal configuration of the imaging device. In FIG. 5, the imaging device can be connected to an external memory device 41 and an external display device 42 as external devices. The external memory device 41 is, for example, an external SSD (Solid State Drive), and is connected to the imaging device via, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. The external display device 42 is, for example, an external liquid crystal display device, and is connected to the imaging device via, for example, an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface, registered trademark) port.

[0032] In the configuration of FIG. 5, noise may be generated with respect to wireless communication when accessing the external memory device 41 or the external display device 42. Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 5, the table 24 stores, as antenna setting information, the relationship between the type information of the external memory device 41 and the external display device 42 and the setting information of the effective antenna used when the external memory device 41 and the external display device 42 are connected. The control unit 23 selects the antenna to be used by referring to the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 and using the type information of the connected external memory device 41. Alternatively, the control unit 23 selects the antenna to be used by referring to the antenna setting information stored in the table 24 and using the type information of the connected external display device 42.

[0033] Also, in the configuration of FIG. 5, the control unit 23 may select the antenna to be used by using, as information on the operation mode, information on whether or not the external display device 42 is connected.

[0034] Also, in the above embodiment, the memory card information has been described as including four pieces of information: the manufacturer type, the name, type, and capacity as the device type. However, if the memory card information can collect the type information of the memory card, one unique piece of information may be used instead.

[0035] Also, in the above embodiment, as an example of the imaging device, a digital camera that is not lens-exchangeable has been described. However, the imaging device of this embodiment may also be a lens-exchangeable digital camera.

Industrial Applicability

[0036] The present disclosure is applicable not only to digital cameras but also to movie cameras, and to electronic devices having an imaging function such as a PC (Personal Computer), as an imaging device having a wireless communication function and a slot capable of loading a recording medium.

Explanation of Signs

[0037] 10 Imaging device 12 Housing 14 Image sensor (imaging unit) 21 Memory card slot 22 Memory card (recording medium) 23 Control unit 24 Table (storage unit) 31, 32 Antenna 33 Wireless communication unit 41 External memory device 42 External display device

Claims

1. A plurality of antennas; A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the plurality of antennas; An imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates image data; A slot capable of mounting a recording medium for recording the image data; A storage unit that stores antenna setting information representing a combination of the type information of the recording medium and the antenna to be used; A control unit that controls including wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and access to the recording medium mounted in the slot; When the control unit performs wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and access to the recording medium mounted in the slot, Referring to the antenna setting information stored in the storage unit, using the type information of the recording medium mounted in the slot, select an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas; Perform wireless communication by the wireless communication unit using the selected antenna while accessing the recording medium An imaging device.

2. The plurality of antennas include a first antenna and a second antenna, The distance between the first antenna and the slot is greater than the distance between the second antenna and the slot, In the antenna setting information stored in the storage unit, when using one antenna from among the plurality of antennas, it is specified to use the first antenna The imaging device according to claim 1.

3. The antenna setting information sets the antenna to be used according to the magnitude of electromagnetic noise generated by the recording medium The imaging device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit selects an antenna to be used using, in addition to the type information of the recording medium mounted in the slot, information on the operation mode of the imaging device The imaging device according to claim 1.

5. Comprising a housing, The plurality of antennas include a first antenna and a second antenna, The housing forms a rectangle when viewed in the normal direction of the light receiving surface of the imaging unit, In the housing, when viewed in the normal direction of the light receiving surface of the imaging unit, the first antenna is disposed at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle, and the second antenna is disposed at the other end side The imaging device according to claim 1.

6. The wireless communication using the plurality of antennas is MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) communication The imaging device according to claim 1.

7. The antenna setting information stored in the memory unit is configured to be updatable by wireless communication from outside the imaging device. The imaging device according to claim 1.

8. Comprising a housing made of metal, The housing has an opening at a location where the plurality of antennas and the slots are arranged. The imaging device according to claim 1.

9. A plurality of antennas, A wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication using the plurality of antennas, An imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates image data, A port to which an external device can be connected, A memory unit that stores antenna setting information representing a combination of the type information of the external device and the antenna to be used, Comprising a control unit that controls wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and access to an external device connected to the port, When the control unit performs wireless communication by the wireless communication unit and accesses an external device connected to the port, With reference to the antenna setting information stored in the memory unit, using the type information of the external device connected to the port, select an antenna to be used from among the plurality of antennas, Perform access to the external device while performing wireless communication by the wireless communication unit using the selected antenna. Imaging device.

Images