Adapter, system, and control method

Abstract

To provide a technology for appropriately performing sleep control of an adapter.SOLUTION: An adapter includes: first communication means for the adapter; second communication means for the adapter; a communication path where a first state that third communication from an imaging device does not reach a third contact point part of the adapter and a second state that the third communication reaches the third contact point part of the adapter are switchable; control means for performing control to switch the communication path to a second state when a switch instruction to instruct the communication path to be switched to the second state is received from the imaging device by first communication or second communication while the communication path is in the first state; and sleep control means for performing sleep processing to transfer the adapter to a sleep state in the case that the communication path is in the second state when a sleep command instructing transfer to the sleep state is received from the imaging device by first communication or second communication, and performing control to refrain execution of the sleep processing in the case that the communication path is in the first state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter, a system, and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Interchangeable lens camera systems, which allow for detachable and interchangeable lenses, are becoming increasingly common. In these systems, the camera communicates with the attached interchangeable lens to acquire lens information, allowing it to appropriately control the interchangeable lens and display the lens information on the camera's monitor to notify the user.

[0003] In addition, an adapter may be attached between a camera and an interchangeable lens. Examples include adapters such as wide-angle converters and teleconverters (extenders), and adapters (mount conversion adapters) that convert the mount so that a lens that cannot be directly attached to a camera due to a different mount shape can be attached. In such cases, commands are sent from the camera to the interchangeable lens and data is sent from the interchangeable lens to the camera via the adapter. Furthermore, by communicating with the attached adapter, the camera may obtain not only data about the interchangeable lens but also information about the adapter. For this reason, camera systems may be equipped with a communication system that enables the camera to communicate with multiple accessories, including interchangeable lenses and adapters.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a system having a channel for communication between the camera and the lens (first communication) and a channel for communication between the camera and the adapter (second communication) when an intermediate accessory such as an adapter is attached between the camera and the interchangeable lens. According to Patent Document 1, when the camera is switched off, the camera transmits a sleep command in each of the first communication and the second communication. The sleep command in the first communication causes the interchangeable lens to transition to a sleep state, and the sleep command in the second communication causes the adapter to transition to a sleep state. Thereafter, when the camera is switched on, the first communication and the second communication are initiated, and the interchangeable lens is triggered to wake up from the sleep state by the signal in the first communication, and the adapter is triggered to wake up from the sleep state by the signal in the second communication. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-3208 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the case where the adapter's control unit is configured to receive sleep commands for both the first and second communications when the communication path inside the adapter is in a specific state. In this case, the adapter may receive multiple sleep commands, which could result in the adapter's sleep control not being executed appropriately.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a technique for appropriately executing sleep control of an adapter capable of communicating with an imaging device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an adapter including: a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of an imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of an interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing a second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion that is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to switch to the second state in response to receiving a switching instruction to switch the communication path to the second state from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication during a certain period of time; and a sleep control means for controlling the communication path to switch to the second state in response to receiving a sleep command to switch to a sleep state from the imaging device via a specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication, so that if the communication path is in the second state, a sleep process is executed to transition the adapter to the sleep state, and if the communication path is in the first state, the execution of the sleep process is refrained from. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately execute sleep control of an adapter that can communicate with an imaging device.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera system. [Figure 1B] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the configuration of the camera system. [Figure 2A]4 is a flowchart of the startup process of the camera 100. [Figure 2B] 10 is a flowchart of the start-up process of the adapter 160. [Figure 3A] 10 is a flowchart of the shutdown process of the camera 100. [Figure 3B] 10 is a flowchart of a modified example of the shutdown process of the camera 100. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining sleep-related processing of the adapter 160 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of a modified example of the recovery process of the camera 100. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining sleep-related processing of an adapter 160 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining sleep-related processing of the adapter 160 according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining sleep-related processing of an adapter 160 according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0013] [First embodiment] <Camera system configuration> 1A is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera system. The camera system includes a camera 100 (an imaging device), an interchangeable lens 150 (an interchangeable lens device), and an adapter 160 (an adapter device) disposed between the camera and the interchangeable lens 150.

[0014] The camera 100 has a camera mount A. The adapter 160 has a lens mount B that can be connected to the camera mount A. Therefore, the adapter 160 can be directly attached to the camera 100.

[0015] Furthermore, adapter 160 is provided with a camera mount C, which is different from camera mount A, on the opposite side of lens mount B. Interchangeable lens 150 is provided with a lens mount D that can be connected to camera mount C. Therefore, interchangeable lens 150 can be directly attached to adapter 160.

[0016] Unlike lens mount B, lens mount D of interchangeable lens 150 has a shape that prevents it from being connected to camera mount A of camera 100. Therefore, interchangeable lens 150 cannot be attached directly to camera 100, but can be attached to camera 100 via adapter 160. Note that an interchangeable lens (not shown) equipped with lens mount B can be attached directly to camera 100.

[0017] <Functions of the camera mount A and lens mount B terminals> Next, the functions of each terminal common to both camera mount A and lens mount B will be explained.

[0018] The VDD terminal is a terminal for supplying power from the camera 100 to a camera accessory attached to the camera 100 as communication power mainly used for communication control. Camera accessories (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "accessories") are a general term for devices such as adapters and interchangeable lenses that can be connected to camera mounts such as camera mount A and camera mount C. For example, adapter 160 with lens mount B, interchangeable lens (not shown) with lens mount B, and interchangeable lens 150 with lens mount D are examples of camera accessories.

[0019] In the following, the word "terminal" may be omitted and the "VDD terminal" may be written simply as "VDD." This also applies to terminals other than the VDD terminal; for example, the "VBAT terminal" described below may be written simply as "VBAT."

[0020] The VBAT terminal is a terminal for supplying power from the camera 100 to camera accessories as drive power mainly used to drive actuators such as the aperture and focus lens. In this embodiment, the voltage supplied from the camera 100 is 4.7 V. Note that the voltage supplied to the VBAT terminal may be configured to be changeable depending on the type of accessory attached to the camera 100.

[0021] The GND terminal is a ground terminal that indicates the ground level corresponding to various terminals including the VDD terminal.

[0022] The MIF terminal is a terminal for detecting that a camera accessory (for example, adapter 160 or an interchangeable lens (not shown) with lens mount B) has been attached to camera 100. Camera 100 detects that a camera accessory has been attached to or detached from camera 100 by detecting the voltage level of the MIF terminal. In this embodiment, camera 100 determines that an accessory is not attached when the voltage of the MIF terminal is High (H), and determines that an accessory is attached when the voltage is Low (L).

[0023] The TYPE terminal is a terminal for determining the type of camera accessory attached to the camera 100. The camera 100 detects the voltage of the TYPE terminal, and if the voltage is within predetermined range 1, determines that the accessory is an interchangeable lens (not shown) with lens mount B. If the voltage is within predetermined range 2, the camera 100 determines that the accessory is an adapter with lens mount B. If the voltage is not within predetermined range 1 or predetermined range 2, the camera 100 determines that an error has occurred. The TYPE terminal of the interchangeable lens (not shown) with lens mount B is connected to the GND terminal via a resistor so that the voltage falls within predetermined range 1. The TYPE terminal of the adapter 160 is connected to the GND terminal via a resistor so that the voltage falls within predetermined range 2. Note that the type of camera accessory is determined using the TYPE terminal based on the detected TYPE terminal voltage, so that a voltage range corresponding to each camera accessory must be set to be able to distinguish between many types of camera accessories. Therefore, for more detailed determination, such as which model of interchangeable lens with lens mount B it is, or which model of adapter it is, it is better to use a determination method other than the method using the TYPE terminal.

[0024] The LCLK terminal is a terminal for a clock signal output from the camera 100 to a camera accessory. The LCLK terminal also serves as a terminal through which the camera 100 monitors the busy state of the accessory.

[0025] The DCL terminal is a terminal for communication data output from the camera 100 to the camera accessory.

[0026] The DLC terminal is a terminal for communication data output from the camera accessory to the camera 100.

[0027] The CS terminal is a signal terminal for requesting communication between the camera 100 and a camera accessory.

[0028] The DCA terminal is a terminal for communication data for two-way communication between the camera 100 and the camera accessory.

[0029] In this embodiment, the LCLK terminal, DCL terminal, and DLC terminal are used in the first communication, which will be described later. The DCL terminal and DLC terminal are also used in the third communication, which will be described later, in addition to the first communication. The CS terminal and DCA terminal are used in the second communication, which will be described later.

[0030] Camera mount A and lens mount B may also have a PGND terminal and a DLC2 terminal (neither of which are shown). The PGND terminal is a ground terminal corresponding to the VBAT terminal. The DLC2 terminal is a terminal for data communication from the camera accessory to camera 100, and this data communication is independent of the first, second, and third communications.

[0031] As described above, camera mount A and lens mount B include 10 or more terminals. Note that the terminals of camera mount A are contact pins and the terminals of lens mount B are contact surfaces, but the shapes may be reversed.

[0032] <Functions of the camera mount C and lens mount D terminals> Next, the functions of each terminal common to both camera mount C and lens mount D will be explained.

[0033] The VDD terminal is a terminal that supplies power from the camera 100 as power used to control the interchangeable lens 150. In this embodiment, the voltage supplied to the camera mount C and the lens mount D is 11.0 V.

[0034] The GND terminal is a ground terminal that indicates the ground level corresponding to the VDD terminal.

[0035] The DCL terminal is a terminal for communication data output from the camera 100 to the interchangeable lens 150 .

[0036] The DLC terminal is a terminal for communication data output from the interchangeable lens 150 to the camera 100.

[0037] In this embodiment, the DCL terminal and the DLC terminal are used in the third communication, which will be described later.

[0038] As described above, camera mount C and lens mount D each include four terminals. Note that the terminals of camera mount C are contact pins and the terminals of lens mount D are contact surfaces, but the shapes may be reversed.

[0039] <Configuration of camera 100> Next, a description will be given of the configuration of camera 100. Camera 100 has a terminal of camera mount A, and includes contact unit 101, contact unit 102, power supply unit 103, and camera control unit 104. Camera control unit 104 includes first communication unit 105, third communication unit 106, and second communication unit 107 inside.

[0040] The contact section 101 (first contact section) is a group of contacts for performing communication controlled by the first communication section 105 or the third communication section 106, and is composed of three terminals: LCLK, DCL, and DLC.

[0041] The contact section 102 (second contact section) is a group of contacts for performing communication controlled by the second communication section 107, and is composed of two terminals, CS and DCA.

[0042] The power supply unit 103 generates power to be supplied via VDD or VBAT to camera accessories attached to the camera 100. The power supply unit 103 also generates power to be supplied to the inside of the camera 100, such as the camera control unit 104.

[0043] The camera control unit 104 is responsible for controlling the camera 100, for example, calculating the focus lens drive amount for focus control, generating image data according to the state of the release switch, etc. The camera control unit 104 is composed of one or more processors or circuits (e.g., ASIC) that realize one or more functions, and can control each unit by, for example, having the processor read and execute a program stored in memory.

[0044] The first communication unit 105 performs camera-lens communication (hereinafter referred to as "first communication") for transmitting commands for instructions or requests to an interchangeable lens (not shown) equipped with a lens mount B and for receiving lens information from the interchangeable lens. As shown in FIG. 1A, the first communication unit 105 performs communication using three communication lines corresponding to the LCLK, DCL, and DLC of the contact unit 101. In this embodiment, the communication voltage of the first communication unit 105 is 5.0 V. The first communication can be performed, for example, by clock synchronous communication or start-stop synchronous communication, but in this embodiment, it is performed by clock synchronous communication. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the camera 100 is configured to first communicate with the camera accessory using the first communication unit 105 when the camera 100 detects an accessory using the MIF terminal and the TYPE terminal.

[0045] The third communication unit 106 is a communication unit for communicating with an interchangeable lens 150 having a lens mount D. The third communication unit 106 performs camera-lens communication (hereinafter referred to as "third communication") for transmitting commands for instructions or requests to the interchangeable lens 150 and for receiving lens information from the interchangeable lens 150. The third communication is a communication standard that enables communication with interchangeable lenses that do not support the first communication or the second communication. As shown in FIG. 1A , the third communication unit 106 performs communication using two communication lines corresponding to the DCL and DLC terminals of the contact unit 101. Furthermore, the third communication unit 106 performs asynchronous communication according to a different standard from the communication standard of the first communication unit 105. In this embodiment, the two terminals DCL and DLC of the contact unit 101 used by the first communication unit 105 are also used by the third communication unit 106.

[0046] In this specification, expressions such as "using contact unit 101" or "via contact unit 101" will be used when at least some of the terminals in contact unit 101 (first contact unit) are used. Therefore, the first communication using three terminals of contact unit 101 and the third communication using two terminals of contact unit 101 are both communications using contact unit 101 (or communications performed via contact unit 101). This also applies to contact units other than contact unit 101.

[0047] The second communication unit 107 is a communication unit for communicating with an accessory (intermediate accessory) disposed between the camera and the interchangeable lens, such as the adapter 160. The second communication unit 107 performs camera-adapter communication (hereinafter referred to as "second communication") for sending commands to the adapter 160 and receiving data indicating the status of the intermediate accessory. As shown in FIG. 1A, the second communication unit 107 performs communication using two communication lines corresponding to the CS and DCA terminals of the contact unit 102. In this embodiment, the communication voltage of the second communication unit 107 is assumed to be 3.0 V. The communication channel of the second communication unit 107 is an independent communication channel separate from the first communication unit 105 and the third communication unit 106. In this embodiment, communication for updating firmware of the adapter control unit 165 is also performed via the second communication. Because the second communication is communication between the camera and the adapter, if an adapter is not attached to the camera 100, no response is returned even if the second communication unit 107 sends a second communication command. Therefore, if no response is received within a predetermined time after sending the authentication command in the second communication, the camera control unit 104 determines that an adapter that supports the second communication is not attached.

[0048] <Configuration of 150 interchangeable lenses> Next, we will explain the configuration of the interchangeable lens 150. The interchangeable lens 150 has a lens mount D, and is equipped with a contact unit 151, a power supply unit 152, and a lens control unit 153. The lens control unit 153 is equipped with a third communication unit 154 inside.

[0049] The contact section 151 (third contact section) is a group of contacts for third communication with the camera 100, and is made up of two terminals, DCL and DLC.

[0050] The power supply unit 152 supplies the voltage received from the camera 100 via the VDD terminal to the lens control unit 153 and other components in the interchangeable lens 150. In this embodiment, the voltage required for the interchangeable lens 150 is 9V to 35V.

[0051] The lens control unit 153 is responsible for control of the interchangeable lens 150, and acquires position information of the focus lens (not shown) and aperture information, etc. The lens control unit 153 is composed of one or more processors or circuits (for example, ASIC) that realize one or more functions, and for example, the processor can read and execute a program stored in memory to control each unit.

[0052] The third communication unit 154 is a communication unit for performing third communication with the third communication unit 106 of the camera 100. The third communication unit 154 receives commands from the camera 100 and transmits information about the interchangeable lens 150. As shown in FIG. 1A , the third communication unit 154 performs communication using two communication lines corresponding to the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 151.

[0053] <Adapter 160 configuration> Next, the configuration of the adapter 160 will be described. The adapter 160 has a lens mount B and a camera mount C, and includes contact units 161, 162, 163, a power supply unit 164, an adapter control unit 165, a switch 169, a switch 170, and a switch 171. The switch may also be written as "SW." The adapter control unit 165 includes a first communication unit 166, a communication switching unit 167, and a second communication unit 168 therein.

[0054] The contact unit 161 (first contact unit) is a contact group for the first communication with the camera 100, and is composed of three terminals: LCLK, DCL, and DLC. The contact unit 161 is also used for the third communication between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150. The contact unit 161 is connected to the adapter control unit 165 via a switch 171, and is also connected to the contact unit 163 via a switch 170. The contact unit 161 of the adapter 160 is connectable to the contact unit 101 of the camera 100.

[0055] The contact unit 162 (second contact unit) is a contact group for second communication with the camera 100, and is composed of two terminals, CS and DCA. The contact unit 162 is connected to the adapter control unit 165. The second communication unit 107 of the camera 100 performs second communication with the second communication unit 168 of the adapter 160. The contact unit 162 of the adapter 160 is connectable to the contact unit 102 of the camera 100.

[0056] The contact section 163 (third contact section) is a group of contacts for third communication between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150, and is composed of two terminals, DCL and DLC. The contact section 163 of the adapter 160 is connectable to the contact section 151 of the interchangeable lens 150.

[0057] The power supply unit 164 supplies the power supplied from the camera 100 via VDD and VBAT to the adapter control unit 165 in the adapter 160 and the like. In addition, in this embodiment, when the switch 169 is set to active, the power supply unit 164 boosts the VBAT power supplied from the camera 100 to a voltage for supplying it to the interchangeable lens 150 equipped with the lens mount D.

[0058] The adapter control unit 165 is responsible for control of the adapter 160. The switches 169, 170, and 171 are controlled by the adapter control unit 165. The adapter control unit 165 is configured with one or more processors or circuits (e.g., ASIC) that realize one or more functions, and for example, the processor can control each unit by reading and executing a program stored in memory.

[0059] The first communication unit 166 is a communication unit for performing first communication with the first communication unit 105 of the camera 100. Because the first communication is communication between the camera and the lens, it can be said that it has no direct relationship to the control of the adapter 160. However, an interchangeable lens having a lens mount B (an interchangeable lens that can respond to the first communication from the camera 100) cannot be attached to the adapter 160, and the interchangeable lens 150 cannot respond to the first communication from the camera 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, the adapter 160 is configured to include the first communication unit 166 so that the adapter 160 can respond to the first communication from the camera 100. The adapter 160 including the first communication unit 166 can behave as if it were a lens having a lens mount B. When the first communication unit 166 receives a command (first command) via the first communication from the first communication unit 105 in the camera 100, it analyzes the received command and responds to the command based on the analysis result.

[0060] The communication switching unit 167 switches between the first communication and the third communication by controlling the switches 169, 170, and 171. Specifically, the communication switching unit 167 controls the switch 169 to switch whether or not the power boosted by the power supply unit 164 is supplied to the VDD terminal of the camera mount C. Furthermore, the communication switching unit 167 controls the switches 170 and 171 to switch whether the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 are connected to the first communication unit 166 (in this case, the connection to the contact unit 163 is cut off) or to the contact unit 163 (in this case, the connection to the first communication unit 166 is cut off).

[0061] Second communication unit 168 is a communication unit for performing second communication with second communication unit 107 of camera 100. When second communication unit 168 receives a command (second command) from second communication unit 107 in camera 100 through second communication, it analyzes the received command and responds to the command based on the analysis result.

[0062] The switch 169 is controlled by the communication switching unit 167. When the switch 169 is set to active, the power supply unit 164 boosts the power supplied from the VBAT terminal and supplies the boosted power to the VDD terminal of the camera mount C. When the switch 169 is set to inactive, the power supply unit 164 does not boost the power and does not supply power to the VDD terminal of the camera mount C. In this embodiment, when the adapter 160 is started up, the switch 169 is in an inactive state.

[0063] The switch 170 is controlled by the communication switching unit 167. When the switch 170 is set to active, the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 are connected to the contact unit 163. When the switch 170 is set to inactive, the connection between the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 and the contact unit 163 is cut off. In this embodiment, when the adapter 160 is started up, the switch 170 is in an inactive state.

[0064] The switch 171 is controlled by the communication switching unit 167. When the switch 171 is set to active, the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 are connected to the first communication unit 166. When the switch 171 is set to inactive, the connection between the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 and the first communication unit 166 is cut off. In this embodiment, when the adapter 160 is started up, the switch 171 is in the active state.

[0065] In this way, the adapter 160 includes a communication path that can be switched between a state (first state) in which the third communication from the camera 100 via the contact unit 101 and the contact unit 161 does not reach the contact unit 163, and a state (second state) in which the third communication reaches the contact unit 163. Switching of the state of the communication path is controlled by the communication switching unit 167. When the communication path is in a state (second state) in which the third communication reaches the contact unit 163, the third communication reaches the third communication unit 154 from the contact unit 163 via the contact unit 151, and therefore the camera 100 can perform the third communication with the interchangeable lens 150.

[0066] <Camera 100 startup process> 2A is a flowchart of the startup process of camera 100. When the user operates the power button (not shown) of camera 100 to turn on the power of camera 100 and the supply of operating power by power supply unit 103 begins, camera control unit 104 starts the startup process of this flowchart. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step of this flowchart is realized by camera control unit 104 executing a program stored in ROM (not shown).

[0067] In S202, the camera control unit 104 sets the communication mode of the camera 100 to the first communication mode. The communication mode of the camera 100 indicates whether the camera 100 is set to use the first communication unit 105 or the third communication unit 106 to perform communication. When the communication mode is the first communication mode, the camera 100 is set to perform the first communication using the first communication unit 105. When the communication mode is the third communication mode, the camera 100 is set to perform the third communication using the third communication unit 106. Data indicating the currently set communication mode is stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory (not shown) of the camera 100.

[0068] In S203, the camera control unit 104 detects the MIF terminal. If the voltage of the MIF terminal is H, the camera control unit 104 determines that a camera accessory equipped with lens mount B is not attached, and continues detecting the MIF terminal in S203 until the MIF terminal goes L. If the voltage of the MIF terminal is L, the camera control unit 104 determines that an accessory equipped with lens mount B is attached, and proceeds to S204.

[0069] In S204, the camera control unit 104 determines the type of the TYPE terminal. The camera control unit 104 determines the type of camera accessory according to the voltage level of the TYPE terminal. If the voltage of the TYPE terminal is within predetermined range 1, the camera control unit 104 determines that the type of accessory is an interchangeable lens, and sets the voltage of the first communication to 3.0 V. If the voltage of the TYPE terminal is within predetermined range 2, the camera control unit 104 determines that the type of accessory is an adapter, and sets the voltage of the first communication to 5.0 V. Here, it is assumed that adapter 160 is attached.

[0070] At this point, the camera control unit 104 has determined that the type of the attached accessory is an adapter, but has not recognized the model or specific configuration of the attached adapter. In other words, the camera control unit 104 has not recognized that the attached adapter is adapter 160.

[0071] In S205, the camera control unit 104 starts supplying a voltage of VDD to the accessory. In this embodiment, 5.0 V is supplied.

[0072] In S206, the first communication unit 105 in the camera control unit 104 performs initial communication of the first communication. Specifically, the first communication unit 105 starts clock-synchronized communication of the first communication with the first communication unit 166 in the adapter control unit 165. At this time, the switches 169, 170, and 171 are set to the settings at the time of adapter startup. Therefore, the DCL and DLC of the contact units 101 and 161 are connected to the first communication unit 166 and are disconnected from the contact unit 163.

[0073] The communication method of the first communication unit 105 is a communication method that assumes communication with an interchangeable lens that has a lens mount B. In this embodiment, an adapter 160 is attached to the camera 100 instead of an interchangeable lens that has a lens mount B, and an interchangeable lens 150 that does not support the first communication is attached to the adapter 160. However, the specifications of the startup processing sequence of the camera 100 are configured so that, when an accessory is detected using the MIF terminal, the interchangeable lens that has a lens mount B is first recognized by the first communication. Therefore, in this embodiment, the adapter 160 that has a lens mount B is configured to be able to execute the first communication that assumes an interchangeable lens, just like an interchangeable lens that has a lens mount B.

[0074] The first communication unit 105 transmits commands for confirming communication with the lens mount B, commands for acquiring a lens ID (a command for identifying the attached accessory), commands for acquiring the focal length, aperture value, etc. The first communication unit 166 responds to commands sent from the first communication unit 105 by behaving as an interchangeable lens equipped with the lens mount B. That is, the adapter 160 is not an interchangeable lens and does not actually have a focal length, aperture value, etc., but the first communication unit 166 transmits dummy fixed values ​​for the focal length, aperture value, etc. (for example, the focal length is 50 mm, the aperture value is F16, etc.) in addition to the lens ID.

[0075] The camera control unit 104 determines the type of the attached accessory by acquiring initial information such as a lens ID via the first communication. If the information such as the lens ID is known to the camera control unit 104 (i.e., if the attached accessory is recognizable to the camera control unit 104), the camera control unit 104 recognizes the accessory. If the attached accessory is unrecognizable to the camera control unit 104 (for example, if the accessory was released after the release of the camera 100), the camera control unit 104 recognizes the attached accessory as an "unknown accessory." Even if the attached accessory is recognized as an "unknown accessory," the first communication unit 105 transmits commands for acquiring the focal length, aperture value, etc.

[0076] In this embodiment, a specific lens ID (for example, lens ID="ABCD") is assigned to the adapter 160. Therefore, based on the acquired lens ID, the camera control unit 104 can recognize that an accessory having an attached lens mount B is the adapter 160 that converts from lens mount B to lens mount D. Alternatively, instead of performing recognition based on a specific lens ID, the camera control unit 104 may acquire flag information indicating whether or not the adapter has a function for converting from lens mount B to lens mount D. Then, if the flag is set, the camera control unit 104 may recognize that the adapter 160 is one that converts from lens mount B to lens mount D. In this way, the camera control unit 104 can transmit a command (first command) through the first communication and recognize the adapter 160 based on the response to that command.

[0077] As will be described later, in this embodiment, the camera control unit 104 recognizes the adapter 160 through the second communication (S208) using the second communication unit 107, and can acquire various information related to the adapter 160 (such as the adapter ID). Therefore, at the time of the first communication, the camera control unit 104 does not need to recognize that the attached accessory is the adapter 160. For example, the lens ID (for example, lens ID="ABCD") transmitted from the adapter 160 may be a lens ID unknown to the camera control unit 104, and in this case, the camera control unit 104 may recognize that the attached accessory is an unknown interchangeable lens having a specific focal length and aperture value.

[0078] Meanwhile, the adapter 160 is a type of adapter (hereinafter referred to as a "BC adapter") that has a lens mount B and a camera mount C. However, among the adapters that can be attached to the camera 100, there is also a type of adapter (hereinafter referred to as a "BA adapter") that has a lens mount B and a camera mount A. In the BA adapter, the LCLK, DCL, and DLC of the lens mount B are connected to the LCLK, DCL, and DLC of the camera mount A. An interchangeable lens that has the lens mount B can be attached to the camera mount A of the BA adapter. Therefore, an interchangeable lens that has the lens mount B and supports the first communication can be attached to the camera 100 via the BA adapter. In this case, in S206, the first communication unit 105 of the camera 100 communicates with the first communication unit (not shown) of the attached interchangeable lens via the BA adapter and can recognize the interchangeable lens. Therefore, the specifications of the startup processing sequence of the camera 100 can support both the adapter 160 (BC adapter) to which the interchangeable lens 150 is attached and the BA adapter to which an interchangeable lens having the lens mount B is attached.

[0079] In S207, the camera control unit 104 performs control to start the supply of VBAT voltage.

[0080] In S208, the second communication unit 107 transmits a command for performing initial communication for adapter authentication and the like through the second communication.

[0081] The communication method of the second communication unit 107 is a communication method that assumes communication with an adapter having a lens mount B. The specifications of the startup processing sequence of the camera 100 are configured so that an interchangeable lens having a lens mount B is first recognized by the first communication, and then initial communication is performed by the second communication to confirm whether or not an adapter having a lens mount B is attached.

[0082] The second communication unit 107 transmits a command for adapter authentication, a command for acquiring the adapter version and the adapter ID, and the like. The second communication unit 168 of the adapter control unit 165 transmits authentication information for adapter authentication, the adapter version, the adapter ID, and the like in response to the command from the second communication unit 107. The second communication unit 168 also transmits information indicating that the adapter 160 has a switching function from the first communication to the third communication (hereinafter also referred to as a "communication switching function"), and information indicating that the adapter 160 is a BC adapter. The initial communication of the second communication in S208 enables the camera control unit 104 to recognize that the attached accessory is the adapter 160 (BC adapter) that has a switching function from the first communication to the third communication.

[0083] In S209, the camera control unit 104 determines whether the attached adapter has a communication switching function based on the information acquired by the second communication in S208. If the attached adapter has a communication switching function, the process proceeds to S210; if not, the process of this flowchart ends. Here, it is assumed that an adapter 160 having a communication switching function is attached, so the process proceeds to S210.

[0084] In S210, the second communication unit 107 transmits a communication switching command (hereinafter, also referred to as a "communication switching instruction" or a "switching instruction") for switching from the first communication to the third communication using the second communication. Note that the communication unit that transmits the communication switching command is not limited to the second communication unit 107. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the first communication unit 105 transmits the communication switching command using the first communication.

[0085] In S211, the camera control unit 104 determines whether the communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode based on the response from the adapter 160 to the communication switching command. The communication mode of the adapter 160 indicates whether the communication path of the adapter 160 is set to support the first communication or the third communication. In other words, the communication mode of the adapter 160 indicates whether the state of the communication path of the adapter 160 is the first state or the second state described above. If the communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S212; if not, the process of this flowchart ends. Note that if the communication switching command is sent in the first communication in S210, no response to the communication switching command is received. In this case, the camera control unit 104 proceeds to S212 without making the determination in S211.

[0086] In S212, the third communication unit 106 initiates third communication for communicating with the interchangeable lens 150 having the lens mount D. In this embodiment, after the third communication is initiated, the first communication unit 105 stops operating so as not to perform communication. In the third communication, the third communication unit 106 exchanges information such as focal length with the third communication unit 154 of the interchangeable lens 150. In S206 described above, the camera control unit 104 determined that an interchangeable lens having dummy fixed values ​​for the focal length and aperture value (for example, a focal length of 50 mm and an aperture value of F16) is attached. However, in S212, the camera control unit 104 acquires information about the interchangeable lens 150 by performing third communication with the interchangeable lens 150 using the third communication unit 106, and resets information such as focal length.

[0087] In S213, the camera control unit 104 sets the communication mode of the camera 100 to the third communication mode.

[0088] <Startup process of adapter 160> 2B is a flowchart of the startup process of adapter 160. When adapter 160 is attached to camera 100 and power supply from power supply unit 103 to power supply unit 164 via VDD begins (see S205 in FIG. 2A), adapter control unit 165 starts the startup process of this flowchart. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step of this flowchart is realized by adapter control unit 165 executing a program stored in ROM (not shown).

[0089] In S252, the adapter control unit 165 sets the communication mode of the adapter 160 to the first communication mode. Data indicating the currently set communication mode is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) of the adapter 160, for example.

[0090] In S253, the first communication unit 166 responds to the first communication command transmitted in S206 by the first communication unit 105. Details of the response are as explained in S206.

[0091] In S254, the second communication unit 107 responds to the second communication command transmitted in S208. Details of the response are as explained in S208.

[0092] In S255, second communication unit 168 determines whether or not the communication switching command transmitted by second communication unit 107 in S210 has been received. If the communication switching command has been received within a predetermined time from the start of processing in S255, the process proceeds to S256. If the communication switching command has not been received within a predetermined time from the start of processing in S255 (i.e., if a timeout occurs without the communication switching command being received), the process of this flowchart ends. Note that, in the case where a configuration is adopted in which the communication switching command is transmitted via the first communication in S210, first communication unit 166 determines whether or not the communication switching command has been received in S255.

[0093] In S256, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not communication switching from the first communication to the third communication is possible. Specifically, to perform the third communication, power needs to be supplied to the interchangeable lens 150, and to supply power to the interchangeable lens 150, the voltage supplied to the power supply unit 164 via VBAT needs to be at a normal value. For example, if dust or the like is caught between camera mount A and lens mount B and a normal voltage is not being supplied to VBAT, the power supply unit 164 cannot generate a normal voltage to supply to the interchangeable lens 150. Therefore, the adapter control unit 165 acquires the voltage value of VBAT using an A / D converter (not shown) within the adapter control unit 165. If the acquired voltage value is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the adapter control unit 165 determines that the voltage of VBAT is normal and communication switching to the third communication is possible, and proceeds to S257. If the acquired voltage value is less than the threshold value, the adapter control unit 165 determines that there is an abnormality in the voltage of VBAT and that communication switching to the third communication is not possible, and proceeds to the process at S259.

[0094] In S257, the communication switching unit 167 performs communication switching processing. Specifically, first, the communication switching unit 167 controls the port of the adapter control unit 165 so that the currently active switch 171 becomes inactive. When the switch 171 becomes inactive, the connection between the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 and the first communication unit 166 is cut off, and the first communication transmitted from the first communication unit 105 of the camera control unit 104 does not reach the first communication unit 166 of the adapter control unit 165. Note that after the switch 171 is made inactive, the first communication unit 166 may perform processing to stop the synchronous communication function. Next, the communication switching unit 167 controls the port of the adapter control unit 165 so that the currently inactive switch 169 becomes active. When the switch 169 becomes active, power boosted by the power supply unit 164 is supplied to the VDD of the camera mount C. As a result, power supply to the interchangeable lens 150 starts via the VDD of the lens mount D. Thereafter, the communication switching unit 167 waits for 2 milliseconds (ms). When the switch 169 is activated, the power supply unit 164 starts boosting from 4.7 V to 11.0 V, and it takes about 2 ms to boost the voltage to the desired level. After 2 ms has elapsed, the communication switching unit 167 controls the port of the adapter control unit 165 so that the currently inactive switch 170 becomes active. When the switch 170 becomes active, the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 161 are connected to the DCL and DLC of the contact unit 163. As a result, the third communication transmitted from the third communication unit 106 of the camera control unit 104 can reach the third communication unit 154 of the lens control unit 153, and commands can be sent and received between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150 via the third communication.

[0095] In S258, the adapter control unit 165 sets the communication mode of the adapter 160 to the third communication mode.

[0096] In S259, the second communication unit 168 responds to the communication switching command received in S255. The response includes information indicating the current communication mode of the adapter 160. When the process transitions from S256 to S257, the current communication mode is the third communication mode, and when the process transitions from S256 to S259, the current communication mode is the first communication mode. Note that after the communication switching process in S257, the first communication unit 166 cannot perform the first communication with the camera 100. Therefore, if a configuration is adopted in which the communication switching command is transmitted via the first communication in S210, the first communication unit 166 cannot transmit a response to the communication switching command in S259. Therefore, in this case, the process of S259 is omitted.

[0097] <Camera 100 Shutdown Processing> 3A is a flowchart of the shutdown process of camera 100. When the user turns off the power using the power button (not shown) of camera 100, or when the user does not operate camera 100 for a predetermined period of time and camera 100 transitions to a sleep state, camera control unit 104 starts the shutdown process of this flowchart. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step of this flowchart is realized by camera control unit 104 executing a program stored in ROM (not shown).

[0098] In S301, the second communication unit 107 transmits a command (sleep command) for putting the adapter 160 to sleep (transitioning to a power saving state) through the second communication.

[0099] In S302, the camera control unit 104 determines whether the current communication mode of the camera 100 is the third communication mode. If the communication mode is the third communication mode, the processing of this flowchart ends. If the communication mode is not the third communication mode, the processing proceeds to S303.

[0100] In S303 (when the communication mode is the first communication mode), the first communication unit 105 transmits, via the first communication, a command (sleep command) for putting to sleep (transitioning to a power-saving state) an interchangeable lens that is compatible with the first communication and that is different from the interchangeable lens 150. For example, when the accessory attached to the camera 100 is not the adapter 160 and does not have a communication switching function (when the determination is "NO" in S209 of FIG. 2A), the processing of S303 is executed.

[0101] In this way, when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (i.e., when the communication mode is the first communication mode), two sleep commands (a sleep command by the first communication and a sleep command by the second communication) are transmitted. On the other hand, when the communication mode is the third communication mode, a sleep command by the second communication is transmitted, but a sleep command by the first communication is not transmitted.

[0102] <Sleep-related processing of adapter 160> 4(a) to 4(d), a description will be given of processing related to the sleep state of the adapter 160. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in each flowchart of FIG. 4(a) to 4(d) is realized by the adapter control unit 165 executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

[0103] When the adapter 160 is attached to the camera 100 and power supply from the power supply unit 103 to the power supply unit 164 via VDD starts (see S205 in FIG. 2A), the adapter control unit 165 starts the processing of each of the flowcharts in FIG. 4(a) to (c). The processing of the three flowcharts in FIG. 4(a) to (c) is executed in parallel.

[0104] FIG. 4(a) is a flowchart of processing related to a sleep command in the first communication (sleep command processing in the first communication).

[0105] In S401, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not a sleep command has been received through the first communication of the first communication unit 166. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination in S401 until the sleep command is received. When the sleep command is received, the process proceeds to S402.

[0106] In S402, the adapter control unit 165 sets a sleep flag. After that, the process returns to S401. The sleep flag is stored in a volatile memory (not shown) of the adapter 160, for example.

[0107] FIG. 4(b) is a flowchart of processing related to a sleep command by the second communication (sleep command processing of the second communication).

[0108] In S421, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not a sleep command has been received through the second communication of the second communication unit 168. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination of S421 until a sleep command is received. When a sleep command is received, the process proceeds to S422.

[0109] In S422, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not the current communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode. If the communication mode is the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S423; if not, the process returns to S421.

[0110] In S423, the adapter control unit 165 sets the sleep flag, after which the process returns to S421.

[0111] In this way, when a sleep command is received via the second communication, the adapter control unit 165 sets a sleep flag if the communication mode is the third communication mode, but if the communication mode is not the third communication mode (i.e., if the communication mode is the first communication mode), it does not set the sleep flag and ignores or discards the sleep command.

[0112] FIG. 4(c) is a flowchart of the sleep determination process.

[0113] In S442, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether the sleep flag is set. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination in S442 until the sleep flag is set. The determination is repeated every 2 milliseconds, for example. If the sleep flag is set, the process proceeds to S443. The sleep flag is set in S402 or S423 described above.

[0114] In S443, the adapter control unit 165 executes sleep processing. Fig. 4(d) is a flowchart showing details of the sleep processing (S443 in Fig. 4(d)) according to the first embodiment.

[0115] In S462, the adapter control unit 165 sets a trigger (recovery trigger) for recovering from sleep. When a signal corresponding to the set trigger is input during sleep, the adapter control unit 165 can recover from sleep. In this embodiment, the adapter control unit 165 sets the recovery trigger so that recovery from sleep can be achieved by either a signal of the first communication or a signal of the second communication. Specifically, the adapter control unit 165 sets the recovery trigger for the first communication so that recovery occurs when an L signal of LCLK is detected, and sets the recovery trigger for the second communication so that recovery occurs when an L signal of DCA is detected.

[0116] In S463, the adapter control unit 165 executes a STOP command, which is a command for putting the adapter control unit 165 to sleep. After executing the STOP command, the adapter control unit 165 enters a sleep state (sleep mode) and stops the system clock and the like until the recovery trigger set in S462 is received. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the operating power of the adapter control unit 165. The adapter control unit 165 remains in S463 until the recovery trigger for the first communication or the recovery trigger for the second communication is input, and when the recovery trigger for the first communication or the recovery trigger for the second communication is input, the process proceeds to S464.

[0117] In S464, the adapter control unit 165 returns from sleep mode and performs a return process.

[0118] <Example of wake-up process for adapter 160> The camera 100 transmits a recovery trigger when the user changes the power of the camera 100 from OFF to ON by operating a power button (not shown) of the camera 100. The camera 100 also transmits a recovery trigger when the user operates any button to recover the camera 100 from sleep after the camera 100 has transitioned to a sleep state due to no operation of the camera 100 by the user for a predetermined period of time.

[0119] In these cases, the camera control unit 104 performs the startup process of Fig. 2A. In S206 of the startup process of Fig. 2A, when the first communication unit 105 starts the initial communication of the first communication, an L signal of LCLK is detected by the adapter control unit 165. This L signal is interpreted by the adapter control unit 165 as a recovery trigger.

[0120] As the return process in S464, the adapter control unit 165 performs the startup process of Fig. 2B. After that, the process returns to S442. In addition, the adapter control unit 165 resumes the processes of Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b).

[0121] <Modification of the wake-up process of the adapter 160> In the above example, even if the communication modes of the camera 100 and the adapter 160 are set to the third communication mode and then the sleep processing of the adapter 160 is performed, upon recovery from sleep, the startup processing of the camera 100 and the adapter 160 is performed according to Figures 2A and 2B. Therefore, after recovery from sleep, the communication modes of the camera 100 and the adapter 160 are temporarily set to the first communication mode, and the camera 100 must again perform the initial communication of the first communication and the second communication, and send a communication switching command via the second communication. In this case, even if the adapter 160 or the interchangeable lens 150 is removed during sleep and a different type of accessory (adapter or lens) is attached to the camera 100, the camera 100 can correctly recognize the adapter or lens because it starts from the initial communication of the first communication and the second communication. On the other hand, even if the adapter 160 and interchangeable lens 150 are still attached when returning from sleep, it takes time for the third communication between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150 to resume because initial communication of the first communication and the second communication and transmission of a communication switching command via the second communication are required.

[0122] Therefore, the following describes a modified example of the recovery process of the adapter 160 that can shorten the time until the third communication is resumed between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150. In this modified example, when the camera 100 transitions to a sleep state after the communication mode is set to the third communication mode and then recovers from sleep, the camera 100 is configured to execute the recovery process shown in Fig. 5 instead of the startup process shown in Fig. 2A.

[0123] 5, in S502, the second communication unit 107 transmits a return command via the second communication to the adapter 160. Because the camera 100 and the adapter 160 can perform the second communication even in the third communication mode, the camera 100 can return the adapter 160 from sleep mode by transmitting the return command via the second communication while maintaining the state of the communication path corresponding to the third communication mode.

[0124] The process of S212 is the same as S212 in FIG. 2A.

[0125] When the adapter control unit 165 of the adapter 160 returns from sleep in response to the return command in S502, in S464 of FIG. 4(d), the adapter control unit 165 ends the return process without performing the startup process in FIG. 2B.

[0126] With the above configuration, the initial communication of the first communication and the second communication, and the transmission of a communication switching command by the second communication, etc. are omitted, thereby shortening the time until the third communication between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150 is resumed.

[0127] <Modifications regarding the order of sleep commands> In the above description, the camera 100 transmits a sleep command first via the second communication and then via the first communication when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (see FIG. 3A). However, the camera 100 may be configured to transmit a sleep command first via the first communication and then via the second communication when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (details will be described with reference to FIG. 3B in the second embodiment). In this case, the operation of the adapter 160 in processing the sleep command in the first communication (FIG. 4A) and the sleep command in the second communication (FIG. 4B) is changed. Specifically, when a sleep command is received in the first communication, the adapter 160 sets a sleep flag if the communication mode is the third communication mode, but does not set the sleep flag if the communication mode is not the third communication mode. Furthermore, when a sleep command is received in the second communication, the adapter 160 sets a sleep flag regardless of whether the communication mode is the third communication mode.

[0128] <Modification of the camera system configuration> The camera system in Fig. 1A is configured so that the first communication and the third communication partially share a communication path. However, this embodiment is also applicable to a camera system configured so that the second communication and the third communication partially share a communication path, as shown in Fig. 1B.

[0129] 1B, camera 100b differs from camera 100 in FIG. 1A in that third communication unit is connected to contact unit 102 instead of contact unit 101. Adapter 160b also differs from adapter 160 in FIG. 1A in that contact unit 163 is connected to contact unit 162 instead of contact unit 161, and in that switch 171 is disposed between second communication unit 168 and contact unit 162 instead of between first communication unit 166 and contact unit 161.

[0130] Therefore, adapter 160b includes a communication path that can be switched between a state (first state) in which the third communication from camera 100 via contact unit 102 and contact unit 162 does not reach contact unit 163 and a state (second state) in which the third communication reaches contact unit 163.

[0131] The above description of the camera system of FIG. 1A also applies to the camera system of FIG. 1B. However, in the camera system of FIG. 1B, the communication switching command is interpreted as a command for switching from the second communication to the third communication, not from the first communication to the third communication. Furthermore, the communication modes of the camera 100b and the adapter 160b are switched between the second communication mode and the third communication mode. Furthermore, in the termination process of the camera 100b, the camera control unit 104 transmits sleep commands for both the second communication and the first communication if the communication mode of the camera 100b is not the third communication mode, and transmits only the sleep command for the first communication if the communication mode is the third communication mode.

[0132] <Summary of the First Embodiment> As described above, according to the first embodiment, the adapter (adapter 160 or 160b) includes a communication path switchable between a first state in which the third communication from the camera (camera 100 or 100b) via a predetermined contact portion, which is contact portion 161 (first contact portion) or contact portion 162 (second contact portion) (contact portion 161 in the case of adapter 160, contact portion 162 in the case of adapter 160b), does not reach contact portion 163 (third contact portion), and a second state in which the third communication reaches contact portion 163 (third contact portion). While the communication path is in the first state, the adapter controls the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to receiving a communication switching command (switching instruction) from the camera via the first communication or the second communication, which instructs the camera to switch the communication path to the second state (see S255 and S257 in FIG. 2B). The adapter also receives a sleep command instructing the camera to transition to a sleep state from the camera via the specific communication, which is the first communication or the second communication. In response to receiving a sleep command via a specific communication (the second communication in the example of Figure 4(b)), the adapter executes a sleep process to transition the adapter to a sleep state if the communication path is in the second state, and performs sleep control to refrain from executing the sleep process if the communication path is in the first state (see S422 to S423 in Figure 4(b) and Figure 4(c)).

[0133] As described above, in this embodiment, when the communication path is in the first state (i.e., when the adapter can receive sleep commands in both the first communication and the second communication), sleep processing is not executed even if a sleep command is received in a specific communication (the second communication in the example of FIG. 4(b)). This prevents the adapter from entering sleep mode in response to the sleep command received in the second communication first, and then waking up from sleep mode in response to the sleep command received in the first communication next. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an adapter capable of communicating with an imaging device will unintentionally wake up from sleep mode, and it is possible to appropriately execute sleep control of the adapter.

[0134] 1A, when the communication path of the adapter 160 is in the second state (after switching to the third communication), the first communication is disconnected, the sleep command of the first communication is not received, and only the sleep command of the second communication is received. Therefore, in the second state, sleep processing is performed in response to reception of the sleep command of the second communication. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the adapter can be appropriately transitioned to the sleep state whether the communication path is in the first state or the second state.

[0135] Furthermore, in the adapter 160 of this embodiment, after switching to the third communication, the third communication is possible between the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150 without going through the adapter control unit 165. Therefore, after switching to the third communication, the camera 100 may be configured to continue the third communication while putting only the adapter control unit 165 to sleep, thereby reducing power consumption. In this case, recovery processing of the adapter control unit 165 must be performed to perform firmware update processing of the adapter 160. However, because the firmware update processing of the adapter 160 is performed using the second communication, a configuration may be adopted in which the camera 100 wakes up the adapter control unit 165 using the second communication, as in step S502.

[0136] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, a configuration in which the adapter may refrain from executing sleep processing is described. In contrast, in the second embodiment, a configuration in which the adapter may refrain from executing recovery processing from a sleep state is described. In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used for configurations and processes that are the same as or similar to those in the first embodiment. The following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment.

[0137] Although the following description will be given based on the camera system of FIG. 1A, the second embodiment can also be applied to the camera system of FIG. 1B, similar to the first embodiment.

[0138] <Camera 100 Shutdown Processing> 3B is a flowchart of the shutdown process of the camera 100. The camera control unit 104 starts the shutdown process of this flowchart when the user turns off the power using the power button (not shown) of the camera 100, or when the user does not operate the camera 100 for a predetermined period of time and the camera 100 transitions to a sleep state. Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step of this flowchart is realized by the camera control unit 104 executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

[0139] In S311, the camera control unit 104 determines whether or not the current communication mode of the camera 100 is the third communication mode. If the communication mode is the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S313, and if the communication mode is not the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S312.

[0140] In S312 (when the communication mode is the first communication mode), the first communication unit 105 transmits, via the first communication, a command (sleep command) for putting to sleep (transitioning to a power saving state) an interchangeable lens that is compatible with the first communication and that is different from the interchangeable lens 150. For example, when the accessory attached to the camera 100 is not the adapter 160 and does not have a communication switching function (when the determination is "NO" in S209 of FIG. 2A), the processing of S312 is executed.

[0141] In S313, the second communication unit 107 transmits a command (sleep command) to put the adapter 160 to sleep (to transition to a power saving state) through the second communication.

[0142] In this way, when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (i.e., when the communication mode is the first communication mode), two sleep commands (a sleep command by the first communication and a sleep command by the second communication) are transmitted. On the other hand, when the communication mode is the third communication mode, a sleep command by the second communication is transmitted, but a sleep command by the first communication is not transmitted.

[0143] Furthermore, in FIG. 3B, when two sleep commands are transmitted, unlike FIG. 3A, the sleep command in the first communication is transmitted first, and then the sleep command in the second communication is transmitted.

[0144] <Sleep-related processing of adapter 160> The processing related to the sleep of the adapter 160 will be described with reference to Figure 4(a) and Figures 6(a) to 6(c). Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in the flowcharts of Figure 4(a) and Figures 6(a) to 6(c) is realized by the adapter control unit 165 executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

[0145] When the adapter 160 is attached to the camera 100 and power supply from the power supply unit 103 to the power supply unit 164 via VDD starts (see S205 in FIG. 2A), the adapter control unit 165 starts the processing of each of the flowcharts in Figures 4(a), 6(a), and 6(b). The processing of the three flowcharts in Figures 4(a), 6(a), and 6(b) is executed in parallel.

[0146] The sleep command processing of the first communication in this embodiment is performed according to FIG. 4(a) in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0147] Fig. 6(a) is a flowchart of the sleep command processing in the second communication. The processing of S421 and S423 in Fig. 6(a) is the same as S421 and S423 in Fig. 4(b). However, in Fig. 6(a), the processing of S423 is performed after the processing of S421. Therefore, when a sleep command is received in the second communication, the sleep flag is set regardless of whether the communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode.

[0148] Fig. 6(b) is a flowchart of the sleep determination process. The process of S442 in Fig. 6(b) is the same as S442 in Fig. 4(c).

[0149] In S643, the adapter control unit 165 executes sleep processing. Fig. 6(c) is a flowchart showing details of the sleep processing (S643 in Fig. 6(b)) according to the second embodiment.

[0150] In S662, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not the current communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode. If the communication mode is the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S462; if not, the process proceeds to S663.

[0151] In S663, the adapter control unit 165 sets the recovery trigger for the first communication to be recovery when an L signal of LCLK is detected. On the other hand, the adapter control unit 165 does not set a recovery trigger for the second communication.

[0152] The processing of S462 to S464 in FIG. 6(c) is the same as that of S462 to S464 in FIG. 4(d).

[0153] Therefore, in this embodiment, the adapter control unit 165 executes a recovery process when a predetermined signal (LCLK L signal) is input from the first communication contact unit 161 during sleep, but does not execute a recovery process when a predetermined signal (DCA L signal) is detected from the second communication contact unit 162. Therefore, after the adapter 160 transitions to the sleep state in accordance with the first communication sleep command it receives initially, it does not recover from the sleep state even if it receives the second communication sleep command.

[0154] <Modifications regarding the order of sleep commands> In the above description, the camera 100 is assumed to first transmit a sleep command via the first communication and then transmit the sleep command via the second communication when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (see FIG. 3B). However, the camera 100 may be configured to first transmit a sleep command via the second communication and then transmit the sleep command via the first communication when the communication mode is not the third communication mode (see FIG. 3A). In this case, the operation of the sleep processing (FIG. 6(c)) in the adapter 160 is changed. Specifically, in S663, the adapter control unit 165 sets the return trigger for the second communication to return when the DCA L signal is detected. On the other hand, the adapter control unit 165 does not set a return trigger for the first communication. Therefore, after the adapter 160 transitions to the sleep state in accordance with the sleep command received initially in the second communication, it does not return from the sleep state even if the sleep command in the first communication is received.

[0155] <Application of sleep command processing to second communication according to first embodiment> In the above description, the adapter control unit 165 executes the sleep command processing for the second communication according to Fig. 6(a). However, by applying the sleep command processing for the second communication according to the first embodiment to the second embodiment, in the second embodiment, the adapter control unit 165 may execute the sleep command processing for the second communication according to Fig. 4(b).

[0156] In this case, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the adapter 160 will unintentionally wake up from the sleep state, regardless of the order in which the sleep command of the first communication and the sleep command of the second communication are transmitted by the camera 100. Specifically, if the sleep command of the second communication is transmitted first, the possibility that the adapter 160 will unintentionally wake up from the sleep state is reduced for the reasons explained in the first embodiment. Also, if the sleep command of the first communication is transmitted first, the possibility that the adapter 160 will unintentionally wake up from the sleep state is reduced for the reasons explained with reference to FIG. 6(c).

[0157] Depending on the implementation of the camera 100, the transmission order of the sleep commands in the first communication and the sleep commands in the second communication may not be fixed (for example, the transmission order may change depending on the load on the camera control unit 104). Furthermore, the adapter 160 may be attached to a variety of cameras, and the transmission order may differ for each camera. By applying the sleep command processing in the second communication according to the first embodiment to the second embodiment, it is possible to deal with cases where the transmission order may change.

[0158] The configuration described as a "variant example related to the order of sleep commands" in the first embodiment may be applied to the configuration described as a "variant example related to the order of sleep commands" in the second embodiment. In this case as well, regardless of the order in which the sleep commands are sent in the first and second communications, the possibility that the adapter 160 will unintentionally return from the sleep state is reduced.

[0159] <Summary of the second embodiment> As described above, according to the second embodiment, the adapter (adapter 160 or 160b) has a communication path switchable between a first state in which the third communication from the camera (camera 100 or 100b) via a predetermined contact portion, which is contact portion 161 (first contact portion) or contact portion 162 (second contact portion) (contact portion 161 in the case of adapter 160, contact portion 162 in the case of adapter 160b), does not reach contact portion 163 (third contact portion), and a second state in which the third communication reaches contact portion 163 (third contact portion). While the communication path is in the first state, the adapter controls the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to receiving a communication switching command (switching instruction) from the camera via the first communication or the second communication, instructing the adapter to switch the communication path to the second state (see S255 and S257 in FIG. 2B ). The adapter also controls to execute a sleep process that transitions the adapter to a sleep state (see FIG. 4(a) and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c)). While the adapter is in the sleep state, in response to a predetermined signal (e.g., an L signal) being input from a specific contact unit (contact unit 162 in the example of FIG. 6(c)), which is contact unit 161 (first contact unit) or contact unit 162 (second contact unit) of the adapter, the adapter executes a return process that restores the adapter from the sleep state if the communication path was in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, and performs return control to refrain from executing the return process if the communication path was in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state (see FIG. 6(c)).

[0160] As described above, in this embodiment, if the communication path is in the first state when the adapter transitions to the sleep state (i.e., if the adapter can receive sleep commands via both the first communication and the second communication), even if a sleep command including a predetermined signal (e.g., a DCA L signal) is received via a specific contact (contact 162 in the example of FIG. 6C), the return process for returning from the sleep state is not executed. This prevents the adapter from entering the sleep state in response to the sleep command received in the first communication and then returning from the sleep state in response to the sleep command received in the second communication. Therefore, this embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility that an adapter capable of communicating with an imaging device will unintentionally return from the sleep state, and allows the adapter's sleep control to be executed appropriately.

[0161] [Third embodiment] In the third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which, when the communication path is in the first state, the adapter 160 does not execute sleep processing when it receives only one sleep command, but executes sleep processing after it receives two sleep commands. The following description will be based on the camera system of Fig. 1A, but the third embodiment can also be applied to the camera system of Fig. 1B, as with the first embodiment.

[0162] The processing related to the sleep of the adapter 160 will be described with reference to Figures 7(a) to (c) and Figure 4(d). Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in the flowcharts of Figures 7(a) to (c) and Figure 4(d) is realized by the adapter control unit 165 executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

[0163] When the adapter 160 is attached to the camera 100 and power supply from the power supply unit 103 to the power supply unit 164 via VDD starts (see S205 in FIG. 2A), the adapter control unit 165 starts the processing of each of the flowcharts in FIG. 7(a) to (c). The processing of the three flowcharts in FIG. 7(a) to (c) is executed in parallel.

[0164] FIG. 7A is a flowchart of a sleep command process of the first communication according to the third embodiment.

[0165] In S701, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not a sleep command has been received through the first communication of the first communication unit 166. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination in S701 until the sleep command is received. When the sleep command is received, the process proceeds to S702.

[0166] In S702, the adapter control unit 165 sets a sleep flag A. Thereafter, the process returns to S701. Note that the sleep flag A is stored in a volatile memory (not shown) of the adapter 160, for example.

[0167] FIG. 7B is a flowchart of a sleep command process of the second communication according to the third embodiment.

[0168] In S721, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not a sleep command has been received through the second communication of the second communication unit 168. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination of S721 until a sleep command is received. When a sleep command is received, the process proceeds to S722.

[0169] In S722, the adapter control unit 165 sets a sleep flag B. Thereafter, the process returns to S721. Note that the sleep flag B is stored in a volatile memory (not shown) of the adapter 160, for example.

[0170] In this way, in the third embodiment, when a sleep command in the first communication and a sleep command in the second communication are received, two sleep flags are set.

[0171] FIG. 7C is a flowchart of the sleep determination process according to the third embodiment.

[0172] In S742, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not the current communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode. If the communication mode is the third communication mode, the process proceeds to S743; if not, the process proceeds to S744.

[0173] In S743, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not the sleep flag B is set. If the sleep flag B is set, the process proceeds to S443, and if the sleep flag B is not set, the process returns to S742.

[0174] In S744, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not both sleep flag A and sleep flag B are set. If both sleep flag A and sleep flag B are set, the process proceeds to S443, and if not (if one or both of sleep flag A and sleep flag B are not set), the process returns to S742.

[0175] The process of S443 in FIG. 7(c) is similar to S443 in FIG. 4(c), and is executed according to FIG. 4(d).

[0176] When the process returns to S742 from S743 or S744, the adapter control unit 165 waits a predetermined time (for example, 2 milliseconds) before performing the process of S742. Therefore, in this embodiment, a determination is made as to whether or not to perform sleep processing at substantially every predetermined time (for example, every 2 milliseconds).

[0177] In this way, when the communication mode of the adapter 160 is the third communication mode (i.e., when the communication channel is in the second state), if a sleep command for the second communication is received, sleep processing is executed. On the other hand, when the communication mode of the adapter 160 is not the third communication mode (i.e., when the communication channel is in the first state), sleep processing is not executed even if only one of the two sleep commands corresponding to the first communication and the second communication is received. Then, if sleep commands for both the first communication and the second communication are received, sleep processing is executed. In other words, in response to receiving a sleep command from the camera 100 via a specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication (e.g., the second communication), the adapter 160 performs control so as to execute sleep processing if the communication channel is in the second state, and refrain from executing sleep processing if the communication channel is in the first state. However, even when the communication path is in the first state, if a sleep command is received from the camera 100 via a specific communication (e.g., the second communication) after another sleep command is received from the camera 100 via a communication (e.g., the first communication) different from a specific communication (e.g., the second communication) of the first and second communications, the adapter 160 controls to execute sleep processing. This prevents the occurrence of problems in the prior art, such as the adapter entering a sleep state in response to the sleep command received in the first communication and waking up from the sleep state in response to the sleep command received in the second communication. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an adapter capable of communicating with an imaging device will unintentionally wake up from a sleep state.

[0178] [Fourth embodiment] In the fourth embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the adapter 160 refrains from executing sleep processing even when a sleep command for a specific communication is received, regardless of the state of the communication path. The following description will be based on the camera system of Fig. 1A, but the fourth embodiment can also be applied to the camera system of Fig. 1B, similar to the first embodiment.

[0179] Processing related to the sleep state of the adapter 160 will be described with reference to Figure 8, Figure 6(a), and Figures 4(c) to (d). Unless otherwise specified, the processing of each step in the flowcharts of Figure 8, Figure 6(a), and Figures 4(c) to (d) is realized by the adapter control unit 165 executing a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

[0180] When the adapter 160 is attached to the camera 100 and power supply from the power supply unit 103 to the power supply unit 164 via VDD starts (see S205 in FIG. 2A), the adapter control unit 165 starts the processing of each of the flowcharts in Figures 8, 6(a), and 4(c). The processing of the three flowcharts in Figures 8, 6(a), and 4(c) is executed in parallel.

[0181] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a sleep command process of the first communication according to the fourth embodiment.

[0182] In S801, the adapter control unit 165 determines whether or not a sleep command has been received through the first communication of the first communication unit 166. The adapter control unit 165 repeats the determination in S801 until the sleep command is received. When the sleep command is received, the process proceeds to S802.

[0183] In S802, the adapter control unit 165 discards the received sleep command. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a sleep command is received through the first communication, the sleep flag is not set.

[0184] The sleep command processing for the second communication in this embodiment is performed according to Fig. 6(a) as in the second embodiment. Therefore, when the sleep command for the second communication is received, the sleep flag is set regardless of the communication mode.

[0185] The sleep determination process of this embodiment is performed according to Fig. 4(c) as in the first embodiment. Moreover, the sleep process in S443 of Fig. 4(c) is also performed according to Fig. 4(d) as in the first embodiment.

[0186] As described above, in this embodiment, regardless of the communication mode of the adapter 160 (regardless of whether the communication path is in the first state or the second state), sleep processing is not executed upon receiving a sleep command in the first communication. Therefore, before switching to the third communication, if the adapter 160 receives a sleep command in the second communication from the camera 100 after receiving a sleep command in the first communication, sleep processing is executed in response to the sleep command in the second communication, thereby preventing unintended execution of a return process due to a subsequent sleep command. Furthermore, after switching to the third communication, only the sleep command in the second communication is received, so the adapter 160 executes sleep processing upon receiving the sleep command in the second communication. Therefore, it is possible to execute sleep processing normally even after switching to the third communication. Note that if the order of receiving the sleep commands is reversed, and there is a possibility that the sleep command in the first communication is received after the sleep command in the second communication is received from the camera 100, this can be handled by setting the return trigger in S462 to only the DCA in the second communication (not setting the LCLK in the first communication).

[0187] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the adapter (adapter 160 or 160b) has a communication path switchable between a first state in which the third communication from the camera (camera 100 or 100b) via a predetermined contact portion, which is contact portion 161 (first contact portion) or contact portion 162 (second contact portion) (contact portion 161 in the case of adapter 160, contact portion 162 in the case of adapter 160b), does not reach contact portion 163 (third contact portion), and a second state in which the third communication reaches contact portion 163 (third contact portion). While the communication path is in the first state, the adapter controls the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to receiving a communication switching command (switching instruction) from the camera via the first communication or the second communication, instructing the adapter to switch the communication path to the second state (see S255 and S257 in FIG. 2B ). In response to receiving a first sleep command instructing the camera to transition to a sleep state from the camera via specific communication, which is the first communication or the second communication (the second communication in the example of FIG. 6(a)), the adapter controls to execute sleep processing. In response to receiving a second sleep command instructing the camera to transition to a sleep state from the camera via communication different from the specific communication of the first communication and the second communication (the first communication in the example of FIG. 8), the adapter controls to refrain from executing sleep processing. Note that if the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion (for example, when adapter 160 of FIG. 1A is used), the specific communication is the second communication. Also, if the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion (for example, when adapter 160 of FIG. 1B is used), the specific communication is the first communication.

[0188] Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an adapter capable of communicating with an imaging device will unintentionally wake up from a sleep state.

[0189] In the above four embodiments, when the camera 100 and the interchangeable lens 150 are able to perform the third communication, for example, the camera 100 may transmit a sleep command to the interchangeable lens 150 through the third communication. Alternatively, instead of transmitting a sleep command to the interchangeable lens 150, the power supply unit 103 of the camera or the power supply unit 164 of the adapter 160 may reduce the power supplied to the interchangeable lens 150. Furthermore, for example, the camera 100 may return the interchangeable lens 150 in a sleep state to a normal state through the third communication. Alternatively, the power supply unit 103 of the camera or the power supply unit 164 of the adapter 160 may increase the power supplied to the interchangeable lens 150 to return the interchangeable lens 150 to the normal state.

[0190] [Other embodiments] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0191] [summary] The above-described embodiment discloses at least the inventions shown in the following items, but is not limited to these inventions. (Item 1) An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; In response to receiving a sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication, When the communication path is in the second state, a sleep process is executed to transition the adapter to the sleep state; When the communication path is in the first state, refrain from executing the sleep process. a sleep control means for controlling the sleep state as follows: An adapter comprising: (Item 2) In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. The device further includes a return control means for controlling the when the specific communication is the first communication, the specific contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, When the specific communication is the second communication, the specific contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter. 2. The adapter according to item 1, (Item 3) Even when the communication path is in the first state, if another sleep command is received from the imaging device through a communication different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, and then the sleep command is received from the imaging device through the specific communication, the sleep control means controls to execute the sleep process. 2. The adapter according to item 1, (Item 4) the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, 4. The adapter according to any one of items 1 to 3. (Item 5) the specific communication is the second communication. 5. An adapter according to any one of items 1 to 4. (Item 6) the third communication is a communication standard that enables communication with an interchangeable lens that does not support the first communication or the second communication, 6. An adapter according to any one of items 1 to 5. (Item 7) The adapter according to any one of items 1 to 6, the imaging device; Equipped with the imaging device includes a control means configured to, when the communication path is in the first state, perform control to transmit the sleep command through the specific communication and to transmit another sleep command through a communication path different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, in this order; A system characterized by: (Item 8) An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; a sleep control means for controlling the adapter to execute a sleep process for transitioning the adapter to a sleep state; In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. A return control means for controlling the An adapter comprising: (Item 9) An adapter according to item 8; the imaging device; Equipped with the imaging device includes a control means configured to, when the communication path is in the first state, perform control to transmit another sleep command through a communication path different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, and to transmit the sleep command through the specific communication, in this order. A system characterized by: (Item 10) An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; executes a sleep process to transition the adapter to the sleep state in response to receiving a first sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through a specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication; refraining from executing the sleep process in response to receiving a second sleep command instructing the imaging device to transition to the sleep state through a communication different from the specific communication of the first communication and the second communication. a sleep control means for controlling the sleep state as follows: Equipped with when the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the second communication; When the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the first communication. An adapter characterized by: (Item 11) A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to switch to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; In response to receiving a sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication, When the communication path is in the second state, a sleep process is executed to transition the adapter to the sleep state; When the communication path is in the first state, refrain from executing the sleep process. a sleep control step for controlling the sleep state as follows: A control method comprising: (Item 12) A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to switch to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; a sleep control step of controlling the adapter to execute a sleep process for transitioning the adapter to a sleep state; In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. a return control process for controlling the A control method comprising: (Item 13) A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to switch to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; executes a sleep process to transition the adapter to the sleep state in response to receiving a first sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through a specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication; refraining from executing the sleep process in response to receiving a second sleep command instructing the imaging device to transition to the sleep state through a communication different from the specific communication of the first communication and the second communication. a sleep control step for controlling the sleep state as follows: Equipped with when the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the second communication; When the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the first communication. A control method comprising:

[0192] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0193] 100... camera, 101... contact section, 102... contact section, 104... camera control section, 105... first communication section, 106... third communication section, 107... second communication section, 150... interchangeable lens, 151... contact section, 160... adapter, 161... contact section, 162... contact section, 163... contact section, 165... adapter control section, 166... ​​first communication section, 167... communication switching section, 168... second communication section

Claims

1. An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; In response to receiving a sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication, If the communication path is in the second state, a sleep process is executed to transition the adapter to the sleep state; When the communication path is in the first state, refrain from executing the sleep process. a sleep control means for controlling the sleep state as follows: An adapter comprising:

2. In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. The device further includes a return control means for controlling the when the specific communication is the first communication, the specific contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, When the specific communication is the second communication, the specific contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter.

2. The adapter of claim 1.

3. Even when the communication path is in the first state, if another sleep command is received from the imaging device through a communication different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, and then the sleep command is received from the imaging device through the specific communication, the sleep control means controls to execute the sleep process.

2. The adapter of claim 1.

4. the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, 2. The adapter of claim 1.

5. the specific communication is the second communication.

2. The adapter of claim 1.

6. the third communication is a communication standard that enables communication with an interchangeable lens that is not compatible with the first communication or the second communication, 2. The adapter of claim 1.

7. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 6; the imaging device; Equipped with the imaging device includes a control unit that controls, when the communication path is in the first state, to transmit the sleep command through the specific communication and to transmit another sleep command through a communication path different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, in this order. A system characterized by:

8. An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; a sleep control means for controlling the adapter to execute a sleep process for transitioning the adapter to a sleep state; In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. A return control means for controlling the An adapter comprising:

9. An adapter according to claim 8; the imaging device; Equipped with the imaging device includes a control unit that controls, when the communication path is in the first state, to transmit another sleep command through a communication path different from the specific communication among the first communication and the second communication, and to transmit the sleep command through the specific communication, in this order. A system characterized by:

10. An adapter, a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; a control means for controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; executes a sleep process to transition the adapter to the sleep state in response to receiving a first sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication; refraining from executing the sleep process in response to a second sleep command instructing the imaging device to transition to the sleep state being received from the imaging device via a communication different from the specific communication of the first communication and the second communication; a sleep control means for controlling the sleep state as follows: Equipped with when the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the second communication; When the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the first communication. An adapter characterized by:

11. A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; In response to receiving a sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication, If the communication path is in the second state, a sleep process is executed to transition the adapter to the sleep state; When the communication path is in the first state, refrain from executing the sleep process. a sleep control step for controlling the sleep state as follows: A control method comprising:

12. A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; a sleep control step of controlling the adapter to execute a sleep process for transitioning the adapter to a sleep state; In response to a predetermined signal being input from a specific contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion, of the adapter while the adapter is in the sleep state, If the communication path is in the second state at the time of transition to the sleep state, a recovery process is executed to recover the adapter from the sleep state; If the communication path is in the first state at the time of transition to the sleep state, the execution of the return process is suspended. a return control process for controlling the A control method comprising:

13. A method for controlling an adapter, comprising: The adapter is a first contact portion connectable to a first contact portion of the imaging device; a second contact portion connectable to a second contact portion of the imaging device; a third contact portion connectable to a third contact portion of the interchangeable lens; a first communication means for performing a first communication via the first contact portion of the adapter; a second communication means for performing second communication via the second contact portion of the adapter; a communication path switchable between a first state in which a third communication from the imaging device via a predetermined contact portion, which is the first contact portion or the second contact portion of the adapter, does not reach the third contact portion of the adapter and a second state in which the third communication reaches the third contact portion of the adapter; Equipped with The control method includes: a control step of controlling the communication path to be switched to the second state in response to a switching instruction for switching the communication path to the second state being received from the imaging device via the first communication or the second communication while the communication path is in the first state; executes a sleep process to transition the adapter to the sleep state in response to receiving a first sleep command instructing a transition to a sleep state from the imaging device through the specific communication that is the first communication or the second communication; refraining from executing the sleep process in response to a second sleep command instructing the imaging device to transition to the sleep state being received from the imaging device via a communication different from the specific communication of the first communication and the second communication; a sleep control step for controlling the sleep state as follows: Equipped with when the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the first contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the second communication; When the predetermined contact portion of the adapter is the second contact portion of the adapter, the specific communication is the first communication. A control method comprising:

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